November's Birth Flower: The Chrysanthemum

First Things First: How Do You Say It?

Chrysanthemum is a mouthful, even for a florist. It's pronounced kri-SAN-the-mum. If that's too much, you're in good company: most of us just call them mums, and you can too when you order.

Why the Chrysanthemum Fits November

November is a catch-all month. The leaves are coming down, college football is winding toward its last big games, basketball season is starting up, and everyone is catching their breath before the holidays arrive. It's the calm before the storm, and it's the last hurrah of the transition from summer to winter.

The chrysanthemum fits right into all of that. It epitomizes the warm feeling people associate with autumn: cinnamon in the kitchen, leaves on the ground, and flowers in deep, cozy colors. Mums bloom naturally as the days get shorter, which is how they became the flower of late fall and the birth flower for anyone born in November.

What Chrysanthemums Mean

In the United States, mums stand for joy, optimism and friendship. They've been grown for thousands of years, first in China and later in Japan, where the chrysanthemum became the emblem of the imperial family, so they're also tied to long life and good fortune. Color can add a little more to the message:

• Burgundy and red: deep warmth and love.
• Yellow and gold: cheer and friendship.
• Orange and bronze: energy and gratitude, right at home in fall.
• White: loyalty and honesty, and a traditional sympathy flower.

Big Mums, Small Mums: Focal Flower or Accent

Chrysanthemums come in a lot of different sizes, and that's a big part of why we use them so often.

Mums as the Focal Flower

A bigger mum is certainly a focal flower. Large, full blooms like disbud and cushion mums have real presence, and they can carry an arrangement on their own.

Mums as the Accent

A lot of times, though, chrysanthemums are the accent. Smaller daisy, button and spider mums tuck in beside other flowers and give a design that rich fall accent. They pair beautifully with lilies, roses and gerbera daisies, so you'll find them in arrangements of every size, from a small birthday bouquet to a full Thanksgiving centerpiece.

Choosing Your Colors: Burgundy, Yellow or Orange

When customers order mums for a November birthday, we usually suggest a nice fall mix. How you balance the colors depends on the look you want:

• A traditional fall look: keep burgundy, yellow and orange in balance. You don't want too much of one color over another.
• A brighter autumn look: lean into the yellows and oranges, and let burgundy be the accent color.

If you're not sure, tell us a little about the person and our designers will help you choose. Our fall flowers and birthday flowers are good places to start.

How to Make Chrysanthemums Last

Mums are one of the longest-lasting flowers in a fall arrangement, but how long they last starts long before they reach your table.

It Starts With Sourcing and Preparation

Long-lasting flowers are all about the preparation work, and it starts with sourcing. We work directly with the farms, so our flowers are higher quality when they come in the door. From there, we take a lot of steps to care for them in our coolers before they ever go into an arrangement, so they last longer in your home too.

Our Best Tip at Home: Keep the Vase Filled

If you remember one thing, make it this: always keep the water in the vase filled. Mums drink a lot, and a vase that runs low is the fastest way to shorten their life. A few more habits help:

• Top off the water every day, and change it every few days.
• Remove any leaves that sit below the waterline.
• Keep the arrangement away from heat vents, sunny windows and the fruit bowl.
• Pull out any flower that fades so the rest stay fresh.

Garden Mums vs. Cut Mums

Every fall, porches across Columbus, Worthington, Dublin and Westerville fill up with potted mums. Those are garden mums, bred for one big burst of color on the front steps. Cut chrysanthemums are grown for strong stems, clean blooms and a long vase life, and those are the mums you'll find in our arrangements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the birth flower for November?

The chrysanthemum is November's birth flower. It blooms naturally in late fall and stands for joy, optimism and friendship.

How do you pronounce chrysanthemum?

It's pronounced kri-SAN-the-mum. It's a tricky word, even for florists, which is why most people simply call them mums.

What colors do chrysanthemums come in for fall?

The classic fall colors are burgundy, yellow and orange, and we usually put them together in a fall mix. Mums also come in white, bronze, purple and green.

Are chrysanthemums good birthday flowers?

Yes. They're warm, colorful and long-lasting, and for a November birthday they're the person's birth flower, which makes the gift feel a little more personal.

How long do cut chrysanthemums last?

With good care, mums are one of the longest-lasting flowers in an arrangement. The most important thing you can do at home is keep the vase filled with water.

What flowers go well with chrysanthemums?

Mums pair beautifully with lilies, roses and gerbera daisies. Bigger mums can be the focal flower, while smaller ones make a rich fall accent.

Send a Warm Feeling This November

Whether it's a November birthday, an anniversary or a get-well wish, chrysanthemums are about sending a warm feeling to someone you care about. Browse our fall flowers online, or call us at 614-889-1001 and our designers will put together a fall mix in the colors you love. We're a family-owned shop in Columbus, delivering across Central Ohio since 1935.

Read more about birth flowers of October and September