Chrysanthemums are one of the most widely cultivated flowers in the world, and the birthday flower for those born in the month of November. A native to Asia and northeastern Europe, their name comes from the Greek words “chrysos,” meaning gold, and “anthemon,” which means flower. They are a member of the daisy family, which also includes asters and zinnias. Many varieties of chrysanthemums bloom during the autumn months; however, chrysanthemums are now available just about 52 weeks of the year with the exception of some of the more traditional single head bloom varieties.
What makes these plants so interesting is the diversity of flower variations you can find. From puffy poms to the spindly spider and quill flowers, there is a chrysanthemum for every taste. Plants feature dark green leaves and relatively large flowers, with the most common colours being yellow, pink, red or white. Contrary to their appearance, the chrysanthemum’s pom blooms are not just one single large flower, but rather a grouping of many tiny flowers.
As early as the 15th century BC, the chrysanthemum was cultivated as a flowering herb in China. It is also one of the four plants known in Chinese culture as “The Four Gentlemen,” which were depicted in much of the art beginning during the Song Dynasty, 960 to 1279. The chrysanthemum flower was used to represent autumn in this style of paintings.