November Birth Flower

The November birth flower is the chrysanthemum, often just called a mum. It stands for loyalty, joy and long life in much of the West, and for remembrance in parts of Europe and East Asia. Some lists also name the peony as an alternate November flower. Every November birthday, from the 1st to the 30th, shares the same flower.

Birth flowers pair each month with a bloom, the way birthstones pair each month with a gem. People use them for gifts, cards, jewelry and tattoos. This guide covers what the November flower is, what it means, what its colors say, how to use it and how to grow it, since the chrysanthemum is a fall garden favorite.

November birth flower at a glance

What is the birth flower for November?

The chrysanthemum. It blooms in fall, in shades of yellow, gold, white, red, pink, purple and orange, with layered, fluffy petals. In a pot or a garden it carries color through the shortest days of the year, which suits a November birthday. You may also see it called a "mum" or "garden mum."

Is the peony also a November birth flower?

Sometimes. A few lists name the peony as a second, alternate flower for November. Most birth flower charts use the chrysanthemum alone, and the peony is a late spring and early summer bloom, so it is not a natural November flower. Sources do not agree on why two flowers appear. The usual explanation is that lists blended older traditions and regional flower seasons over time.

If you want one answer, use the chrysanthemum. If you like the peony, it works too for a gift or a tattoo, and you can mention it as the alternate.

What does the November birth flower mean?

The chrysanthemum means different things in different places. In much of the West, it stands for loyalty, joy, optimism and long life. In parts of Europe, such as France, Italy and Austria, it is tied to mourning and is often placed on graves. In Japan, it is a symbol of the sun and long life, and the imperial family uses a chrysanthemum crest. In China, it is associated with a long life and has long been used for tea and in art.

So the meaning depends on where you are. If you give mums as a gift, you can choose by color and by the person's culture. Most Americans see them as a cheerful fall flower, not a funeral flower.

What do chrysanthemum colors mean?

Each color carries its own meaning, though sources do not always agree.

• Red: love and deep feeling. A mum bouquet in red makes a longer-lasting alternative to roses.
• White: loyalty and honesty in many places, and mourning in some, such as parts of Europe and Japan.
• Yellow: joy and celebration in modern use. Victorian flower language gave yellow a gloomier meaning, neglected love.
• Pink: affection and care.
• Purple: admiration and good wishes.
• Orange: energy and enthusiasm.

What is the birth flower for each date in November?

The same one. Birth month flowers go by month, not by day, so November 1st, the 15th and the 30th all share the chrysanthemum. If you see a list with a different flower for each day, it is a decorative or astrological list, not a standard birth flower chart.

Zodiac signs split the month. Scorpio covers the first three weeks and Sagittarius covers the last week. Some zodiac lists give each sign its own flower, but your birth month flower stays the same.

What is the November birthstone and color?

Topaz is the traditional November birthstone, and citrine is the other stone most lists give. Both come in warm yellow, gold and orange shades, which match the common mum colors. That makes yellow, gold and amber natural colors for November gifts and designs.

How can you use the November birth flower?

Give it, wear it or grow it. Mums work as fresh flowers, potted plants, jewelry motifs and art.

• Bouquet: mums last a week or two in a vase if you change the water and trim the stems. A mixed bouquet with another birth flower makes a nice gift.
• Potted mum: a living gift. A garden mum can be planted out and may come back next year. A florist mum is usually for the season only.
• Jewelry: necklaces, rings and charms with a mum, often with a small topaz or citrine.
• Art: prints, embroidery, drawings and pressed flowers. To draw a mum, start with a small center circle, add rings of narrow petals outward and make each ring a little longer.
• Cards and stationery: a pressed or printed mum on a birthday card.

What are good November birth flower tattoo ideas?

A small fine-line chrysanthemum is the most popular choice. Mums have many thin petals, so they suit detailed line work, simple outlines or soft watercolor washes.

• Small and minimal: a simple outline with a few curved petals works at small sizes and for a first tattoo.
• With a name or date: add a name, initials or a birthday under or around the flower.
• Peony or both: a few people choose the peony, or combine the mum and peony for a November design.
• Month bouquets: combine the mum with other birth flowers, for example for a family or a couple's birthdays. Choose flowers that look good together, such as a mum with a rose or a marigold.
• Placement: wrist, ankle, forearm, shoulder, behind the ear and the ribs are common, and small designs tend to hold up better on flatter skin.
• Color: gold, orange, red and purple work, and black and grey ages well.

Finding a good artist matters more than the flower. Look at their healed work, bring reference images and ask about size, placement and aftercare. Very fine lines can blur over the years, so some artists suggest a slightly bolder line for small pieces.

How do you grow the November birth flower?

Plant hardy garden mums in spring, give them sun, pinch them in early summer and let them bloom in fall. Garden mums are a perennial in many areas, and with care they come back each year.

1. Choose the right type. Garden mums are hardier and bloom earlier. Florist mums, the ones sold as gifts, often bloom late in fall and may be killed by frost before the buds open. They are usually not reliable perennials.
2. Plant in spring if you can. Spring planting gives roots a whole season to settle. Fall-planted mums often struggle through their first winter.
3. Pick a sunny spot with at least 6 hours of direct sun and well-drained soil. Mix in compost if the soil is heavy. See how to compost.
4. Pinch the tips when shoots are 6 to 8 inches tall, and again as new growth appears, with the last pinch by about July. Pinching makes bushier plants with more flowers.
5. Water and feed through summer. Stop feeding after July so new growth is not damaged by cold.
6. Keep lights off. Streetlights and porch lights at night can delay blooms.
7. Leave the stems over winter and cover the crowns with 2 to 4 inches of mulch. Clear the dead growth in spring.
8. Divide the clump every few years to keep it vigorous.

Winter loss often comes from poor drainage and freeze and thaw cycles, so a raised bed or a well-drained spot helps. Hardiness varies by variety, so check the plant tag for your zone.

Are chrysanthemums safe for pets?

Not entirely. Chrysanthemums can upset the stomach of dogs and cats if eaten, and they can irritate skin. Keep bouquets and potted mums out of reach of pets, and call your vet if your pet chews on one.

Quick answers to common questions

What is the birth flower for November?

The chrysanthemum, also called the mum. It blooms in fall in many colors.

What is the birth flower for each date in November?

All of November shares the chrysanthemum. Birth month flowers go by month, not by day.

Is peony a November birth flower?

Some lists name the peony as an alternate, but the chrysanthemum is the standard choice.

What does the November birth flower mean?

Loyalty, joy and long life in much of the West. In parts of Europe and Asia, mums are also linked to remembrance.

What is a good November birth flower tattoo?

A small fine-line chrysanthemum, alone or with a name or date. A watercolor or black and grey version also works.

Keep reading: how to compost, how to grow strawberries and more lawn and garden guides.

Is the November birth flower a good gift?

Yes. The November birth flower is a cheerful, long-lasting fall bloom that works as a bouquet, a plant, a piece of jewelry or a tattoo. Pick the color that fits the person and the occasion, and remember that a potted garden mum can grow in their garden for years.