November’s birth flower, the chrysanthemum has been one of the florist’s go-to blooms for decades. It’s taken some knocks over the years, with garage forecourts doing it very few favours. But while it’s not always been the most fashionable of flowers, the chrysanthemum remains a floristry favourite. And it’s for more reasons than you might think!
Why We Love Chrysanthemums
The diversity
There are literally thousands of different types of chrysanthemum. There are 40 wild species and 13 different types. They come in practically every colour you can imagine. And they come in a range of different forms – single flowers, double flowers, globular, sprays, bi-colour, picotee, long-stemmed, short-stemmed, bushy, and who knows what else! Basically, if you think that you don’t like chrysanthemums, you simply haven’t found the right one yet.
The symbolism
The wonderful thing about chrysanthemums is that, like roses, they’ve managed to acquire all kinds of different meanings across the globe. While in much of Europe, the chrysanthemum is largely viewed as a flower of sympathy, in Asia, they’re known to signify life and rebirth. In America, chrysanthemums stand for honour and respect. In Japan, they symbolise health, happiness and immortality. Here in the UK, we use chrysanthemums to denote happiness and friendship. While in Australia they’re a big favourite for Mother’s Day – largely because they contain the word ‘mum’ in their name! – and as such, are associated with family love and support.
As with most other flower types, the colour of the flower also impacts upon the meaning attributed to chrysanthemums. Red is the usual choice for romantic bouquets. Yellow can imply sorrow. And white chrysanthemums are usually thought to denote purity, loyalty and devotion.
The longevity
Of course, chrysanthemums are also really long-lived once cut. The average bloom will last for at least a fortnight in a vase – longer if properly cared for. And that’s really impressive. It also makes chrysanthemums really great value for money. And a lovely choice for a gift bouquet, as they hang around an awful lot longer than many other flowers.
Chrysanthemums are more than just a pretty face
While we love chrysanthemums for their cheery vibrancy and lasting colour, they’ve been used medicinally* for centuries. Chrysanthemum tea is, admittedly, an acquired taste, but it’s packed with beneficial substances, including calcium, beta-carotene, magnesium, potassium, ascorbic acid, iron and Vitamin C, among other things. And it’s believed to help relieve a variety of health complaints, from headaches and sore throats, to inflammation, skin conditions and anxiety.
And as an added bonus, chrysanthemums are air purifying powerhouses. So, they can be a great addition to any home.
Chrysanthemums might not posses the romance of the rose or the splendour of the orchid, but when it comes to floristry, these blooms are real ‘doers’! They’re vibrant, versatile, long-lasting and lovely. We simply wouldn’t be without them.
Are you looking to send a friend a floral smile this November? Why not look out for some chrysanthemums amongst our stunning winter flower arrangements?
*We should just emphasise here that it’s not a good idea to make your own chrysanthemum tea from the garden or a floral arrangement. It’s much better to purchase pre-prepared compounds. And always check with your GP before taking any remedies to ensure that they won’t compromise any other medicines you might be taking, or exacerbate any existing health conditions.