The November birth flower is the chrysanthemum; November is the only month with a single birth flower. Its meaning changes with color and country: red means love, white means purity, and yellow means slighted love.
The November birth flower is the chrysanthemum, often shortened to “mum.” The chrysanthemum also carries sharply different meanings in different countries: in the United States it is a birthday and fall decoration flower whose meaning follows its color, in China and Japan it stands for long life and youthfulness, and in France it is the flower placed on graves on All Saints’ Day, November 1.
This page covers the chrysanthemum’s meanings by color and by country, its history, its flower forms, how it blooms, and pet safety.
Table of Contents
What is the November birth flower?
The November birth flower is the chrysanthemum, a fall-blooming perennial in the daisy family.
The table summarizes its key facts.
| Attribute | Chrysanthemum |
|---|---|
| Rank for November | Only birth flower |
| Common names | Mum, garden mum, florist’s chrysanthemum, autumn mum |
| Main garden species | Chrysanthemum × morifolium |
| Plant family | Asteraceae (daisy family) |
| Origin | Asia; a complex hybrid of five Chinese species |
| Plant type | Herbaceous perennial |
| Height | 1 to 3 feet |
| Bloom time | Fall, triggered by shorter days |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5a to 9b |
| Common colors | Yellow, orange, bronze, red, purple, pink, white |
| Toxic to pets (ASPCA) | Toxic to dogs, cats, and horses |
Plant details come from the North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.
What does the chrysanthemum symbolize?
The chrysanthemum’s meaning depends on its color in the Western language of flowers and on the country where it is given. The Old Farmer’s Almanac lists color meanings, and the chrysanthemum’s cultural meanings differ sharply between Asia, Europe, and North America.
Chrysanthemum meaning by color
The table lists the color meanings given by The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
| Color | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Red | “I love you” |
| White | Innocence, purity, and pure love |
| Yellow | Slighted love |
Yellow chrysanthemums are widely sold in fall, but their traditional meaning is negative. For a romantic November birthday gift, red chrysanthemums carry the meaning “I love you.”
Chrysanthemum meaning by country
A chrysanthemum can mean long life, love, or mourning depending on where it is given. The table compares the main traditions.
| Country or region | Main meaning | Occasion |
|---|---|---|
| China | Long life, youthfulness | Medicinal and culinary use |
| Japan | Long life, the imperial family | Chrysanthemum Festival, September 9; imperial crest |
| France | Mourning and remembrance | All Saints’ Day, November 1 |
| United States and United Kingdom | Love (by color), fall decoration | Birthdays, fall displays |
The Old Farmer’s Almanac notes that Chinese and Japanese cultures both regard chrysanthemums as symbols of youthfulness, and records a Chinese tradition that a single petal placed in wine promotes long life. Anyone sending chrysanthemums to France should know that the flower is strongly linked to cemeteries there.
The chrysanthemum in China and Japan
The chrysanthemum was first cultivated in China as a culinary herb and reached Japan around the Heian period (794 to 1185). According to the New York Botanical Garden, the chrysanthemum was “first cultivated centuries ago in China” and “used primarily as a culinary herb.”
Japan’s imperial chrysanthemum
The chrysanthemum is the symbol of Japan’s imperial family. According to Nippon.com, the flower became associated with the throne through Emperor Go-Toba’s preference for the design during the Kamakura period, and the official imperial crest, a chrysanthemum with 16 double petals, was formally established in the Meiji era. The imperial throne is known as the Chrysanthemum Throne for this reason.
The Chrysanthemum Festival on September 9
Japan’s Chrysanthemum Festival, Chōyō no sekku, falls on September 9 each year. Nippon.com describes it as a festival honoring “the medicinal properties of chrysanthemums in bringing good health and longevity.”
The same source notes that chrysanthemums are also eaten in Japan: yellow petals accompany sashimi, and the enmeiraku variety is steeped in hot water as a drink.
The chrysanthemum in France: All Saints’ Day
In France, chrysanthemums are the traditional flower placed on graves for All Saints’ Day, La Toussaint, on November 1. According to The Connexion, the custom dates to 1919, when President Raymond Poincaré called for flowers to be placed on the graves of soldiers on the first anniversary of Armistice Day, November 11.
Chrysanthemums were chosen because they flower late in the year and can resist moderate frost, so they were available in November. White blooms were used at first, a color that represents mourning.
Millions of chrysanthemums are bought in France every year for the occasion, according to The Connexion. The table lists the November dates linked to the flower in 2026 and 2027.
| Occasion | 2026 date | 2027 date |
|---|---|---|
| Chrysanthemum Festival (Japan) | Wednesday, September 9, 2026 | Thursday, September 9, 2027 |
| All Saints’ Day (France and Catholic countries) | Sunday, November 1, 2026 | Monday, November 1, 2027 |
| Armistice Day | Wednesday, November 11, 2026 | Thursday, November 11, 2027 |
In the United States, November 11 is observed as Veterans Day.
How chrysanthemums bloom
Chrysanthemums bloom in fall because shorter days trigger their flowers. North Carolina Extension notes that garden mums flower in autumn rather than in spring or summer, and that blooming is triggered by the shorter day lengths of fall. Because of this response to day length, chrysanthemums reach peak bloom in fall, when most other garden flowers have finished.
Growers also shape the plants before they bloom. North Carolina Extension recommends cutting plants back three times during spring and summer, with the last cut around mid-August, to produce bushy, compact growth. The Old Farmer’s Almanac advises covering garden mums with several inches of straw after the fall bloom to protect them over winter.
Chrysanthemum flower forms
The National Chrysanthemum Society, USA, divides chrysanthemums into 13 classes by flower form. The New York Botanical Garden lists the classes, and the table groups them by appearance.
| Group | Classes |
|---|---|
| Incurved (petals curve inward) | Irregular incurve, regular incurve, intermediate incurve |
| Reflexed and decorative | Reflex, decorative |
| Round and compact | Pompon |
| Daisy-like | Single and semi-double, anemone |
| Tubular petals | Spoon, quill, spider, brush and thistle |
| Other | Unusual |
The spider and quill forms, with long tubular petals, look very different from the mounded garden mums sold in fall, although all belong to the same genus.
Are chrysanthemums safe for pets?
Chrysanthemums are toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, according to the ASPCA. The ASPCA lists the toxic principles as sesquiterpene lactones, pyrethrins, and other potential irritants. Clinical signs include vomiting, diarrhea, hypersalivation, incoordination, and dermatitis. Pyrethrins, one of the toxic compounds, are the same natural insecticides extracted from related chrysanthemum-family plants.
Keep potted mums and bouquets out of reach of pets, especially in fall, when mums are sold widely for porches and doorsteps.
Other November birthday symbols
People born in November have two birthstones: citrine and topaz. Jewelers of America lists both on the modern birthstone list, which was standardized in 1912. The golden color of citrine matches the yellow and bronze chrysanthemums common in November.
| November symbol | Item |
|---|---|
| Birth flower | Chrysanthemum |
| November Birthstones | Citrine, topaz |
| Holiday linked to the flower | All Saints’ Day, November 1 (France) |
The months on either side have two flowers each. The October birth flower is the marigold, with cosmos as the second flower, and the December birth flower is the narcissus, with holly as the second.
What the November birth flower is not
The November birth flower is not the oxeye daisy or the Shasta daisy, which were once classified in the genus Chrysanthemum but now belong to Leucanthemum.
It is also not the painted daisy sold under the old name Chrysanthemum coccineum, a source of natural pyrethrum.
Finally, the November birth flower is not the flower for the Scorpio or Sagittarius zodiac signs, which follow star sign dates that change in late November.
Frequently asked questions
What is the birth flower for November?
The birth flower for November is the chrysanthemum. November is the only month with a single birth flower in the standard US list published by The Old Farmer’s Almanac. Every other month has two flowers. The chrysanthemum blooms in fall, which makes it naturally in season for November birthdays.
What does the November birth flower mean?
The chrysanthemum’s meaning depends on color and country. The Old Farmer’s Almanac lists red as “I love you,” white as innocence and purity, and yellow as slighted love. In China and Japan, chrysanthemums symbolize long life, while in France they are associated with mourning and All Saints’ Day.
Why is the chrysanthemum a funeral flower in France?
Chrysanthemums became France’s graveside flower after 1919, when President Raymond Poincaré called for flowers on soldiers’ graves for the first anniversary of Armistice Day. Chrysanthemums were chosen because they bloom late and resist moderate frost. They are now placed on graves every year for All Saints’ Day, November 1.
Why does November have only one birth flower?
November has one birth flower because the standard US list, published by The Old Farmer’s Almanac, assigns only the chrysanthemum to the month. No official body sets birth flowers, so the list reflects tradition. UK florist lists also give the chrysanthemum as November’s only flower.
Are chrysanthemums toxic to cats and dogs?
Yes. The ASPCA lists chrysanthemums as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. The toxic compounds include sesquiterpene lactones and pyrethrins, and signs include vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, incoordination, and skin irritation. Keep potted mums and chrysanthemum bouquets away from pets.
What is the November birthstone?
November has two birthstones, citrine and topaz, according to Jewelers of America. The modern birthstone list was standardized in 1912 by the American National Retail Jewelers Association. Citrine’s golden color pairs with the yellow and bronze chrysanthemums sold in November.
Sources:
- The Old Farmer’s Almanac – November Birth Flower
- NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox – Chrysanthemum × morifolium
- New York Botanical Garden – Chrysanthemum History and Flower Forms
- Nippon.com – The Chrysanthemum: Japan’s Fall Flower and Imperial Symbol
- The Connexion – Why chrysanthemums are the flower of Toussaint
- ASPCA – Chrysanthemum
- Jewelers of America – Birthstones
