Aster Flower Meaning

"Where flowers bloom so does hope." - Lady Bird Johnson

The exhilarating beauty of flowers has always been a source of inspiration and fascination for people all around the world of all ages. Their intoxicating smell and the rainbow of colors that they are available in, have an enthralling effect. Whether it is for expressing your love or as a gesture of affection or even as a source of inspiration for poets, flowers are an integral part of our lives and are a staple on birthdays, funerals, graduation and weddings . One of the most popular and beautiful flowers is the aster. With their wildflower beauty and lush textures, asters have always been considered an enchanting flower. But, besides being beautiful they also have a special flower meaning behind them.

Asters are beautiful wild perennial flowers that are found mostly in North America and Southern Europe. They are a popular choice for flower gardens because of their pretty and jazzy flower heads along with their wide range of colors. The aster flower family has more than 600 species which are widely distributed all over the world, one of the most common aster flower varieties being the Monte Casino. The word aster is derived from Greek and means "starlike flowers", mostly because of the shape of their blossoms. Asters are available in a variety of exotic colors from white, red, pink, purple, lavender, blue and even bi-colors. No matter what the color of the flower is, most of the flower heads are yellow. These flowers flourish best in the late summer up till the beginning of autumn.

Aster Flower Facts

• The aster flower is not a single flower. While the aster may look like a single flower, it is actually a collection of very tiny tubular flowers, that are grouped together in a central disk and surrounded by colorful petals. This gives the illusion of a sole flower.
• Similar to daisies, asters have a star-shaped flower head. Just like the stars in the sky, asters are found abundantly throughout the world as they grow in a wide range of climates from the tropics to cooler regions in the North.
• The origin of aster dates back over 4,000 years and has been used to decorate homes and gardens for centuries. Asters are part of the largest family of flowering plant-families, Asteraceae . Approximately 600 species are a part of the aster genus which are native to North America and can be easily spotted throughout the country for their lovely clusters of purple, blue, pink, white, or red petals.
• Another interesting aster flower fact is that aster is the common name attributed to this flower throughout the universe. This flower is called aster even in many other languages throughout the world, including Swedish, Spanish, French, and Dutch.
• Asters most commonly bloom during the late summer and fall months. In October, when the leaves begin to fall and the sky begins to darken, asters liven the surroundings with their lovely pastel colors.
• Asters are very versatile and besides being used in gardens or as fresh cut flowers, in certain countries like Denmark and Holland, they are commonly seen and used to create an eye-catching windowsill decoration. Since they are a smaller flower than a daisy they are the perfect size for many windowsills. They are also ideal for tabletop bouquets or centerpieces, flower arrangements either on their own or as a complement to other festive flowers.

Aster Flower Meaning and Symbolism

Besides being exotically beautiful, it also has special flower meaning. So, what is the meaning of the aster flower? While the exact meaning of aster flower is not very clear, there are a lot of different versions associated with aster flower meaning. In ancient times, it was believed that the perfume from their burning leaves would drive the evil serpents away. This is the reason that it was seen in a lot of home gardens. Another meaning is that they came into being when the Greek goddess Asterea cried, thus they are considered a love charm that has mystical powers. Also, asters were laid on the grave of French soldiers as a symbol for their wish for a revised ending to the battle.

Today, while some believe that they are a symbol of love and patience, others believe that giving someone asters often means "I am not sure whether you are being faithful or not". So be careful about whom you give asters to. Beside this, the aster is the birth flower of September.

With so many interesting facts and meanings associated with it, it is no wonder that people love growing asters and using them as decoration for their homes and gardens. They are refreshing and exotic beautiful flowers that have been loved by people all over the world for centuries.