Chrysanthemum
The Mum
When the winter chrysanthemums go,
there’s nothing to write about
but radishes.
This perennial favorite is a part of a huge family. He sparkles in the fall, bringing wonderful colors to the landscape. Blooming in the chilly air of autumn, he foretells that winter is almost upon us. Not to worry, though. As a friend of the heart chakra, the mum brings us hope. His leaves are deeply lobed and are arranged alternately, balancing complexity with order. Like the old man that he is, his stem stalks are lightly woody and almost bruised looking close to the base. His showy flowers are actually composed of many individual flowers together. The Chinese name for chrysanthemum is 菊花 which can translate to “gathering together”. This gentleman is hardy and hale, a down to earth fellow with a soft side. He represents noble, dignified and tough men. The chrysanthemum is a symbol of the virtue to withstand adversity.
The Magic of Chrysanthemum
Correspondences
Element: Fire
Gender: Masculine
Sabbat: Samhain
Planet: Sun
Chakra: Heart
Spellwork
Heal
Think
Joy
Protect
Grief
Proverb
Chinese: If you would be happy for a lifetime, grow chrysanthemums.
The Medicine of Chrysanthemum
Ayurvedic
Not Applicable
Herbology
Anti-inflammatory
Antibacterial
Demulcent
Febrifuge
Hepatic
Hypotensive
TCM
TCM Name: Jú huā
Botanical Name: Chrysanthemum morifolium
Common Name: Chrysanthemum
Energy: Cold
Flavor: Sweet, Bitter
Organs: Lung, Liver
Movement: Release the Exterior
Safety: Caution with qi deficiency, diarrhea, and poor appetite
Science of Chrysanthemum
Botany
Botanical Name: Chrysanthemum morifolium
Family: Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Type of Plant: Herbaceous Perennial
Habitat: Fertile well-drained soil, Sun
Zone: 5-9
Bloom Time: September – Frost
Height: 1-2 feet
Spread: 1-2 feet
Propagation: Cuttings
Harvest: Collect flowers after dew dries
Part Used: Flower
Constituents: Flavonoids, Quercetin, Acacetin
Native Region: China
Sustainability: Good
Leaf
Structure: Simple
Arrangement: Alternate
Shape: Lobed pinnatifid
Length: 1-4 inches
Margins: Toothed
Surface: Pubescent and fleshy
Flower
Inflorescence: Compound
Sexuality: Imperfect
Stamen: In ray florets, bisexual
Petals: Female ray florets
Color: Varies
Size: 1-3 inch
Sacred Story
The beautiful Chrysanthemum is one of the Four Gentlemen in Chinese herbalism. Also called the Four Noble Ones, these special plants have been honored since the tenth century due to their refined beauty, as well as the moral characters with which the Chinese scholars have imbued them. The Four Gentlemen also represent the four seasons: Plum blossom is winter, Orchid is spring, Bamboo is summer, and our sweet Chrysanthemum is autumn. It was the favorite flower of the great poet Tao Yuanmin, who wrote:
I pluck chrysanthemums under the eastern hedge,
And gaze afar towards the southern mountains.
The mountain air is fine at evening of the day
And flying birds return together homewards.
Within these things there is a hint of Truth,
But when I start to tell it, I cannot find the words.
