September Birth Flower – Garden Ideas for Oxfordshire Homes
Asters and Morning Glory – Beautiful September Birth Flowers
If you’re looking for inspiration this autumn, our September birth flowers garden ideas show how asters and morning glories can bring colour, charm, and meaning to your garden. These two plants are not only rich in symbolism but also wonderful performers in late-season borders, adding vibrancy when many summer flowers are fading. September is a month of transition in the garden. The bright, hot colours of summer begin to soften into richer, more reflective tones as autumn approaches. It’s also the month of two beautiful birth flowers: the aster and the morning glory. Both aster and morning glory offer opportunities to bring late-season beauty into your borders and patios, keeping your garden colourful right through to the first frosts.
Asters – Starry September Blooms
Asters (often called Michaelmas daisies) are the quintessential September birth flower. Their daisy-like blooms light up borders in shades of violet, purple, pink and white, offering valuable nectar for bees and butterflies as the season cools.
Varieties we recommend for Oxfordshire gardens:
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Aster × frikartii ‘Mönch’ – Lavender-blue flowers, blooming from July to October. Reliable and mildew-resistant.
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Symphyotrichum novi-belgii ‘Purple Dome’ – A compact variety with rich purple flowers, perfect for smaller gardens.
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Aster amellus ‘King George’ – Striking violet flowers, thriving in sunny spots and on chalky soils found across parts of Oxfordshire.
How and when to grow:
- Planting time: Spring or autumn, when soil is workable.
- Position: Full sun is best, though they tolerate light shade.
- Soil: Moist but well-drained. Improve heavy Oxfordshire clay with compost or grit.
- Care: Divide clumps every 3–4 years to keep plants vigorous. Deadhead regularly for prolonged flowering.
Best companions for asters:
- Pair with rudbeckias or echinaceas for a striking contrast of yellow and purple.
- Combine with ornamental grasses such as Miscanthus sinensis or Panicum virgatum to give movement and texture.
- For softer schemes, mix with Japanese anemones and sedums for a gentle, romantic September palette.
If you want to see a spectacular display of asters, I recently went to visit the gardens at Aston Potteries and was amazed at the glorious colours on display so late in the season! Well worth a visit.
Morning Glories – A Touch of the Exotic
The second of the September birth flowers is the morning glory (Ipomoea). These fast-growing climbers unfurl trumpet-shaped blooms in the morning sun, closing by afternoon. Their colours — from sky-blue to deep purple and pink — bring a tropical feel to late-summer gardens.
Varieties to try:
- Ipomoea tricolor ‘Heavenly Blue’ – The classic sky-blue flower, perfect on trellises or obelisks.
- Ipomoea purpurea ‘Grandpa Ott’ – Deep purple blooms with a magenta star, very striking.
- Ipomoea nil – A bold pink variety that brings drama to garden walls.
How and when to grow:
- Sow indoors: From April in a warm, bright spot. Seeds benefit from nicking or soaking before sowing.
- Plant out: After the last frosts, late May or early June, into fertile, well-drained soil.
- Support: Provide trellis, canes, or arches — they’ll climb rapidly in warm weather.
- Care: Water well in dry spells and feed weekly with a liquid fertiliser during flowering.
Best companions for morning glories:
- Grow with sweet peas for a mix of fragrance and colour.
- Combine with nasturtiums for an informal cottage-garden look.
- Train alongside climbing roses or clematis for a more permanent framework with seasonal variety.
Designing with September Birth Flowers
Whether you’re working with a sunny border or a patio with pots, both asters and morning glories can add depth and colour to your planting scheme. As part of our garden design work across Oxfordshire, we often use asters to extend the season of a perennial border, while morning glories are perfect for bringing vertical colour to smaller gardens.
One of our favourite September birth flowers garden ideas is to create a “birthday border” for your family — weaving in each person’s birth flower so that the garden celebrates your loved ones throughout the year. For September birthdays, you’ll be rewarded with rich purples, glowing blues, and plenty of late-season cheer.
Contact us here for ideas on how to create your perfect September garden, and let us help you design a space that celebrates the beauty and meaning of your birth flowers here in Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties.