About Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums are autumn's flower of remembrance, laid on graves across Europe and Asia. They bring protection and long life and are a natural fit for Samhain and ancestor altars.
Traditional grave and ancestor-remembrance flower, fitting for Samhain altars.
History & folklore
In China, the chrysanthemum is one of the Four Gentlemen of flowers and stands for long life and the nobility of autumn. In Japan it is the imperial emblem. Across much of Europe, chrysanthemums are laid on graves on All Saints' Day, making them a natural flower of remembrance.
Correspondences
- Traditional uses
- Protection, longevity
- Latin name
- Chrysanthemum morifolium
- Element
- Fire
- Planet
- Sun
- Best day
- Sunday
- Moon phase
- Waning moon — for protection, clearing and letting go
- Intentions
- Protection
Ways to work with it
- Place chrysanthemums on an ancestor altar at Samhain.
- Grow them in the garden for protection of the home.
- Offer a single bloom when visiting a grave.
Growing & gathering
Chrysanthemums are easy garden and pot plants that bloom in autumn. Buy them in pots at Samhain and plant them out afterward, or use cut flowers fresh on your altar. Dried petals also work in sachets.
Chrysanthemums are toxic to cats and dogs, and can cause skin irritation.
A simple sample spell
Patient attention
You will need: A dried chrysanthemum flower in a closed container and a notebook.
- Choose a skill or responsibility that needs consistency.
- Draw seven petals around its name and set the closed container beside the page.
- Say, “May steady care outlast my hurry.”
- Practice for five minutes a day and mark one petal afterward. Store the flower and review the week without judging a missed day.
This original Flint & Flicker spell is a symbolic practice for reflection and intention, not a guarantee of results. It needs no flame, ingestion or skin application. Use a closed, labeled packet or a drawing if handling the herb is unsuitable; keep all materials away from children and pets.
Pairs well with
St. John's WortProtection, courage, Litha
MarigoldPsychic power, protection, legal matters
VervainProtection, purification, love
CloveProtection, money, banishing gossipCorrespondences are traditional associations gathered from folk practice and modern craft books. They vary between sources, and they are not medical advice. Read our editorial approach.