October Birth Flowers: Marigold and Cosmos
October has two birth flowers with different meanings: the marigold stands for joy, warmth and remembrance, the cosmos for order, harmony and peace.
Marigold
| Scientific name | Tagetes |
|---|---|
| Family | Aster family (Asteraceae) |
| Native to | The Americas, from the southwestern US to South America |
| Blooms | Early summer to the first frost |
| Colors | Yellow, orange, red and gold |
Mary's gold and the Day of the Dead
- "Marigold" is short for "Mary's gold".
- Marigolds have been grown in Mexico for more than 2,000 years and light the way to the ofrendas of the Day of the Dead.
- African marigolds are not from Africa: they came to Europe along a trade route through North Africa.
Cosmos
| Scientific name | Cosmos |
|---|---|
| Family | Aster family (Asteraceae) |
| Native to | Mexico |
| Blooms | Early summer to the first frost |
| Colors | Pink, white, red, orange, yellow and purple |
Cosmos color meanings
| Color | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Red | Love and passion |
| Pink | A mother's love |
| Yellow | Friendship |
| White | Faithfulness |
A Greek name given in Mexico
- Spanish priests in Mexico named it from the Greek kosmos, "order", for its neat petals.
- It reached Spain in the 16th century and was common in US gardens by the mid-1800s.
- It is a popular flower for second wedding anniversaries.
Marigolds and cosmos, garden flowers to cut
Marigolds are best known as garden plants, but tall types make good cut flowers. In NC State trials, cut marigolds lasted about 7 to 12 days depending on cultivar, and the researchers recommended a holding solution such as flower food. The leaves have a strong scent, so Mississippi State University Extension suggests removing all foliage before arranging.
Marigolds want full sun and well-drained soil and handle drought better than wet. Their smell keeps deer and rabbits away.
Cosmos is a summer garden flower, found more often at farmers markets than at florists. It has a short vase life: in NC State trials, cultivars averaged about 5 to 8 days. Cut or buy stems just as the buds begin to open, before the petals unfold.
Cosmos is an easy annual up to 6 feet tall that likes heat, dry soil and half a day of sun or more; do not overwater it.
Pink tourmaline, one of the two October birthstones with opal, matches a pink cosmos. Gold marigolds suit a golden birthday. Mixing in everyone else's birth flowers? The family bouquet builder lists them by month.
Birth flowers for other months
October Birth Flowers questions
Were marigolds and cosmos always the October birth flowers?
No. In 1907 a party book offered the hop vine or the aster for October, and its birth-month calendar just hops. Hops are gone from the Almanac's list, the aster now belongs to September, and neither the marigold nor the cosmos is in either 1907 list.
Published October 12, 2026. Last updated October 28, 2026.