Everyone knows that they have a specific birthstone that is placed in jewelry and trinkets to signify the month they were born in. However, many people don't know that just like the stones, each month has a flower or two as well, which symbolizes birth. Here is the history and meaning behind your birth flower.

October: Cosmos
Alternate: Calendula

The Cosmos includes 20-26 species of annual plants native to scrub and meadow areas in Mexico, the southern United States (Arizona, Florida), Central America and northern South America south to Paraguay.

The plant can grow up to 2m tall and has simple leaves and petals. The flower colors vary between the different species. The plants are often used as decoration in gardens and around a home.

Cosmos is the Greek word for harmony or ordered universe. They are a pest free plant which helps keep bugs at a minimum in gardens and green houses, and grow very well in dry, hot climates like Texas. If planted in rich, fertile soil, tall plants will grow. Some species of the Cosmos requires constant sunlight through out the day and should not be planted in an area where it will have shade for a big part of the day. Because it is one of the easiest plants to grow it can be planted at various time including the spring for summer blooming or mid-summer for early fall blooming.

Fun and interesting fact: The Cosmos got its name from the Spanish priests grew the Cosmos in their gardens in Mexico. The evenly placed petals led them to christen the flower with the name it is now known by.