菊花在秋天盛放，生命力顽强，不畏寒冷。对中国人来说，菊是清洁隐逸的代表。它不欲与其他花朵争奇斗艳，宁愿在寒冷的环境中安静盛放，不追求别人的赞誉，而只在乎本心的清洁。
In the autumn, Chrysanthemums come into full bloom, strong and fearless of cold. To the Chinese, the chrysanthemum is a symbol of nobility and aloofness. It would rather come into full bloom alone in cold weather than compete with the other flowers. What it seeks is not public praise but inner purity and virtue.
Chrysanthemum在16世纪末期传入英语，这个单词源于希腊语krysanthemon（金色的花朵）。第一个组成部分krysos意为“金色的”，是形容蝶蛹的生物学术语。Anthos表示“花朵”，它也是anthology的词根。Anthology意为 “鲜花大全”，在17世纪初期时，这个单词用来表示短诗集。
采菊东篱下，悠然见南山
Picking chrysanthemums
By the eastern fence，
I catch a distant glimpse
Of the hills to the south.
——【东晋】陶渊明《饮酒（其五）》
