Birth Month Flowers and What They Mean (A Guide)
Table of Contents
Birth month flowers are excellent choices if you’re searching for a gift to celebrate someone’s birthday. Like birthstones, these flowers have various meanings, and they can convey heartwarming messages that can put a smile on someone’s face. So, what are the different birth month flowers and what do they symbolize?
January – Carnation and Snowdrop
Carnation is also known as the flower of the gods and is popular for its sweet scent and ruffled petals. This beautiful flower symbolizes love, fascination, and distinction. Carnations come in different colors, and their meaning varies, depending on the hues. The pink carnation represents a mother’s love, the white symbolizes good luck and innocent love, and the red means love, affection, and admiration.
As for snowdrops, they are a symbol of hope and rebirth because they bloom between January and March, the end of winter, and the start of spring. Because of their white color, these charming blossoms also represent innocence, purity, and sympathy.
February – Violet and Primrose
Violets are famous for their purple hue, but this flower also comes in various colors such as white, yellow, and blue. In general, this unassuming blossom represents faithfulness, modesty, and humility. Aside from that, it also has other meanings in other cultures. For instance, the early Romans consider this flower as a symbol of remembrance, and they use them to honor a deceased person. The ancient Greeks, on the other hand, use violets as a symbol of love and fertility.
Another birth month flower for February is primrose. This simple yet adorable blossom represents youth, birth, and new beginnings. The reason is that primrose is among the first flowers to bloom in spring.
March – Daffodil
Daffodil is considered a happy flower, and it is the birth month flower of March. Because it has a cheerful yellow color, some people use this flower as a reminder that the sun will always shine as long as you have loved ones in your life. Aside from that, daffodils also symbolize new beginnings, and they send a message of joy and happiness when given as a bouquet. In some cultures, daffodils are an emblem of luck and good fortune. However, giving someone a single daffodil is not advisable because it is a sign of misfortune or bad luck.
April – Daisy and Sweet Pea
Daisies may have a simple appearance, but they offer a profound message. As a symbol of cheerfulness, this flower encourages people to have a positive point of view in life and believe that even the most unpleasant situations can turn into something beautiful.
Aside from that, a daisy is also a symbol of new beginnings, childbirth, and motherhood. As such, it can be an excellent gift to congratulate new mothers. Lastly, this modest flower also represents purity and innocence.
As for the sweet pea, it is a flower associated with departure and goodbye. Additionally, it also represents blissful pleasures. In fact, giving someone a bouquet of sweet peas means that you are thankful for the lovely time you’ve spent with that person.
May – Lily of the Valley and Hawthorn
The Lily of the Valley is a sweet-scented flower with multiple meanings. In Victorian times, this white blossom meant a return to happiness, and it represented the things that bring us pleasure and joy. Because of its meaning, you can also give this flower to your significant other to ask for forgiveness and resolve a misunderstanding. Finally, this fragrant blossom is also associated with sweetness, humility, and motherhood because of its white color.
The second birth month flower for May is the hawthorn. Unlike most of the flowers on this list, this charming blossom is not given as a bouquet. Instead, it is used as an ornamental hedge in most gardens. The flower symbolizes supreme happiness and hope. It also represents fertility, beauty, and love in some cultures.
June – Rose and Honeysuckle
Roses are an all-time favorite because of their timeless beauty and profound meaning. As you know, this flower is the universal symbol of love. In fact, a lot of people give roses to express their love and affection. However, keep in mind that there are several varieties of roses, and their meanings will vary, depending on their color. The red and pink varieties are often given to convey love and admiration. Yellow roses, on the other hand, signify friendship, while white represents innocence and purity.
Aside from roses, the month of June has another birth flower, which is the honeysuckle. Generally speaking, this flower is a symbol of pure happiness. Aside from that, it can also represent a lover’s embrace because of the way it clings to its environment.
July – Delphiniums and Water Lily
Delphiniums also known as Larkspur is an old-fashioned blossom that comes in a variety of colors, including pink, purple, blue, and white. In general, the flower symbolizes an open heart, the celebration of positivity, and a strong attachment to someone. Purple larkspur represents first love, and blue signifies grace and dignity. White larkspur, on the other hand, means a happy nature, while pink symbolizes fickleness.
Aside from larkspur, the water lily is also a birth flower of July. This blossom has several meanings in various cultures. For the ancient Egyptians, the water lily was a symbol of happiness, delight, and new life. In Buddhism, this flower is also known as the lotus, and it is the symbol of enlightenment and purity. Lastly, a water lily can also represent peace, hope, innocence, and rebirth.
August – Gladiolus and Poppy
The gladiolus has a sword-like structure, and the Victorian romantics believe that it could pierce someone’s heart with its beauty. Aside from that, this flower also has other meanings. To be specific, the gladiolus symbolizes moral integrity, strength of character, and remembrance. For this reason, this beautiful blossom is often used as a sympathy flower to honor a deceased person with strong moral values.
The beautiful poppy represents peace, sleep, and even death. Red poppies also signify remembrance. In fact, people in countries like France, Canada, and United Kingdom wear red poppies on Armistice Day to remember the lives that have been lost in World War I and II.
September – Aster and Morning Glory
In ancient times, people burnt aster leaves because they believed that the scent could drive off evil. Today, the aster flower is used as a talisman of love. Additionally, this simple yet charming blossom has other meanings, depending on its color. For instance, purple asters symbolize loyalty and wisdom, while white represents innocence and purity. Red signifies undying devotion, and pink symbolizes love and sensitivity.
In general, morning glory is a symbol of affection; however, it can also signify unrequited love because of its short lifespan. Aside from that, this flower comes in various colors, so it has other meanings. Like the asters, white morning glory symbolizes purity, while a red represents passion and a strong heart. The blue variety is a symbol of trust and respect, and the pink-colored flower means thoughtfulness, gentle feelings, and romance.
October – Marigold and Cormos
Marigold has golden blossoms that resemble the color of autumn leaves, making it a fitting birth flower for October. Because the marigold is a sturdy flower, it symbolizes determination and stubbornness; however, it also has an uplifting color, which represents creativity, passion, courage, and warmth.
Cosmos is the second birth month flower of October. As a whole, the flower symbolizes harmony and order because of its harmonious petals. Additionally, it can also represent innocence, love, peace, and tranquility.
November – Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums are among the most popular flowers around the world. The reason is not only due to its beauty but because this modest blossom also has several meanings, which vary depending on the culture.
In China, for example, chrysanthemums are usually given to the elderly because they symbolize longevity and good luck. For Australians, it is the official Mother’s Day flower because of its nickname, which is mums. Finally, it is also considered a sympathy or funeral flower in some Asian and European countries because it signifies honor, sympathy, and grief. For October babies, the chrysanthemum makes an excellent gift.
December – Narcissus and Holly
Although most flowers under the genus Narcissus (daffodil) bloom in spring, there is one variety that blossoms in December, which is paperwhite narcissus. In symbolism, this charming flower has many positive meanings. For instance, it symbolizes prosperity, wealth, hope, and good wishes, making it an appropriate birth flower for December or the Christmas season.
Holly is another birth flower for December, and it is used in various Yuletide decorations. When given as a gift, it expresses that you wish domestic happiness for the receiver. Aside from that, the holly is also considered a symbol of fertility and protection in ancient times.
Wrapping Up
Overall, these birth month flowers are excellent gifts you can give to your loved ones on their birthdays. Giving a bouquet of birth month flowers shows thoughtfulness and consideration. However, remember that these are only guidelines. There’s no point giving someone their birth month flower if they don’t like those particular flowers, for example. In that case, choose flowers that you know they’re going to love.
