Birth Month Flowers: What Do They Mean?13 May 2025Every month brings its own unique blooms, carrying centuries of symbolism and meaning. Birth flowers, much like birthstones, connect us to nature and offer insights into the characteristics of each month of the year. These botanical symbols have been woven into folklore, art and cultural traditions worldwide and, in more recent times, offer a great starting point for gift giving ideas. Whether you were born under January’s carnation, June’s rose or December’s narcissus, your birth flower reveals something about you! Wondering “What’s my birth flower?”? Learn more about the birth flowers of each month in our handy guide! January: Carnation and Snowdrop February: Violet and Primrose March: Daffodil and Jonquil April: Daisy and Sweet Pea May: Lily of the Valley and Hawthorn June: Rose and Honeysuckle July: Larkspur and Water Lily August: Gladiolus and Poppy September: Aster and Morning Glory October: Marigold and Cosmos November: Chrysanthemum December: Narcissus and Holly January: Carnation and Snowdrop January’s birth flowers, the carnation and snowdrop, embody the quiet strength needed during winter’s coldest days. Carnations, with their ruffled petals and spicy clove-like scent, have been cultivated for over 2,000 years, symbolising fascination, distinction and love. Available in a variety of colours from pure white to deep crimson, each shade carries its own unique meaning—white for pure love, red for admiration and pink for a mother’s undying love. The snowdrop, January’s secondary birth flower, emerges through frozen ground as one of the first blooms of the year, representing hope and rebirth. These delicate white flowers have been viewed as symbols of consolations and hope throughout history. February: Violet and Primrose February’s birth flowers, the violet and primrose, bring colour to the final days of winter. The sweet-scented violet has been a favourite for a reason. With its heart shaped leaves and distinctive purple-blue blooms, these flowers are typically associated with modesty, faithfulness and virtue. In fact, in the Victorian language of flowers, violets were often exchanged as tokens of affection between lovers who had to keep their relationships secret. The primrose is one of the earliest blooms with its cheerful yellow flowers brightening woodland floors. Its name derives from “prima rosa”, meaning “first rose”, though it belongs to a different family altogether. Symbolising youth, new beginnings and undeniable love, primroses perfectly complement February’s association with romance and Valentine’s Day. March: Daffodil and Jonquil March’s birth flower, the daffodil (including its jonquil varieties), showcases spring’s arrival with trumpet-shaped blooms that announce the season with golden flare. These hardy perennials push through the last of winter’s frost, embodying persistence and rebirth. Native to meadows and woods across Europe and North Africa, daffodils have been celebrated in poetry and folklore for centuries. Daffodils are also known as Narcissus, its scientific name. This name connects them to the Greek myth of the youth who fell in love with his own reflection. However, daffodils have come to symbolise new beginnings, rebirth and sunshine rather than vanity. Across the world, you can also find daffodils to represent good fortune (Wales) as well as joy and prosperity (China). April: Daisy and Sweet Pea April’s birth flowers, the daisy and sweet pea, capture the essence of spring in full bloom. The humble daisy, with its perfect symmetry of white petals radiating from a golden center, has been a symbol of innocence and purity since ancient times. The name derives from “day’s eye,” as the flowers open at dawn and close at dusk. The sweet pea brings its delicate butterfly-shaped blooms and intoxicating fragrance to spring gardens. Introduced to Western gardens from Sicily in the 17th century, these climbing annuals symbolise blissful pleasure, gratitude and departures as well as simple joys and renewal. May: Lily of the Valley and Hawthorn May’s birth flowers embody the fullness of spring’s transition into summer. The lily of the valley, with its delicate bell-shaped white flowers and sweet, distinctive perfume, has been treasured since medieval times. In Christian tradition, these flowers have been associated with the Virgin Mary and are said to have sprung from Eve’s tears when she was expelled from Eden. Other symbolic meanings include sweetness, humility and a return to happiness. The hawthorn offers a contrast with its masses of white or pink blossoms that cover thorny branches. These blooms have been long associated with protection and hope in Celtic traditions as well as a time of sweetness and abundance. June: Rose and Honeysuckle June’s birth flowers showcase summer’s passionate arrival with their intoxicating scents and luxurious blooms. The rose, universally known as the queen of flowers, has captivated humanity for years with its perfect symmetry and silken petals. Roses have appeared in garden paintings found in Egyptian tombs, mythologies of ancient Greece and medieval heraldry throughout Europe. With a variety of colours to choose from, the rose can represent numerous thoughts and feelings including red for passionate love, white for purity and pink for admiration. Honeysuckle, on the other hand, weaves its sweetly scented vines through gardens and woodland edges, attracting hummingbirds and moths with nectar-filled blooms. Symbolising deviated affection and the bonds of love, honeysuckle represents the generous spirit of June, when daylight is the longest in the year and nature’s abundance reaches its peak. July: Larkspur and Water Lily July’s birth flowers reflect the month’s contrasting elements of the summer heat and cooling waters. The larkspur is characterised by its tall spikes of star-shaped blooms in vivid blues, purples, pinks and whites. These dramatic flowers have adorned gardens since the medieval times, symbolising an open heart, strong attachment and lightness of spirit. The water lily floats serenely on pond surfaces, opening pristine petals at dawn and closing them at sunset. These remarkable plants have evolved to thrive in still waters with their roots anchored in mud while their flowers sit above water creating a beautiful metaphor for remaining pure and enlightened despite challenging surroundings. August: Gladiolus and Poppy August’s birth flowers reflect the bold and dramatic energy of late summer. The gladiolus has tall spikes of trumpet-shaped blooms standing at attention in any garden. Growing up to five feet tall with flowers in nearly every colour except blue, the gladioli symbolise strength of character, moral integrity and remembrance. The poppy dazzles with tissue-paper like petals in vibrant reds, oranges, yellows and whites. Throughout history, poppies have symbolised both sleep and resurrection as they can have narcotic properties and can lie dormant for years before bursting into bloom after soil disturbance. In the language of flowers, poppies speak of imagination, eternal sleep and consolation. September: Aster and Morning Glory September’s flowers bridge summer’s fading warmth with autumn’s approaching coolness with distinctive blooms. The aster produces daisy-like flowers with pointed petals radiating from yellow centers, primarily in shades of purple, blue, pink and white. These resilient perennials typically bloom in late summer until the first frost, symbolising patience, elegance and faith. The morning glory unfurls its trumpet-shaped blooms each dawn, only to close them by afternoon. This cycle represents the fleeting nature of life and affection that persists despite obstacles. With their heart-shaped leaves and spiraling vines, morning glories embody determination and renewal as well as unrequited love or love in vain. October: Marigold and Cosmos October’s birth flowers echo autumn’s fiery palette and ethereal beauty. The marigold, with its densely-petaled blooms in gold, orange and russet tones, has been associated with the sun and immortality across cultures for centuries. Across history, we can see the marigold used in Día de los Muertos celebrations guiding spirits back to Earth and Indian weddings celebrating passion and creativity. The cosmos offers an airy, daisy-like bloom that stands on tall stems above feathery foliage. Their name, derived from the Greek word for “harmony”, reflects their perfectly balanced form. Native to Mexico, the cosmos symbolises order, peace and the beauty of modesty. November: Chrysanthemum November’s birth flower arrives as autumn starts to fade, bringing bold colour to gardens when most other blooms have left. First cultivated in China over 3,000 years ago, these complex flowers were considered one of the Four Noble Plants, along with plum blossoms, orchids and bamboo. The chrysanthemum’s name derives from the Greek words meaning “golden flower”, though modern varieties display in every colour except blue. Their intricate petals form shapes resembling pompoms, buttons and quills. In Asian cultures, chrysanthemums symbolise longevity and joy, with the Japanese celebrating Chrysanthemum Day as a festival of happiness. Western traditions associate them with honesty, friendship and well-wishes. With their remarkable ability to bloom amid frost and early snowfall, the chrysanthemum reminds us that beauty persists even in seasons of decline. December: Narcissus and Holly December’s birth flowers embody the month’s dual nature of reflection and celebration. The narcissus produces clusters of delicate white flowers with a honeyed fragrance that perfumes entire rooms. Ancient Greeks believed these blooms sprang from the body of Narcissus, as we mentioned earlier, but these flowers typically represent self-reflection, renewal and the promise of spring in modern day. The holly has adorned winter celebrations since pre-Christian times. Its prickly leaves and bright red berries symbolise protection and foresight, while Christian traditions later associated it with Christ’s crown of thorns and sacrificial blood. The combination of these blooms encourage us to reflect on the year ending while being cheerful for the new year to come. Create the Perfect Gift with a Bouquet of Birth Flowers Flowers mean more than just a pretty centerpiece. The official birth month flowers have an intricate history and embody our thoughts and feelings each season. With a bouquet of birth flowers, you can create a meaningful gift that truly represents your loved one. Looking for the perfect gift? Show your loved ones you care with a floral arrangement of birth flowers! Simply, get in touch with our floral experts today. FAQs What are the birth flowers of each month? Want to know what your birth flower is? Here’s a quick summary of birthday flowers by month: January: Carnation and Snowdrop February: Violet and Primrose March: Daffodil and Jonquil April: Daisy and Sweet Pea May: Lily of the Valley and Hawthorn June: Rose and Honeysuckle July: Larkspur and Water Lily August: Gladiolus and Poppy September: Aster and Morning Glory October: Marigold and Cosmos November: Chrysanthemum December: Narcissus and Holly Does everyone have two birth flowers? Most months have a primary and secondary birth flower, though some traditions only recognise one of these flowers. November is an exception as Chrysanthemums are the only birth flower of this month. The dual flower tradition evolved as different cultures contributed their own symbolic blooms to the calendar, eventually merging into the modern system we know today. Are birth flowers and zodiac flowers the same? Official birth month flowers are assigned by calendar month while zodiac flowers correspond to the astrological signs that span portions of two different months. Though there’s often overlap between them (like roses for June and Cancer), they come from different traditions with birthday flowers by month coming from Victorian-era floriography and zodiac flowers from ancient astrological practices. Related Articles Modern Vs. Traditional Easter Bouquets Traditional vs Exotic Mother’s Day Flowers Why Do We Give Red Roses on Valentine’s Day?