A guide to birth month flowers

The perfect accompaniment to a celebration, flowers bring colour and joy to happy occasions. It’s little wonder, then, that we’ve come to associate certain flowers with birthdays, and more specifically with different birth months. Whether you’re born in January or March, July or November, you will have a flower dedicated to your birth month, and the seasonality and sentiments behind them make them a thoughtful gift for those celebrating a birthday. From cosmos to peonies, roses to carnations, read on to find out which flowers are for each month, or click on your own birthday month to discover your birth flower.

Who decided on birth month flowers?

Birth month flowers are rooted in history. The ancient Romans are believed to have begun the tradition of gifting and decorating with flowers during celebrations, which led to an association of certain blooms and different months. During the Victorian era, the concept of floriography – the symbolism and meaning behind flowers – saw people use flowers to express emotion and sentiment. It’s believed the birth flower was born out of these two traditions, combining both the seasonal and celebratory actions of the Romans with the sentiment of the Victorians.

Why are there two birth flowers for each month?

As you read through the birth flowers below, you’ll notice that each month actually has two blooms dedicated to it, a primary and a secondary. Birth flowers have developed over time, combining seasonality, cultural significance, region and availability, and having two per month reflects this combination of heritage and practicality. It also means there’s more choice when it comes to finding the best birthday flowers – a win-win!

What is the birth flower of January?

Associated with fresh starts and cold winters, January is a month of strength and resilience, and nothing embodies this more than the flowers that bloom against the odds. January’s birth flowers are carnations and snowdrops, both of which grow in winter (despite carnations often being associated with the Summer months), and make for a joyful gift for a January birthday.

Carnations bring a welcome dose of colour to grey winter days. These beautiful blooms come in so many shades and their meaning varies depending on the hue, but in general carnations are associated with love, devotion and distinction.

Despite how delicate they are in appearance, snowdrops are very hardy and can grow even in the coldest conditions – snow included! They’re one of the earliest flowering plants of the year, bringing a hint that Spring is on the way. It’s little wonder they’re known as symbols of hope, rebirth and fresh starts in the language of flowers – fitting sentiments for a person embarking on another year of adventures.

What is the birth flower of February?

Though so often twinned with the rose thanks to Valentine's Day, February’s birth flowers are actually violets and irises, two bright blooms that bring a spark of colour to the final days of Winter. It’s no coincidence that both of these flowers are purple, echoing the amethyst birthstone of February.

Representing loyalty, dependability and thoughtfulness, violets capture many of the qualities associated with people born in February. In the Victorian era, this was a flower you’d send to someone you really cared for, making them a touching tribute to somebody celebrating their birthday.

Irises are an ode to intelligence, twinned as they are with wisdom and courage. Despite being commonly associated with the colour purple, they actually bloom in many hues, and take their name from the Greek goddess of the rainbow.

What is the birth flower of March?

After a long winter, the first days of Spring are a welcome sight, and so it’s little wonder than the birth flowers of March are classic seasonal favourites. Daffodils, often the first sign that Springtime has sprung, are also the primary March birth flower, and rightly so. Vibrant yellow, they bring a burst of sunshine after a long winter and as such are seen as symbols of hope and renewal. Fittingly, these sentiments also tie in perfectly with birthdays, making them a great gift for those born in March.

The second March birth flower is the jonquil, a variety of daffodil that is smaller and more fragrant than your classic Spring daff. They have narrow leaves and an orange central corona. They have a very similar meaning to daffodils, but they also act as symbols of friendship and desire, adding an extra layer to this already uplifting bloom.

What is the birth flower of April?

Those born in April are lucky to have one of the most widely recognised blooms as their birth flower: the classic daisy. This flower has been around for so many years that its origins are actually impossible to trace. It’s also grown all over the world, in so many different climates, that it’s one of the most well-known blooms. From daisy chains to the first days of Spring, this beloved flower has so many positive associations. In floriography, it also has myriad meanings, from new beginnings to innocence, motherhood to friendship, independence to romance.

The second April birth flower is the fragrant sweet pea, a climbing plant that blooms in Spring and emits a sweet, delicate scent (hence it’s name). This popular bloom is often used in bouquets, particularly for weddings, and is a symbol of pleasure, gratitude and friendship.

What is the birth flower of May?

The May birth flower has both an historical and seasonal link. Lily of the valley, a delicate plant with dainty, white bell-shaped blooms, is a symbol of both Spring and good fortune and has long been associated with May Day celebrations across the world. In France, May Day is also known as La Fête du Muguet, or Lily of the Valley Day, in reference to this beautiful flower which is given as a gift to mark the occasion, a tradition started by King Charles IX.

The second May birth flower, the hawthorn, also shares its origins in May Day. This shrub, which produces white or pink flowers in Spring and red berries in Autumn, is known as the May tree or Mayflower and is used to decorate Maypoles and crowns in a nod to the arrival of warmer weather. It represents supreme happiness and hope, feelings synonymous with the return of Spring.

What is the birth flower of June?

The start of Summer heralds the return of some much-loved seasonal blooms, and June babies are treated to two truly striking birth flowers. The first is a real classic: the rose. The international symbol of love flowers at the beginning of Summer and comes in a myriad of varieties and colours. Typically seen as a symbol of romance, this popular flower can also represent beauty, passion, remembrance and friendship depending on its colour. Read our complete guide to rose symbolism and care tips for more information about this popular bloom.

The second June birth flower is honeysuckle, another Summer flowering favourite. A climbing plant known for its sweet fragrance and striking sculptural shape, it has similar associations to the rose in the language of flowers, including love, affection, happiness and beauty.

What is the birth flower of July?

Those born in July not only get to enjoy their celebrations during the height of Summer (British weather permitting), but also have two beautiful birth flowers dedicated to their month.

The first is the delphinium, a seasonal favourite that brings a burst of colour to Summer gardens, with shades of blue, orange, purple, yellow and pink. Their name is derived from the Greek word ‘delphi’, which means dolphin in a nod to the shape of their nectar spurs, though they are also commonly known as larkspurs in the UK due to the shape of their petals, which resemble the claw of a lark. In the language of flowers, this bloom has many meanings. Blue delphiniums represent dignity and grace, purple bring messages of nobility and elegance, pink are twinned with romance and love, while white speaks to purity and innocence.

The second July birth flower is the water lily, which floats on top of ponds and lakes, its roots embedded in the mud below the surface. It’s little wonder these blooms are associated with transformation and growth, as they emerge from muddy waters to reveal bright, fragrant flowers.

What is the birth flower of August?

August is when Summer reaches its apex, and the hot, heady days and easy-breezy feeling make it a great month for celebrating. If you have an August birthday, you also get to enjoy some of the classic Summer blooms as your birth flower.

The first August birth flower is the gladiolus, which blooms from July to September. Its name is derived from the Latin ‘gladius’ which means sword, and gives you a good idea of what this flower looks like. Its stems are indeed long, spiky and sword-like, with large, fluffy petals cascading down in shades of purple, white, pink, peach, red and orange. Gladioli are rich in symbolism, and are associated with strength, integrity, elegance and success.

The second birth flower of August is the poppy. Although most commonly known as a red flower, this Summer perennial also blooms in white, yellow, pink and orange. Many people will associate these flowers with remembrace, a connection that originated from the poppies that bloomed in Flanders Field during World War I. They have also been twinned with sleep, peace, imagination and resilience.

What is the birth flower of September?

Bringing that back-to-school feeling no matter what age, the beginning of September can often feel like a fresh start, not least because it marks the transition into a new season. As Summer draws to a close and we look ahead to Autumn and cosy nights indoors, September brings with it feelings of warmth and optimism, sentiments that are echoed in the arrival of late-blooming flowers.

The first September birth flower, the aster, is one such bloom, coming to life from late Summer to early Autumn. This vibrant wildflower comes in many colours, from purple to pink and white, and has mythical connotations. The legend has it that the Greek goddess Astraea was upset by how few stars she could see in the sky, and upon crying her tears turned into flowers. These flowers are named for the Greek word for star: aster. This magical bloom has lots of positive connotations, including love, wisdom and faith.

Another birth flower of September is morning glory, a beautiful bloom with trumpet-shaped flowers that come in lots of colours, including purple, blue, pink and white. They symbolise affection, unrequited love and mortality.

What is the birth flower of October?

Crisp Autumn leaves, Halloween and pumpkins – October is the month of both cosiness and spookiness. In Mexico, it’s also the month of Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, and it’s this that informs the October birth flower: the marigold. The golden bloom is used in garlands and to decorate alters during the festival, and are often associated with death and grief. However, they also bring light during the darkness, and represent beauty, creativity and warmth, making them an uplifting flower with which to mark a birthday.

The second October birth flower is the cosmos. This cheerful bloom is associated with tranquillity and harmony. Though its name feels apt for the spooky season, it actually derives from the Greek word kosmos, which means order, in reference to its orderly flowering style. It’s a fitting name for a month associated with the Libra star sign, the qualities of which include balance and fairness.

What is the birth flower of November?

In the month of Bonfire Night, it’s little wonder the November birth flower is such a spectacle. The chrysanthemum is a truly beautiful flower with abundant petals, sculptural shapes and a rainbow of colours. These blooms are so loved that they even have their own day dedicated to them in Japan, known as the Festival of Happiness. In the language of flowers, they represent friendship, honesty and loyalty, making them a touching gift for a November birthday.

Many people also associate peonies as the second November birth flower. Although this is more commonly thought of as a Spring flower, which blooms in the UK between April and June, peonies can be found growing from November in the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasons are reversed. This flower symbolises prosperity, honour and romance. Read our full guide to peony symbolism and care tips for more information.

What is the birth flower of December?

If you’re born in December, you’ll no doubt be used to sharing your birthday with the Christmas celebrations, and there’s no denying the festive influence on this month’s birth flower: holly. A shrub synonymous with the festivities due to its prominent roles in both Winter solstice and Christianity, this plant has long been associated with feelings of happiness, optimism, good fortune and peace.

Another December birth flower is the paperwhite, a type of narcissus. A relative of the daffodil, these fresh blooms are one of the earliest Spring flowers, and are symbolic of hope, wealth and good fortune. What better sentiments with which to end the year?