What is my birth flower?: A guide to birth month flowers and their meanings

You probably know your star sign, and you might even remember your birthstone, but do you know your birth month flower? Or anyone else's, for that matter? Flowers are a classic birthday gift, the perfect way to lift someone’s day and make them smile, however many years they’re celebrating, and each month of the year has its own specific flowers with traditions and symbolic meanings. Choosing a floral birthday gift that’s linked to the recipient’s birth month flower is a great way to make it even more personal, or you could even pick a personalised birth flower-themed gift, like our new birth month bookmarks!

In this guide, we will go through the birth flower traditions for each month of the year and share the meanings behind them.

An Introduction to Birth Flowers

Before we get to their specific meanings, here are a few things to know about birth flowers and their traditions.

How many birth flowers are there?

Each month has two traditional birth flowers associated with it… all except for one. As we will explain further, in our guide, March is the only month with just one birth flower. However, some sources cite November as being the single-flower month. In this guide, we will cover 23 different birth flower varieties and their meanings.

Where do birth flower traditions come from?

The traditions and meanings associated with each birth month flower have evolved over time. Some have ancient origins, linking back to Greek and Roman times, with many flower names in this guide having ties to Latin and Greek words. However, some of the meanings are more closely associated with the Victorian language of flowers, floriography.

Are birth flowers seasonal?

Yes, the majority of birth month flowers are seasonal and naturally bloom in or around the months they represent, for example, snowdrops in January, daffodils in March and holly in December. However, some flowers have a more symbolic or historical association.

Birth Flowers by Month

Let’s get into the birth flowers, one month at a time. We’ll take you through the traditional flowers for each month, the story behind them, and what each one represents.

January Birth Flowers: Carnation and Snowdrop

To kickstart the year, the birth flowers for January are carnations and snowdrops, two hardy flowers that can survive (and thrive) in the depths of winter. 

Carnations are a popular flower gift, with lots of beautiful colours and varieties to choose from. The carnation flower is considered a symbol of love, loyalty and devotion, while snowdrops symbolise new beginnings, hope and resilience, making them perfect for a January birthday celebration coinciding with the start of the new year.

February Birth Flowers: Primrose and Violet

The birth flowers for February are primrose and violet, although some people also refer to the iris as a February flower.

The purple violet flower is thought to symbolise wisdom, loyalty, and humility, with its recognisable heart-shaped petals often being associated with love – fitting for a birth month flower that coincides with Valentine’s Day! And on the theme of romance, February’s second birth flower, the primrose, was considered to be a symbol of young love in the traditional Victorian language of flowers, with the name ‘primrose’ stemming from the Latin word for ‘first’, ‘primus’. The primrose is one of the first flowers of spring, so it’s also seen as a sign of optimism.

March Birth Flower: Daffodil

Is there a flower more closely associated with the month of March and the first days of spring than the daffodil? Not even close. So, it makes perfect sense that the humble daffodil is March’s birth flower. March is the only month in our guide to have just one birth flower (it could only be the daffodil!), although some guides pair it with the jonquil, another daffodil variety.

Daffodils are one of the first signs of spring, symbolising hope, rebirth, joy and good luck, with their bright and happy yellow trumpet flowers – perfect for March birthdays! They are also the national flower of Wales, closely associated with St. David’s Day, which is also celebrated in March.

April Birth Flowers: Daisy and Sweet Pea

In April, the birth flowers are daisies and sweet peas, both of which you’ll find in English country gardens in the spring. 

Daisies are seen as a symbol of freedom and new beginnings, with their ability to grow in the wild and flower anywhere they see fit! They are also symbols of innocence. Meanwhile, the sweet pea is a symbol of simple pleasures, as well as gratitude and friendship – the perfect gift for a loved one’s April birthday.

May Birth Flowers: Lily of the Valley and Hawthorn

The birth flowers for May are lily of the valley and hawthorn, two contrasting plants that complement each other beautifully for a May birthday.

The lily of the valley is said to symbolise modesty and purity, with its bowed head and white petals. Perhaps this is why it is traditionally favoured as a bridal flower, especially at royal weddings, also making it a symbol of love. The other May birth month flower, the hawthorn, on the other hand, is considered a symbol of both balance and protection, with the juxtaposition of its thorns and flowers.

June Birth Flowers: Rose and Honeysuckle

Moving into the summer months, the birth flowers for June are the rose and honeysuckle, two gorgeous, bright flowers for the sunniest season!

Honeysuckles, with their beautiful, sweet smell, are symbols of happiness and affection. The rose, of course, is widely known as a symbol of love, passion and admiration, but did you know that each colour and variety of rose has its own individual meaning? Find one that's a perfect fit for your June baby for a meaningful birthday gift.

July Birth Flowers: Larkspur and Water Lily

In July, the traditional birth month flowers are the water lily and larkspur, also known as delphinium. Together, the combination of the towering larkspur and floating lily is a symbol of balance, showing both sides of our July birthday babies.

The July flowers have their own individual meanings, too. The bright and colourful larkspur is a symbol of joy and positivity, while the shape of its buds makes it a sign of an open heart. The water lily, by contrast, is well-known for being a symbol of purity, enlightenment and serenity.

August Birth Flowers: Poppy and Gladiolus 

The August birth flowers are the poppy and gladiolus, both bright and full of colour for the late summer months. Poppies are most commonly associated with their bold red petals, but there are many colours of poppy, from yellow to purple to white. And gladioli are just as colourful, so there are plenty of options if you want to surprise an August birthday-haver with a floral gift.

Gladioli are named after the Latin word for sword (‘gladius’) because of their tall floral spikes and pointy sword-like leaves. They are associated with Roman gladiators and as such, they’re said to symbolise strength, integrity and success. Poppies, meanwhile, are closely associated with imagination, creativity and dreams, while also symbolising resilience and beauty.

September Birth Flowers: Morning Glory and Aster

The traditional flowers for a September birthday are the morning glory and aster. September is statistically the month with the most birthdays of all, so these two flowers have a lot of celebrations to represent!

Asters, with their dainty star-like petals, are named after the Greek word for "star" and are traditionally symbols of love, wisdom, faith, and innocence. The second September birth flower, morning glories, open with the morning sun and close again each evening, making them a symbol of hope and fresh starts.

October Birth Flowers: Cosmos and Marigolds

In October, the traditional birth month flowers are the cosmos and marigold, two flowers with warm autumnal colours which are perfect for birthdays at the start of the autumn season.

The rich orange and red marigolds are said to symbolise stubbornness and determination, as well as warmth and creativity, while the cosmos is a symbol of order, harmony, and balance; its name stems from the Greek meaning "an orderly and harmonious universe."

November Birth Flowers: Peony and Chrysanthemum

The November birth month flowers are chrysanthemums and peonies. In many guides, chrysanthemums are considered to be the only official November birth flower, but peonies have become a close second in recent years despite being a late-spring flower. We’ve included both of their meanings here (because two November flowers are better than one!), and you will also find both chrysanthemums and peonies in our November birth flower bookmark design.

Chrysanthemums are one of the most popular cut-flowers in the world, and symbolise friendship, loyalty and honesty, although their many colours and varieties are said to have their own individual meanings. Meanwhile, peonies are traditionally symbols of prosperity, good fortune and happiness.

December Birth Flowers: Holly and Narcissus

And finally, the December birth flowers are holly and narcissus, because it would only be fitting to have festive florals to represent birthdays close to Christmas!

Holly is a symbol of happiness, optimism, peace and good fortune, while the white narcissus flower is a symbol of rebirth, new beginnings and hope, closing one year and heading into a brand new one.

Birth Flower Chart

Finally, here’s a quick look at all the birth month flowers in a handy chart, along with the birthstone and star signs associated with each month.