Each month has a birth flower, and most months have two. The main ones are: January, carnation; February, violet; March, daffodil; April, daisy; May, lily of the valley; June, rose; July, larkspur; August, gladiolus; September, aster; October, marigold; November, chrysanthemum; December, narcissus (paperwhite). Most of them bloom, or are easy to buy, in their own month.
Birth flowers by month: the full list
Month | Birth flower | Second flower | Common meanings |
|---|---|---|---|
January | Carnation | Snowdrop | Love, fascination, hope |
February | Violet | Primrose | Modesty, loyalty, youthfulness |
March | Daffodil | Jonquil | New beginnings, rebirth, prosperity |
April | Daisy | Sweet pea | Innocence, purity, gratitude |
May | Lily of the valley | Hawthorn | Happiness, sweetness, hope |
June | Rose | Honeysuckle | Love, passion, affection |
July | Larkspur | Water lily | Positivity, lightness, purity |
August | Gladiolus | Poppy | Strength, remembrance, peace |
September | Aster | Morning glory | Patience, love, affection |
October | Marigold | Cosmos | Creativity, passion, joy |
November | Chrysanthemum | Friendship, loyalty, honesty | |
December | Narcissus (paperwhite) | Holly | Rebirth, hope, protection |
This list follows The Old Farmer's Almanac, a version many other lists copy. Some lists in other countries swap a flower or two.
Why most months have two flowers
Not every culture agrees on the flowers, and some plants are hard to find in parts of the world in their month. Lists added a second flower so people in more places could find one in season. Where both are given, the first is the one most people mean.
Where birth flowers come from
The habit of giving flowers meanings grew in the 1700s and 1800s. In 1718 Mary Wortley Montagu wrote about a flower "language" she had seen in Constantinople, and the idea spread in England. In 1819 Louise Cortambert published "Le langage des fleurs", often called the first dictionary of flower meanings.
Victorians used small bouquets, called nosegays or tussie-mussies, to send messages they could not say out loud. Birth month flowers grew out of the same tradition, much like birthstones. The flower for each month is usually tied to the season it blooms.
Each month's flower in a little more detail
January: carnation and snowdrop
Carnations last a long time in a vase, which makes them practical in midwinter. The colour changes the meaning in most flower guides: red for love, pink for gratitude, white for luck. Snowdrops are among the first bulbs to flower each year, often pushing up through snow.
February: violet and primrose
Small purple violets stand for modesty and loyalty. Primroses flower in late winter and early spring, and their name comes from the Latin for "first rose".
March: daffodil and jonquil
Daffodils are the classic sign of spring and of new beginnings. A jonquil is a type of daffodil with several smaller, scented flowers on each stem.
April: daisy and sweet pea
The daisy stands for innocence and purity. Sweet peas are climbing plants with a strong scent, linked with gratitude and goodbyes.
May: lily of the valley and hawthorn
Lily of the valley has tiny white bell-shaped flowers and a sweet scent, and it is a popular wedding flower. The hawthorn was once known as "Mary's flower of May".
June: rose and honeysuckle
The rose is the best-known flower of love, and its colour changes the message. Honeysuckle, with its sweet scent, stands for affection and devotion.
July: larkspur and water lily
Larkspur grows in tall spikes of blue, pink, purple or white flowers. Water lilies float on ponds in summer and stand for purity.
August: gladiolus and poppy
The gladiolus takes its name from the Latin word for sword, because of its long, sharp leaves, and it stands for strength. Red poppies are worn in many countries to remember those who died in war.
September: aster and morning glory
Asters look like small stars, which is what their name means in Greek. Morning glory flowers open in the morning and close by the afternoon.
October: marigold and cosmos
Bright orange and yellow marigolds stand for warmth and creativity. They are also central to Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico. Cosmos keep flowering into autumn.
November: chrysanthemum
The chrysanthemum is one of the few flowers at its best in late autumn. It is a symbol of friendship in many countries, and of the Japanese imperial family.
December: narcissus and holly
Paperwhite narcissus is grown indoors in winter and flowers in a few weeks. Holly, with its red berries, has long been used to decorate homes at midwinter.
Are birth flowers safe around pets?
Several birth flowers are poisonous to cats and dogs. The ASPCA, the US animal welfare charity, lists lily of the valley, daffodils and chrysanthemums as toxic to both. Real lilies are especially dangerous for cats. If you give flowers to someone with pets, choose a safe flower or keep the vase out of reach.
If that someone is a pet owner, you might also enjoy our Cat Age Calculator and Dog Age Calculator, which turn pet years into human years.
Birth flower gift ideas
A bouquet of the birth flower, in season if you can find it.
Bulbs or seeds of the flower to plant: snowdrops, daffodils and sweet peas are easy for beginners.
Jewellery or a print with the flower pressed or drawn on it.
A pairing of the birth flower and birthstone of the same month.
A family "garden" print that combines each person's birth flower.
What is the birth flower for January?
The carnation, with the snowdrop as the second flower.
What is the December birth flower?
The narcissus, usually the paperwhite, with holly as the second flower.
What is the birth flower for June?
The rose, with honeysuckle as the second flower.
Why do some months have two birth flowers?
Different countries and older lists did not agree, and some flowers are hard to find in season in parts of the world. Lists added a second flower so more people could find one.
Are birth flowers the same in every country?
Mostly, but not completely. The list here follows The Old Farmer's Almanac. Some British and older lists swap one or two flowers.
Sources
Birth month flowers and their meanings, The Old Farmer's Almanac
Birth flower, Wikipedia (history of flower meanings)
Lily of the valley, daffodil and chrysanthemum, ASPCA toxic plant list
