What's Your Birth Month Flower? Each One Has a Different Meaning
Blooms abound from January to December.
Celebrate your birthday with a bouquet of flowers! Did you know that each birth month has a special flower associated with it—just like birthstones?
In the same way that your zodiac sign or birthstone might symbolize different personality traits, your birth month flower has its own distinct meaning that's special to you! The tradition of birth month flowers isn't anything new—in fact, it dates back centuries, though the origins are a bit unclear. Some say it started in ancient Roman times when flowers were often gifted as a way to celebrate birthdays. Others attribute the custom to the Victorian era when flowers were often given meaning depending on the type and color. According to The Farmer's Almanac, some birth months even have two flowers! This includes blooms of every season—spring flowers to winter flowers and even some perennials you'd expect to find in the garden year-round.
So whether you're looking to plant something meaningful in your flower garden or looking to give a bouquet of flowers for a birthday gift to a friend, each of these flowers should symbolize something unique to you. Want to know yours? Find out your birth month flower in the list ahead.
January: Carnation
Kicking off the year with an array of color—the carnation is one of those flowers that's often available in a rainbow of hues. January babies (like Ree Drummond) should choose carefully, though, since each one has its own meaning. Pink is a great choice for moms since it often means affection or maternal love, red is a symbol of admiration, and yellow indicates disappointment or rejection. The other January birth month flower is the snowdrop flower (a sign of hope), which can often bloom when there's still snow on the ground.
February: Violet
Though you might think that roses are more common in February thanks to Valentine's Day, it's actually violets that represents this birth month flower. Violets are often purple in color (just like the February birthstone amethyst), but you can also find shades of blue, white, or yellow. Grow these beauties as a symbol of faithfulness and loyalty. The second month of the year also uses primrose as a symbolic flower, which is often associated with magic and warding off evil.
March: Daffodil
The bright, sunny yellow color of daffodils will have you feeling ready for spring! It's no wonder this birth month flower symbolizes new beginnings. Just be aware that giving a single daffodil is actually bad luck, so you'll want to choose a bouquet when giving them as a gift.
April: Daisy
A symbol of friendship and innocence, daisies might just be one of the sweetest and most cheerful flowers around. The classic white and yellow colors will brighten anyone's day. Another spring flower that represents April birthdays is the sweet pea. The floral-smelling flower is often given as a means of good wishes or saying goodbye.
May: Lily of the Valley
April showers bring May flowers, especially Lily of the Valley! The bell-shaped perennial is a symbol of sweetness and pureness. It shares the month with hawthorns—a symbol of hope and a member of the rose family with white, pink, or red flowers.
June: Roses
Roses are red… but they can also be pink, white, or even yellow. Each one has a different meaning with red being a symbol of love, white for purity, pink for happiness, and yellow for cheer (though some people say yellow also means jealousy). But roses aren’t the only love-filled flower in June. There's also honeysuckles which represent nostalgia for your first love.
July: Larkspur
You can't miss the larkspur flowers! They're bright and vibrant with stalks that can grow up to three feet tall. It's a symbol of positivity and strong loving bonds. Another July birth month flower is the peaceful water lily, which can often mean rebirth or purity.
August: Gladiolus
With the heat of summer in full swing, the gladiolus flower stands tall, strong, and vibrant. The bright colors that include pink, orange, and red pair well with its symbol of strength and victory. You also might recognize the secondary birth month flower: poppies as a symbol of remembrance on Veteran's Day.
September: Aster
As we start to enter into the fall season, the aster flowers serve as a reminder for patience and beauty. Their star shape is where they got the name "aster," which means "star" in Greek. It's also one of the most recognized flowers for gifting on a 20th wedding anniversary. Another colorful flower of September? The morning glory which symbolizes love.
October: Marigold
Nothing says fall has arrived quite like the orange color of marigolds! Though they’re often associated with the Day of the Dead, their vibrant hue, like the changing of the leaves, is also a symbol of brightness in the dark. Another colorful option? Cosmos! These flowers are a symbol of harmony and peace.
November: Chrysanthemum
In the transition from fall to winter, chrysanthemums come in all colors. Most of them have different meanings (red: love and passion; yellow: bittersweet love; white: loyalty and honesty). They're most closely associated with longevity, fidelity, and joy, so go ahead and gift them to your best friend for her birthday.
December: Narcissus
This snowy white flower (also known as paperwhites) would make for a beautiful centerpiece on your holiday table. They're a symbol of hope and unconditional love. Of course, it wouldn't be a December birthday with holly! The popular Christmas shrub with red berries means fertility and luck as the year comes to an end.
Kara Zauberman is the Senior Editor of Content Strategy at The Pioneer Woman, covering stories ranging from food, lifestyle, news, and more. When she’s not writing and editing, you can find her seeking out new restaurants or cooking for friends and family.
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