Flower calendar · August
August flowers: Girlfriend Day and summer
August opens with Girlfriend Day, Latin America’s second Valentine’s Day, and brings Medellín’s Flower Festival and the dahlias of summer.
- Big date
- August 1Girlfriend Day
- Star flower
- Rosespink or red
- In season in Spain
- Dahlia and sunflowergladiolus, zinnia, lisianthus
- In Colombia
- Flower FestivalMedellín, early August
Dates for giving flowers in August
| Date | What is celebrated and why | Flower | Color | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| every year | Girlfriend Day (Día de la Novia) It comes from the American National Girlfriend Day and on social media it works as a second Valentine’s Day. It isn’t official in any country, but florists already have it marked. | Roses | Pink | Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica |
Girlfriend Day on August 1 comes from the American National Girlfriend Day and on social media it works as a second Valentine’s Day. It isn’t official in any country, but in Mexico, Peru, Ecuador and Costa Rica florists already have it marked, and roses are the star gift. You’ll find everything in the Girlfriend Day guide.
Other dates in the month by country:
- August 15: Mother’s Day in Costa Rica (the Assumption of the Virgin Mary). Flowers just like in May: roses, carnations, lilies.
- Second Sunday of August: Father’s Day in Brazil.
- Third Sunday of August: Children’s Day in Argentina, with toys rather than flowers.
Medellín’s Flower Festival
In early August, Medellín celebrates the Feria de las Flores (Flower Festival), one of the most important festivals in Colombia. Its symbol is the Silleteros Parade: farmers from the rural district of Santa Elena who walk through the city carrying silletas on their backs, huge wooden frames covered in flowers that can weigh dozens of kilos. The tradition recalls the time when silletas were used to carry flowers and produce down from the countryside to the city. It is the best illustration of why Colombia is one of the world’s great flower producers.
Flowers in season in August
| Month | Spain | Mexico and Central America | Argentina, Chile and Uruguay |
|---|---|---|---|
| August | sunflower, dahlia, gladiolus, zinnia, hydrangea, lisianthus | dahlia, gladiolus, tuberose, sunflower, daisy | mimosa (aromo), freesia, daffodil, hyacinth, tulip |
In Colombia, Ecuador and the Andes, the high-altitude climate lets growers produce roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, alstroemerias and hydrangeas all year round: that is why they are two of the world’s largest flower exporters. This table is a guide: the season changes with the area and the year, and greenhouses extend almost all of them.
In Spain it is the month of dahlias, which last until October, and of sunflowers, gladioli, zinnias and lisianthus. In Mexico, dahlias (the national flower), gladioli and tuberoses. In Argentina, Chile and Uruguay winter ends with the aromo in bloom and the first freesias, daffodils and tulips, which herald the September spring.
What to give in August
- Girlfriend Day: pink roses if the relationship is new, red ones if it’s already serious. A single rose with a note also works.
- For a mother in Costa Rica: roses, lilies or carnations.
- For a summer birthday: colorful dahlias, which are spectacular and still rarely seen in bouquets.
Tips for the month
August is the hottest month in the north: buy hardy flowers and change the water every day. Dahlias don’t keep opening once cut, so choose them already open but with the central petals still tight.
And start getting ready for September: September 21 is yellow flowers day and sunflowers sell out. In Colombia, the third Saturday of September is also Amor y Amistad.
Remind me 3 days before
Download the reminder and open it with your phone’s calendar: it repeats every year and alerts you three days before, so you have time to order the bouquet.
Frequently asked questions
Which flowers are given in August?
Roses for Girlfriend Day on August 1, above all in Mexico, Peru, Ecuador and Costa Rica. The rest of the month is a good time for summer flowers such as dahlias and sunflowers.
When is Girlfriend Day?
August 1 in the version that circulates most on social media, although in some countries it is celebrated on the first Sunday of April.
What is Medellín’s Flower Festival?
One of Colombia’s most famous festivals, held in early August. Its highlight is the Silleteros Parade, in which farmers from Santa Elena carry huge flower arrangements on their backs.
Which flowers are in season in August?
In Spain, dahlias, sunflowers, gladioli, zinnias, hydrangeas and lisianthus. In Mexico, dahlias, gladioli and tuberoses. In the Southern Cone, aromo (mimosa), freesias, daffodils and the first tulips.
When is Mother’s Day in Costa Rica?
On August 15, the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
