Guide · all year
Birth month flowers
Just as each month has its birthstone, it also has its flower. Which one is yours, what it means and how to use it for a birthday gift or a tattoo.
- Origin
- Anglo-Saxon traditionUK and US
- Flowers per month
- One or twodepending on the list
- Used for
- Gifts and tattoosbirthdays, jewelry, prints
- Watch out
- November in Spainthe chrysanthemum is for cemeteries
The flower of each month
In the UK and the US each month has its flower, just as it has its stone. These are the most widely accepted:
| Month | Flower | What it symbolizes |
|---|---|---|
| January | Carnation and snowdrop | Love, admiration and hope |
| February | Violet and primrose | Faithfulness, modesty and youth |
| March | Daffodil | New beginnings and rebirth |
| April | Daisy and sweet pea | Innocence, joy and a happy goodbye |
| May | Lily of the valley and hawthorn | Happiness, luck and hope |
| June | Rose and honeysuckle | Love and the bonds that unite |
| July | Larkspur and water lily | Joy, lightness and purity |
| August | Gladiolus and poppy | Strength, integrity and remembrance |
| September | Aster and morning glory | Wisdom, patience and affection |
| October | Marigold and cosmos | Warmth, creativity and harmony |
| November | Chrysanthemum | Friendship and long life (outside Spain) |
| December | Narcissus (paperwhite) and holly | Hope, good wishes and protection |
Where the tradition comes from
Birth month flowers are cousins of birthstones. The custom became popular in Victorian England, when the language of flowers was in fashion and every flower carried a message. The British and American lists don’t fully match, which is why several months have two flowers: you can choose the one you like best or the one that is easiest to find.
How to adapt it if you live in Spain or Latin America
The list was born in the climate of northern Europe, so some flowers don’t match what florists here have in that month:
- November: in Spain, France and Italy the chrysanthemum is linked to the cemetery because of All Saints’ Day. Choose a dahlia, a rose or a brightly colored potted chrysanthemum.
- October: “marigold” can mean calendula or the Mexican cempasúchil, and in Mexico the latter is the flower of the Day of the Dead. Calendula or cosmos are more neutral choices.
- Southern hemisphere: in Argentina, Chile or Uruguay the seasons are reversed. If the month’s flower isn’t available, look for a seasonal “equivalent” on each month’s page.
Ideas for using their birth flower
- For a birthday: a bouquet with their birth flower and a note explaining why you chose it.
- Tattoos: a bouquet of the flowers of the months your children, partner or parents were born is one of the most requested designs.
- Jewelry and prints: pendants engraved with the flower, illustrated prints or pressed flowers in a frame.
- Baby showers and births: give the flower of the month the baby is born.
Frequently asked questions
What is my birth month flower?
January, carnation and snowdrop; February, violet and primrose; March, daffodil; April, daisy and sweet pea; May, lily of the valley and hawthorn; June, rose and honeysuckle; July, larkspur and water lily; August, gladiolus and poppy; September, aster and morning glory; October, marigold and cosmos; November, chrysanthemum; December, narcissus (paperwhite) and holly.
Where does the birth month flower tradition come from?
It is an Anglo-Saxon tradition, popular in the UK and the US, related to birthstones. The lists used today took shape in the Victorian era, when the language of flowers was in fashion.
Why do some months have two flowers?
Because the British and American lists don’t fully match, and because some flowers are not available in their month. You can choose either one.
Can I give chrysanthemums to someone born in November?
Outside Spain, France and Italy, yes: in the US or Asia it is a cheerful flower. In those three countries it is linked to All Saints’ Day, so give another seasonal flower or a brightly colored potted chrysanthemum.
Which birth flowers are used in tattoos?
All of them. Birth flower tattoos are very popular to honor a child, a mother or a partner, often combining the flowers of several months in one bouquet.
