What's Your Birth Flower And What Does It Mean

Over the past few years, it seems like people can’t get enough astrology. Whether it’s picking a baby name perfect for their sign of the Zodiac, or thinking through the different months of your pregnancy, we’re paying attention to our birth months more than ever. (Even Channing Tatum is getting in on it!) But there are more than just star signs associated with your birth month, like birthstones, birth colors and monthly birth flowers. If this is news to you (it was to us!), we’ve got you covered. The tradition of celebrating birthdays with seasonal flowers is thought to have started in Roman times, and has continued into the modern day.

Seasonal flowers were used to celebrate births and birthdays, and thus the tradition of monthly birth flowers was born. Of course this just may be lore but you’re clearly not the only one looking to learn more about their birthday blooms. In fact, according to the most recent search data available, monthly birth flowers are searched for over 90,000 times per month. So, with that in mind, here’s what you need to know about your monthly birth flower, including their color and what they mean.

January: The Carnation and Snowdrop

The monthly birth flowers of January are the carnation and the snowdrop. Carnations come in a variety of colors, including white, pink, red, yellow, and purple. According to Christian lore, pink carnations symbolize a mother’s love because they were said to have sprouted from the Virgin Mary’s tears when she wept over the death of her son, Jesus. The snowdrop is, unsurprisingly, white. Though they were previously thought to be bad luck (because they grew in graveyards), the flower is now thought to symbolize hope and beauty because they are some of the first flowers to bloom in the spring.

February: The Violet and Primrose

You may have guessed that the monthly birth flower for February is the red rose (given that Valentine’s Day falls during this month), but it’s actually the violet and the primrose. Violets (which are also violet in color) represent watchfulness, loyalty, and faithfulness. Primroses come in a variety of colors, like yellow, red and pink, and lets the recipient of the flowers know that you can’t live without them.

March: The Daffodil

It totally makes sense that March’s monthly birth flower is the daffodil, because they are typically some of the first signs of new life in the springtime. This bright yellow flower symbolizes both love and rebirth. You may also hear March’s birth flower referred to as the “jonquil,” which is the name of one specific group of daffodils. According to the Royal Horticultural Society, there are 13 different types of daffodils, from the large showy cup to trumpets to jonquils to wild variants.

April: The Daisy and Sweet Pea

The monthly birth flowers for April are the daisy and the sweet Pea. The classic daisy (with a yellow center and white pedals) symbolizes innocence, loyal love, and purity. Also, if you give someone a daisy, it means that you’ll keep their secret. The sweet pea is a pinkish-purple hue, and signify blissful pleasure. They’re also the flower you give someone if you’re saying goodbye to them.

May: The Lily-of-the-Valley and Hawthorn

Lilies-of-the-valley and the hawthorn plant are May’s monthly birth flowers. The lily-of-the-valley represents sweetness, humility, and a return to happiness. The Hawthorn plant (which is kind of a bushy flower, like heather) represents hope and supreme happiness.

June: The Rose and Honeysuckle

Of all the monthly birth flowers, June’s are the most fragrant. First, there’s the rose, which comes in countless colors, each with their own meaning. For example, red roses symbolize love, pink roses symbolize happiness, and white roses signify a new beginning. The honeysuckle — which is a deep reddish-orange color — is a symbol for the everlasting bonds of love.

July: The Larkspur and Water Lily

Both of July’s monthly birth flowers — the larkspur and the water lily — are dramatic in their own way. The larkspur indicates strong bonds of love, and comes in pink, white, and purple. The water lily comes in a variety of shades of white and pinks, and symbolizes purity and majesty.

August: The Gladiolus and Poppy

The monthly birth flowers for August are the gladiolus and poppy. The gladiolus or ‘sword lily,’ represents remembrance, calm, integrity, and infatuation, and is a deep pink color. Poppies come in a variety of colors, each with their own meaning: red poppies symbolize pleasure, white poppies are given for consolation, and yellow poppies represent wealth and success.

September: The Aster and Morning Glory

September’s monthly birth flowers are the aster and the morning glory. Asters are bright purple and represent the power of love. Morning glories come in a variety of colors like pink and purple, and are symbols of affection.

October: The Marigold and Cosmos

For those born in October, their monthly birth flowers are the marigold and cosmos. Marigolds come in several colors (like red, orange and yellow) and thrive in the fall sun. Traditionally, they have represented despair and grief over a loved one. Cosmos, which are a light pinkish-purple in color, a symbol of order, peace, and serenity.

November: The Chrysanthemum

Sorry, people born in November, you only get one monthly birth flower: the chrysanthemum. These vibrant flowers come in a range of colors, including red, white, yellow, pink, orange, and purple. In Chinese and Japanese culture, chrysanthemums are considered an emblem of youth.

December: The Narcissus and Holly

The monthly birth flowers for December are the narcissus (specifically, the paperwhite) and holly. When you give someone a narcissus, it means that you want them to stay just the way they are. Giving someone the bright red Holly flower, most typically associated with Christmas, means that you wish them domestic happiness.

Korean Birth Flowers

A fun fact about birth flowers: According to Korean tradition, birth flowers are specific not just to the month of your birth but the day within that month. So there are 365 different Korean birth flowers one can give. That makes the birthday bouquet so much more special and unique!