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By Susanne Talbert (art_n_garden) January 12, 2009
Similar to a birthstone and an astrological sign, we are all assigned a birth flower for the time of year we are born. Each birth flower has a historical or meaningful significance. Some people are surprised to hear that birth flowers exist. Here is a brief overview of the birth flowers and their meanings.
Each month has a special representational flower. The flowers have specific meanings and some also represent something meaningful as gifts. Read on to find out what you and your loved ones' birth flowers are.
January - Carnation
Carnations have been cultivated for 2,000 years and are still popular in many different cultures around the world. They are not only the most cultivated plant in the floriculture industry worldwide, but carnations are the bright and cheery symbol of January birthdays. The word carnation is derived from the Greek words that mean "flower of the gods." While the Latin derived genus, Dianthus, means "divine flower."
Carnations can be dyed any color, which makes them adaptable to many circumstances, but their attributed meaning is pride, beauty, fascination, love and distinction.
February - Iris
Irises stand for faith, hope, and wisdom. For a gardener, these words might have special significance in February; Faith that spring will come, hope that it will be prosperous and early, and wisdom for a better kept garden.
February is a month of romance and iris is a fitting symbol. Because irises come in so many different colors, ranging from white to deep purple, it can take on disparate moods and emotions. Other historic references to Iris: she was the Greek goddess of the rainbow, and the Fleur de Lis is a stylized version of the iris. Alternate sources site violet as the birth flower of February.
March - Daffodil
Daffodils have the meaning of rebirth, respect, regard and unrequited love. There are many different varieties available of daffodils from double peach forms (right) to the classic white with yellow, trumpeted centers (left). Daffodils are grown from bulbs and emerge in spring as a welcome harbinger of warmer weather. In England, the daffodil is known as the "Lent Lily" because it blooms during the period of lent from the Christian faith.
April - Daisy
No flower emits such joy and light as the daisy. Most sources site the Gerbera daisy as the "real" April daisy, but a gardener knows that there are many other daisies that will brighten a person's day, or month, just as well.
Shasta, African, Marguerite, English, Gloriosa and paper daisies are all cheerful symbols of April's season. Gerbera daisies in particular make excellent cut flowers and come in an assortment of beautiful colors. Sweet peas are also known as the birth flower of April.
May - Lily of the Valley
Lily of the Valley means humility, chastity, sweetness and purity. This graceful mid-spring bloomer is fragrant and virtually carefree.
Lily of the valley is traditionally treasured in bridal bouquets for its white, bell shaped flowers, heavenly scent, and its longevity when cut.
June - Rose
Roses might be the most recognizable flower around the world. Roses have many different meanings depending on the color when given in bouquets.
Red - conveys love to the recipient
Pink - does not have the passion of red roses, but still conveys the feelings of love
Dark pink - means gratitude
Light pink- conveys admiration or sympathy
White - illicits innocence, purity, secrecy and friendship
Yellow - stands for dying love or platonic love
Yellow with red tips - means friendship or falling in love
Burgundy - means beauty
Purple - means protection and maternal or paternal love
These specific color meanings of roses go back to Victorian times and are generally still accepted today. The rose as a birth flower stands for love and appreciation. Roses are a beloved garden plant and can be found around the world in cottage, native, and formal gardens alike.
July - Larkspur
Larkspur is a lesser known flower that represents July. It has the meaning of levity and open heartedness. Larkspur usually refers to the multitude of cultivated annual delphiniums. Generally, larkspurs are deep, bright blue but can also be found in red, white, pink and lavender. Larkspur in the garden makes an excellent background border plant since it grows up to four feet tall and also serves as a great cut flower for fresh arrangements.
August - Gladiolus
Gladiolus is a striking, bold, and wonderful specimen in the garden and as cut flowers. Named for the shape of their leaves from the Latin word "gladius," meaning sword, Gladioli (plural) come in a range of colors including pink, salmon, white, yellow, orange and crimson. They symbolize strength and moral integrity, and also infatuation. It is said that a bouquet with Gladioli conveys to a recipient that they pierce the giver's heart with passion.
September - Aster
Aster is a sign of fall as sure as the changing leaves. The flower stands for patience and daintiness and the word "aster" comes from the Latin for star. There are many different varieties of asters from New England to Stokes, which provide beautiful, daisy-like blooms on foliage that can range from 6 inches to 4 feet tall.
October - Pot Marigold
Pot marigolds historically stand for "winning grace," and are also cited to represent sorrow or sympathy. They are sometimes referred to as summer's bride because the blooms follow the path of the sun through the sky.
Pot marigolds are a colorful, easy to grow annual. It is effortless to start them from seed and they provide a bright, yellow or orange spot in the garden throughout the summer.
November - Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums stand for compassion, friendship, and secret love. They come in an assortment of colors from white to yellow to deep red. Also known as mums, these perennials are the classic fall blooming flower. Their cheery colors and full daisy-like blooms will persist through freezing temperatures. Interestingly, chrysanthemums are the national flower of Japan and symbolize the Japanese emperor.
December - Paperwhite Narcissus
Legend states that after Narcissus died, Apollo turned him into the flower narcissus. The Narcissus, when gifted, is a symbol that the recipient is sweet. The flower also represents respect, modesty, and faithfulness. Paperwhites grow from bulbs and are easily forced indoors, which is why they are commonly given as gifts in December. The blossoms are elegantly, yet strongly fragrant and generally come in white.
As gardeners we already have a familiarity with most of these flowers. Think how nice a handpicked bouquet of meaningful flowers from your garden would be as a birthday present!
Beautiful images courtesy of DG members' contributions to the PlantFiles:
Having moved to Colorado from Texas almost 3 years ago, I am on a steep learning curve in the garden these days. I am definitely learning what 'perennial' really means! I have been busy revamping my 1/4 acre of ignored decomposed granite.
My garden passions include water gardening, vines, super-hardy perennials, and unusual foliage plants. By day, I am a high school ceramics teacher as well as a ceramicist and painter.
Posted by catmom1 (from Grants Pass, OR) on January 20, 2009 at 03:23 PM:
What a wonderful article to read while waiting for spring.Thank you.
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Subject: My whole family enjoyed your article!
Posted by Bookerc1 (from Mackinaw, IL) on January 12, 2009 at 10:12 PM:
My kids were sitting on my lap as I read your article, and they both thought it was fun to find out their birthflower. Then we had to search out mine, and daddy's, and grandma's. . . Thanks for the interesting article and lovely pictures!
Angie
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Posted by art_n_garden (from Colorado Springs, CO) on January 12, 2009 at 10:18 PM:
Glad you and your family got a kick out of it Angie! That sure makes writing special :) Susanne
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Subject: August
Posted by Kelli (from Los Angeles (Canoga , CA) on January 12, 2009 at 08:51 PM:
When I was a kid, the flower for August was gladiolus, as you have written. However, in the past ~15 years, I see poppy used a lot more often. Do you have any idea why the change?
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Posted by art_n_garden (from Colorado Springs, CO) on January 12, 2009 at 10:10 PM:
Kelli, it seems like the whole thing is kind of florist-driven, much like v-day is commercially driven. A lot of the references I found to birth flowers were from places selling flowers. I wonder if poppies have become easier to farm or maybe cheaper...anyhow, just a guess (a really bahumbug guess, eh?) lol It could be something completely different!
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Subject: ...beautiful pictures....
Posted by Squanto (from Roseburg, OR) on January 12, 2009 at 07:16 PM:
I love this article and will defenitely save it. The flowers are glorious!! Thank You
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Posted by art_n_garden (from Colorado Springs, CO) on January 12, 2009 at 10:10 PM:
Thanks for reading Squanto!
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Subject: Birth Flowers
Posted by JElisabeth (from Montague, MI) on January 12, 2009 at 03:39 PM:
It's a great idea to bring the birth flower list to the readers' attention. In January flowers sound so heavenly with some time before we can see them other than at a florist or a big grocery store. I'm beginning to think what annuals I will have in my garden this year--and what perennials I will add to places where others have not done well and need a newcomer! It makes the frigid temperatures of Michigan more easy to accept for another 2-3 months! Thank you!
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Posted by art_n_garden (from Colorado Springs, CO) on January 12, 2009 at 10:20 PM:
Being able to write and research during the winter helps get me thought too, JElisabeth. Thanks for reading!
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Subject: enjoyed on a frigid January day in Mass.
Posted by geraldine87 (from West Warren, MA) on January 12, 2009 at 09:39 AM:
Liked reading about history of these flowers..
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Subject: birth flowers
Posted by adesgarden (from Laramie, WY) on January 12, 2009 at 09:24 AM:
I enjoyed your article on birth flowers. I especially liked the meanings associated with different flowers. The picture that went with larkspur looked more like the perennial delphinium. I grow both flowers in my garden here in Wyoming. Larkspurs are more of a wild flower and are shorter. I plan on reading your other articles. The one on blogs was helpful since I'm a newbie to Dave's Garden and am just exploring the possibilities.
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Posted by allwild818 (from East, TX) on January 12, 2009 at 10:03 AM:
yes, very nice to learn the sybolic meanings of different flowers.
would love to grow my "May" flower, Lily of the Valley, but find various references about it being poisonous if ingested; although no actual verified cases to substantiate?
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Posted by crazy4brugs (from Kansasville, WI) on January 12, 2009 at 02:35 PM:
Very interesting, I enjoy all you articles.
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Posted by roybird (from Santa Fe, NM) on January 12, 2009 at 02:50 PM:
A very fun article!
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Posted by duchessdreams (from Reno, NV) on January 12, 2009 at 05:01 PM:
Great artical. I had no idea that there were birth flowers as well as birth stones:).
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Posted by art_n_garden (from Colorado Springs, CO) on January 12, 2009 at 10:16 PM:
Adesgarden, I wonder if one of those pics isn't a delphinium...I might have just entered them synomymously in my head. I'll have to check.
Allwild, I don't know if your problem would be poison of the L of the V, it might be more likely the heat that would make growing them difficult. They dissappear here about July because of heat and reappear in spring. But I don't know your exact climate...but I grew up in Houston and I don't think it'd be possible there.
Thanks for reading everyone and commenting.
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Posted by dahlianut (from Calgary, AB) on January 12, 2009 at 10:58 PM:
Although I should probably have issues about the absense of dahlias :( I just luv birth flowers. I'm a May baby and I have a sweep of L of V growing at the foundation on the north side of the house Thanks Susanne. Another great article.
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Posted by hopflower (from Santa Rosa, CA) on January 12, 2009 at 11:59 PM:
Nice article, but I learned them a little differently. For instance, April's flower is the sweet pea, and October has anemone or cosmos. This delighted me, because I cannot stand calendula; and October is my birth month.
The article does alert people once again that each month has its flower; and that is a good thing!
Thanks Susanne. Another great article. 
