Every month has its own birth flower.  Most of the time, these represent flowers that are in season during that month.  Sometimes, they stand for deeper meaning. These birthday signs are symbols of what represents each month.  You can even tie in astrology with birth month flowers.  It’s interesting to explore what each flower means in the language of flowers.

Sometimes these meanings differ depending on which country you are in.  For example, the chrysanthemum originated in China, where it was so honored that they have a city named after it and hold an annual chyrsanthemum festival.  Yet in many countries in Europe, it’s used primarily for graves and honoring the dead.

There are many uses for birth month flowers.  Some people use them to create theme gardens.  You can have a memorial garden honoring those you love with their birth month flowers.  They make thoughtful birthday gifts.  Also, you can use them for a fun baby shower theme.  Just decorate with flowers from the baby’s due date!

When you need gift ideas, birth month flowers can really come through!  Most women enjoy getting flowers.  Why not get her a flower for her birthday based upon her birth month?

If you are throwing a birthday party, why not decorate using birth month flowers?  These provide an easy and attractive centerpiece.  It doesn’t even need to be expensive – if you are a gardener, or know someone who is, this can be a very affordable and elegant way to decorate.

On this site, we explore the various birth flowers and their meanings.  Why was each flower related to that month?  Also, I’ve scoured the net to try to find the best flower pictures available – it wasn’t easy, but I’m sure you’ll find it a lot easier to picture your own birthday flower with these elegant photos!

Whether you want to use them for a theme party, or just want to learn more about what they mean, birth month flowers are an interesting study!

If you want a quick list of which month goes with which flower, here’s a brief birth flower guide:

• January – Carnation
• February – Violet
• March – Daffodils
• May – Lily of the Valley
• June – Rose
• July – Larkspur
• August – Gladiolus
• September – Aster
• October – Calendula
• November – Chrysanthemum
• December – Narcissus

The narcissus is actually a genus of plants that contains several different varieties, the most popular of which are the daffodil, paperwhites, and jonquils.  It may seem odd to have narcissus, a typical spring flower, as the birth month flower for December, but the bulbs for all of these plants can be easily forced to grow indoors.

History

Most varieties of Narcissus originate from the Mediterranean region, although a few can be found throughout central Asia.  The name “narcissus” comes from the Greek word “narke,” which means numbness or stupor.  This could either be related to the fragrance of the flowers, or to the poisonous nature of the bulb.  In Greek legend, the Narcissus sprang up from the body of Narcissus, a man so obsessed with his own appearance that he stared into a lake at his reflection until he fell in and drowned.


From the Mediterranean region, the plant spread to Europe where it became immensely popular in Britain and Holland.  It was brought over to America by settlers.  Almost every variety in the US today descends from these original plants.

How to Grow

Plants of the Narcissus genus are very easy to grow.  They will grow in almost any location, though they do prefer sunny spots with well-drained soil.  The best time to plant is in the fall between August and November.  Put them at a depth that’s three times the length of the bulb.  For earlier blooms, make sure the pointed end is up (this is where the stem emerges.)  If you plant them where you’ll be mowing, as in the yard, make sure to plant them a little deeper.

The plant looks best if you arrange them in groups of eight or more.  Also, make sure to remove faded flowers.  Although it’s tempting to remove the foliage as well as it wilts, it’s more beneficial to next year’s bloom to leave it at least six weeks after flowering.    The plant will reproduce more bulbs year after year, so after it becomes too overgrown (usually about 5-10 years), dig up some at the beginning of summer and transfer them to another spot in your garden.

Growing paperwhites indoors is extremely easy.  You don’t need to chill the bulb, or even any soil.  Simply place some stones into a container, then place the bulbs on top, pointed end up.  Cover the rest of the bulbs with more small stones.  Water the plants, but be sure not to let the water come up over top of the bulbs, as this may cause them to rot.   Keep the plant in a cool spot.  Once you see roots develop, then transfer to a sunny location that’s not too warm.  Add more water as necessary, making sure to keep the water level no higher than the bottom of the bulb.  The plant should bloom in about three weeks.  After it blooms, move it out of direct sunlight to keep the flowers longer.

Narcissus in the Language of Flowers

Narcissus is synonymous with stay sweet, self-esteem, vanity, rebirth and new beginnings.  It’s associated with winter’s end and prosperity.  When you send someone a bouquet of narcissus, you are sending them happiness.  You’re also sending a message of regard and letting them know you hope they will return your favor.  However, if you send a single bloom, that can foretell misfortune.  It also says vanity and self-involvement.

Chrysanthemums were first cultivated in China in the 15th century BC.  From there, they spread to Japan, where they were extremely popular, and later to Europe.  The original forms of chrysanthemums were much smaller and daisy like than the blooms we see today.  With  a rich symbolic history, the chrysanthemum makes a lovely fall display and a great birth flower for November.

History

The chrysanthemum first appears in recorded history in the 15th century BC in China.  Often depicted in pottery from that time, the mum was cultivated as a flowering herb.  The Chinese believed that as a herb, it had the power of life.  Thus, they boiled the roots to use for a headache treatment, and ate young sprouts and flowers in salad.   There is even a city in China named for the chrysanthemum – Chu-Hsein.  Today, the flower remains honored in an annual festival and as the symbolic flower of Autumn.

From China, the chrysanthemum made its way to Japan, where it was immensely popular.  They believed that the opening of the petals represented perfection, and that a person could attain enlightenment by meditating on them.  The chrysanthemum was adopted as the crest and official seal of the emperor.  The position of the emperor is also known as the “chrysanthemum throne.”

There are a few varieties of mums that grew in Europe, but the flower wasn’t actively cultivated until the 17th century.  However, one variety, known as feverfew or tansy, was used historically to reduce fever.

Symbolism

In the language of flowers, chrysanthemums have a number of meanings.  Cheerfulness, friendship, abundance, wealth, and loveliness are all associated with this flower.  However, in many countries, the white chrysanthemum is associated with death, and traditionally used as a graveyard flower.

Growing Chrysanthemums

In the United States, chrysanthemum is the traditional fall flower.  You can find them almost anywhere, and let them bloom in the pots they were bought in.  However, the plant can get root bound if it gets too big.

To grow from seed, sow the seeds in early spring or after midsummer in well drained soil located in full sun to partial shade.  Thin them to about 18 inches apart.  Mums prefer low humidity and a cool growing season, and they can provide beautiful color for the garden well into fall.

Calendula, also known as a marigold, might not have the best meaning symbolically, but it does have many medicinal and garden uses.  Calendula is the European variety of marigold, while there is also an American variety that looks very similar.  Of all the birth month flowers, this one is the most diverse.

Growing Calendula

Calendula is valued in the garden for its ability to attract bees and deter garden pests.  Planting calendula or marigolds next to your vegetables helps keep away common pests, especially near tomatoes.


Calendula are very easy to grow.  Simply sow seeds in sunny or mostly sunny locations.  They grow best in rich, well-drained soil.  You can deadhead the flowers to encourage more blooms, but if you allow the flowers to dry, you can harvest them and plant again in the spring.  You can also buy seedlings from the nursery.

Calendula Folklore

Calendula was named by the early Romans.  They noticed that the plant was in bloom on the first day of every month.  This nonstop blooming was a sign of joy to them, so they planted it to spread happiness.  Early Christians named the calendula “Mary’s Gold” and placed it near statues of Mary.  In ancient India, calendula is strung into garlands and placed around the necks of sacred statues.  Ancient Mayan priests washed their hands and faces with a tea made from Calendula leaves and flowers before they called on the spirits.  They also used it in Day of the Dead celebrations, strewing the flowers over graves and home altars.

Marigolds have contradictory meanings.  In the language of flowers, the calendula suggests sorrow, despair, grief and misery.  However, if you pair them with poppies, a bouquet tells someone that you will soothe their grief.  They are the traditional graveyard flower, yet with their everblooming blossoms and flowers that follow the sun, they represent life and joy.  It also has been believed that dreaming of marigolds will bring you prosperity.

Medicinal Uses

Until recently, calendula was on of the most widely used herbal medicines.  They are edible, but their aroma resembles hops in beer.  Yellow petals are used in chicken feed to produce a darker yolk in the egg.

Extracts of calendula have been shown in studies to have anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties.  It has been used with some success to treat acne, control bleeding, and soothe irritated stomachs.  It also was shown to reduce tumors in mice.

September’s birth flower, the aster, is a lovely starlike bloom that grows in warm, sunny climates.  Originally cultivated in China 4000 years ago, asters are actually hundreds of small yellow flowers in the center, surrounded by blue, purple, pink or white petals.  They are often mistaken for daisies, but asters are their own plant species.

How to Grow

Asters are relatively easy to grow.  They need full sun, but they will tolerate a little morning shade.  They prefer loam, but tolerate most soil types except clay.  Clay causes the roots to rot during the winter, when water is retained by the soil.


Asters are a perennial.  To reproduce, try dividing them in late spring or early fall.  Make sure to allow six weeks before the first frost in order to let the roots reestablish.

Asters prefer dryness.  Once the roots are established, you don’t need to water them except during extremely dry weather.  If the plants do die from lack of watering, the next heavy rainfall tends to bring them back.

To get better blooms, pinch out the top one to two inches once the plant is almost mature.  This will create a bushier plant with heavier blossoms.

Legends

Asters have their own place in Greek mythology, like many other flowers.  According to legend, Astraea, the goddess of innocence, left the Earth to live as the constellation Virgo.  Many years later, when the gods became disgusted with humanity, Zeus wiped out the world with a flood, leaving only two humans alive on the top of Mount Parnassus.  As the waters receded, these two began to wander the Earth lost and alone.  Astraea felt sorry for them and created starlight to guide them.  As she wept from pity, her tears created the flower Aster.

In Eastern cultures, it was believed that the odor of burning Asters would ward off evil spirits and demons.  Asters later were laid on the graves of French soldiers to show the wish that things had turned out differently.

Asters represent daintiness, love and magic.  To give someone a bouquet of Asters means that you feel that person has cast a magic spell of love on you – but not in a bad way!

Tall and elegant, with sword shaped leaves, gladiolas comes in many different colors and varieties.  Most originate from southern Africa, though there are a few varieties from Europe and Asia.  The name “gladiolas” comes from the latin “gladius”, which means sword.

The gladiolas is a member of the Iris family.  It grows well in sandy loam, but can tolerate a variety of soils.  It prefers a slightly acidic soil, and cannot overwinter outdoors if the temperature drops below freezing.


Gladiolas represent strength of character and moral integrity.  Given in a bouquet, they represent infatuation and that the receiver has pierced the giver’s heart like a sword.

It also can stand for splendid beauty, admiration, sincerity, and generosity.

With its long, graceful flower stem, larkspur is one of the loveliest birth month flowers.  It comes in many different colors, with purple, pink and white being the most common.  Larkspur is very easy to grow in North America, and is cultivated for flower arrangements.

Larkspur is unfortunately one of the more poisonous plants.  In the west, cattle ranchers fight against wild larkspur to prevent cattle poisoning.  It’s more common in areas of high elevation, so ranchers will avoid having cattle graze in those areas until late summer, when larkspur is less toxic.


Even with its toxicity, people have attempted to make herbal cures from larkspur.  It’s said to be effective against lice and their nits.  The plant has been used in the past to make eye medicine, tinctures for asthma, and even a cure for scorpion stings.  However, it is not recommended to ingest it, as small amounts will cause severe vomiting and large amounts may be deadly.

The different colors of larkspur stand for several different meanings.  Pink represents fickleness.  Purple can be given for first love or to recognize a sweet disposition.  White stands for joyful and happy-go-lucky.

The rose is the birth month flower of June. One of the most popular flowers to grow, the rose comes in over 100 different species and a variety of colors, with each color having its own special meaning. The rose has a long history of cultivation and symbolism, and is the national flower of the United States and England.


Greeks and Romans thought the rose represented the love goddess of Aphrodite or Venus. Christians eventually used the rose to represent the virgin Mary and the five wounds of Christ; however, there was a lot of resistance to this as the rose was highly regarded in pagan culture at the time. Some pagan cultures believed no undead creature could cross the path of a wild rose. This led to the practice of putting a rose on the coffin of the recently deceased in order to prevent the rise of a vampire.

The meaning of a rose will vary by what color it is. Red is the most common color. It signifies love, passion, beauty, respect, and romance. A single red rose is given to show someone that you love them. In ancient Rome, the red rose was used in weddings, which led it to be associated with romance and love. The current version we’re familiar with today actually did not arrive in Europe until the 1800s, coming from China.

Pink roses primarily stand for love, gratitude and appreciation. Pink roses were some of the first rose species to be cultivated. This color of rose appears earliest in art history. All roses represent love and gratitude; as pink were the first and primary rose, they have kept this meaning. Pink roses can also mean sweetness and elegance. Dark pink roses are used for appreciation, and light pink are associated with gentleness and admiration.

Yellow roses were more recently discovered growing in the Middle East in the late 1800s. Once they were discovered, they quickly became popular. Yellow stands for friendship and joy. Also, yellow roses may be sent as a get well wish. However in Europe last century, the yellow rose represented jealousy and dying love. Over the past 100 years, it has come to be associated more with friendship and joy.

Purity, sympathy, and spirituality are all represented by the white rose. The white rose is the traditional bridal flower, representing the pure bride. They also are associated with honor and reverence, which leads to white roses being frequently used at funerals.

Orange roses represent desire, passion, and enthusiasm. They were created around the turn of the 20^th century. A bouquet of orange roses can be used to represent a budding romantic love. They are also popular at Halloween.

Lavendar roses are associated with royalty, love at first sight, and enchantment. This light shade of purple is also a relatively new development. They are harder to find than the other colors, but make a stunning arrangement of flowers.

Lily of the Valley is a wonderfully fragrant plant that blooms every May. This flower’s blooming heralds the start of spring in France, with Lily of the Valley traditionally being sold on the streets on May 1. It symbolizes happiness, purity of heart, humility and sweetness.

Lily of the Valley grows in cooler climates during the spring.  It spreads to cover the ground quickly in shady locations.  While the plant has been used in folklore remedies, all parts are poisonous and should not be consumed.


This flower shows up in many legends and stories.  It is said to have sprung from the tears of Eve as she left the garden of Eden.  It is also said to have come from Mary’s tears after Christ died on the cross.  One of the most fascinating stories comes from France, where lilies of the valley are said to have grown from the blood of Saint Leonard of Noblac.

In 560 AD, legend tells of a fighter known as Saint Leonard who decided to rededicate his life to holiness.  So he retreated to a forest in the Vienne Valley near Limoges to live as a hermit.  However, this forest was inhabited by a dragon called Temptation.  Saint Leonard was so caught up in his prayers that he did not hear the dragon’s demands that he leave the forest, so the dragon burned down St. Leonard’s hut.  A great battle ensued, with both sides spilling much blood.  From the blood of the dragon are said to have come noxious weeds, but from the blood of St. Leonard, the Lily of the Valley was said to grow.  Those woods are still known as St. Leonard’s Forest.

The cheerful daisy is a bright reminder of those born during the month of April. This particular birth month flower stands out in that it has no negative connotations associated with it. While some consider it a weed, daisies grace the gardens of many.

It’s thought that the word “daisy” comes from “Day’s Eye,” as the daisy opens in the morning and closes as the sun sets. A daisy is generally white with a yellow center, though it may also come in pink or mauve. A daisy is actually not a single flower, but many tiny flowers at the center, surrounded by petals.


Daisies are unique as all the interpretations of it are positive. The traditional meaning of a daisy is innocence and purity. In a romantic sense, daisies represent loyal love. Giving a daisy can be a sign of affection. A daisy can also mean a secret truth. The giving of a daisy in public came to represent a transfer of a secret from one person to another.

The leaves of the daisy are edible and can be used in salads. Ancient Romans used juice from daisies to soak bandages that were used to bind up wounds. Daisies have also been used for making daisy chains.

Daisies are very hardy and grow best in full sun. They spread through their roots, so you may wish to contain them. Also, daisies can be mown, so consider planting them in a yard to add color.