Do you know the flowers associated with your birth month? As well as a birthstone, every month also has a birthflower. The flower chosen for each month often corresponds to the season in which it blooms, although this does vary geographically.
Many flowers also have historical cultural or religious associations. Here's your guide to the birthflower for each month of the year.
January - Carnation
The carnation is a commonly cultivated flower with a spicy scent that is indigenous to the Mediterranean region. Because of it's associations with love and remembrance, it has long been a mainstay in the flower industry, particularly for Mother's Day and Valentine's Day.
February - Primrose
The primrose is one of the first flowers to bloom in Winter woodlands. It symbolises protection, safety, and love. In some cultures, it was thought that a primrose symbolised a woman, with each petal representing a different stage of a woman’s life. The ancient Celts believed that large patches of primrose blooms were a portal to the kingdom of fairies, and that eating a primrose would allow you to glimpse a fairy!
March - Tulip
Due to their vivid colours and wonderful shape, tulips are among the most popular flowers and a garden favourite. Many metaphorical meanings are associated with tulips, such as a proclamation of love, rebirth, or new beginnings.
Take a look at other flowers that bloom in March here: Flowers that Bloom in March and Matching Flower Jewellery (bloomsjewellery.com)
April - Daisy
Due to their lovely regular shape, daisies are often used in jewellery designs and represent innocence, purity, fertility, motherhood, childbirth, fresh beginnings, genuine love, and cheer. Day's eye is the term from which their name is derived, due to their ability to close at night and reopen during the day.
Wondering how to wear Daisy jewellery? Find the answers here: How to Wear Daisy Jewellery (bloomsjewellery.com)
May - Lily of the Valley
Lily-of-the-valley is a groundcover flower, producing pendulous, bell-shaped white flowers with a lovely aroma. Lily-of-the-valley flowers are symbolic of sweetness and purity. They are also known as Our Lady’s Tears, May lily, and May bells. Legends say that lily-of-the-valley fell in love with the nightingale's song and only bloomed when the bird returned to the woods in May.
June – Honeysuckle
The honeysuckle, with its beautifully scented flowers, attracts bees and represents happiness, positive energy and affection for a new love. It has also been known to symbolise nostalgia for first loves or old flames. In the Celtic alphabet, symbols of honeysuckle are used to to denote joy and happiness.
July – Waterlily
Water lilies come in two varieties—hardy and tropical. Tropical water lilies are larger, more spectacular and fragrant. The water lily's spectacular, fragrant blossoms come in a variety of colours in addition to the traditional white. The Amazon water lily grows enourmous lily pads only lasting a few days that are up to 8 feet in diameter. Water lilies have also traditionally symbolized purity, innocence, and chastity. They are considered to signify resurrection and rebirth in Buddhism and Hinduism since the blossoms open and close every day. They also serve as Bangladesh's national flower.
August – Gladiolus
The gladiolus is a member of the Iris family and is native to Africa, the Mediterranean, and southern Europe. It has more than 300 species that come in a range of vibrant colors. The gladiolus, often called a "sword lily," earned its name from the way its leaves looked like swords. The trumpet-shaped flowers bloom in mid- to late summer. The flower symbolises strength, victory, healing, and honour. It has also been associated with moral character, remembrance, and intelligence.
September – Marigold
Marigolds are known for their vivid yellow and orange colours. The common name, marigold, is a shortening of ”Mary’s gold”, said to have been named for the Virgin Mary. The ancient Greeks and Romans used marigolds to make cosmetics, to dye fabric and for medicinal purposes. In Buddhism, marigolds are used to worship Buddha, and in Hinduism, the flowers are associated with the Sun and used in marriage celebrations. The marigold is also a prominent element in Day of the Dead rituals in Mexico. In recent times, the flowers have been linked to optimism and prosperity, cheer and joy, love and powerful emotions.
October – Cosmos
Cosmos is a member of the daisy family and is a symbol of order, harmony, balance, peace and innocence. They also represent luck and have many medicinal purposes. Native to Mexico, the annual flowers are daisy-like with yellow centres and can grow up to six feet tall.
Spanish priests in Mexico grew cosmos in their mission gardens and gave it this name because of the orderly arrangement of the petals; the Greek word kosmos, means order and harmony of the universe. Now popular in US and European gardens, It was once thought that cosmos could attract fairies to gardens!
November - Chrysanthemum
Native to Asia, and a member of the daisy family, the chrysanthemum is one of the most widely grown flowers. Chrysanthemums symbolize loyalty, friendship, and joy.
It is the national flower of Japan, and even has it’s own festival; the Festival of Happiness. It has long represented royalty and nobility in Japan and is used on the official seal and crest of the Emperor.
In China and Japan the chrysanthemum is seen as a sign of youth and health. According to folklore, one chrysanthemum petal at the bottom of a glass of wine increases longevity and it is traditionally used in salads and teas.
December – Snowdrop
One of the first garden flowers to bloom, the snowdrop emerges in late winter or early spring, sometimes when snow is still on the ground. The delicate snowdrop flower signifies optimism, hope and beauty, and is associated with the beginning of spring, as it is thought that the arrival of the first blooming flower signifies the end of winter. The snowdrop is native to the cooler mountainous, wooded and grassland environments of Southern Europe and Turkey.
All clued up on Birthflowers now? Take a look at Floral Silver's birthflower pendants; the perfect gift or addition to your flower jewellery collection!
These Sterling Silver pendants can also be engraved on the rear at no extra charge, with a short message, date or symbol.
Looking for the flowers that bloom in a particular month? Take a look at our blog posts to find out which flowers bloom when.
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