You probably know all about your birthstone, but what about your flower of the month? Like birthstones, each month of the year is represented by a flower, each with a different meaning behind it. These symbolic blossoms can be fun to decorate your home with or plant in your garden to celebrate yourself (or someone you love!) for more than just one day. Knowing each month's flower can also help you pull together an extra meaningful and beautiful flower arrangement to send to a loved one in celebration of their birthday. Usually, different colors of each flower have their meanings too, so if you want to plant or decorate with your birth month flower, you can further choose a variety that best fits your personality or intended meaning.
01of 12
January Birth Month Flower: Carnation
One of the most popular (and widely available) flowers out there, carnations are a great way to kick off a year of birthday blooms. While many cultures have different meanings for carnations, the most common one is love. The different colors of carnations also have their own symbolism, like white carnations for good luck or pink carnations for gratitude. Carnations are a good cut flower, and you'll often see them in grocery stores and florists year-round. To grow your own carnations, plant them in a spot that gets plenty of sun with well-drained soil, and most varieties will grow up to 12 inches tall.
02of 12
February Birth Month Flower: Violet
Delicate and fragrant violets are the official flower of February, symbolizing faithfulness and loyalty. As you'd expect from the name, purple is the most common color, which plays off the hue of February's birthstone, amethyst. Grow these beautiful blooms indoors until you can move them outdoors when the snow melts. This perennial can happily grow up to 12 inches in full sun or part shade, as long as it has consistently moist soil.
03of 12
March Birth Month Flower: Daffodil
It's no surprise that March—considered by many to be the beginning of spring—is represented by the sunny and cheery daffodil. Daffodils symbolize new beginnings or renewal, which perfectly describes these early bloomers. Force these bulbs early indoors to have blooms on your birthday in March or plant them outdoors, which should be done in the fall in a location where they'll get about six hours of direct sun every day.
04of 12
April Birth Month Flower: Daisy
Both humble and charming, April's signature flower–the daisy—represents youth and purity. The Shasta daisy is a hardy, perennial type of this flower, but tropical gerberas that bloom in bright shades of orange, yellow, and red also can represent this month. These classic flowers will brighten anyone's day, whether you buy them for yourself or give them as a gift. In the garden, daisies will stun, growing up to three feet tall in well-drained soil and direct sun or part shade.
05of 12
May Birth Month Flower: Lily of the Valley
Lily of the Valley's delicate, bell-shaped blooms represent motherhood, making them one of the best flowers to give your mom on Mother's Day—and the right choice for May's representative flower. Multiple blooms come from one stem, and the white flowers stand out beautifully against dark green foliage. Lily of the Valley is known for its sweet scent and does well in damp and shady garden areas.
06of 12
June Birth Month Flower: Rose
Like carnations, roses have different meanings for each color, but the family of flowers is widely known as the symbol of love. Red roses are for romantic love, while yellow roses make a beautiful gift for a friend with a June birthday. If this is your birth month flower, you're lucky; you have hundreds of varieties to choose from for your garden. Most varietals will do best in a spot with good drainage and at least six hours of direct sun per day, though specific care requirements can vary.
07of 12
July Birth Month Flower: Larkspur
Standing tall and proud—and representing all the summer babies born in July—is the stunning larkspur. The brightly colored stalk of larkspur blooms will always draw attention in the garden and, true to their visual aesthetic, these statuesque flowers are associated with gracefulness and positiveness. Plant the color that best defines you, whether that's white for a happy-go-lucky attitude or purple for a sweet disposition. Larkspur can spring up to three feet tall if you plant it in well-drained soil and full sun.
08of 12
August Birth Month Flower: Gladiolus
The tall, enchanting gladiolus symbolizes integrity and persistence, displaying a trademark endurance as it blooms throughout the hottest months of the year. Plant these tall spires toward the back of a border garden for dramatic height (some varieties can reach up to 8 feet!) to celebrate your birth month. Gladiolus will thrive in full sun with well-drained soil.
September Birth Month Flower: Aster
Planting asters in your garden will make for a colorful show of flowers around your birthday. These fall bloomers represent daintiness and patience, which is fitting for a finely-textured perennial that's worth the wait. Asters are also an easy addition to any fall container garden, and grow best in sun or partial shade with moist, well-drained soil.
10of 12
October Birth Month Flower: Marigold
Marigolds symbolize passion and creativity. These low-growing annuals come in gold, orange, and red hues that mimic the changing leaves in fall. The good news? You can enjoy your birth flower all autumn long—they'll continue blooming until frost. There are several different types of marigolds, and most usually grow between one to three feet tall, as long as they get enough sun.
11of 12
November Birth Month Flower: Chrysanthemum
Stunning chrysanthemums (also known casually as mums) are a must for providing color toward the end of fall and are often considered the "signature" flower of the season. They symbolize friendship and longevity, which make them an apt gift for a friend or loved one celebrating a milestone birthday. While they're often grown as annuals, they're actually perennials; cover them with mulch in the garden for protection and they should return the following year. Chrysanthemums can grow up to 3 feet tall and prefer well-drained, moist soil in full sun.
12of 12
December Birth Month Flower: Narcissus
Narcissus is the genus that daffodils belong to, so technically this month shares a flower with March. However, the paperwhite has become the most popular daffodil for December because they are easy to force into bloom during the winter months. They symbolize hope and can often be seen as a stunning centerpiece for Christmas dinner or your birthday brunch. Outdoors, they like full sun and dry soil and can reach up to 12 inches tall.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which flowers are the easiest to grow?
Though flowers have a reputation for being a bit picky and difficult to grow, there are actually several varieties that are great for beginners. If you want to inject your garden with beauty and color without a ton of fuss, try growing marigolds, cosmos, zinnia, or coneflower.
What rose variety is the most fragrant?
Roses are an easy way to bring effortless beauty to your garden—as well as an enviable fragrance. For the most beautiful floral scent, try varietals like 'Madame Alfred Carriere' (a climbing rose), a Floribunda rose, a grandiflora rose, or an English rose.
How long do flower bouquets last?
Fresh floral bouquets typically last between 7 and 12 days, depending on the type of flowers included. To get your bouquet to last longer, periodically refresh the water and make new snips at the ends of the stems to refresh the blooms.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a wide range of information and can provide insights on various topics, including flowers and their meanings. Let's explore the concepts mentioned in this article.
Birth Month Flowers and Their Meanings:
Each month of the year is associated with a specific flower, each with its own symbolic meaning. Here is a summary of the birth month flowers and their meanings mentioned in the article:
-
January Birth Month Flower: Carnation - Carnations are often associated with love. Different colors of carnations also have their own symbolism, such as white carnations for good luck and pink carnations for gratitude.
-
February Birth Month Flower: Violet - Violets symbolize faithfulness and loyalty. The most common color for violets is purple, which complements the birthstone for February, amethyst.
-
March Birth Month Flower: Daffodil - Daffodils represent new beginnings or renewal. They are often associated with the arrival of spring and are known for their sunny and cheery appearance.
-
April Birth Month Flower: Daisy - Daisies symbolize youth and purity. The Shasta daisy is a popular type of daisy, but tropical gerberas in bright shades of orange, yellow, and red can also represent April.
-
May Birth Month Flower: Lily of the Valley - Lily of the Valley is associated with motherhood and is often given as a gift on Mother's Day. These delicate, bell-shaped flowers have a sweet scent and thrive in damp and shady garden areas.
-
June Birth Month Flower: Rose - Roses are widely known as the symbol of love. Different colors of roses have different meanings, with red roses representing romantic love. There are hundreds of rose varieties to choose from for your garden.
-
July Birth Month Flower: Larkspur - Larkspur is the representative flower for July. These tall, brightly colored flowers are associated with gracefulness and positiveness. Larkspur can grow up to three feet tall and thrives in well-drained soil and full sun.
-
August Birth Month Flower: Gladiolus - Gladiolus symbolizes integrity and persistence. These tall flowers bloom throughout the hottest months of the year and can reach up to 8 feet in height. They thrive in full sun with well-drained soil.
-
September Birth Month Flower: Aster - Asters represent daintiness and patience. These fall bloomers add a colorful touch to gardens and are easy to grow. Asters prefer sun or partial shade with moist, well-drained soil.
-
October Birth Month Flower: Marigold - Marigolds symbolize passion and creativity. These low-growing annuals come in gold, orange, and red hues and continue blooming until frost. Marigolds usually grow between one to three feet tall and require enough sun.
-
November Birth Month Flower: Chrysanthemum - Chrysanthemums symbolize friendship and longevity. They are often considered the "signature" flower of the fall season. Chrysanthemums can grow up to 3 feet tall and prefer well-drained, moist soil in full sun.
-
December Birth Month Flower: Narcissus - Narcissus, which includes daffodils, is the flower associated with December. Paperwhites, a type of narcissus, are popular during the winter months and symbolize hope. They thrive in full sun and dry soil.
Easiest Flowers to Grow:
If you're a beginner gardener looking for easy-to-grow flowers, here are a few varieties to consider:
- Marigolds: Marigolds are great for beginners and come in various colors. They are low-maintenance and continue blooming until frost.
- Cosmos: Cosmos flowers are easy to grow from seed and produce colorful blooms. They are also attractive to butterflies and bees.
- Zinnias: Zinnias are known for their vibrant colors and are easy to grow from seed. They are also drought-tolerant.
- Coneflowers: Coneflowers, also known as Echinacea, are hardy and attract pollinators. They come in various colors and are relatively low-maintenance.
Most Fragrant Rose Varieties:
Roses are beloved for their beauty and fragrance. Here are some rose varieties known for their fragrance:
- 'Madame Alfred Carriere': This climbing rose has a strong fragrance and produces pale pink blooms.
- Floribunda Rose: Floribunda roses are known for their clusters of blooms and often have a pleasant fragrance.
- Grandiflora Rose: Grandiflora roses combine the traits of hybrid teas and floribundas, and many varieties have a delightful fragrance.
- English Rose: English roses, also known as David Austin roses, are renowned for their fragrance and old-fashioned charm.
Lifespan of Flower Bouquets:
The lifespan of a fresh floral bouquet can vary depending on the type of flowers included. Generally, fresh bouquets last between 7 and 12 days. To extend the lifespan of a bouquet, it's recommended to periodically refresh the water and trim the ends of the stems to promote water absorption.
I hope this information helps you understand the concepts mentioned in the article. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask!