Every month of the year has a traditional birth flower. January is the carnation, February the violet, March the daffodil, and the list runs all the way to the narcissus in December. Most months also have a second flower that shows up on some lists.
Each of these flowers carries an old meaning, which is what makes a birth flower such a personal gift. It says you thought about this one person, not just the date on the calendar.
At The Potter’s Hands Studio, these are the blooms April Dupuis carves into personalized birthday gifts, right beside the recipient’s name. Here is the full list, what each flower means, and how to give one that will not wilt by Friday.
The birth month flowers at a glance
Here is the traditional flower for each month, with the most common secondary flower in parentheses.
- January: carnation (snowdrop)
- February: violet (primrose)
- March: daffodil (jonquil)
- April: daisy (sweet pea)
- May: lily of the valley (hawthorn)
- June: rose (honeysuckle)
- July: larkspur (water lily)
- August: gladiolus (poppy)
- September: aster (morning glory)
- October: marigold (cosmos)
- November: chrysanthemum (peony)
- December: narcissus (holly)
You will see small differences from one source to the next, especially between American and British lists. The primary flowers above are the ones April works from.
What each birth flower means
January, the carnation. Carnations stand for love, admiration and distinction. They hold up in the cold months, which suits a winter birthday. The snowdrop, January’s second flower, is one of the first blooms to push through late-winter ground and has long stood for hope.
February, the violet. Small and easy to overlook, the violet means faithfulness and modesty. The primrose, its partner on many lists, is tied to young love.
March, the daffodil. The daffodil is the flower of new beginnings. It shows up in Southern yards just as winter lets go, which is about as good a picture of a fresh start as you will find.
April, the daisy. Daisies stand for innocence, purity and cheerfulness. The sweet pea, April’s second flower, is often linked to gratitude.
May, the lily of the valley. These little white bells mean sweetness, humility and the return of happiness. Hawthorn, May’s other flower, stands for hope.
June, the rose. The rose needs little introduction. It means love, with each color carrying its own shade of meaning. Honeysuckle, June’s second flower, speaks of devotion and close bonds.
July, the larkspur. Tall spires of larkspur stand for an open heart and a light, cheerful spirit. The water lily, July’s other flower, is tied to purity.
August, the gladiolus. The name comes from the Latin word for sword, after the shape of its leaves. It stands for strength of character and integrity. The poppy, August’s second flower, is linked to imagination.
September, the aster. The name comes from the Greek word for star. Asters stand for love, wisdom and patience. The morning glory, its partner, means affection.
October, the marigold. Marigolds carry the warmth of autumn and are tied to creativity and a sunny disposition. Cosmos, October’s other flower, stands for harmony and order.
November, the chrysanthemum. The mum means joy, friendship and long life, and it blooms when most of the garden has quit for the year. Some lists add the peony. There is more in our post on November’s birth flower, the chrysanthemum.
December, the narcissus. December’s narcissus is usually the paperwhite, forced indoors in the dark of winter. It stands for hope and good wishes. Holly, December’s second plant, has long been tied to home and protection.
Where the tradition comes from
Linking flowers to months is an old habit, and the meanings come largely from the Victorian language of flowers. In the 1800s, people sent whole messages through bouquets, with each bloom chosen for what it said.
The lists we use today grew out of that tradition, which is why they vary a little. Some months even trade places depending on who you ask. If someone you love has a strong opinion about their flower, go with theirs.
How to give a birth flower that lasts
A bunch of carnations in January is a kind gesture. It is also gone in a week.
A birth flower carved into a mug gets used every morning for years. April carves each bloom freehand using sgraffito, an old technique where she cuts through a layer of white porcelain slip to reveal the darker clay underneath. The flower becomes part of the pot itself, not something printed or painted on top.
Here is how a birth-flower piece comes together:
- Choose the piece. A mug, a cup set or a small platter.
- Tell April the name and the birth month. You can also add a date, a short word or verse, or a Southern floral border.
- April carves the name and the flower by hand, line by line.
- The piece is glazed with lead-free, food-safe glazes, kiln-fired twice and shipped.
Personalized pieces take 4 to 6 weeks, so plan on ordering about two months before the birthday. If you want to see the kind of carved florals April does, the Bouquet Collection Large Mug in the shop is a good place to start. And if you are deciding between a carved mug and a printed one, we wrote about why a hand-carved name mug beats a printed one.
Questions people ask
What is the birth flower for each month?
January is the carnation, February the violet, March the daffodil, April the daisy, May the lily of the valley, June the rose, July the larkspur, August the gladiolus, September the aster, October the marigold, November the chrysanthemum and December the narcissus.
Why do some months have two birth flowers?
Birth flower lists grew out of older traditions and vary by source and country, so many months have a second flower, like the snowdrop for January or the peony for November. Either one is a fine choice.
Can April carve a birth flower into a gift?
Yes. Tell April the name and birth month, and she will carve the flower by hand alongside the name on a mug, cup or small platter. Personalized pieces take 4 to 6 weeks.
Whatever month you are shopping for, the easiest next step is to send April the name and the month. Start a commission and she will reply with a design idea, pricing and a timeline.