The Birth Flowers for All 12 Months of the Year
Do you know what your birth month flowers are? In addition to gemstones, every month has a birth flower; in fact, many months have two birth flowers! Here’s a list of both the primary and secondary birth flowers for January through December.
Birth flowers have been around for many generations, similar to birthstones. The flower designated each month is usually tied to the season when it blooms; many flowers also have cultural or religious associations from ancient times. For example, the hawthorn was known as “Mary’s Flower of May.”
In our lives today, birth flowers are an excellent way to mark an occasion, from birthdays to marriages to funerals. For example, a simple bouquet of birth month flowers is a thoughtful choice (especially if you are struggling to find a gift). Our readers have also woven flowers into unique birth month necklaces as well as designs for tattoos, cards, and even family kitchen tiles!
Why Are There Two Birth Flowers Per Month?
You’ll notice that some months have two birth flowers. Not all cultures agree on which flowers correspond to which months, plus some flowers simply aren’t as available in different regions. We’ve listed the most traditional primary flower as well as a secondary flower when there is one. Browse the links below to the individual birth month flower pages.
The Birth Month Flowers
January ~ Carnation & Snowdrop
January’s primary birth flower is the carnation, and the secondary flower is the snowdrop. Learn more about the January birth flowers!
February ~ Violet & Primrose
The February primary birth flower is the violet, and the secondary flower is the primrose. Learn more on the February birth flowers page!
March ~ Daffodil & Jonquil
The March birth flower is the daffodil, referred to as the jonquil (which is simply a type of daffodil). Learn more on our March birth flower page.
April ~ Daisy & Sweet Pea
The primary April birth flower is the daisy, and the secondary flower is the sweet pea. Learn more on our April birth flower page!
May ~ Lily of the Valley & Hawthorn
The May birth flowers are the lily of the valley and hawthorn. Learn more on our May birth flower page!
June ~ Rose & Honeysuckle
The primary June birth flower is the rose, and the secondary flower is honeysuckle. Learn more on our June birth flower page!
July ~ Larkspur & Water Lily
The primary July birth flower is the larkspur, and the secondary flower is the water lily. Learn more on our July birth flower page!
August ~ Gladiolus & Poppy
The primary August birth flower is the gladiolus, and the secondary flower is the poppy. Learn more on our August birth flower page!
September ~ Aster & Morning Glory
The primary September birth flower is the aster, and the secondary flower is the morning glory. Learn more on our September birth flower page!
October ~ Marigold & Cosmos
The primary October birth flower is the marigold, and the secondary flower is the cosmos. Learn more on our October birth flower page!
November ~ Chrysanthemum
The November birth flower is the chrysanthemum. Learn more on our November birth flower page!
December ~ Narcissus & Holly
The primary December birth flower is the narcissus (such as the paperwhite narcissus), and the secondary flower is the holly, which has small white berries that give way to the festive red berries that we see at the holidays. Learn more on our December birth flower page!
Learn More
Flowers remain a welcome substitute for words, enhancing the giver’s message with fragrance and beauty. Every flower has a meaning and can convey certain emotions, thoughts, or moods to the recipient. Learn the Language of Flowers, and you can practically speak in code!
Did you know that birthstones also have special meanings? Visit our Birthstones by Month page to see each month’s birthstone.
What is your birth flower? Tell us in the comments!
Excellent question, Rachel! We couldn't find an authoritative source that lists alternatives for the Southern Hemisphere, although there are suggested lists out there from several businesses, personal blogs, etc. We're finding that most sources from Australia, New Zealand, etc., list the birth flowers that agree with our list above. Although that list is based on folklore likely developed in the Northern Hemisphere, we'd recommend our standard list as the official one, as that seems to be what is usually accepted. But if you'd prefer, you can certainly look into alternatives for your area that would make more sense for your growing season. Hope this helps!
Hi Emma, I'm not sure what you'd like to know, however, we have growing guides to many of these flowers. See our Flower Plant Guides here: https://www.almanac.com/plants/type/flower
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