Guide
Birth flowers: the complete list, month by month
Every month has its own flower, a little like birthstones but from the garden. Here are all twelve that I paint, and what they mean.
By Matilda · 6 min read
When I paint a family bouquet, every person in the family gets the flower for their birthday month. The tradition is several hundred years old, and every flower has its own meaning.
January
Snowdrop
Means: hope and new beginnings
The bravest flower of all pushes up through frost and snow before anything else dares. It suits a January birthday in the darkest, quietest part of the year.
Create a poster with snowdrop →
February
Violet
Means: faithfulness, loyalty and wisdom
Small, modest and quietly beautiful. February birthdays are said to share its gentle steadiness.
Create a poster with violet →
March
Daffodil
Means: rebirth, joy and happiness
Spring's trumpet. A whole month of sunshine gathered in one yellow flower.
Create a poster with daffodil →
April
Daisy
Means: innocence, purity and joy
The flower everyone picks first. It suits April birthdays: fresh, open and full of spring energy.
Create a poster with daisy →
May
Lily of the valley
Means: sweetness, humility and the return of happiness
My own Swedish favourite, with small white bells and a scent you never forget.
Create a poster with lily of the valley →
June
Rose
Means: love and devotion
The queen of flowers. A June birthday gets the garden's most celebrated flower in the middle of its season.
Create a poster with rose →
July
Water lily
Means: a pure heart and quiet strength
Calm on the surface, deeply rooted below. Midsummer stillness in flower form.
Create a poster with water lily →
August
Poppy
Means: imagination, remembrance and joy
Bold, bright and impossible to miss. An August birthday gets one of the most striking flowers in the bouquet.
Create a poster with poppy →
September
Morning glory
Means: affection and renewal
Opens anew at every dawn, a small burst of colour every morning.
Create a poster with morning glory →
October
Marigold
Means: warmth, creativity and passion
Glows like autumn itself and carries summer's last sun into October.
Create a poster with marigold →
November
Chrysanthemum
Means: friendship, honesty and long life
Blooms happily when almost everything else has gone to sleep.
Create a poster with chrysanthemum →
December
Holly
Means: protection and a happy family life
Evergreen, with bright berries. The perfect sign for a December birthday.
Create a poster with holly →Frequently asked questions about birth flowers
What is a birth flower?
A flower that belongs to your birthday month, a bit like a birthstone. Every flower has its own meaning.
Which flower is May?
Lily of the valley. It means sweetness, humility and the return of happiness.
Can several people in the family have the same flower?
Yes, of course! If several family members have birthdays in the same month, they get the same birth flower in the bouquet. The number of flowers follows how many family members you choose, so everyone gets their own flower.
