Birth month flowers give each month of the year its own bloom, just like birthstones. The traditional list runs from the carnation in January to the narcissus and holly in December, with the rose for June and the chrysanthemum for November among the best known. Below you will find the flower of every month, what it traditionally means, whether you can actually find it at a florist, and simple gift ideas.
As with all flower symbolism, lists vary from one source to another. We use the most common traditional list from the British and North American tradition, which grew out of the 19th-century language of flowers.
Birth month flowers at a glance
| Month | Birth flower(s) | Traditional meaning | Easy to find as cut flower? |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Carnation, snowdrop | Love, admiration; hope | Carnation yes, snowdrop rarely |
| February | Violet, primrose (sometimes iris) | Faithfulness, modesty; youth | As potted plants |
| March | Daffodil (jonquil) | New beginnings, rebirth | Yes, in spring |
| April | Daisy, sweet pea | Innocence; blissful pleasure | Sweet pea in season |
| May | Lily of the valley, hawthorn | Return of happiness; hope | Lily of the valley briefly |
| June | Rose, honeysuckle | Love; bonds of love | Rose all year |
| July | Larkspur (delphinium), water lily | Lightness, joy; purity | Larkspur yes |
| August | Gladiolus, poppy | Strength of character; remembrance | Gladiolus yes |
| September | Aster, morning glory | Patience, elegance; affection | Aster yes |
| October | Marigold, cosmos | Warmth, creativity; harmony | Seasonal, garden flowers |
| November | Chrysanthemum | Joy and long life (Asia); remembrance (Europe) | Yes |
| December | Narcissus (paperwhite), holly | Hope, renewal; protection | Paperwhites as bulbs |
January: carnation and snowdrop
The carnation is a sturdy, long-lasting flower with a romantic reputation: red for deep love, pink for gratitude and a mother’s love, white for pure affection. Avoid yellow, which old dictionaries read as disappointment.
The snowdrop, one of the first flowers to appear through the snow, symbolises hope and consolation. It is rarely sold as a cut flower, so a pot of snowdrop bulbs is a nicer way to give it.
Gift idea: a bouquet of pink and white carnations with a few winter branches; or a pot of snowdrops for a garden lover.
February: violet and primrose
The violet stands for modesty and faithfulness; the primrose for youth and, in the old language of flowers, “I can’t live without you”. Both are mostly sold as small potted plants in late winter. Some lists give the iris for February instead, a more elegant cut flower meaning hope and wisdom.
Gift idea: a basket of primroses for a February birthday, or a bunch of purple irises.
March: daffodil
Nothing says spring like the daffodil, the flower of new beginnings. In Switzerland, wild daffodils (Narzissen) famously bloom on some mountain meadows in spring.
Gift idea: a generous bunch of yellow daffodils. Keep them in a separate vase for a few hours before mixing with other flowers, as their sap can shorten the life of other stems. More tips in our guide to making flowers last longer.
April: daisy and sweet pea
The daisy represents innocence and cheerfulness; the sweet pea, with its delicate scent, traditionally means “blissful pleasure” and also “goodbye and thank you”, which makes it a lovely farewell flower.
Gift idea: a scented posy of sweet peas, or a bright bouquet of gerberas and daisies for a younger recipient.
May: lily of the valley and hawthorn
The lily of the valley is the flower of happiness returning. In France, small sprigs are traditionally offered on 1 May for good luck, a custom also known in parts of French-speaking Switzerland. Hawthorn blossom symbolises hope but is rarely sold.
Watch out: lily of the valley is toxic if ingested. Keep it away from children and pets; see our list of flowers toxic to cats and dogs.
Gift idea: a small bunch of lily of the valley in a glass, or white flowers in a delicate posy.
June: rose and honeysuckle
June babies get the most famous flower of all. The rose carries different messages depending on its colour: red for love, pink for tenderness, yellow for friendship, white for respect. Honeysuckle represents the bonds of love. Our guide to rose meanings by colour and number goes into detail.
Gift idea: a bouquet of garden roses in the recipient’s favourite colour; June is also peony season in Switzerland.
July: larkspur and water lily
Larkspur (delphinium) symbolises lightness and joy, with blue and purple shades that suit summer bouquets. The water lily stands for purity, but it is not a cut flower you can buy at a florist.
Gift idea: a tall summer bouquet with blue delphiniums, white roses and greenery.
August: gladiolus and poppy
The gladiolus, named after the Latin word for sword, represents strength of character and integrity. The poppy stands for remembrance and consolation and is better suited to a memorial than a birthday.
Gift idea: a striking bunch of gladioli in a tall vase, or a summer bouquet with sunflowers.
September: aster and morning glory
The star-shaped aster symbolises patience and elegance; the morning glory means affection. Asters are easy to find in late-summer bouquets.
Gift idea: a lilac and white aster bouquet with late roses.
October: marigold and cosmos
The marigold is the October flower in many lists, with warm orange tones. Its traditional meanings are mixed: grief in Victorian Britain, a joyful celebration of the dead in Mexico. The cosmos, delicate and airy, is a gentler alternative meaning harmony.
Gift idea: an autumn bouquet with orange dahlias, cosmos and foliage.
November: chrysanthemum
The chrysanthemum is the official November flower in most lists and a symbol of joy and long life in Asia. In Switzerland and much of Europe, however, it is closely linked with graves and All Saints’ Day (1 November). A pot of chrysanthemums as a birthday present may be misread.
Gift idea: if you want to honour tradition, choose colourful pompom chrysanthemums mixed into an autumn bouquet and explain on the card that it is the November birth flower. Otherwise, go for dahlias or roses in warm colours.
December: narcissus and holly
Paperwhite narcissus symbolises hope and renewal in the darkest month, while holly represents protection and good fortune. Some lists also give the poinsettia.
Gift idea: a pot of paperwhites or amaryllis bulbs ready to flower at Christmas, or a winter bouquet with holly and evergreen branches. See our Christmas flower guide for festive ideas.
Birth flower gift ideas beyond the bouquet
Not every birth flower can be found at a florist. Here are alternatives that work all year round:
- A pressed flower or botanical print of the birth flower, framed.
- A seed packet or bulbs of the birth flower for gardeners.
- A potted plant (violets, primroses, chrysanthemums, paperwhites).
- A card explaining the flower’s meaning, attached to a seasonal bouquet.
- For a newborn: a keepsake print with the baby’s birth flower, alongside a bouquet for the parents. Our new baby flowers guide covers what to send to a maternity ward.
How to combine two birth flowers
Many months have two flowers. You can mix them in one gift, or use one for the bouquet and the other for the card or a small extra:
- January: red carnations in the bouquet, a pot of snowdrops for later.
- April: a posy of sweet peas with a few daisies.
- June: roses with sprigs of honeysuckle from the garden.
- August: gladioli in the bouquet, a pressed poppy card.
- December: paperwhites in a pot and a bouquet decorated with holly.
Birth month flowers vs seasonal flowers
The traditional list was drawn up for the gardens of Britain and North America, so it does not always match what is in season in Switzerland. When the birth flower is out of season, a seasonal bouquet in the same colour palette is often fresher and better value. Our guide to seasonal flowers in Switzerland shows what florists have month by month, and our birthday flowers guide explains how to send a bouquet anywhere in the country.
Frequently asked questions
What are the birth month flowers?
The traditional list is: January carnation and snowdrop, February violet and primrose, March daffodil, April daisy and sweet pea, May lily of the valley and hawthorn, June rose and honeysuckle, July larkspur and water lily, August gladiolus and poppy, September aster and morning glory, October marigold and cosmos, November chrysanthemum, December narcissus and holly.
Where do birth month flowers come from?
They grew out of the Victorian language of flowers and were popularised in Britain and North America. Lists vary slightly between sources, so you may see different flowers for the same month.
What is the birth flower for November in Switzerland?
The traditional November birth flower is the chrysanthemum. In Switzerland it is strongly associated with graves and All Saints' Day, so for a birthday it is often wiser to choose another autumn flower or explain the gesture on the card.
Can I always get a birth flower in a bouquet?
Not always. Some birth flowers, such as snowdrops, hawthorn or water lilies, are rarely sold as cut flowers. In that case, use the colour, a potted plant, a seed packet or an illustrated card instead.
What is a good birth flower gift for a baby?
A pressed or illustrated print of the baby's birth flower, a keepsake card, or a bouquet for the parents including the flower of the month all make thoughtful gifts.