Birth Month Flowers and What They Mean, January to December

Birth month flowers are like birthstones, but more alive. Each month has a flower, sometimes two, tied to it by old European and Victorian traditions. Sending someone their birth flower on their birthday turns a pretty bouquet into a personal one. It says you looked something up, which is more than most gifts can say.

This guide lists every birth month flower, what it traditionally means, when it is naturally in season and what to send instead when the true birth flower is not available. Because November birthdays are happening right now, we start with a closer look at chrysanthemums.

All 12 birth month flowers at a glance

November: chrysanthemum

November babies get one of the most generous flowers in the florist's cooler. Chrysanthemums come in almost every color, from white and cream to bronze, burgundy, lavender and green, and in many forms: big football mums, spider mums, daisy-like spray mums and tiny button mums.

In the United States, mums stand for joy, friendship and honesty. In Japan, the chrysanthemum is a symbol of the imperial family and long life. In parts of Europe and Asia they are associated with remembrance, so if the birthday person has roots there, mix mums with roses or other flowers to keep the mood celebratory.

Mums last 10 to 14 days in a vase, longer than most birthday flowers. Our guide to chrysanthemums in November covers colors and care.

December: narcissus and holly

Paperwhites, a fragrant narcissus, bloom in winter and are often grown from bulbs indoors. They stand for good wishes and hope. Holly, with its red berries, represents protection and domestic happiness. A December birthday bouquet can mix white roses, paperwhites and a sprig of holly or evergreen for a festive look that does not feel like a Christmas gift. Note that holly berries are toxic to pets, so keep it high or skip it in homes with dogs and cats.

January: carnation and snowdrop

Carnations are making a strong comeback, and January birthdays are the perfect excuse. They come in dozens of colors, last up to three weeks and cost less than roses. Pink carnations stand for gratitude, red for deep love and white for pure affection. Snowdrops, the tiny white bell flowers of late winter, are rarely sold as cut flowers but are lovely as a potted bulb.

February: violet and primrose

Violets symbolize loyalty and faithfulness. Primroses stand for young love. Both are small and delicate, best as potted plants. For a February birthday bouquet, florists often use purple flowers such as lisianthus, stock or lavender roses to nod to the violet's color.

March: daffodil

Daffodils mean new beginnings and rebirth, perfect for the start of spring. One caution: cut daffodils release a sap that shortens the life of other flowers. If they are in a mixed bouquet, your florist should condition them separately first.

April: daisy and sweet pea

Daisies stand for innocence and cheerfulness, and sweet peas for gratitude and blissful pleasure. Sweet peas have a delicate fragrance and a short season. Daisies, including gerberas, are available year-round and make a bright, happy birthday bouquet.

May: lily of the valley and hawthorn

Lily of the valley is one of the most romantic flowers in the world, with tiny white bells and a sweet scent. It stands for happiness and the return of joy. It is expensive and seasonal, often a special order. Note that it is toxic if eaten, so keep it away from pets and small children.

June: rose and honeysuckle

June babies are lucky: the rose is available every day of the year. Each color carries its own meaning, red for love, pink for gratitude, yellow for friendship, white for new beginnings. Our guide to what rose colors mean explains them all. Honeysuckle stands for devoted affection.

July: larkspur and water lily

Larkspur grows in tall spikes of blue, purple, pink and white. It stands for lightness and an open heart. Water lilies symbolize purity and are not used as cut flowers, so florists pair larkspur or delphinium with white roses for July birthdays.

August: gladiolus and poppy

Gladiolus, with its tall sword-like stems, stands for strength and integrity. Poppies represent remembrance and imagination. In California, the golden poppy is the state flower, protected in the wild. Gladiolus is easy to find in summer and makes a dramatic tall arrangement.

September: aster and morning glory

Asters look like small star-shaped daisies and stand for wisdom, faith and patience. Morning glories represent affection but are not used in bouquets. Asters are affordable and pair beautifully with roses and sunflowers for early fall birthdays.

October: marigold and cosmos

Marigolds stand for warmth and creativity, and their bright orange and gold are central to Día de los Muertos ofrendas. Cosmos represent harmony and order. For an October birthday, an orange and gold bouquet with marigolds, roses and dahlias captures the season.

What to send when the birth flower is out of season

Some birth flowers are hard or impossible to find in certain months. Here is how florists adapt.

A simple trick: include the birth flower's name on the card even if the bouquet uses a substitute. "Your birth flower is the violet, so I sent you every shade of purple we could find." That turns a substitute into a story.

How to use birth flowers in gifts

• Birthday bouquets: the most common use. Mix the birth flower with roses or greenery.
• Baby gifts: a bouquet featuring the baby's birth flower is a sweet way to mark the arrival.
• Mother's Day: a bouquet combining each child's birth flower, a "family bouquet."
• Anniversaries: the birth flowers of both partners in one arrangement.
• Memorials: the birth flower of someone who has passed, on their birthday.

Birth month flowers card ideas

• "Happy birthday! Chrysanthemums are your birth flower. They mean joy, which feels right."
• "Roses for my June girl. Happy birthday."
• "Your birth flower stands for loyalty. That's you exactly."
• "Asters for wisdom. Happy birthday to the smartest person I know."

Our card is handwritten for free, up to 200 characters. For more card ideas, see our birthday flowers guide.

Prices for a birth month bouquet

• Small birth flower bouquet: $39 to $69.
• Medium mixed bouquet with birth flower: $69 to $99.
• Dozen roses for June: about $89; two dozen about $179.
• Luxury birthday arrangement: $200 and up.

Delivery is $14.99 and free from $149. Order by 2 PM for same-day delivery across Irvine and nearby Orange County, every day from 8 AM to 8 PM. We send you a photo before delivery and every bouquet has a 7-day freshness guarantee.

Where birth month flowers come from

The idea of linking flowers to months has roots in ancient Roman traditions, when flowers were part of birthday celebrations and seasonal festivals. The modern list grew mostly in Victorian England, when the language of flowers was a popular pastime and every bloom carried a coded message. Our guide to the Victorian language of flowers explains how that system worked.

Because the lists came from European gardens, some birth flowers match the European growing season better than Southern California's. That is why some months list two flowers: one that grows wild in that month in England and one that florists can actually buy. Different sources also disagree on a few months. The table above uses the most common modern pairs.

Birth month flowers in Southern California

Our mild climate means many flowers bloom here at different times than the traditional calendar suggests. A few notes from the studio:

• Chrysanthemums are at their peak right now, in November, from California growers.
• Roses come from growers in California and South America year-round.
• Daisies and gerberas are available any month.
• Daffodils and sweet peas show up from late winter through spring.
• Marigolds peak in October for Día de los Muertos.
• Paperwhites and holly arrive in late November and December.

When a birth flower is in season locally, it is fresher, lasts longer and costs less. Our guide to November flowers in season lists what is at its best this month.

Birth flowers vs birthstones

People often ask if birth flowers and birthstones match. Sometimes the colors line up nicely, which makes for a thoughtful pairing: a November chrysanthemum bouquet in gold and bronze echoes topaz and citrine, while lavender roses for February nod to amethyst. If you are giving jewelry with a birthstone, a small bouquet in the matching color is an easy way to complete the gift.

Birth flowers also make a lovely ongoing tradition. Send the same person their birth flower each year, and it becomes something they look forward to, a small ritual that says you remembered.

Send a birth month bouquet

Know someone with a birthday coming up? Look up their month in the table above and tell us at checkout: we will build the bouquet around their birth flower or the closest seasonal match. Browse our birthday flowers to start, and for November birthdays right now, chrysanthemums are at their best.

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