Birth month flowers
The birth flowers for all twelve months in the British and American tradition, with each flower's season, pet safety and tips for working it into a birthday bouquet.
Key facts
- January carnation, February violet, March daffodil, April daisy, May lily of the valley, June rose.
- July larkspur (delphinium), August gladiolus, September aster, October marigold, November chrysanthemum, December narcissus.
- Lily of the valley, the May flower, is highly toxic to cats.
| Month | Birth flowers | Florist notes (season, pets) |
|---|---|---|
| January | Carnation, Snowdrop | Carnation: Year-round |
| February | Violet, Primrose | — |
| March | Narcissus (daffodil) | Narcissus (daffodil): Winter |
| April | Daisy (marguerite), Sweet pea | Daisy (marguerite): Spring, Summer; Sweet pea: Spring |
| May | Lily of the valley, Hawthorn | Lily of the valley: Spring, highly toxic to cats |
| June | Rose, Honeysuckle | Rose: Year-round |
| July | Delphinium, Water lily | Delphinium: Spring, Summer; Water lily: Summer |
| August | Gladiolus, Poppy | Gladiolus: Summer, Autumn; Poppy: Spring |
| September | Aster, Morning glory | — |
| October | Marigold, Cosmos | Marigold: Summer, Autumn; Cosmos: Summer, Autumn |
| November | Chrysanthemum | Chrysanthemum: Autumn |
| December | Narcissus (daffodil), Holly | Narcissus (daffodil): Winter; Holly: Winter |
For florists
- A birth flower need not be the whole bouquet: one or two stems as the focal accent, with a line on the card explaining it, is enough.
- Several birth flowers are seasonal. When the flower is out of season, use its colour or a close substitute and say so.
- Record the birthday and the flower in the client profile so next year's order starts from it.
Birthday flowers · Flower meanings: the language of flowers · Wedding anniversary flowers by year
FAQ
What is the birth flower for each month?
January: Carnation and Snowdrop; February: Violet and Primrose; March: Narcissus (daffodil); April: Daisy (marguerite) and Sweet pea; May: Lily of the valley and Hawthorn; June: Rose and Honeysuckle; July: Delphinium and Water lily; August: Gladiolus and Poppy; September: Aster and Morning glory; October: Marigold and Cosmos; November: Chrysanthemum; December: Narcissus (daffodil) and Holly.
Why do most months have two birth flowers?
The lists grew from different British and American traditions, so most months ended up with a primary and a secondary flower. Either is correct.
Which birth flowers are unsafe around pets?
Lily of the valley (May) is highly toxic to cats. Also flagged as mildly toxic in our knowledge base: carnation, narcissus (daffodil), daisy (marguerite), sweet pea, delphinium, gladiolus, poppy, chrysanthemum, holly.
Is it fine to give chrysanthemums for a November birthday?
In the US, UK and Australia, yes. For recipients from China, Japan or Korea avoid white and yellow chrysanthemums, which are funeral flowers there, and choose another flower.