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Every month has its own birth flower, or two or three. Here’s the full list, with what each flower means and when it’s usually in season in Australia. Whether you’re looking for a thoughtful birthday gift or you’re just curious, this guide is for you.
Birth Month Flowers by Month
| Month | Birth flower(s) | Meaning | Usually in season in Australia |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Carnation, snowdrop | Love, admiration; hope | Carnations: all year as cut flowers. Snowdrops: late winter in cool areas |
| February | Iris, violet, primrose | Wisdom, faith; loyalty; new beginnings | Usually late winter to spring |
| March | Daffodil | Rebirth, joy | Late winter to spring |
| April | Daisy, sweet pea | Innocence, loyalty; blissful pleasure | Sweet peas: late winter to spring. Daisies: spring to summer |
| May | Lily of the valley, hawthorn | Sweetness, humility; hope | Spring, in cool areas |
| June | Rose | Love (meaning varies by colour) | Garden roses: spring to autumn. Cut roses: all year |
| July | Water lily, larkspur | Purity; lightness, an open heart | Water lilies: summer. Larkspur: spring to early summer |
| August | Gladiolus, poppy | Strength of character; remembrance | Gladioli: summer. Iceland poppies: late winter to spring |
| September | Aster, morning glory | Love, patience; affection | Late summer to autumn |
| October | Marigold | Passion, creativity | Spring to autumn |
| November | Chrysanthemum | Joy, longevity | Autumn (Mother’s Day in May), and as cut flowers all year |
| December | Narcissus (paperwhite), holly | Hope, faithfulness; happiness | Paperwhites: winter. Holly berries: autumn to winter |
Where birth month flowers come from
The tradition of giving flowers on birthdays dates back to the Romans. Because flowers were seasonal, people began to link particular flowers with particular months. Over time, each flower took on its own meaning, and those qualities came to be linked with the people born in that month.
Birth flowers in Australia
The list comes from British and American tradition, so the flowers follow the northern hemisphere’s seasons. In Australia many of them flower at a different time of year, which is why the table shows when they’re usually in season here.
January: Carnation & Snowdrop
The carnation is native to many countries across the Mediterranean region, including Greece, Italy, and Spain. Here it has been grown and used for thousands of years. Scientifically known as Dianthus Caryophyllus. The carnation’s genus name is thought to translate to ‘divine flower’ from the Greek words dios and anthos. Originally only occurring in a pink-purple colour. They can now be found in almost every colour through breeding and the production of cultivars. Surprise someone with a delightful bouquet of carnations.
The other January flower is the Snowdrop. With radiant white flowers that dangle languorously from its slender green stem-like elegant beads of snow. It’s clear where this flower gets its common name. Snowdrops belong to the Galanthus group of flowers, which contains about 20 different species. With the Galanthus nivalis being the most popular. Symbolising innocence, purity, and hope. In Australia, snowdrops grow best in cooler areas, such as Tasmania, Victoria and the NSW tablelands, where they flower in late winter.
February: Iris, Violet, and Primrose
The month of February is unique not only in the number of its days but also sets itself apart by having not two but three birth month flowers. Irises are typically found in dry, rocky areas and the most common varieties have a ‘beard’, which is usually a different colour from the rest of the flower petals. In fact, irises come in such a wide variety of colours that the word iris in Greek means ‘rainbow’. And if you ever come across the exceptionally rare black iris then consider yourself very lucky. This birth month flower is notoriously elusive. You can purchase an exquisite bouquet of irises for yourself or your Aquarian bestie with same-day delivery.
Violets are thought to represent loyalty, wisdom, faith, and courage. Their flowers typically have five petals. Despite their name, violets come in a variety of different colours, including white and yellow. There are over 500 species of violets that we know of today. Violets cope well with cold, so they flower through winter into spring.
As one of the first flowers of the northern spring (late winter here), the primrose symbolises youth and new beginnings or new promises. It would therefore make a great gift for a new friendship. Alternatively, as an encouraging gesture to someone embarking on a new venture or chapter in life. Primroses typically flower in clusters and their blooms usually first appear after the 1.5 years mark. They have fairly long lifespans and have been known to live anywhere from 10 to 48 years old.
March: Daffodil
Gloriously vibrant and uplifting, the magnificent daffodil has been featured in a myriad of noteworthy poems. It is one of the most recognisable birth month flowers. The most famous being that of the romantic William Wordsworth. Easy to grow and care for, daffodils are generous bloomers. Depending on the variety and where you live, daffodils flower from late winter to spring. See our guide to growing daffodils.
There are around 50 or more species of daffodils, native mainly to south-western Europe and North Africa. In Australia, this flower enjoys the slightly cooler weather of the southern states. It also performs best when it receives full sun. Scientifically known as Narcissus, daffodils symbolise rebirth and joy, and serve as a reminder that brighter days are coming.
April: Daisy & Sweet Pea
Cheering up April babies with its sunny disposition and joie de vivre is the delightful daisy one of the cutest birth month flowers. With charming upturned flowers that balance on precariously thin, single stems. Daisies may seem quite delicate but they are in fact one of the most tolerant and toughest plants out there. In fact, they can handle a variety of conditions quite well, including full sun, mild drought, frost, and even salty soil. Symbolising loyalty and innocence, daisies are a popular choice for bridal bouquets.
Sweet peas are absolutely gorgeous flowers with elegant ruffled petals that come in a myriad of pastel colours. Fittingly associated with blissful pleasure. Its scientific name, Lathyrus odoratus, translates to ‘very passionate’ from the Greek words la and thyros and ‘fragrant’ from the Latin word odoratus. Native to Italy, sweet peas are renowned for their wonderful scent. Additionally, many cultivars have been developed with a focus on enhancing their fragrance. 
May: Lily of the Valley & Hawthorn
The month of May is related to two rather feisty birth month flowers: Lilies of the Valley and Hawthorns. The Lily of the Valley adds elegance and style, and an alluringly sweet perfume to boot, to practically any flower arrangement. Growing in woodlands and mountain forests, it’s one of the top flowers of choice for royal weddings, including that of Prince William and Kate Middleton. However, do make sure to keep it far away from children and pets because every part of this plant, from its roots to its leaves, flowers, and berries, is poisonous.
Known for the sharp thorns of many of its species, Hawthorns make excellent hedges as they grow thick and fast and can grow up to 10–15 metres tall. However, its initially harsh and forbidding appearance is offset by the delicate white or pink flowers that it produces in late spring and early summer. Belonging to the Crataegus group botanically, which has almost 400 species, hawthorn has also long been used in traditional herbal medicine.
June: Rose
Ah, the flower of love and romance! The rose, affectionately referred to as ‘the queen of flowers’, has a long history that stretches back an estimated 5,000 years. It has featured in countless aspects of culture from literature and music to fashion, poetry, and religion and its colours represent a myriad of meanings. Red roses represent love, white roses purity, orange roses enthusiasm and pink roses admiration. See our guide to rose colour meanings. A most versatile flower for sure. To purchase your very own rose bouquet of any colour, or even one-of-a-kind Black Roses, see our range.
July: Water Lilies & Larkspurs
Looking like majestic floating crowns, water lilies bring much beauty and vitality to otherwise largely uninviting habitats, such as marshes, bogs, and ponds. Fun fact: Blue water lilies are the national flowers of Sri Lanka while white water lilies are the national flowers of Bangladesh. Water lilies, botanically known as Nymphaeaceae, enhance the beauty of ponds. In fact they are a great addition to outdoor water features, aquariums and other water-themed displays.
Producing striking thick spikes of colourful blooms, Larkspurs are definitely a sight to behold. They occur in shades of pink, white, purple, and even blue and can grow to about 1 m tall. Once thought to be Delphiniums, Larkspurs are actually botanically known as Consolida ajacis, with the main difference being that Larkspurs are annuals, while delphiniums are perennials.
August: Glads & Poppies
Highly ornamental, Glads, also known as Gladiolus, are native to Africa, the Mediterranean, and Eurasia. They are in no hurry when it comes to blooming, with each flower leisurely unfurling one at a time over the course of several weeks during the summer. If you ever find yourself in pursuit of someone, Glads are a great way to symbolise your blossoming affection towards them.
In Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United Kingdom, poppies are often used to honour people who were lost in battle. Although commonly associated with the United Kingdom, poppies were first officially adopted as symbols of remembrance in the United States after a poem written by a Canadian doctor. Occurring also in white and yellow, poppies grow easily in most soils and reseed themselves regularly.
September: Aster & Morning Glory
If you’re looking to liven up your garden, look no further than the colourful Asters. Bright purple with a yellow centre, Asters are part of the daisy family and the resemblance is quite uncanny. They bloom in the northern autumn (late summer to autumn here) and represent love and patience.
Morning glories get their name from the fact that their petals open up in the morning, and then shrivel up and close before noon. A great way to know that lunch is around the corner! Morning glories are fast growers and, as climbers, make lovely covers for walls and fences.
October: Marigold
Marigolds have a golden colour often compared to the sun or autumn leaves. They’re native to the Americas, from the south-western United States to South America. Symbolising passion, and creativity, they are often attached to a desire for wealth and a drive to succeed. They’re easy to grow from seed and attract bees and other pollinators to the garden.
November: Chrysanthemum
Generally referred to as mums because their full name is a bit of a mouthful, Chrysanthemums. They carry a powerful meaning in Chinese culture, which is where they were first cultivated thousands of years ago, and over the years other countries have also attributed the mum with a variety of significance. In Australia, for example, mums are ‘officially’ the Mother’s Day flower. Mums for mums… how lovely is that?
December: Narcissus (Paperwhite) & Holly
Originally found in the Mediterranean, Paperwhite Narcissus produces a burst of flowers about four to six weeks after planting. They grow well indoors at any time of the year, preferring temperatures of around 21°C. Exhilaratingly fragrant, Paperwhite Narcissus represents vitality, inspiration, and faithfulness, which can make them an excellent anniversary gift.
Hollies are technically not flowers but they do bring out the Christmas spirit. They can grow to around 15 metres and live up to 300 years. They symbolise fertility and happiness and, with their vibrant green leaves and bright red berries, they make great additions to bouquets or as an evergreen garden hedge.
Send Their Birth Flower
Birth month flowers make great birthday gifts because they feel personal and thoughtful. If their birth flower is out of season, choose a bouquet in its colour, or in their favourite colours.
Send their birth flower with our birthday flowers, with same-day delivery when you order before the daily cut-off. See our delivery areas, our ultimate guide to birthday flowers and ideas for what to write in a birthday card.