Who decided the birth month flowers?

According to history, birth month flowers originated in Roman times when people first began celebrating birthdays. These celebrations included covering the altars of Roman gods with floral decoration.

Why does each month have two flowers?

While not every birth month has two flowers, several months such as January, April, and August do. There is not necessarily a documented reason for this, however, the pair of flowers typically have two very separate meanings that may or may not relate to the specific time of year.

Every Birth Flower by Month

wedding bouquets with purple flowers — PHOTO BY CHRISTINE BRIZENDINE OF DABBLE ME THIS; Floral Design by Vale of Enna

Choosing which flowers to include in your wedding can be overwhelming. From deciding on your bouquet to centerpiece arrangements and even altar flowers, the options are endless. But what if you could let the meaning of a flower guide your choices, rather than choosing blooms at random? You certainly can!

While various colors of flowers have different meanings, there are also symbolic birth flowers by month. Consider a bouquet made up of primarily your own birth flower, or a floral arch combining you and your partner’s birth flowers by month. Each month of the year has at least one flower associated with it, and it’s the perfect way to help make your floral choices more meaningful.

Below, find your birth flower by month, along with what it stands for, to incorporate even more meaning into your big day.

01 of 12

January: Carnation and Snowdrop

Bride holding posy bouquet of pink carnations — Photo by Marion Colombani Photography; Floral Design by La Maison Dautel

If you were born in January, both the carnation and the snowdrop are considered your most meaningful flowers. Snowdrops symbolize innocence, purity, and hope, while carnations are a symbol of love, loyalty, and perseverance.

Because carnations are edible, they’re the perfect bloom to adorn a cake or even add to a signature cocktail to dress it up. Snowdrops, with their bright, white hue and drooping blossoms would make for a lovely addition to centerpiece arrangements, adding both texture and meaning to your tablescape.

02 of 12

February: Violet and Primrose

Both violets and primroses hold meaning for those born in February. Violets come in a variety of purple hues and symbolize loyalty and faithfulness. Primroses bloom in early spring, with color options including pink, purple, white, yellow, and red. They’re heartier flowers that are often gifted to let someone know you can’t live without them.

Both of these blooms have shorter stems, so it’s tricky to include them in a bouquet, but they’re stunning in a centerpiece. We also love the idea of incorporating violets or
primroses in small pots to use for an escort card display or even as favors.

03 of 12

March: Daffodil

The birth flower for March is none other than the early-blooming daffodil. Just like the first sight of this happy bloom brings feelings of hope after a long winter, daffodils symbolize new beginnings, joy, and a deep love that cannot be duplicated.

While daffodils aren’t used too often for weddings, we love it when they make an appearance. A blossoming bouquet of daffodils offers a unique textured look, while bud vases featuring these sunny blooms make for the sweetest table adornment.

04 of 12

April: Sweet Pea and Daisy

<p>bridesmaids bouquet</p> — Photo by Kate Headley

Both daisies and sweet peas are considered the birth flowers for those born in April. Daisies, with a bright bold yellow center and white petals, hold a meaning of loyal love and purity. Sweet peas, which can be found in a variety of hues, symbolize blissful pleasure.

To incorporate daisies into your own wedding, we love the idea of adding a few blooms to a colorful wildflower bouquet. Sweet peas make for the perfect addition to a bouquet or a centerpiece. They can also stand on their own beautifully in bud vases for a pop of color.

05 of 12

May: Lily of the Valley

Bride's bouquet — Photo by The Day Collective

We already know royal brides love to include lily of the valley, but it’s also the birth flower for those born in May. Lily of the valley symbolizes humility, hope, and sweetness. Royal brides often incorporate at least one sprig of this flowering plant in their wedding bouquet.

We love the look of bouquets made up entirely of lily of the valley, or the idea of creating lush displays that line the length of a reception table. It’s the perfect way to add white blooms and a bit of greenery.

06 of 12

June: Rose

Of course, roses are a classic bloom for any occasion, but they hold even greater meaning for those born in June. Roses carry a general meaning of love, devotion, and beauty, but depending on the color of rose, it may change. White roses are symbolic of purity, pink roses are symbolic of grace and joy, and red roses are symbolic of romance.

Garden roses make for a stunning addition to bouquets and arrangements with their bold, textured petals. Roses are also edible and petals can be added to desserts or drinks for added flair.

07 of 12

July: Larkspur

Larkspur, the birth flower for July, symbolizes a strong bond, grace, good intentions, and positivity. It can be found in a variety of hues including pink, purple, white, and blue.

This tall flowering plant offers the most romantic, garden vibe to incorporate into your wedding. Consider a long-stemmed, overflowing bouquet of larkspur, or incorporate tall stems into table arrangements. One of our favorite ideas? Lining the aisle with this incredible, textured bloom.

08 of 12

August: Gladiolus and Poppy

Bride holding a bouquet of red and white poppies — Photo by Lindsay Hackney Photography; Floral Design by Emily Herzig Floral Studio

August is known for two bright, bold birth flowers: gladiolus and poppies. Gladiolus grows tall with magnificent flowers in a huge variety of hues. They symbolize strength and integrity, and the shape of the flower represents a heart being pierced with love. Poppies come in a variety of colors, with a yellow poppy symbolizing success and a red poppy signifying pleasure.

Both gladiolus and poppies are the perfect addition to a long-stemmed bouquet for a wildflower vibe. Gladiolus can be used to make a tall statement in a table centerpiece, while poppies add a playful touch to table and altar arrangements.

09 of 12

September: Aster and Morning Glory

Asters are a bright, bold bloom with plenty of texture, and they hold meaning for September. Symbolizing strong, powerful love, they can be found in pink and purple hues, along with white. Morning glories are another September birth month flower, holding a meaning of affection.

Because of their short stems, morning glory can be tricky to add to arrangements, but they can certainly add a pop of gorgeous color to a short-stemmed bouquet. Asters are a great textural addition to table arrangements or bouquets, and because they’re entirely edible, they can adorn platters of food or desserts as well.

10 of 12

October: Marigold and Cosmo

floral chuppah — Photo by Heather Kincaid

Both marigolds and cosmos hold meaning for the month of October. Cosmos are dainty flowers that bloom in early summer and continue blooming into fall before the first frost hits. They’re a cheerful bloom with multiple hues including red, white, yellow, pink, and orange that symbolize peace and harmony. Marigolds, a fragrant, hearty bloom, come in a variety of autumn colors including orange, yellow, and white. With their bold hues, they symbolize optimism, prosperity, and the rising sun.

Marigolds offer beautiful texture in bouquets and table arrangements, along with a bold pop of color in a floral arch or altar backdrop. Cosmos are perfect for adding a touch of texture and whimsy to a table arrangement.

11 of 12

November: Chrysanthemum

<p>chuppah</p> — Photo by Forged in the North

Chrysanthemum, or mums, are one of the most popular flowers for fall, so it’s no wonder it serves as the official birth flower for this autumn month. These hearty blooms come in a variety of colors including yellow, orange, white, and purple and the flowers symbolize joy and longevity. White mums hold another meaning of pure love and purity, while red mums simply mean "I love you."

Potted mums make for a gorgeous way to line your aisle for a fall wedding. They can also add great texture and a pop of bold color to a pretty bouquet.

12 of 12

December: Narcissus and Holly

Both narcissus and holly are considered the birth flowers for the month of December. Though holly isn’t technically a flower, it holds the meaning of happiness and fertility. Narcissus, which includes many types of daffodils, represents inspiration, vitality, and faithfulness.

If you’re planning a winter wedding, holly is a beautiful addition to a bouquet, or it can be utilized to line a tablescape to add a touch of greenery. White narcissus makes for a stunning winter bouquet, or it can stand alone in bud vases as a centerpiece.

FAQ

Who decided the birth month flowers?

According to history, birth month flowers originated in Roman times when people first began celebrating birthdays. These celebrations included covering the altars of Roman gods with floral decoration.
Why does each month have two flowers?

While not every birth month has two flowers, several months such as January, April, and August do. There is not necessarily a documented reason for this, however, the pair of flowers typically have two very separate meanings that may or may not relate to the specific time of year.