Birth Flowers by Month: The Full UK List

We make cards, pin badges and prints in the UK. We don't sell flowers or jewellery, so the guide below is a straight guide - the card and the prints at the end are the only things we're selling.

Every month has a birth flower, and most months have two: an older Victorian one and a second that stuck. They turn up on birthday cards, prints, jewellery and tattoos because they say happy birthday without writing it.

Here is the full list, month by month, with what each flower traditionally stands for.

January to March

• January: Carnation (also Snowdrop). Meaning: love, devotion and admiration - the snowdrop stands for hope after winter.
• February: Violet (also Primrose). Meaning: loyalty, modesty and faithfulness.
• March: Daffodil (also Jonquil). Meaning: new beginnings and unmatched regard - a single daffodil is said to be unlucky, so give a bunch.

April to June

• April: Daisy (also Sweet pea). Meaning: innocence and loyal love; sweet pea means blissful pleasure and goodbyes.
• May: Lily of the valley (also Hawthorn). Meaning: sweetness, humility and a return to happiness.
• June: Rose (also Honeysuckle). Meaning: love, with the meaning changing by colour - red for love, yellow for friendship.

July to September

• July: Larkspur (also Water lily). Meaning: an open heart and strong attachment.
• August: Gladiolus (also Poppy). Meaning: strength of character and remembrance.
• September: Aster (also Morning glory). Meaning: wisdom, patience and enduring affection.

October to December

• October: Marigold (also Cosmos). Meaning: warmth, creativity and fierce affection.
• November: Chrysanthemum (also Peony). Meaning: friendship, honesty and cheerfulness.
• December: Narcissus (also Holly). Meaning: good wishes and faithfulness through the coldest part of the year.

How people actually use them

• On a birthday card: name the flower in the message rather than drawing it. "August, gladiolus, strength of character - that tracks."
• As a print for the wall, one flower per person, hung as a family set.
• On jewellery, usually paired with the birthstone for the same month.
• As a tattoo, which is why the meanings get looked up far more than the flowers themselves.
• In a bouquet for a milestone birthday, where the florist can usually source the main flower year round.

Shop birthday cards

Prints for the wall

A5, A4 and A3 art prints, drawn in house and printed in the UK.

How to write it so it lands

• Both flowers count - pick whichever suits the person.
• Write the meaning in the card, not just the flower name.
• A single daffodil is traditionally unlucky, so give a bunch.

Where to shop next

• Birth flower meanings
• Birthstones by month
• Birth flower gift ideas
• Birth flower card messages
• Birthday card messages
• Buy a birthday card online
• Wall art and prints
• All guides
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Pin badges

Frequently asked questions

What are the birth flowers for each month?

January carnation, February violet, March daffodil, April daisy, May lily of the valley, June rose, July larkspur, August gladiolus, September aster, October marigold, November chrysanthemum, December narcissus.

Why do some months have two birth flowers?

The lists come from different traditions. Victorian flower language named one, later almanacs named another, and both stuck - so most months have a main flower and a second.

Are birth flowers the same in the UK and the US?

Mostly. The main flower is the same for every month; the second flower sometimes differs, because it follows what grows locally.