Birth Flower Jewellery — A Guide to Every Month's Flower
Every month of the year has a flower associated with it — just like birthstones, but older, and in many ways more personal. Birth flowers have been used symbolically for centuries, tied to folklore, Victorian flower language (floriography), and the idea that the month you were born in shapes something essential about who you are.
This guide covers every birth flower by month, what each one means, and how birth flower jewellery turns that symbolism into something you can wear every day.
Birth Flower Chart — All 12 Months
| Month | Birth Flower | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| January | Carnation & Snowdrop | Love, admiration, hope, purity |
| February | Violet & Primrose | Faithfulness, modesty, young love |
| March | Daffodil | New beginnings, rebirth, good fortune |
| April | Daisy & Sweet Pea | Innocence, purity, blissful pleasure |
| May | Lily of the Valley & Hawthorn | Happiness, humility, hope |
| June | Rose & Honeysuckle | Love, passion, devotion, bonds |
| July | Larkspur & Water Lily | Positivity, dignity, purity of heart |
| August | Poppy & Gladiolus | Remembrance, strength, moral integrity |
| September | Aster & Morning Glory | Wisdom, love, affection |
| October | Marigold & Cosmos | Creativity, warmth, order, peace |
| November | Chrysanthemum | Loyalty, friendship, joy |
| December | Holly & Narcissus | Protection, good wishes, hope |
What Is My Birth Flower?
Your birth flower is determined by the month you were born — not your star sign or birth date, just the month. Most months have two associated flowers; the primary flower is the one most commonly used in jewellery and gifting contexts.
Unlike birthstones, which were standardised by the jewellery industry in 1912, birth flowers come from a longer and less formalised tradition — rooted in Victorian floriography (the language of flowers) and older folk traditions. Different sources sometimes assign slightly different flowers to each month, which is why you'll occasionally see variations. The chart above reflects the most widely recognised modern list.
Birth Flowers by Month — Meanings in Detail
January — Carnation & Snowdrop
The carnation is one of the oldest cultivated flowers in the world, associated in Victorian flower language with love and admiration. Pink carnations represent gratitude; red carnations, deep love; white carnations, pure love. The snowdrop — appearing through frost and snow — represents hope and the ability to overcome difficulty. Together they make January a month of quiet strength and enduring affection.
February — Violet & Primrose
The violet carries one of the richest symbolic histories of any flower — associated with faithfulness, modesty, and spiritual wisdom. In ancient Greece it was used in love potions and given as tokens between lovers. The primrose, appearing in early spring before almost anything else, is associated with young love and new beginnings. February's flowers are a natural fit for its most famous association: Valentine's Day.
March — Daffodil
The daffodil is the definitive spring flower — bright, bold, and appearing when winter finally releases its grip. Associated with rebirth, new beginnings, and good fortune, it's also the national flower of Wales. A March birthday gift featuring a daffodil motif carries the energy of spring itself: optimism, fresh starts, and the confidence that brighter days are ahead.
April — Daisy & Sweet Pea
The daisy is one of the most universally loved flowers — simple, cheerful, and associated with innocence and purity. In Norse mythology, the daisy was the sacred flower of Freya, goddess of love and fertility. Sweet peas add blissful pleasure and delicate beauty to the April palette. Together they make April's flowers particularly well-suited to gifts for children and those with a light, joyful quality.
May — Lily of the Valley & Hawthorn
Lily of the Valley is one of the most beloved flowers in bridal traditions — associated with happiness, humility, and the return of joy. It was famously used in royal wedding bouquets and carries a sweetness that feels genuinely special. The hawthorn, a hedgerow flower associated with hope and protection, completes the May pairing. May birth flower jewellery is a natural gift for spring birthdays and for brides born in May.
June — Rose & Honeysuckle
June has arguably the most universally recognised birth flower of all — the rose. Associated with love, passion, and beauty across virtually every culture, the rose is the most symbolic flower in the world. Red roses for deep love; pink for admiration; white for purity; yellow for friendship. Honeysuckle adds bonds of love and devotion — the way it winds and holds is itself a metaphor for lasting connection. June birth flower jewellery is a particularly meaningful romantic gift.
July — Larkspur & Water Lily
Larkspur (delphinium) is associated with positivity, dignity, and an open heart. In Victorian flower language it conveyed lightness and levity — a flower for people who bring joy into a room. The water lily, rooted in mud but blooming above water, represents purity of heart and the ability to rise above difficult circumstances. July's flowers suit those with a naturally sunny, resilient character.
August — Poppy & Gladiolus
The poppy carries one of the most powerful symbolic associations of any flower — remembrance and rest, but also imagination and consolation. Gladiolus, named for the gladiator's sword, is associated with strength, moral integrity, and the courage of one's convictions. August's flowers are for people with depth — those who feel things strongly and carry quiet strength.
September — Aster & Morning Glory
The aster was believed by ancient Greeks to be created from stardust — its name derives from the Greek word for star. Associated with wisdom, love, and the charm that comes from genuine depth of character. Morning glory, which opens with the dawn and closes by afternoon, is associated with affection and the fleeting, precious nature of beautiful moments. September's flowers suit thoughtful, quietly significant people.
October — Marigold & Cosmos
Marigolds are among the most culturally significant flowers in the world — used in Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico, in Hindu weddings in India, and in folk medicine across cultures. They're associated with creativity, warmth, and passion. Cosmos, with its perfectly ordered petals, represents harmony, peace, and beauty in balance. October's flowers are for creative, warm-hearted people who bring order and colour to everything they touch.
November — Chrysanthemum
The chrysanthemum is one of the most beloved flowers in East Asian culture — in Japan it's the symbol of the Emperor and represents longevity and rejuvenation. In Western tradition it's associated with loyalty, friendship, and joy. A November chrysanthemum gift says something about enduring relationships — the kind that strengthen over time rather than fade.
December — Holly & Narcissus
Holly, with its deep green and vivid red berries, has been a symbol of protection and good wishes since pre-Christian times. Narcissus (paperwhite) blooms in the depths of winter and is associated with hope, self-respect, and the ability to find beauty in difficult conditions. December's flowers are for those who bring light into the darkest season.
Birth Flower Jewellery — How It Works
Birth flower jewellery translates the symbolism of each flower into a wearable piece — typically a pendant, charm, ring, or bracelet featuring the flower engraved, embossed, or cast in metal. The result is jewellery that carries personal meaning without needing explanation: anyone who knows the language of birth flowers understands immediately what it represents.
It works particularly well as a gift because it's personal without requiring inside knowledge. You just need to know someone's birth month — which is usually not a secret — and the flower meaning does the rest.
Popular gift occasions include birthdays (naturally), Mother's Day (gifting a mother her child's birth flower, or a mother's own), new baby gifts, and anniversaries where you want to acknowledge a specific date or month.
Birth Flower vs Birthstone — Which to Choose?
Both traditions assign a personal symbol to each birth month — but they feel different as gifts. Birthstones are gemstone-led: the colour, rarity, and physical properties of the stone are part of the appeal. Birth flowers are meaning-led: the symbolism of the flower and its connection to the recipient's birth month is the heart of it.
For someone who loves gemstones and colour, a birthstone piece might resonate more. For someone who loves nature, botanical design, and symbolic meaning, a birth flower piece is often the more personal choice. The two can also be combined — a piece featuring both the birth flower and birthstone of a particular month.
See our complete birthstone guide for all twelve months if you'd like to compare.
Browse our birth flower jewellery collection — or explore our wider personalised jewellery range for pieces that combine birth flowers with names, initials, and dates.
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