Did you know you have a birth flower?

You've likely heard of your birthstone, your astrology sign, and the animal that represents the year you were born in the Chinese calendar. But have you heard about your birth flower?

Did you know that everyone has a birth flower and that each has a secret meaning? If not, keep reading! This blog will tell you everything you need to know about your birth flower (or flowers!). Or if you'd just want to shop right away head straight to our birthday flower range. The traditional list below comes from the northern hemisphere, so under each month you will also find my Australian birth flower, chosen for what actually blooms here.

Birth flowers by month:

January Birth Flowers - Carnation and Snowdrop

The first month of the year is the carnation and the second is the snowdrop. The carnation's meaning depends on the colour. Pink means affection, red means love, white means pure love, striped carnations mean regretful love that isn't shared/returned, and yellow indicates rejection or disappointment. If you want to celebrate any January babies, stick with pink, red or white. The snowdrop is a unique white flower that stands for hope and beauty.

In Melbourne, January is high summer and snowdrops never appear here. My Australian January birth flower is the hydrangea, and you can send one from our hydrangea range.

February Birth Flowers - Violet, Primrose and Iris

The two flowers for February may surprise you. One of them isn't a rose as you might have expected with Valentine's Day falling in February! Rather, violet and primrose are the birth flowers for this month. These two purple flowers represent loyalty and faithfulness. If you're not thrilled with either as a birth flower, a third birth flower that is often mentioned for this month is the iris.

My Australian February birth flower is the dahlia, at its absolute peak in a Melbourne February.

March Birth Flowers - Daffodil and Jonquil

These two flowers are members of the same family and generally look very similar. The yellow blooms are so spring-like that if you live anywhere snowy, you'll be praying for them to arrive each spring to signal the end of cold weather. Their meaning is "unequal love." Fitting for spring, they're associated with rebirth.

That is a northern hemisphere spring. In Australia, March is early autumn, and my Australian March birth flower is the sunflower.

April Birth Flowers - Daisy and Sweet Pea

More spring flowers coming your way! Daisies and sweet peas are the official flowers of the month of April, and they couldn't' seem more perfect. Daisies mean innocence, loyal love, and purity. Sweet pea means blissful pleasure.

My Australian April birth flower is eucalyptus, the backbone of nearly every arrangement that leaves our Southbank studio.

May Birth Flowers - Lily of the Valley, Hawthorn and Lily

Everything should be in bloom by the time May rolls around. If you're a May baby, your special flowers are Lily of the Valley and Hawthorn. These are incredibly unique flowers that really add something special to any arrangement. Lily of the Valley means sweetness, humility, and "return to happiness." Hawthorn means hope and supreme happiness. Pretty great flowers to have for your birth month!

More recently you will also see the lily given as a May birth flower, and it is a far easier one to find and to send. Our lily arrangements are a lovely way to mark a May birthday.

My Australian May birth flower is the chrysanthemum, in season and glorious here through autumn. Browse our chrysanthemum flowers.

June Birth Flowers - Rose and Honeysuckle

You wondered where it was in February and now it has finally appeared. The month of June has the world's favourite flower of the rose as its birth flower. Just like carnations, the different colours of the rose represent different things. Pink roses mean perfect happiness. Red roses mean love. White is a sign of purity. Yellow roses are a sign of jealousy. Honeysuckle is a representation of the everlasting bonds of love.

My Australian June birth flower is the tulip, which loves a cold Melbourne winter. See our tulip bouquets.

July Birth Flowers - Larkspur, Delphinium and Water Lily

Dainty larkspur are such beautiful flowers to have as your birth flower if you are born in the month of July! They are used to show your "strong bonds of love," which can be quite powerful depending on your chosen recipient. Water lilies mean purity and majesty.

Delphinium is also given as a July birth flower, and the two are close family. Larkspur is the delphinium's garden cousin, so July babies really get the whole family of tall blue spires.

My Australian July birth flower is the winter rose, one of the quiet stars of a Melbourne winter.

August Birth Flowers - Gladiolus and Poppy

This is another month that is a little mixed up. While you may have thought that the poppy would have been the May birth flower since we honour veterans with poppies in May, it is, in fact, the August birth flower. It also has different meanings for each colour. Red poppies are meant for pleasure, white for consolation, and yellow for wealth and success. Gladiolus had a variety of meanings, which means you can use it whichever way suits you best! Remembrance, calm, integrity, and infatuation are all among its interpreted meanings.

My Australian August birth flower is the cherry blossom, the first promise that winter is nearly done.

September Birth Flowers - Aster and Morning Glory

Spread the love, September babies! Your birth flowers are powerful and revolve around all things love. Aster means love and positivity for all. Morning glory means love and affection for someone close to you.

My Australian September birth flower is the wattle, and September 1 is National Wattle Day. Our native flower bouquets celebrate it properly.

October Birth Flowers - Marigold and Cosmos

October gets some of the most vibrant flowers out there for their birth month. Marigolds are interpreted as a sign of optimism and prosperity. Cosmos indicate that the recipient should feel harmony and serenity.

My Australian October birth flower is the pincushion, a spectacular native that lasts for weeks in the vase.

November Birth Flowers - Chrysanthemums

Unlike all the other months, November only gets one flower. Is this a good or bad thing? You decide! On the one hand, perhaps you don't get to choose between the two flowers for which one you like best, but on the other hand, you get to truly embrace the chrysanthemums as your own. They come in a variety of colours, which means that you get a ton of different meanings. Red means (you guessed it) love. White is for pure love. Yellow means slighted love (poor yellow can never catch a break!)

My Australian November birth flower is the waratah, the most dramatic native of them all.

December Birth Flowers - Narcissus and Holly

Finally, a flower that fits with its month! Holly had to go in December because of the holidays that it represents. It means domestic happiness when gifted to one another. Poinsettias are also largely associated with this month. Narcissus is a beautiful white and yellow flower that tells your beloved that you love them just the way you are. What a perfect way to spend the holidays!

My Australian December birth flower is Christmas bush, which turns red right on cue for a Melbourne Christmas.

What is my birth flower?

Final thoughts

What do you think? Did you learn something new? Did you like your birth flower, or would you rather trade for another month? It's interesting that most people don't know that birth flowers exist, and many florists for that matter! I should say, many of these varieties won't be commercially available, but that shouldn't stop you having a bit of trivia fun with your local florist! And if you want the version that matches our seasons, start with my Australian birth flower series above, or send something from our birthday flowers with same day delivery across Melbourne. Or send the flower itself. Our Birth Flower Bouquet is designed around their month.

Kate x