What Are the Traditional Flowers for Each Month?

Tradition of Floral Symbolism

• The Victorians religiously attached meanings to flowers in a complicated code of circumventing proper behavior through the choices of flowers they exchanged. The traditional flowers of the month, in addition to honoring birthdays, have retained symbolic meanings.

January to March

• January's birth flower is the carnation, symbolizing distinction and fascination. Because legend has it that the first pink carnations sprang from the Earth where it was touched by the Virgin Mary's tears, pink carnations are also the classic Mother's Day flower.

  Not the red rose of Valentine's Day but the richly colored blue and gold iris is February's flower. Its colors evoke both winter's cold and the warm spring to come, and its three petals, says Teleflora, represent hope, faith and wisdom.

  In the slowly lengthening days of March, daffodils bring fresh greens and bright yellows to the late winter landscape. They represent resurrection and joy.

April to June

• Cheerful daisies symbolize innocence. Inextricably linked with springtime, the daisy's white, yellow, pink and lavender shades are just right for the month of April.

  From the delicate blossoms of the lily-of-the-valley to the elegant white Madonna, lilies perfume the air in the merry month of May. Teleflora says they stand for honor and purity.

  June, of course, means the unfolding of both summer and the gardener's glory, the rose. Although many of us associate the rose with romantic passion, Teleflora says that it represents perfection and beauty.

July to September

• Larkspur evokes visions of July's deep blue sky over a deep blue ocean. These tall blue, white and purple spikes bring a breath of coolness to the garden during summer's hottest days. Their airy appearance signifies light hearts and laughter.

  August's flower, the gladiolus, takes its name from the Latin word for a small dagger. Depicting unwavering integrity, gladioli add spectacular sheaths of color to gardens and floral arrangements.

  As summer slowly wanes, blooms of golden-centered asters radiating dense layers of brilliant petals arrive in September gardens. Representing elegance and lasting love, they're named from the Greek word for star.

October to December

• Among the longest lasting annuals, marigolds hold their oranges and yellows into autumn making perfect October birth flowers. Early Christians offered them to statues of the Virgin Mary. They have come to represent both grace and love.

  As autumn deepens, November's flower, the chrysanthemum, takes center stage in many gardens. To the Japanese it symbolizes the sun and perfection. In western culture, mums mean cheerfulness and rest, just right for winding down the year.

  December brings the holidays. For your birthday, that means poinsettias. Although native to Mexico, these vibrant plants brighten winter festivities in colder climates. Poinsettias signify good cheer.