Birthday celebrations often involve a bouquet of flowers. However, for a more meaningful, long-lasting memory, why not gift a birth flower or even plant one? They’ve been around since ancient Rome times in Britain, and with more people embracing their gardens and nature, it’s the ideal time for them to take centre stage.
Below is a guide compiled by J Parker’s to the flowers linked to people’s birth month, with the meanings behind them and advice about looking after them.
September – Aster
According to Greek mythology, the Greek goddess Astraea created the aster flower, who wept on seeing too few stars in the sky. The star-shaped flowers are believed to be her tears. This flower has been associated with patience, daintiness and perfectionism.
The aster thrives in well-draining, loamy soil. It would be best if you ideally planted it where there’s full or slightly partial sunlight. Plus, it would be best if you continued watering the plant until when blooming stops.
October – Calendula
The orange-yellow hues of the calendula are believed to hold the autumn sunshine. Medicinally, the calendula has antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties. It represents warmth, friendliness and harmony.
Generally, the calendula plant requires very little care. Full sunlight plus 1 to 1 ½ inch of water per week during hot weather or summer are sufficient to keep this plant thriving.
November – Chrysanthemums
A bouquet of chrysanthemums is the floral representation for the birth month of November. This flower dates its history back to 15th Century BC China. Apart from being one of the world’s most popular cut-flowers, the Chrysanthemum flower also stands for friendship and well-wishing in November.
The only major care the chrysanthemum flower needs is regular watering during dry and hot seasons. Otherwise, it is a relatively easy birth month flower to take care of.
December – Holly
The holly flower is not only an apt December birth flower but also a great flower to celebrate Christmas. The bright red berries and glossy green leaves create a Christmas charm that also resonates with the birth month of December. Symbolically, the holly can represent fertility or the aversion of ill fortune.
Once you’ve planted the holly plant, all it will need is regular watering during summer or dry periods, especially when the plant is young and unestablished in the soil.
January – Snowdrop
The snowdrop symbolises the birth month of January. As far as the birth month of January is concerned, this flower is often associated with beauty and hope, given how it pokes through the harsh winter snow.
Snowdrops are among the easiest birth flowers to look after. Apart from watering them regularly during prolonged dry periods, you can lightly feed them with granular general plant food after they flower.
February – Primrose and Violet
February birth flowers are all about loyalty and faithfulness, especially for violet flowers. On the other hand, primroses symbolise a person who you can’t imagine losing in your life.
Primroses require thorough watering to thrive. This means that they shouldn’t be neglected over summer until fall arrives.
March – Daffodil
The daffodil is the most specific birth flower for March. This flower represents either rebirth or unequal love.
To take care of the daffodil, you need to keep the soil moist. If it dries, you should use a hose or watering can to soak it. When they start to bloom, you should start watering regularly before ceasing once the flowering stops.
April – Sweet Pea or Daisy
The sweet pea and beautiful daisy are used to represent the birth month of April. The sweet pea represents intense pleasure, linked to its heady fragrance that rents the air in the season. On the other hand, the daisy represents innocence and purity.
Looking after the sweet pea or daisy flower is easy. The daisy flowers would generally require deep watering weekly, while the sweet pea, on the other hand, would require alkaline soil to flourish.
May – Lily of the Valley
May-born people are usually associated with the Lily of the Valley. This flower symbolises sweetness, purity, and humility. The Victorian Language of Flowers adds that the Lily stands for a return to happiness.
This flower is known to bloom from March to May. Taking care of it is as easy as pulling the weeds around it, using a 10-10-10 slow-release fertiliser every three months during its active growing season, and watering the plant when the top 1 – 2 inches of the soil is dry.
June – Honeysuckle and Rose
If you were born in June, you should get either the honeysuckle or rose flowers. These two are among the most fragrant flowers available. The rose flower holds several meanings. For instance, there is perfect happiness for a pink rose flower and jealousy for a yellow rose. The honeysuckle symbolises everlasting bonds of love.
The rose flower is an easy flower to take care of. However, when it comes to the honeysuckle, avoid the invasive, non-native types such as the Japanese species.
July – Water Lily and Larkspur
The birth month of July is represented by either the water lily or the larkspur. If you are an affectionate person, then the larkspur aptly represents you. On the other hand, the water lily symbolises majesty and purity.
These plants are also easy to look after in the garden. The water lily will need a container that you’ll fill with water up to about 6 inches of depth. Make sure it also gets at least four hours of sunlight a day if it is to bloom.
August – Poppy and Gladiolus
The poppy flower is used to honour veterans in May. However, it is also a birth flower for August. Red poppies signify pleasure, while white ones show consolation. A yellow poppy, on the other hand, signifies success and wealth. The gladiolus can either signify calmness, infatuation, remembrance, or integrity.
The gladiolus needs a 2 – 4-inch layer of mulch to keep the soil moist and weed-free. Plus, if you get less than an inch of rain per week during summer, you might have to water these flowers regularly.
We asked Shannen Godwin, the spokesperson for one of the UK’s leading plant and bulb company J Parker’s, for her thoughts, “With every flower, there is an opportunity to pass a message and celebrate life. Birth flowers are an appealing way of celebrating birthdays, and planting one in the garden will make that day even more special.”
Read more plant and flower features here.