Birthday

Birth Month Flowers: The Flower for Every Month

November 11, 2026 · 4 min read · Lux Berry & Bloom, Ottawa

Every month has a traditional birth flower: carnation for January, violet for February, daffodil for March, daisy for April, lily of the valley for May, rose for June, larkspur for July, gladiolus for August, aster for September, marigold for October, chrysanthemum for November and narcissus for December. Many months also have a second flower, listed below.

Birth month flowers chart

This is the list most commonly used in Canada and the United States. Some countries use slightly different flowers, so you may see small variations online.

Month	Birth flower	Second flower	Traditional meaning
January	Carnation	Snowdrop	Love, admiration, hope
February	Violet	Primrose	Loyalty, modesty, young love
March	Daffodil	Jonquil	New beginnings, rebirth
April	Daisy	Sweet pea	Innocence, joy, thanks
May	Lily of the valley	Hawthorn	Happiness, sweetness, hope
June	Rose	Honeysuckle	Love, devotion
July	Larkspur	Water lily	Lightness, an open heart
August	Gladiolus	Poppy	Strength of character, remembrance
September	Aster	Morning glory	Love, wisdom, patience
October	Marigold	Cosmos	Warmth, creativity
November	Chrysanthemum	None	Friendship, joy, long life
December	Narcissus (paperwhite)	Holly	Good wishes, hope

Winter and spring birth flowers

January: carnations are long-lasting and come in almost every colour, which makes them a practical gift in an Ottawa January. February: violets are tiny and delicate, so they are easier to give as a potted plant or a printed card than as cut flowers. March: daffodils announce spring. One care tip: freshly cut daffodils release a sap that can shorten the life of other flowers, so florists usually condition them separately before mixing.

April: daisies and sweet peas feel light and cheerful. May: lily of the valley is fragrant and traditional for weddings, but it is seasonal and not always easy to find as a cut flower, and it is toxic to people and pets if eaten. Many people born in May celebrate with tulips instead, especially in Ottawa, where May belongs to the Canadian Tulip Festival.

Summer and fall birth flowers

June: the rose is the easiest birth flower to give, available year-round in every colour. July: larkspur grows in tall spikes of blue, purple and pink. August: gladiolus, with its tall stems of open blooms, is a classic of late-summer gardens around Ottawa.

September: asters look like small starry daisies and bloom as summer ends. October: marigolds and cosmos bring warm orange and pink tones. November: chrysanthemums are the flower of fall, and in many parts of Europe they are linked with remembrance, so for a birthday choose bright yellow or pink blooms.

December: paperwhite narcissus and holly suit the holiday season perfectly. Holly berries are toxic to pets, so keep holly decorations up high.

How to give a birth month flower

Not every birth flower is available as a cut flower in every season, so there are a few easy ways to make it work:

Use the colour: pick a bouquet in the birth flower's colours, for example blue and purple for July larkspur.
Combine meanings: roses are June's flower but suit every month, and a mixed bouquet with seasonal blooms is always welcome.
Say it on the card: add a line like "Your birth flower is the daisy, which means joy" at checkout. Your message is hand-written on a card.
Ask us: call or text 819-208-3034 if you would like a specific bloom, and we will tell you what is available that week.

Birthday flowers delivered in Ottawa

We deliver birthday bouquets across Ottawa, from Kanata and Barrhaven to Nepean and Orléans, with same-day delivery available on many arrangements when you order early in the day. Delivery is priced by distance from our studio in Carp, near Kanata, starting at $10. See our birthday flowers and gifts for more ideas.