Birth Flowers by Month: Meanings, Chart & Tattoo Ideas (2026)
Birth flowers are the flowers linked to each month of the year, just like birthstones. Every month has one or two birth flowers with their own meanings: carnations for January, violets for February, daffodils for March, all the way to chrysanthemums for November and narcissus for December.
What is my birth flower?
Tap your birth month to see your flowers, meaning, colors, birthstone and tattoo idea.
Your birth flower
Pick a month above
Below you will find the full birth flower chart, a section for every month with meanings by color, the matching birthstone, a gift idea and a birth flower tattoo idea, plus how to design a family birth flower bouquet tattoo. It is everything you need to pick a meaningful flower for a birthday, gift or tattoo in 2026.
Quick answer: The birth flowers by month are: January, carnation and snowdrop; February, violet and primrose; March, daffodil (jonquil); April, daisy and sweet pea; May, lily of the valley and hawthorn; June, rose and honeysuckle; July, larkspur and water lily; August, gladiolus and poppy; September, aster and morning glory; October, marigold and cosmos; November, chrysanthemum; December, narcissus and holly.
Birth flower chart: all 12 birth month flowers
Here is the complete birth month flower chart at a glance. Save it, screenshot it or use it to plan gifts all year.
| Month | Birth flowers | Main meaning | Birthstone |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Carnation, snowdrop | Love, hope | Garnet |
| February | Violet, primrose | Faithfulness, young love | Amethyst |
| March | Daffodil (jonquil) | New beginnings | Aquamarine |
| April | Daisy, sweet pea | Innocence, gratitude | Diamond |
| May | Lily of the valley, hawthorn | Sweetness, hope | Emerald |
| June | Rose, honeysuckle | Love, devotion | Pearl, moonstone, alexandrite |
| July | Larkspur, water lily | Positivity, purity | Ruby |
| August | Gladiolus, poppy | Strength, remembrance | Peridot, spinel, sardonyx |
| September | Aster, morning glory | Wisdom, affection | Sapphire |
| October | Marigold, cosmos | Warmth, peace | Opal, tourmaline |
| November | Chrysanthemum | Friendship, joy | Topaz, citrine |
| December | Narcissus, holly | Good wishes, protection | Turquoise, tanzanite, zircon |
Birth flower lists come from old European and Victorian traditions, so a few months have different flowers depending on the source. The list above is the one most used in the United States, as published by The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
January birth flower: carnation and snowdrop
The January birth flowers are the carnation and the snowdrop. January birth month flowers stand for love, fascination and distinction (carnation); hope and new beginnings (snowdrop).
- Colors and meanings: Pink: a mother’s love; Red: deep love and admiration; White: pure love and good luck.
- Birthstone: Garnet.
- Gift idea: A bouquet of mixed carnations, which last up to three weeks in a vase.
- January birth flower tattoo: A single carnation with a curved stem, or a tiny snowdrop on the wrist.
- Fun fact: Carnations are one of the oldest cultivated flowers, grown for more than 2,000 years.
February birth flower: violet and primrose
The February birth flowers are the violet and the primrose. February birth month flowers stand for modesty, faithfulness and loyalty (violet); young love (primrose).
- Colors and meanings: Purple violet: faithfulness and wisdom; White violet: innocence; Yellow primrose: youth and joy.
- Birthstone: Amethyst.
- Gift idea: A potted African violet or a primrose plant for a sunny windowsill.
- February birth flower tattoo: A small cluster of violets with heart-shaped leaves.
- Fun fact: Violets are edible and are often candied to decorate cakes.
March birth flower: daffodil and jonquil
The March birth flowers are the daffodil and the jonquil. March birth month flowers stand for rebirth, new beginnings and friendship.
- Colors and meanings: Yellow: joy and new beginnings; White: forgiveness and purity.
- Birthstone: Aquamarine.
- Gift idea: A pot of daffodil bulbs about to bloom, or a sunny cut bouquet.
- March birth flower tattoo: One trumpet-shaped daffodil on the collarbone or forearm.
- Fun fact: A single daffodil is said to bring bad luck, so they are traditionally given in bunches.
April birth flower: daisy and sweet pea
The April birth flowers are the daisy and the sweet pea. April birth month flowers stand for innocence, purity and true love (daisy); blissful pleasure and thank you (sweet pea).
- Colors and meanings: White daisy: innocence; Pink sweet pea: gratitude; Purple sweet pea: blissful pleasure.
- Birthstone: Diamond.
- Gift idea: Sweet peas for scent or a cheerful jar of daisies.
- April birth flower tattoo: A simple daisy with a few loose petals, great for a first tattoo.
- Fun fact: A daisy is actually two flowers in one: the petals and the tiny florets in the center.
May birth flower: lily of the valley and hawthorn
The May birth flowers are the lily of the valley and the hawthorn. May birth month flowers stand for humility, sweetness and a return of happiness (lily of the valley); hope (hawthorn).
- Colors and meanings: White lily of the valley: purity and luck; Pink hawthorn: hope and joy.
- Birthstone: Emerald.
- Gift idea: Lily of the valley is a classic bridal flower, but keep it away from pets and kids because it is poisonous.
- May birth flower tattoo: A bending stem of tiny bell-shaped lily of the valley flowers.
- Fun fact: Kate Middleton and Grace Kelly both carried lily of the valley in their wedding bouquets.
June birth flower: rose and honeysuckle
The June birth flowers are the rose and the honeysuckle. June birth month flowers stand for love and passion (rose); devotion and lasting bonds (honeysuckle).
- Colors and meanings: Red: romantic love; Yellow: friendship; White: new beginnings; Pink: gratitude.
- Birthstone: Pearl, moonstone or alexandrite.
- Gift idea: A dozen roses in their favorite color or a honeysuckle vine for the garden.
- June birth flower tattoo: A fine-line rose with one leaf, or a honeysuckle vine wrapping the ankle.
- Fun fact: The rose is the national flower of the United States, chosen in 1986.
July birth flower: larkspur and water lily
The July birth flowers are the larkspur and the water lily. July birth month flowers stand for positivity, dignity and an open heart (larkspur); purity and majesty (water lily).
- Colors and meanings: Purple larkspur: first love; Pink larkspur: fickleness; White larkspur: a happy nature.
- Birthstone: Ruby.
- Gift idea: A tall larkspur bouquet in blue or purple.
- July birth flower tattoo: A vertical larkspur stem along the spine or forearm.
- Fun fact: Larkspur got its name because its flowers look like a lark’s claw.
August birth flower: gladiolus and poppy
The August birth flowers are the gladiolus and the poppy. August birth month flowers stand for strength of character, integrity and remembrance (gladiolus); imagination (poppy).
- Colors and meanings: Red poppy: remembrance; Pink gladiolus: compassion; White gladiolus: innocence.
- Birthstone: Peridot, spinel or sardonyx.
- Gift idea: Gladiolus stems in a tall vase, or poppy seeds to plant next spring.
- August birth flower tattoo: A single red poppy, one of the most popular color tattoo flowers.
- Fun fact: Gladiolus comes from the Latin word for sword because of its blade-shaped leaves.
September birth flower: aster and morning glory
The September birth flowers are the aster and the morning glory. September birth month flowers stand for love, wisdom and faith (aster); affection (morning glory).
- Colors and meanings: Purple aster: wisdom; White aster: purity; Blue morning glory: affection.
- Birthstone: Sapphire.
- Gift idea: A pot of fall asters or morning glory seeds for next summer.
- September birth flower tattoo: A star-shaped aster or a climbing morning glory vine.
- Fun fact: Aster means star in Greek, named for its star-shaped flower heads.
October birth flower: marigold and cosmos
The October birth flowers are the marigold and the cosmos. October birth month flowers stand for passion, creativity and warmth (marigold); peace and tranquility (cosmos).
- Colors and meanings: Orange marigold: warmth and celebration; Pink cosmos: love; Chocolate cosmos: deep, lasting love.
- Birthstone: Opal or tourmaline.
- Gift idea: A pot of marigolds or a bouquet of fall cosmos.
- October birth flower tattoo: A round marigold bloom or a few airy cosmos on the shoulder.
- Fun fact: Marigolds are a key part of Día de los Muertos altars in Mexico.
November birth flower: chrysanthemum
The November birth flower is the chrysanthemum. November birth month flowers stand for friendship, joy, honesty and long life.
- Colors and meanings: Red: love; Yellow: friendship and joy; White: loyalty and truth.
- Birthstone: Topaz or citrine.
- Gift idea: A potted fall mum, which can bloom for weeks.
- November birth flower tattoo: A full, round chrysanthemum, great as a shoulder or thigh piece.
- Fun fact: The chrysanthemum is the symbol of Japan’s imperial family.
December birth flower: narcissus and holly
The December birth flowers are the narcissus (paperwhite) and the holly. December birth month flowers stand for respect, faithfulness and good wishes (narcissus); protection and domestic happiness (holly).
- Colors and meanings: White paperwhite: hope and purity; Red holly berries: joy.
- Birthstone: Turquoise, tanzanite or zircon.
- Gift idea: Paperwhite bulbs to force indoors for the holidays, or a holly wreath.
- December birth flower tattoo: A paperwhite stem or a sprig of holly with two berries.
- Fun fact: Paperwhites can bloom indoors in about four to six weeks with just water and pebbles.
Birth flower tattoo ideas for 2026
Birth flower tattoos are one of the most popular tattoo styles right now. They are personal, they age well as fine-line pieces and they work almost anywhere on the body. Here are the most popular ways to wear your birth month flower.
- Single fine-line stem: One flower, one stem, one leaf. Perfect for a first tattoo on the wrist, ankle or behind the ear.
- Birth flower and name: Add a name, initial or birth date along the stem in tiny script.
- Family birth flower bouquet tattoo: Combine the birth flowers of your partner, kids or parents into one bouquet. See the step-by-step guide below.
- Birth flower and birthstone: Add a small colored gem, like a ruby for July or a sapphire for September, at the center of the flower.
- Wrap-around vine: Honeysuckle, morning glory and holly look great wrapping around an arm or ankle.
- Matching tattoos: Best friends or siblings each get the other person’s birth flower.
- Watercolor bloom: A soft splash of color behind a black outline. Poppies, roses and marigolds shine in color.
Tip: show your tattoo artist a photo of the real flower as well as your design idea. Fine lines need a skilled artist, so check their healed work before you book.
How to design a family birth flower bouquet tattoo
Turn the birth flowers of everyone you love into one meaningful bouquet tattoo in four simple steps.
Total Time: 30 minutes
List everyone’s birth month
Write down each person you want to include and their birth month, such as yourself, a partner, kids or parents.
Pick one flower per person
Use the birth flower chart above. When a month has two flowers, choose the one whose shape or meaning you like most.
Choose a bouquet shape
Tall bouquets suit the forearm or spine, round bouquets suit the shoulder or thigh, and loose sprigs suit the ribs.
Add a personal detail
Tie the stems with a ribbon, or add initials, dates or birthstone dots to each flower.
Book a fine-line artist
Share your flower list and reference photos with an artist who specializes in botanical or fine-line work.
Birth flowers vs. birthstones
Birth flowers and birthstones go hand in hand. Pairing them makes a gift feel extra thoughtful, like a birth flower necklace with the matching gem.
Popular birth flower gifts in 2026 include birth flower necklaces and bracelets, custom birth flower prints, pressed flower frames and embroidered hoops. Try making your own with our pressed flower ideas or embroidery patterns for beginners. For more birthday plans, see what to do for your birthday.
Where do birth flowers come from?
The idea of linking flowers to months goes back to ancient Rome, where flowers were given to celebrate birthdays and seasonal festivals. The modern list grew from Victorian England, when floriography, the language of flowers, let people send secret messages through bouquets. Because the tradition grew in different places, the UK and US lists differ for a few months, and many people simply choose the flower that speaks to them.
Birth flowers: FAQ
What is my birth flower?
Find your birth month in the chart on this page. For example, the January birth flower is the carnation, the July birth flower is the larkspur and the November birth flower is the chrysanthemum.
What is the December birth flower?
The December birth flowers are the narcissus, especially the paperwhite, and holly. Narcissus stands for respect and good wishes, while holly stands for protection and domestic happiness.
What is the November birth flower?
The November birth flower is the chrysanthemum, which stands for friendship, joy and honesty. Red mums mean love, yellow mean friendship and white mean loyalty.
What is the October birth flower?
The October birth flowers are the marigold and the cosmos. Marigolds stand for warmth and creativity, and cosmos stand for peace and tranquility.
What is the September birth flower?
The September birth flowers are the aster and the morning glory, which stand for love, wisdom and affection.
Why do some months have two birth flowers?
Birth flower lists come from different traditions, so many months ended up with two flowers. You can choose either one, or use both.
Are birth flowers the same in the UK and the US?
Mostly, but not always. A few months, such as February and June, have different flowers depending on the list. This guide uses the list most common in the US.
What is a good birth flower tattoo idea?
A single fine-line stem of your birth flower is the most popular choice. For something more personal, combine your family’s birth flowers into one bouquet tattoo.
Now that you know your birth flower, why not draw it? Our easy things to draw are a fun place to start.
Want birth flower nail art? Start with the right base. Our nail shapes chart shows all 12 shapes and has a quick quiz to find the one that suits your hands.
