Flowers On Your Birthday!

Did you know that like birthstones and zodiac signs, there is also a birth flower for each month. These birth flowers are distinctive and have their meanings. Below is a short description of the birth flowers and their meanings.

Carnation

The carnation is the January birth flower. The plant traces its roots to Asia were it was cultivated for more than 2,000 years. The carnation is a tall flower growing one to three feet high. The carnation plant usually has many lightly smelling sweet blossoms. The word carnation is derived from the Greek words that mean "flower of the gods." Carnations  may symbolize pride, admiration, beauty, gratitude and love. A white carnation has the flower meaning of friendship, red carnation for love, a pink one romance, yellow for disdain, striped carnation for refusal, purple carnations indicate capriciousness and  green carnations are for St. Patrick's Day. On Mother's Day wear a red or pink carnation if  your mother is still alive, or a white one to remember a mother that has passed on.

Iris

The February birth flower is the Iris. These perennial herb with hundreds of species are found in the north temperate zone. This flowering plant got its name from the Greek word iris meaning ‘rainbow’. Since February is a month of romance, Iris fits well with the occasion. Irises stand for peace of mind, Faith, Friendship, Hope, Valor and Wisdom. The iris comes a few colors including cool blue and snowy white.

Daffodils

The birth flower for March is daffodil. Daffodils belong to the genus Narcissus.  Daffodils grow perennially from bulbs. Most daffodils look yellow, but may come in other colors such as: pink, yellow-and-orange, yellow-and-white, white-and-orange and the rare lime-green. Daffodils represent rebirth, bravery,  respect, modesty and unrequited love. It got its name from the word "affodell", a variant of asphodel.

Daisy

The April birth flower is the daisy. There are many varieties of daisy but the most favorite one is the Gerbera Daisy , native to South Africa. It is perfect for any occasion as it is cheerful and playful.  Daisies are associated with innocence and are thought to bring  good fortune and heavenly pleasure. No flower emits such joy and light as the daisy. The fresh look of the daisy looks great in any location of your house.

Lily

The May birth flower is the Lily. A summer flowering plant, lilies are large, fragrant showy flowers with six petals that may come in different colors such as: white, yellow, reds and sometimes have markings. Lilies are native to the northern temperate regions. The flower symbolizes: beauty, sweetness, humility, purity and  chastity. Tiger lily represents wealth and pride.

Roses

The rose is the June birth flower. Roses might be the most recognizable flower around the world and No other flower expresses  love and passion like the rose either. Roses comes in different colors, each with a different symbolic meaning. Red roses meant love, pink roses mean grace, admiration, sympathy while dark pink means gratitude. White roses symbolize purity, innocence, reverence, secrecy and humility. A yellow rose represents platonic love or dying love though in some German speaking countries it symbolizes infidelity and jealousy. and infidelity. Yellow with red tips means friendship or falling in love. Burgandy roses mean beauty. Green roses mean calm. Blue roses mean mystery. Purple roses mean protection.

Larkspur

The larkspur is the July birth flower. It is a genus of about 250 species of  flowering plants in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. Larkspur are found throughout the Northern Hemisphere and some parts of Africa. The main flowering stem is erect, and varies greatly in size from 10 cm up to 2 m tall; it is topped by many flowers. It is poisonous to livestock. Larkspur can come in orange and blue colors. It symbolizes valor, thoughtfulness and sincerity.

Gladiola

The August birth flower is the Gladiola. The plant derived its name from the Latin word gladius ‘a sword’. Out of the 260 known species, 250 are native to South Africa and the rest are found in Eurasia. It may come in  different sizes: from very small to the magnificent giant flower. The flower can be pink, white to cream, reddish or light purple with white markings or orange to red. Gladiola symbolizes represents vigor and moral integrity.

Aster

The September birth flower is the Aster. Belonging in the Asteraceae, there are 600 extant species of aster. The plant’s name is derived from the Greek word "star", and refer to the star-like appearance of its flower head.  In medieval times, many believed that aster plants possess magical powers including driving away evil spirits. Today, aster is known as an amulet of love and an lasting symbol of elegance. Aster also symbolizes Faith, Light, Afterthought, Valor and Wisdom.

Marigold

The October birth flower is the marigold. With a genus of around 20 species, Marigold is found throughout Europe, the United States and western Asia. The leaves which are usually hairy are 5-18 cm long and the flower heads are 3-7 cm across. The Marigold's flower meaning is "winning grace" and is sometimes called "summer bride" because it’s flower head follows the sun. Marigold symbolizes affection and grace.

Chrysanthemum

The November flower is the  Chrysanthemum, also known as the mum. A flowering perennial plant, the plant is cultivated in China as far back as the 15th century. The flowers may come in different forms such as: daisy-like, buttons, decorative or pompons.  This flower can be red, white or yellow. The chrysanthemum symbolizes compassion, cheerfulness, optimism, friendship, optimism, secret love, wealth or rest. Red chrysanthemum means love. Yellow means secret love and white symbolizes truth.

The December birth flower is the Poinsettia, which is associated with Christmas time. The plant which can grow up to 16 feet is native to southern Mexico and Central America. It is often used as Christmas decors because of its festive colors. Poinsettia  symbolizes celebration, good cheer and success which is a fitting tribute to December’s festive celebrations.