Here’s a fun fact for you: each month of the year actually gets two birth flowers! Didn’t know? Now you do, so prepare to become an expert on the topic. This tradition has been around since at least the Victorian Era and has ties to ancient cultures worldwide in some cases. Both flowers — the primary and secondary — have enlightening stories that explain what they represent and why they’re matched to their month. At Mary Murray’s Flowers in Tulsa, Oklahoma, we’re here to unpack it all.

January: Carnation, Snowdrop

To trace carnations’ roots, you’ve got to head back to Ancient Greece and Rome, where they were front and center at major events like coronations. The name might come from “carnis,” the Latin word for flesh, as a nod to the soft pink shade of the carnations that were most common centuries ago. Snowdrops, January’s second flower, are famous for their bravery — blooming right through winter’s chill. They’ve earned their place in many cultures as a reminder that beauty can thrive even in the toughest conditions.

February: Violet, Iris

In Ancient Greece, violets were total icons of romance and fertility, often used in perfumes and love potions as a magic ingredient. By the Renaissance, these blooms became muses for poets and artists, inspiring works about love and beauty. The Victorians saw them as a symbol of fidelity. Irises, meanwhile, were cherished by the Egyptians, Romans, and even Vincent Van Gogh. They’re named after Iris, the Greek goddess of the rainbow, which feels so fitting for such colorful flowers.

March: Daffodil, Jonquil

The daffodil’s scientific name is Narcissus, and yep, it’s connected to that Narcissus — the one from Greek mythology who was so in love with his reflection that he met a tragic end. According to legend, a daffodil bloomed right where he drowned. In Chinese culture, these flowers are way luckier — if one blooms on New Year’s Day, it means good fortune is coming. Jonquils, essentially a type of daffodil, shake things up by growing multiple flowers on one stem and bringing feelings of renewal, romance, and positivity.

April: Daisy, Sweet Pea

Daisies have a long history in mythology, showing up in both Norse and Roman legends. In Norse stories, they symbolize motherhood and childbirth since they were sacred to the goddess Freyja. In Roman mythology, a nymph by the name of Belides wasn’t feeling the love from a divine admirer, so she turned into a daisy to escape him. Sweet peas have their own story — brought to Europe in the 1600s by a Sicilian monk, they later became a French wedding tradition, gifted to brides in the spirit of good luck.

May: Lily of the Valley, Hawthorn

In Greek mythology, Apollo went full interior (or exterior, really) designer and used Lily of the Valley to create a soft, scented path for his muses delicate feet. Christian stories say these flowers bloomed where Mary or Eve shed tears of great sorrow. According to Celtic mythology, Hawthorn was considered to be magical, with mysterious ties to the world of the fairies. It also symbolized fertility, so it makes perfect sense that the Celts made it a key part of Beltane celebrations.

June: Rose, Honeysuckle

It’s no secret that roses are the primary flower of love, showing up in myths and traditions worldwide — Venus and Aphrodite notably had their names linked to them. Ancient Persia and China were some of the first places to cultivate them, setting the stage for their lasting popularity. Honeysuckle, on the other hand, was seen as a lucky charm in European mythology, keeping bad energy away. And in Greek legend, Daphnis and Chloe’s love story only thrived when honeysuckle bloomed, making it a symbol of their romance.

July: Larkspur, Water Lily

Delphiniums have long been considered a little magical — English folklore says they were key ingredients in Medieval potions and elixirs. According to Pawnee legend, these blossoms first appeared when a dream woman sliced through the sky, leaving pieces of it to fall to the earth and bloom. Water lilies are symbols of enlightenment, wisdom, and purity across many East Asian cultures. In Ancient Egypt, they were linked to the sun god Ra and seen as symbols of creation.

August: Gladiolus, Poppy

Gladiolus, named after the Latin word gladius (sword in English), totally lives up to its name with its tall, strong blooms. Roman gladiators wore these blossoms into battle, and if they prevailed, the crowd would toss bunches of them into the arena as a sign of admiration. Meanwhile, in Egyptian mythology, poppies were linked to Osiris and symbolized dreams, sleep, and rebirth. Today, poppies have become one of the most meaningful flowers for honoring fallen soldiers.

September: Aster, Morning Glory

The Romans and Greeks treated asters as sacred flowers, using them to brighten up their temples and holy places. One legend says they came from the tears of the Greek star goddess, who cried when she saw the sky wasn’t full of stars. Morning glories also had spiritual meaning — Aztec and Mayan practitioners believed in their mystical powers and used them in ceremonial potions. In Ancient Egypt, they embodied resurrection and were even carved into sarcophagi to honor the afterlife.

October: Marigold, Cosmo

When you picture marigolds, you probably think of Día de los Muertos, when their blooms are used to honor ancestors in Mexico and Central America. But they’re just as important in India, where they light up Diwali celebrations, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. Cosmos flowers, meanwhile, live up to their name — they’re all about order and balance, with their petals forming a perfectly symmetrical pattern that mirrors the harmony of the universe.

November: Chrysanthemums, Peony

In Asia, chrysanthemums aren’t just gorgeous — they’re packed with meaning. Japan claims them as their national flower, symbolizing both eternity and the sun. In China, mums are part of the virtuous “Four Noble Ones,” standing for the fall season. Peonies, though, have a totally different backstory. In Greek mythology, Paeon, a student of the medicine god Asclepius, made a huge medical discovery, which made his teacher furious. To save him, Zeus transformed Paeon into a peony, and the rest is history.

December: Holly, Narcissus

Holly trees had serious significance for the Celts, who connected them to the revered Holly King, ruler from the summer to the winter solstice. Romans also loved holly, decorating their homes with it during Saturnalia to deflect negative energy — way before Christmas was a holiday. Next, there’s narcissus (yep, it’s back). This flower was named after the hunter who became way too enamored by his reflection, drowned, and had narcissus flowers bloom in his place.

Flowers have a way of expressing emotions beyond words, and now you know exactly what they’re saying! Make someone’s special day even more memorable with a stunning, thoughtfully chosen bouquet from Mary Murray’s Flowers — one that’s as meaningful as it is breathtaking.