New Tattoo Ideas: Personal and Symbolic Designs. Are you a flower lover? Would you get each of them tattooed? 🌸✨. Maybe you’ve heard of birth flowers, or perhaps you’d like to learn more about them. If so, stay tuned because this post will inspire your next floral tattoo!

What are birth flowers?

Birth flowers are flowers that represent each month of the year and are believed to have a special connection with people born in those months. Each flower has a unique and special meaning, making it a beautiful idea to tattoo a birth flower instead of a name or initial. In fact, birth flower tattoos are one of the most popular choices for families wanting a matching tattoo—after all, who doesn’t love flowers?

Here, I’ll show you the flower associated with each month. Officially, there are two birth flowers per month, so if you don’t like one, you can always choose the other. Since some flowers overlap across months, I’ve selected one different flower for each month to keep this post varied. I’ll also mention the second birth flower for each month.

Let’s take a look at these flowers, month by month!

January Birth Flower: Carnation 🌸

The first month of the year is represented by the carnation. This beautiful flower symbolizes love, devotion, and loyalty—what better way to honor your love and commitment to your loved ones than by getting a carnation tattoo?

Carnations come in a wide variety of colors, so you can choose a shade that holds special meaning for you. Each color also carries a different symbolism:

• Pink carnations represent gratitude
• Red carnations symbolize love
• White carnations stand for purity
• Yellow carnations signify disappointment (not the best choice, but hey, if you want to send a subtle message…)

The second birth flower for January is the snowdrop (Galanthus). This delicate flower thrives in colder regions, making it a fitting symbol for January. In ancient Greece, snowdrop extracts were used as a remedy for various ailments and had medicinal properties.

February Birth Flower: Violet 💜

February, the month of love, is represented by the violet. These flowers symbolize modesty, humility, and tranquility. They are also sweet and romantic—perfect for expressing admiration and love for someone special in your life.

The second birth flower for February is the primrose, whose name comes from the Latin word primus, referring to the first signs of spring.

March Birth Flower: Daffodil 🌞

March’s birth flower is the daffodil. This bright and cheerful flower symbolizes renewal and rebirth. After a long winter, daffodils mark the arrival of spring and new beginnings. Getting a daffodil tattoo can serve as a constant reminder that there’s always an opportunity to start fresh and face every challenge with hope and courage. Did you know that the number 555 also represents transformation? If you’re interested in the hidden meanings of angel numbers, check out my previous post!

The second birth flower for March is the jonquil, which, interestingly, is also a type of daffodil—so this month gives us a double dose of these beautiful flowers!

April Birth Flower: Daisy 🌼

April is represented by the daisy, a cheerful and charming flower that symbolizes youth, beauty, and happiness. Daisies are known for their freshness and joyful appearance. A daisy tattoo can serve as a constant reminder to enjoy the beauty in life’s simple things and find happiness in the smallest moments. Who hasn’t played the “he loves me, he loves me not” game with daisy petals? Poor daisies, they’re innocent victims of our heartbreaks!

The second birth flower for April is the sweet pea (also known as Lathyrus odoratus), which I’ve always just called sweet pea. Giving a bouquet of these flowers symbolizes saying goodbye or expressing gratitude for the time spent together. For instance, you might gift sweet peas to a friend embarking on a new journey outside the city.

May Birth Flower: Lily 🌸

The birth flower for May is the sweet and delicate lily. Lilies symbolize innocence and purity, making them a classic choice for weddings and special occasions. These flowers are a wonderful option for elegant and timeless tattoos, and a lily tattoo will remind you of the beauty and purity you carry within.

The second birth flower for May is the hawthorn, which symbolizes hope and fertility.

June Birth Flower: Rose 🌹

une is represented by the rose, a flower that symbolizes love and passion. Roses are undoubtedly one of the most popular choices for tattoos. They’ve been featured in all kinds of tattoo styles—old school, realism, fine line… Even I have a rose tattoo because I absolutely love this flower. Roses carry a lot of symbolism, and it’s said that each rose color has its own meaning, just like the number of roses you give.

The second birth flower for June is the honeysuckle (Lonicera), which symbolizes melancholy and loneliness. These flowers are said to be for people who tend to live in the past; they serve as a reminder to live more in the present.

July Birth Flower: Delphinium 🌸

The birth flower for July is the delphinium, named for its dolphin-shaped flowers. It has been used both as a medicinal plant and as a poison—this flower has two sides, and it’s up to you how you use it. It’s said to have a fantastic scent and is believed to attract music and good vibes, making it perfect for celebrating summer.

The second birth flower for July is the water lily (more commonly known as the lotus flower). This flower is another classic in art and comes from the Greek word kalós, meaning beautiful. The water lily symbolizes pure and delicate beauty.

August Birth Flower: Gladiolus 🌺

August is represented by the gladiolus, derived from the Latin word gladius, meaning “sword,” which reflects the shape of its leaves. This flower was also given to victorious gladiators after a battle. The gladiolus is a majestic and powerful flower that symbolizes inner strength, integrity, and honor. It’s a perfect choice for a tattoo that represents your bravery and the courage within you to face any challenge. A gladiolus tattoo will remind you to stay strong and courageous at all times.

The second birth flower for August is the poppy, which symbolizes dreams and imagination.

September Birth Flower: Aster 🌸

The birth flower for September is the aster, which comes from the Greek word for “star,” referencing the star-like shape of the flower head. The aster closely resembles the daisy, but its petals are longer, narrower, and more pointed. This flower is associated with patience, love, and wisdom, and it comes in a variety of colors. Aster tattoos are perfect for those who value inner strength and thoughtfulness.

The second birth flower for September is the ipomoea, also known as morning glory in English. This climbing plant, typically purple (though available in other colors), symbolizes affection, love, and mortality, and has been used in medicinal treatments.

October Birth Flower: Marigold 🌼

October is represented by the marigold (or caléndula). Doesn’t the color of this flower immediately remind you of autumn? It’s a beautiful and vibrant flower that symbolizes grace, innocence, optimism, and love. Marigolds make perfect tattoos, especially if you want something colorful, as their sunny appearance and vibrant orange color will always remind you to maintain a cheerful and open attitude toward life.

The second flower for October is the tagetes (another type of marigold), which is also a bright-colored flower. Originating from Mexico, it’s an essential element in the Day of the Dead celebrations, often used to decorate altars alongside skulls and “pan de muerto” (bread of the dead).

November Birth Flower: Chrysanthemum 🌻

The chrysanthemum represents November. This majestic and colorful flower symbolizes happiness, joy, friendship, longevity, and lasting love. Chrysanthemums are known to bring a smile with their wide range of colors and shapes, making them a versatile choice for tattoos. A chrysanthemum tattoo can be a constant reminder to find happiness in the small moments and to appreciate the friendships in your life.

I haven’t found additional flowers representing November yet, so if you know any, feel free to share them in the comments!

December Birth Flower: Poinsettia 🎄

The last month of the year is represented by the poinsettia, or as many of us know it in Spanish ‘flor de Pascua‘ (Christmas star). This winter flower couldn’t be more fitting for December. Who doesn’t have one in their home during Christmas or give it as a gift? The poinsettia symbolizes rebirth and spiritual renewal. Even though winter can feel cold and dark, the poinsettia reminds us that there is always light at the end of the tunnel, and that the arrival of spring is just around the corner.

The second birth flower for December is holly. When we think of plants that represent this month, it’s hard not to think of these two! There’s a tradition that kissing someone under the holly brings good luck, and if you didn’t know, on December 13th (Santa Lucia), you should burn last year’s holly and get a new one. This is said to bring good wishes for the coming year.

Getting a tattoo of either of these flowers can be a constant reminder that there is always hope and that you can always start anew.

Birth flowers are a beautiful and symbolic way to honor and celebrate our birth month. Whether you choose to tattoo your own birth flower or simply want to carry the flowers of someone special on your skin, these flowers remind us that there is beauty and meaning in every moment of our lives. Here’s a quick guide so you can carry it with you and know which flower represents each month.

If you’re thinking about getting one of these flowers tattooed, I’d love to hear the story behind it and help make it a reality. Feel free to contact me through the form on my website or by following me on Instagram at @grisaceos.ink. 🌸✨