Birth Month Flower Guide: Meanings & Birth Flower Chart

All 24 traditional birth month flowers, what each one means, a printable-style birth flower chart, and the pet-safety check most flower guides skip.

Ask a room full of dog moms for their pup's birthday and most will answer before you finish the question. Ask for that pup's birth month flower, and you'll usually get a curious smile.

That's a missed chance, because every month has its own bloom (most have two), and each one carries a meaning that has been handed down since the Victorians turned flowers into a quiet language of their own. Your flower can say something about you, your partner, your kids, and yes, the dog snoring on the couch.

This reference guide covers all 24 traditional birth flowers from January through December: what they symbolize, why some lists disagree, and how to choose between a month's primary and secondary bloom. Because it's written for pet parents, we've also added what the big flower sites leave out: which birth flowers are risky to keep around dogs and cats, and safer ways to celebrate them.

What Is a Birth Month Flower?

A birth month flower is a flower assigned to a calendar month, with a symbolic meaning that's said to reflect people born in that month. Think of it as the botanical cousin of the birthstone.

Most months carry two flowers: a primary bloom that appears on nearly every list, and a secondary bloom that gives you a second meaning, color, or season to work with. Neither is more "official" than the other. They're simply two chapters of the same story.

People use birth flowers in all kinds of ways today:

• Gifts: a bouquet, print, or keepsake that feels personal instead of generic.
• Jewelry and engraving: pendants, rings, and engraved pet ID tags.
• Tattoos: one of the most popular ways to honor a child, partner, or pet.
• Weddings and showers: flowers chosen by the couple's or baby's month.
• Gardens: a "family garden" with one bloom for each person (and each pet).

Birth Flower Dog Tags

All 12 birth months on solid stainless steel, in Circle, Bone, Diamond, and Hexagon shapes and Silver, Gold, Rose, and Black finishes.

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Birth Flower Chart: All 12 Months at a Glance

Here's the complete birth flower chart, with each month's primary and secondary flower, its core meaning, and a quick pet-safety note. Bookmark it, screenshot it, or send it to the friend who always asks.

*Pet notes are a summary based on the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants database. Toxicity can vary by species, so always confirm the exact plant name. See the full pet safety section below.

Find Your Pet's Month

Spotted your pet's flower in the chart? Every month has its own engraved design, with your phone number or a QR code on the back.

Choose Your Pet's Month

Birth Month Flowers and Their Meanings, January to December

Each month below includes both flowers, what they traditionally symbolize, a little history, and a pet-parent note. A quick honesty check before we start: personality traits tied to birth flowers are folklore, not science. They're fun, meaningful, and worth celebrating, but they won't predict your dog's obsession with tennis balls.

January Birth Flower: Carnation and Snowdrop

Carnation stands for love, fascination, and admiration, and its meaning shifts with color. Red carnations signal deep love, pink ones are tied to a mother's love (white carnations were the original Mother's Day flower in the U.S.), and white carnations suggest pure affection and good luck.

Snowdrop is all about hope. It's often the first flower to push through frozen ground, which makes it a fitting symbol for anyone who brightens the coldest month of the year.

Pet-parent note: both flowers are listed as toxic to dogs and cats. Carnations tend to cause mild stomach upset, while snowdrop bulbs are the bigger concern for diggers.

Snowdrop Birth Flower Dog Tag, Personalized for January Pets

Our January design features the snowdrop, the first sign of hope after winter. Engraved with your pet's name on solid stainless steel, with your phone number or a QR code on the back.

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February Birth Flower: Violet and Primrose

Violet represents loyalty, faithfulness, and modesty. Its deep purple shade pairs naturally with amethyst, February's birthstone, and its heart-shaped leaves arrive just in time for Valentine's Day.

Primrose takes its name from the Latin prima rosa, or "first rose," because it blooms so early in the year. In the language of flowers, it means young love and the feeling of "I can't live without you." Some lists swap in iris as February's second flower instead.

Pet-parent note: primrose is listed as mildly toxic. Don't confuse true violets with African violets (a different plant that the ASPCA lists as non-toxic), and check the species if real violets will be within nose reach.

Violet Birth Flower Dog Tag, Personalized for February Pets

February's flower of faithfulness, made for the dog who never leaves your side. Choose Circle, Bone, Diamond, or Hexagon in Silver, Gold, Rose, or Black.

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March Birth Flower: Daffodil and Jonquil

Daffodil is the classic symbol of rebirth, new beginnings, and stubborn optimism. Folklore says giving a single daffodil invites misfortune, while a full bunch brings happiness, so always gift generously.

Jonquil is a fragrant member of the same family, with clusters of smaller blooms. It traditionally signals desire and the hope that affection will be returned.

Pet-parent note: daffodils, jonquils, and every other Narcissus are toxic to dogs and cats, and the bulbs are the most dangerous part. Spring gardens and dogs who dig are a combination worth watching.

Daffodil Birth Flower Dog Tag, Personalized for March Pets

All the optimism of March's daffodil, with none of the bulb worries. Deep laser engraving made to stay legible for years of walks.

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April Birth Flower: Daisy and Sweet Pea

Daisy stands for innocence, purity, and loyal love. The name comes from the Old English "day's eye," because daisies open at sunrise and close at dusk, which feels very fitting for a dog who's up with the sun.

Sweet pea carries a sweet double meaning: blissful pleasure and a heartfelt thank you, but also a gentle goodbye. That makes it a thoughtful pick for gratitude gifts and farewell moments alike.

Pet-parent note: the common oxeye daisy and sweet peas are both listed as toxic. Gerbera daisies, often used in bouquets, are listed as non-toxic and make a friendlier stand-in.

Daisy Birth Flower Dog Tag, Personalized for April Pets

April's daisy for loyal love and a sunny personality. Your pet's name on the front, your contact details or a QR code on the back.

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May Birth Flower: Lily of the Valley and Hawthorn

Lily of the valley symbolizes sweetness, humility, and the return of happiness. In France, sprigs are traditionally given on May 1 as a good-luck charm, and its tiny bell-shaped blooms are a favorite in bridal bouquets.

Hawthorn represents hope and supreme happiness. Its white "May blossoms" were once gathered for spring festivals and garlands, which is how the flower became tied to the month.

Pet-parent note: lily of the valley is one of the most dangerous flowers on this entire list. It contains cardiac glycosides that can affect the heart in dogs and cats, so keep real stems, plants, and even vase water out of reach. Celebrate this month with art, engraving, or silk flowers instead.

Lily of the Valley Birth Flower Dog Tag, Personalized for May Pets

The safest way to celebrate May's most delicate bloom: engraved in stainless steel, not growing in the yard. A sweet pick for May birthdays and gotcha days.

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June Birth Flower: Rose and Honeysuckle

Rose is love in every form, and color tells the details. Red means romance, pink means gratitude and admiration, yellow means friendship, and white suggests new beginnings and remembrance.

Honeysuckle is a climbing vine that wraps around whatever it grows on, so it naturally came to mean devoted affection and lasting bonds. A June pup could hardly ask for a better metaphor.

Pet-parent note: roses are listed as non-toxic to dogs and cats, though thorns can still poke curious noses. Honeysuckle varies by species, and some berries can upset stomachs, so confirm the plant before planting.

Rose Birth Flower Dog Tag, Personalized for June Pets

June's rose, the classic symbol of love, engraved with your pet's name. Pair the design with the Rose finish for a soft, coordinated look.

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July Birth Flower: Larkspur and Water Lily

Larkspur stands for an open heart, lightheartedness, and positivity. Color adds nuance: pink suggests a playful spirit, white suggests joy, and purple is tied to first love.

Water lily opens fresh on the water's surface each morning, which is why it came to symbolize purity, renewal, and enlightenment.

Pet-parent note: larkspur (Delphinium) is listed as toxic and can be serious if eaten in quantity. Water lilies are not true lilies, but if you have a backyard pond and a dog who loves to wade, check the exact species with your vet or the ASPCA database.

Water Lily Birth Flower Dog Tag, Personalized for July Pets

Our July design features the water lily, July's bloom of purity and renewal. A lovely fit for summer pups who head straight for the water.

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August Birth Flower: Gladiolus and Poppy

Gladiolus takes its name from the Latin gladius, meaning sword, a nod to its tall, blade-like leaves. It represents strength of character, integrity, and remembrance.

Poppy carries some of the deepest meaning on this list. Red poppies are worn in remembrance of fallen service members, while poppies more broadly symbolize imagination, peace, and rest. Many birth flower lists, including the one our tag designs follow, use poppy for August.

Pet-parent note: gladiolus (especially the corms) and poppies are listed as toxic. Enjoy them in a high vase or, better yet, as artwork.

Poppy Birth Flower Dog Tag, Personalized for August Pets

August's poppy, a flower of imagination and peace, engraved deep into solid stainless steel. Four shapes, four finishes, and an engraved or QR back.

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September Birth Flower: Aster and Morning Glory

Aster comes from the Greek word for "star," thanks to its starburst of petals. It stands for love, wisdom, patience, and faith, which feels right for a month of fresh starts and cooler walks.

Morning glory opens with the sunrise and closes by afternoon. It symbolizes affection and love, along with a gentle reminder that beautiful moments are worth noticing while they last.

Pet-parent note: China aster (Callistephus chinensis) is listed as non-toxic to dogs and cats. Morning glory is a different story: its seeds are toxic, so skip it in gardens your pets explore.

Morning Glory Birth Flower Dog Tag, Personalized for September Pets

Our September design features the morning glory, a sign of affection that opens with the sunrise. Wear it every day, with no seeds within reach.

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October Birth Flower: Marigold and Cosmos

Marigold glows with warmth, creativity, and determination. During Día de los Muertos, bright orange marigolds are placed on altars to guide loved ones home, which gives this flower a meaning of remembrance as well as joy. Some lists use calendula, also called pot marigold, for October.

Cosmos takes its name from the Greek kosmos, meaning order and harmony, inspired by its neatly spaced petals. It represents peace, balance, and a calm, steady love.

Pet-parent note: "marigold" covers two different plants. Pot marigold (Calendula officinalis) is listed as non-toxic, while French and African marigolds (Tagetes) are listed as mildly toxic. Cosmos is generally considered low risk, but confirm before planting.

Cosmos Birth Flower Dog Tag, Personalized for October Pets

Our October design features the cosmos, the flower of harmony and calm, steady love. Personalized and shipped from Maryland, typically within 2 business days.

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November Birth Flower: Chrysanthemum and Peony

Chrysanthemum means joy, optimism, friendship, and long life. It's the imperial emblem of Japan, a fall porch staple across the U.S., and grown in thousands of cultivars, so there's a "mum" for every personality.

Peony appears on some November lists as a secondary flower, representing prosperity, honor, and a happy home. It blooms in late spring rather than fall, which is a good example of how birth flower lists don't always follow the calendar.

Pet-parent note: chrysanthemums and peonies are both listed as toxic. Those big fall mums by the front steps deserve a second look if your dog likes to snack on the way in.

Chrysanthemum Birth Flower Dog Tag, Personalized for November Pets

November's chrysanthemum for joy, friendship, and long life. Enjoy the fall mum on your pet's collar instead of their snack list.

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December Birth Flower: Narcissus (Paperwhite) and Holly

Paperwhite narcissus stands for hope, good wishes, and wealth. It's often grown indoors from bulbs during the holidays, bringing fragrant white blooms to the darkest weeks of the year.

Holly symbolizes protection, domestic happiness, and goodwill. As an evergreen with bright red berries, it has been a winter decoration for centuries, and it's the December bloom featured on our birth flower tag design.

Pet-parent note: paperwhites and holly are both listed as toxic. Holiday decor is a common source of pet exposures, so keep live holly and forcing bulbs well out of reach.

Holly Berry Birth Flower Dog Tag, Personalized for December Pets

December's holly berry for protection and goodwill, engraved with your pet's name. A thoughtful holiday gift for any December pup.

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Where the Birth Month Flower Tradition Comes From

The idea of linking flowers to people and seasons is old. Historians often trace birthday flower customs back to ancient Rome, where flowers were part of seasonal celebrations and gifts.

The meanings we use today come mostly from floriography, the Victorian "language of flowers." In 19th-century England, a bouquet could carry a coded message, and dozens of floral dictionaries were published to decode them. One of the best known, Kate Greenaway's Language of Flowers, came out in 1884 and helped standardize many of the meanings you'll still see on flower charts today.

Why Do Some Months Have Two Birth Flowers?

There are two main reasons:

• Different traditions: British, American, and other lists developed separately, and modern guides often combine them.
• Different climates: a flower that blooms in March in Georgia might not appear until May in Maine, so a second option keeps the tradition practical.

Where Birth Flower Lists Disagree

If you've seen two charts that don't match, you're not imagining it. These are the most common differences:

• February: primrose on most lists, iris on some.
• August: gladiolus and poppy trade places as "primary" depending on the source.
• September: aster and morning glory are both widely used.
• October: marigold, cosmos, and calendula all appear.
• November: chrysanthemum everywhere, with peony added on some lists.
• December: narcissus and holly are often listed in either order.

Our take: there's no single governing body, so pick the flower whose meaning, look, or story fits the person or pet you're celebrating.

Violet Birth Flower Dog Tag, Personalized for February Pets

Victorian bouquets used violets to say "I'll always be true." Our February tag carries the same message for the most loyal member of the family.

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Is Your Birth Flower Safe Around Pets?

Here's the part most birth month flower guides skip. Many of the 24 traditional birth flowers are listed as toxic to dogs, cats, or both, and a few can be genuinely dangerous. With about 71 million U.S. households now sharing their home with a dog, according to the American Pet Products Association's 2026 State of the Industry report, that's worth knowing before a birthday bouquet lands on the coffee table.

We organized the list into three simple groups, based on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's plant database.

A Special Note for Cat Parents

True lilies (Lilium) and daylilies aren't birth month flowers themselves, but they show up constantly in mixed bouquets, especially around May and June birthdays. The ASPCA warns that even small amounts, including pollen or vase water, can cause serious kidney injury in cats. If you share your home with a cat, ask your florist for a lily-free arrangement.

If Your Pet Eats a Birth Flower

1. Gently remove any remaining plant material from your pet's mouth and the area.
2. Note the plant's name (take a photo or bring a sample) and roughly how much was eaten.
3. Call your veterinarian, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435, or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. A consultation fee may apply.
4. Don't try to make your pet vomit unless a veterinary professional tells you to.

Lily of the Valley Birth Flower Dog Tag, Personalized for May Pets

Love a flower that isn't pet safe? Wear it instead. An engraved tag lets you celebrate lily of the valley, or any other bloom, without keeping the real plant at home.

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How to Find Your Pet's Birth Month Flower

Plenty of pet families now celebrate birthdays with treats, party hats, and a group photo nobody can get the dog to sit still for. Giving your pet a birth flower adds a meaningful layer to those moments. We call our simple approach the Bloom-Match Method.

Step 1: Choose the Date That Matters Most

If you know your pet's birthday

Use their birth month. Breeders and some shelters can share this, and it's often on puppy paperwork or early vet records.

If your pet is a rescue with an unknown birthday

Use their gotcha day, the month they came home. For many rescue families, that date feels even more meaningful than a guessed birthday. Your vet's age estimate can also point you to a likely season.

If you're honoring a pet who has passed

Some families choose the birth month, while others choose the month they said goodbye. Both are right. Pick the one that brings the most comfort.

Step 2: Pick the Primary or Secondary Flower

Most months give you two options, so choose by meaning, look, or personality:

• By meaning: a loyal shadow of a dog might suit February's violet (faithfulness), while a sunny, everyone's-best-friend pup fits April's daisy.
• By look: bold, graphic flowers like poppy or chrysanthemum read beautifully in engraving, while delicate sprays like lily of the valley feel soft and elegant.
• By story: a dog adopted in winter who "brought hope" back into the house? January's snowdrop says it perfectly.

Birth Flower Dog Tags

Picked your pet's flower? Choose the matching month, then the shape and finish that suits their collar. Every tag includes a 20 mm split ring.

Pick Your Pet's Tag

Step 3: Decide How You'll Wear or Display It

Think about where the flower will live: on your pet's collar every day, on your wall, around your neck, or in a pet-safe corner of the yard. Everyday pieces should be durable; keepsakes should feel personal.

Step 4: Run the Pet Safety Check

Before bringing real stems or plants home, check the safety table above. If your pet's flower is on the toxic list, celebrate it with engraving, artwork, or faux flowers instead, and keep the real ones for photos at a botanical garden.

Bloom-Match Examples

These illustrative examples show how the method works in real life:

• Maple, a rescue mix adopted in October: her family uses her gotcha day and chooses October's cosmos tag for her calm, steady nature. For the garden, they plant pot marigold, October's other bloom and the non-toxic variety, in her favorite sunny spot.
• A two-dog household with June and December birthdays: the pups wear rose and holly tags, and their family pairs the two flowers in one watercolor print for the hallway.
• Honoring a senior dog born in August: his family chooses poppy, the flower of remembrance, and keeps a framed portrait beside a small engraved keepsake.

Cosmos Birth Flower Dog Tag, Personalized for October Pets

Adopted in October? The cosmos tag is a meaningful way to mark your pet's gotcha day, with your contact details on the back.

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Rose Birth Flower Dog Tag, Personalized for June Pets

Building a multi-pet set? Start with June's rose, then add a tag for every pet's month so each one wears their own flower.

Shop the Rose Tag

Ways to Celebrate a Birth Flower (Without Bringing Toxic Stems Home)

1. An Engraved Birth Flower ID Tag

This is where pet safety and sentimental style meet. A birth flower tag carries your pet's flower and name on the front and their contact details on the back, so it does the everyday job of helping a finder reach you while looking like a little piece of jewelry.

Our Birth Flower Dog Tags are solid stainless steel with deep laser engraving made to stay legible for years. Each tag comes in four shapes (Circle 30 mm, Bone 38 x 25 mm, Diamond 37 mm, and Hexagon 33 mm) and four finishes (Silver, Gold, Rose, and Black). On the back, you choose up to 80 engraved characters or a laser-etched QR code that opens your pet's scan-to-contact profile.

Every tag is personalized and shipped from Maryland, typically within 2 business days.

Birth Flower Dog Tags

All 12 months, engraved on solid stainless steel. Choose your shape, finish, and an engraved or QR back.

Find Your Pet's Flower

Engraving tips for birth flower tags

• Lead with a phone number. It's the single most useful line on any ID tag.
• Add a second contact if you have room, like a partner's number.
• Note important needs such as "Needs meds" or "Microchipped."
• Consider the QR back if you'd rather keep more details in an easy-to-update profile. A QR tag is a scan-to-contact profile, not a GPS tracker.

2. A Custom Pet Portrait for the Wall

Pair your pet's birth flower tag with a portrait in a style that fits their personality. Watercolor and Oil Painting styles feel especially natural next to floral decor, and every portrait is manually adjusted by our design team, then printed and framed in Maryland on a 12 x 18 in canvas in a solid dark walnut frame.

3. A Pet-Safe Birth Flower Garden

If your pet's flower is on the non-toxic list, such as rose, China aster, or pot marigold, a small birthday planting can become a sweet yearly tradition. For months with toxic flowers, choose a pet-safe bloom in a similar color, like a gerbera daisy for April's daisy.

Morning Glory Birth Flower Dog Tag, Personalized for September Pets

Planting China aster for a September pup? Keep the morning glory on the collar, where it's pretty to look at and nowhere near the garden.

Shop the Morning Glory Tag

4. Birthday and Gotcha Day Decor

Silk, paper, or felt versions of your pet's birth flower look lovely in party photos without the risk. A flower crown on the cake table (not on the dog, unless they truly enjoy it) gets the theme across.

Holly Berry Birth Flower Dog Tag, Personalized for December Pets

Skip the live holly on the party table. A Holly Berry tag makes the birthday photo, and the walks after it, just as festive.

Shop the Holly Berry Tag

5. A Tender Keepsake for a Pet You Miss

Birth flowers can be a gentle way to remember a pet who has passed. A remembrance flower like poppy or rosemary, or simply their own birth month bloom, can sit beside a Memorial portrait or a pet memorial necklace engraved with their face. There's no wrong way to keep them close.

Birth Flowers vs Birthstones vs Zodiac Flowers

All three tie a symbol to your birthday, but they work a little differently. Here's how they compare:

The big advantage of birth flowers for pet families: they work beautifully even when you only know the month your pet came home.

Birth Flower Dog Tags

Unlike a birthstone, a birth flower works even when you only know your pet's gotcha day. Find their month and make it theirs.

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Birth Month Flower FAQ

Give Their Flower a Place Every Day

A birth month flower is a small thing that says a lot: who someone is, when they arrived, and how much they mean to you. For your pet, it can be more than a fun fact. It can be a meaningful design they wear on every walk, paired with the contact details that help bring them home if they ever wander.

Find your pet's month, choose the bloom that fits their personality, and keep the real flowers safely out of reach. Then let the celebrating begin.