Birth Flowers by Month: A Guide to Family Flower Necklaces
Every month has its own birth flower, the same way it has a birthstone. January is the carnation, May is the lily, September is the aster and December is the poinsettia. A family birth flower necklace puts one flower on the chain for each person: a child, a partner, a grandchild. That makes it one of the easiest personal gifts to get right for a mom or grandmother this Christmas.
This guide gives you the full list of birth flowers by month, what each one traditionally means, how many flowers to choose, and which chain length suits the person you are buying for.
Birth flowers by month: the full list
Here is the birth flower and birthstone color for every month, as used on our family birth flower necklace with birthstones. Each flower charm carries a small stone in the matching color, so the necklace pairs both traditions.
| Month | Birth flower | Birthstone color |
|---|---|---|
| January | Carnation | Garnet red |
| February | Iris | Amethyst purple |
| March | Daffodil | Aquamarine blue |
| April | Daisy | Clear |
| May | Lily | Emerald green |
| June | Rose | Alexandrite purple |
| July | Larkspur | Ruby red |
| August | Poppy | Peridot green |
| September | Aster | Sapphire blue |
| October | Calendula | Pink tourmaline |
| November | Chrysanthemum | Citrine yellow |
| December | Poinsettia | Blue topaz |
You may see slightly different lists online. Some sources give lily of the valley for May, marigold or cosmos for October, and holly or narcissus for December. Birth flower lists come from old garden and folk traditions rather than one official source, so a little variation is normal. The table above is the set the necklace uses, so it is the one to go by when you order.
What each birth flower means
Part of the charm of a birth flower gift is the meaning behind it. These are the associations most often given to each flower. They are traditions, not rules, but they make a nice line to write in the card.
Winter and spring birthdays
- January – carnation: love, admiration and a mother's devotion.
- February – iris: faith, hope and wisdom.
- March – daffodil: new beginnings. A lovely one for a baby born that year.
- April – daisy: innocence and cheerfulness.
- May – lily: devotion and sweetness.
Summer and autumn birthdays
- June – rose: love and gratitude, the most familiar flower of all.
- July – larkspur: an open heart and a light spirit.
- August – poppy: imagination and remembrance.
- September – aster: patience and deep affection.
- October – calendula: warmth and joy.
- November – chrysanthemum: friendship, loyalty and happiness.
- December – poinsettia: celebration and good cheer, fitting for a holiday birthday.
If you are writing a gift tag, one sentence per person works well: "The daffodil is for Ellie, born in March, for new beginnings."
Birth flower or birthstone: which should you choose?
This is the question most gift buyers get stuck on. Both mark a birth month, but they feel different when worn.
- Birth flowers read as soft and botanical. They suit someone who loves gardens, florals or a vintage look, and each flower is easy to tell apart at a glance.
- Birthstones are about color. They suit someone who likes a little sparkle and a cleaner, more minimal piece.
You do not have to pick. The birth flower necklace with birthstone colors sets a stone in each flower, so you get both in one charm. If she prefers stones on their own, the personalized baguette birthstone necklace is the cleaner, stone-only option, and our family birthstone necklace guide walks through how to choose and order the stones.
How many flowers should a family necklace have?
The necklace takes between 1 and 5 flowers. The right number depends on who the necklace is meant to hold.
One flower
A single flower is for one person: a new baby, an only child, or the wearer's own birth month. It is the most delicate look and a sweet first gift for a new mom.
Two or three flowers
A balanced middle ground. Two flowers suit a mom of two, or a couple's months together. Three works for a mom with three children, or a mom, dad and baby.
Four or five flowers
Best for larger families or a grandmother's necklace with one flower per grandchild. Five flowers give the fullest version of the necklace.
One practical tip: think about the future. If a grandmother has four grandchildren and a fifth on the way, some families order the larger count now. Others give a second piece later, such as a birth flower bracelet with birthstone for the newest arrival, so the set grows with the family.
Choosing the chain length and finish
Chain length
The chain comes in five lengths, from 16 to 24 inches. Length changes how the flowers sit and how the necklace works with everyday clothes. This is a general guide to where each length falls on an average adult.
| Chain length | Where it usually sits | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 16 inches | Around the base of the neck | Open necklines and a close, delicate look |
| 18 inches | Just below the collarbone | The safest choice when you are unsure |
| 20 inches | A little below the collarbone | Crew necks and layering with a shorter chain |
| 22 inches | Near the top of a typical neckline | Wearing over sweaters and higher tops |
| 24 inches | Lower on the chest | Layering and a longer, relaxed look |
If you are buying as a surprise, 18 inches is the length most people wear without thinking about it. Choose longer if she layers necklaces or mostly wears high necklines. Choose shorter if she likes pieces that sit close to the throat.
Gold, silver or rose gold tone?
The necklace comes in a gold tone, silver tone or rose gold tone finish. The easiest way to choose is to look at the jewelry she already wears every day.
- Gold tone is warm and classic. Pick it if she wears a gold wedding band or gold earrings.
- Silver tone is cool and understated. It suits someone who wears silver, white gold or mostly minimal pieces.
- Rose gold tone sits between the two and flatters most skin tones. It is a good pick when you cannot tell what she prefers.
Matching the finish to her other pieces makes it far more likely to be worn daily rather than saved for special days. If you are building a small set, the dainty birth month flower necklace and the personalized heart birthstone bracelet pair well with it.
Who a birth flower necklace suits best
A family flower necklace is made for the people who keep a family's birthdays in their head. It works well for:
- Moms, with one flower per child.
- Grandmothers, with one flower per grandchild. A favorite Christmas gift from the grandchildren together.
- New moms, with a single flower for the baby's month, or two for mom and baby.
- Mothers-in-law and aunts, when you want something more personal than a gift card.
For someone who would rather wear a single name or initial, look at the name necklace with birthstone or the personalized birth flower necklace. For a gift that hangs in a window rather than around the neck, the personalized birthstone suncatcher catches the light with the same birth month idea.
How to order for Christmas without mistakes
Because each necklace is made to order with your family's months, a little care at checkout saves trouble later. Personalized pieces are final sale, so check before you pay.
- Choose the finish: gold, silver or rose gold tone.
- Choose the chain length: 16, 18, 20, 22 or 24 inches.
- Choose the number of flowers: 1 to 5.
- Type the birth months: one month per flower, in the Birth Months box.
Write the months in the order you want them to read, and double check you have one month for every flower you paid for. Collect the months quietly before you order, especially for in-laws and grandchildren. Delivery times are shown in the Shipping tab on the product page, so check them early in the season and leave yourself room before Christmas.
The necklace arrives in a gift box, ready to give, and prices start from $24.91.
Frequently asked questions
What is my birth flower?
Your birth flower is linked to the month you were born. On our necklace the list is: January carnation, February iris, March daffodil, April daisy, May lily, June rose, July larkspur, August poppy, September aster, October calendula, November chrysanthemum and December poinsettia. Some sources list different flowers for a few months, which is normal for a folk tradition.
Can a family necklace have both birth flowers and birthstones?
Yes. Each flower charm on the family birth flower necklace carries a stone in its month's birthstone color, so one charm shows both. For example, a September flower is an aster with a sapphire blue stone, and a December flower is a poinsettia with a blue topaz color stone.
How many flowers can I put on the necklace?
You can choose from 1 to 5 flowers. Most moms choose one flower per child. Grandmothers often choose one per grandchild. If two people share a birth month, you can still add a flower for each of them, so the necklace shows the right number of people.
What chain length is best for a gift?
If you are not sure, choose 18 inches. On most adults it sits just below the collarbone and works with everyday necklines. Pick 16 inches for a closer fit, or 20 to 24 inches if she likes to layer necklaces or wears higher necklines often.
Is a birth flower necklace a good Christmas gift for mom?
Yes. It is personal without needing to know her taste in clothes or perfume. It also carries her children's or grandchildren's months, which gives it meaning past the holiday. It arrives in a gift box, so it is ready to wrap. Order early, since each piece is made to order.
Find the right piece for her
Start with the months that matter to her, choose how many flowers to include, and pick the finish she already wears. If you are still deciding between flowers, stones, names and initials, browse everything side by side in our Engraved Treasures jewelry collection. When you know the months, the family birth flower necklace turns them into something she can wear every day.