Just as each month has a birthstone, it also has a flower, replete with symbolism and history. From January’s snow-kissed carnations to December’s festive holly, these blooms capture the essence of the season and the traits of those born within it. At Ah Sam Floral Co., the best florist in San Mateo, we’re exploring the birth flower for each month and the best alternatives and complementary blooms to create the perfect birthday bouquets and arrangements. Whether you’re drawn to a birth flower’s timeless meaning or its seasonal charm, we’ll guide you to perfect substitutes that carry the same beauty and sentiment with a fresh twist.

January: Carnation & Snowdrop

Two strong symbols of love, hope, and new beginnings, carnations and snowdrops are perfect blooms to start the year. Delicate and romantic, anemones mirror the sweet and dainty aesthetic of snowdrops. To match their symbolism, sleek calla lilies take the cake as they represent luxury, beauty, and rebirth. Peonies, fluffy and full like carnations, are another popular pick that speaks to love, good fortune, and happiness in marriage.

February: Violet & Iris

The February birth flowers speak to devotion, wisdom, truth, and faith. Violets and irises also share dark, bold purple hues and a soft, delicate look. Purple or burgundy ranunculus offers a similar aesthetic while bringing symbols of admiration and integrity to the arrangement. Hyacinths, especially purple, represent sincerity and seeking forgiveness. For the perfect accent stem to mirror the aesthetic of these birth flowers and symbolize friendship, loyalty, and love, consider the graceful alstroemeria.

March: Daffodil & Jonquil

March blooms are a sure sign of spring! While daffodils and jonquils represent things like new beginnings, renewal, rebirth, optimism, anticipation, and affection, so too do tulips and Easter lilies. Tulips, meaning renewal and unconditional love, are the quintessential springtime stems. Easter Lilies, with star-like blooms and prominent anthers, are another perfect alternative with symbolism like hope, comfort, renewal, and purity.

April: Daisy & Sweet Pea

Of course, gerbera daisies are a fun, colorful, and bold alternative to the common daisy — April’s birth flower. These large blooms represent beauty, cheerfulness, and delight, which complement the daisy’s symbolism of hope and innocence. Sweet peas have one of the more interesting blooms and petals that look ruffled and wavy yet sleek. Their bright spring colors are similar to tulips, and their symbolism overlaps with tulips’ meaning of bliss and loyal friendships.

May: Lily of the Valley & Hawthorn

Lily of the Valley blooms resemble a collection of bells on a single stock. Their symbolism includes all things optimism, warmth, and joy. Pink hyacinths are another tall spring flower representing joy and playfulness. Hawthorns bloom into a five-petal flower and surround an impressive group of stamens. Similar to orchids, these blooms represent a myriad of things, including fertility. Like peonies, hawthorns also symbolize happiness in love and marriage, protection, and new beginnings (or rebirth).

June: Rose & Honeysuckle

Roses are the epitome of classic and are often said to be the most popular flower around. As roses (the universal symbol of love) and honeysuckle unite, the June birth flowers represent everything love, beauty, passion, life, happiness, and affection. Lilies are another timeless and beloved flower, meaning love, femininity, and grace. Or, consider ranunculus – a charming and attractive flower steeped in love. With their many layers of petals, ranunculus can also resemble a lush damask rose.

July: Larkspur & Water Lily

The tall, lush, and spiky-petaled larkspur is a flawless choice for the July birth flower as its bright hues represent pure fun, joy, lightheartedness, sincerity, and strong loving bonds. The perfect alternative to larkspur is another tall, lush, and bright-colored flower — stock flower. Stock flower also symbolizes profound affection and a promise of commitment and joy throughout life. July’s second birth flower, the water lily, isn’t actually a true lily. This beautiful floating bloom represents sage wisdom, rebirth, and enlightenment. For an alternative, consider the calla lily! They share the symbolic meaning of rebirth.

August: Gladiolus & Poppy

Gladiolus is a tall, vibrant flower that symbolizes admiration, courage, strength, perseverance, and resilience. For an alternative stem with just as much height and meaning, look to snapdragons. With their beautiful hues and aesthetic that mimic gladiolus, snapdragons are also representative of strength, courage, and desire. Poppies and anemones share the same delicate, romantic appearance with graceful petals that look as if they’ve been gently blown open by a gust of wind. They also share symbolic meanings, including innocence, purity, and romantic love.

September: Aster & Morning Glory

Sweet September asters symbolize valor, wisdom, faith, and love. Their playful daisy-like bloom is soft and whimsical, like common daisies and even soft yellow sunflowers. Daisies and sunflowers also represent trust, luck, strength, loyalty, and optimism. Morning glories, representing renewal and anticipation for the day ahead, can be described as round, funnel-shaped blooms that flourish in clusters. A beautiful alternative is the stunning orchid with a wealth of symbolism.

October: Marigold & Cosmo

October’s birth flowers revolve around a connection to something greater than ourselves. Fiery and bright marigolds represent happiness, passion, and wealth while also holding deep meaning and link to the afterlife. Another bold autumn bloom is the dahlia! These large, ornate, and vibrant flowers signify growth and positive change, creativity, and inner strength. Cosmos offer harmony and balance the energy around us. Their soft star-like or daisy-like appearance can be found in blooms like asters and gerbera daisies.

November: Chrysanthemum & Peony

Chrysanthemums (AKA the Queen of Fall Flowers) can be found in many forms, from button mums to spider mums and fluffy football mums to classic daisy mums. Their symbolism also runs the gamut from perfection and longevity to happiness, friendship, and good fortune. Their November birth flower counterpart, peonies, share a similar meaning with prosperity, abundance, compassion, and happiness and luck in marriage. For alternatives, the best suggestion is other fall flowers, like sunflowers steeped in peace, happiness, and optimism or dahlias that signify positivity, gracefulness, everlasting love, and growth. For a bloom that’s full, fresh, and just as puffy and round as a peony, turn to the charming hydrangea.

December: Holly & Narcissus

December is one of the most festive times of the year, so it’s no surprise that holly would be one of December’s birth flowers. This winter berry is synonymous with good cheer, protection, rebirth, and positivity. Narcissus, a more traditional-looking bloom with graceful petals and a captivating center, is linked to self-love, renewal, and hope. To keep the festive spirit of the season alive, consider poinsettias — a symbol of goodwill, hope, peace, rebirth, and Christmas. For something linked to love, beauty, and passion, you can never go wrong with roses.

Whether you’re building a symbolic birthday bouquet or hunting for look-alike flowers with the same seasonal feel, Ah Sam Floral Co. has the top picks perfect for a thoughtful birthday surprise.