The custom of birth month flowers is an ancient one, and typically each month is represented by two flowers. This provides a multitude of ways for celebrants to identify with a birth month flower, which means gifts of flowers can be personalized to be more meaningful for those born in that month. So what are February’s birth month flowers? February birthdays are represented by violets and primrose.
Love is in the air in February, and those with February birthdays all get to enjoy that loving feeling with the primary birth flower for February, the violet. In floriography, the Victorian flower language that’s once again becoming popular, violets represent love and affection. The second February birth month flower is primrose, among the first flowers to bloom after winter. In moderate calamities they can bloom in winter, and are known for the many vibrant colors of these five-petaled February birth flowers.
Primary February Birth Flower: Violet Symbolism and Meaning
The violet’s most ancient symbolism is connected with Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, and Venus, her Roman counterpart. This meaning was carried through in floriography, in which messages were sent via flowers. In those Victorian notes, purple violets represented love and affection. Over the years the February birth flower represents modesty, loyalty, remembrance, with different colored violets carrying their own symbolism.
- Purple violets symbolize love, devotion, and loyalty.
- Yellow violets are symbols of joy and optimism.
- White violets signify innocence, purity, and modesty.
Violet History and Fun Facts
In ancient Greek and Roman culture, violets were used for medicinal purposes, to flavor food and wine, and for celebrations and festivals. Ancient Greeks made love potions with violets, believing them to bring love and fertility. Persians used violets as a medicinal treatment for headaches, and believed them to calm anger as well.
During the Middle Ages, violets were valued for their medicinal qualities, and were considered especially effective for treating digestive issues and skin conditions. They were grown in monasteries for ornamental and medicinal purposes, and referred to by monks as “The Herb of the Trinity” because they bloom in three colors, purple, yellow, and white.
Violets are featured in religious art, usually as a symbol of humility and modesty. Renaissance art often depicted the Virgin Mary with purple violets to signify her purity. In the Victorian Era, aside from their use in floriography, carrying violets was believed to ward off evil spirits. It was also said that one could avoid inebriation by wearing violets on their head.
Four states claim the violet as their state flower: Rhode Island, New Jersey, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
Violet Varieties
There are over 100 types of violet, a member of the same family as viola and pansy. Violets are significantly smaller than pansies and violas, which is the easiest way to tell them apart. Violets are wildflowers, but can be grown in the garden, making a lovely border or groundcover plant.
Appalachian Blue
Native to Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and North Carolina, Appalachian Blue is a small violet with pale blue flowers. This variety is considered an imperiled wildflower, not to be picked or removed from its habitat.
Beckwith’s Violet
The combination of deep maroon and pale blue-violet petals makes Beckwith’s Violet especially striking. Native to the Pacific Northwest, it does well in rocky soil and higher elevations.Beckwith’s Violet grows up to 20 inches tall.
Bog White
This white violet is found in wetlands of the United States and Canada. Bog White’s long, pointed petals have purple stripes at the throat. This variety does well in marshy or very rainy areas and is available in seed packets for garden propagation.
Sweet Violet
The sweetest scented of all the violet varieties, sweet violet multiplies like strawberry plants, by runners, with deep purple flowers that bloom from late winter to early spring. Sweet violet grows ten to twelve inches tall and in temperate climates may bud and bloom all winter long.
California Golden
As the name suggests, golden petaled violet is native to California, and was once an important food source for the indigenous Diegueno and Luiseno people there. They harvested and cooked the leaves for nutrient rich greens. California Golden violets grow up to six inches tall.
Freckles
This dappled violet has light blue petals freckled with dark blue for a truly eye-catching spring and summer blooming violet that grows six to eight inches tall. Freckles is a good garden violet, looking lovely paired with daffodils and violet’s larger siblings, pansies.
Downy Yellow
Downy yellow violets have leaves that are larger than the yellow blooms, creating a dramatic appearance while the flowers seem especially delicate. This variety grows up to 12 inches tall and blooms in May and June. Downy yellow violets are available in seed packets for garden propagation.
Secondary February Birth Flower: Primrose Symbolism and Meaning
The secondary February birth month flower, the primrose is one of the first spring flowers to bloom, and symbolizes innocence, youth, and new beginnings. In floriography, the primrose is a declaration of deep love, specifically stating “I can’t live without you” to the recipient.
In some cultures, primroses are believed to bring good fortune and ward off evil spirits. Often they are associated with fairies and fairy realms. Celts believed primrose patches to be gateways to the fairy world.Another common cultural primrose symbolism is that the flower represents a woman and the stages of womanhood.
Primrose History and Fun Facts
Primroses were used medicinally by the ancient Romans and Greeks, particularly for lung and skin conditions. During the Middle Ages, they were planted ornamentally in monastery gardens, and by the 16th and 17th centuries, gained popularity across Europe. Primroses were often found in art and literature, representing spring and rebirth. There are several mentions of primroses in Shakespeare’s works.
Primroses are toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, but the leaves and flowers are edible for humans, and are used both cooked and uncooked. Along with its use as an herb or garnish, primrose is used in wine and syrup. Its medicinal uses include treatment of headaches, spasms, cramps, gout, and rheumatism. Irish folklore presents primrose as a pain reliever for toothaches when rubbed on the offending tooth.
Primrose Varieties
There are more than 450 varieties of primrose in an impressive range of colors and sizes. This perennial February birth flower grows in most environments as long as they have some shade.
Allioni’s Primrose
One of the earliest blooming varieties, Allioni’s primrose grows three to four inches tall with white and rose shades, usually with a white center. With evergreen foliage that forms a tightly woven cushion, and flowers that nearly obscure it when in bloom, this variety makes an excellent groundcover.
Himalayan Primrose
This variety grows 10 – 12 inches tall with silvery stems and foliage and dark violet flowers. Native to Tibet and India, Himalayan primrose is an evergreen perennial that does well in damp, shady environments. This primrose variety is a good flower for bouquets and arrangements.
Border and Alpine Auriculas
This hardy primrose is an abundant bloomer in just about every color imaginable. In the garden, they can withstand most conditions and grow to eight inches tall. The blooms last up to three months, and sometimes reappear in autumn.
Candelabra Primrose
These striking perennial primroses have blooms that spiral up sturdy stems that grow one to three feet tall, lasting from early spring to late summer. They self-sow and form show-stopping clumps that bloom from early spring to late summer, and are happiest in marshy areas and beside ponds and lakes.
Celebrate With Birth Month Flowers
February’s birth month flowers are violet and primrose, in a variety of types, sizes, and colors. The same range of choices is available for January birth flowers, and for birthdays year round, and The Bouqs has you covered for all birth month flowers. When you plan for those special occasions, we have all the tools you need for a truly personal birthday flower delivery.
In addition to birth month flowers, you’ll find that there are flowers connected to each zodiac sign as well, giving you a multitude of ways to customize a birthday bouquet. We at The Bouqs are committed to providing beautiful, lasting flowers with the most sustainable practices throughout the process. Say “happy birthday” with a bouquet of the freshest, longest lasting flowers sent straight from the farm to their door!
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