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 Nanz & Kraft Florist in Louisville, Kentucky, we’re exploring the birth blossom 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

Fresh starts, enduring hope, and love is the vibe for January, which carnations and snow drops embody perfectly. To capture the daintiness and wintry freshness of snow drops, anemones are an excellent choice, with sweet petals and striking centers. Symbolically, calla lilies are super fitting, given their connection to all things luxurious, beautiful, and renewing. If you want to celebrate good luck, love, and happily-ever-afters, full-blooming peonies match the spirit and look of lush carnations.

February: Violet & Iris

February’s birth flowers are as meaningful as they are beautiful, representing faith, devotion, truth, and wisdom. The deep, moody purples of violets and irises create a rich, elegant aesthetic. To replicate this look, ranunculus in burgundy or dark purple adds texture and symbolizes admiration and integrity. Hyacinths in purple hues bring an extra layer of sincerity and the idea of seeking forgiveness. And for the perfect accent bloom? Alstroemeria completes the arrangement, signifying love, loyalty, and lifelong friendship.

March: Daffodil & Jonquil

You know it’s springtime when daffodils and jonquils start blooming, filling gardens and hearts with affection, anticipation, optimism, rebirth, and new beginnings. Tulips have the same energy, though they also embody traits like unconditional love and refreshing renewal, so on point for the season. Easter lilies are another great alternative to daffodils, thanks to their prominent anthers and the shape of their petals. They represent sweet sentiments like wholesomeness, comfort, and hope for the future.

April: Daisy & Sweet Pea

Sweet, innocent, and filled with hope, the common daisy reminds us of childhood days spent gathering them in fields. A lovely alternative to these wild blooms is the cheerful and colorful gerbera daisy, whose large blossoms embody beauty, joy, and positivity. Next there’s sweet peas, which represent friendship and pleasure, qualities they share with spring favorites, tulips. Both blooms come in a rainbow of different colors, rendering tulips the perfect stand-in for birthday arrangements and bouquets.

May: Lily of the Valley & Hawthorn

Beloved for their pleasing fragrance and dainty, bell-like shape, Lily of the Valley are ambassadors of joy, sweetness, and positive attitudes. Pink hyacinths have an equally fresh scent, blooming tall and embodying traits like happiness and whimsy. Hawthorn flowers are umbrella-shaped and look like apple blossoms, carrying with them the essence of fertility (among other things); the same applies to orchids. Hawthorn also represent enduring love, happy marriages, and rebirth, as do elegant peonies.

June: Rose & Honeysuckle

If there’s any flower that can claim to be the belle of the ball, the epitome of love, it’s the rose in all its classic glory. But the unique and fragrant honeysuckle holds its own next to this legendary bloom, as both are ambassadors of joy, romance, devotion, allure, fondness, and vital energy. Another flower that’s fitting for June arrangements are timeless lilies, which radiate purity, innocence, and love. You can also opt for rose-like ranunculus blossoms, another representative of love in its fullest form.

July: Larkspur & Water Lily

Bountifully-blooming larkspur thrives in the carefree days of summer, so it’s no wonder it represents July. Its blossoms embody youth, beauty, positivity, the bonds that form among loved ones, and free-spirited fun. Stock flowers share the same look and energy, as well as variety of colors, making them an excellent stand-in for larkspur. These flowers are known for embodying the longterm contentment of commitment and sincere affection. Then we have the water lily representing July, a water-loving blossom that’s all about enlightenment and the cycle of life. Calla lilies do the same job, as they’re heralds of rebirth.

August: Gladiolus & Poppy

Tall, majestic, and commanding, gladiolus blooms represent appreciation, bravery, vigor, determination, and tenacity. On the hunt for a flower that has the same impressive energy and depth of symbolism? Snapdragons are up to the task, with colorful petals that embody resilience, valor, and desire. As for a bloom that shares the traits of poppies, anemones fit the bill flawlessly, looking just as windswept and graceful. Each represent integrity and pureness, as well as the treasure that is true love.

September: Aster & Morning Glory

Asters set the tone for this month, bringing with them knowledge, devotion, bravery, and trust. Their star-shaped blossoms are brimming with summer energy, much like their bolder counterparts, sunflowers. Both blooms are bringers of truth, good fortune, resilience, dedication, and hope. The early risers of the floral world, morning glories stand out with their bright hues and the dramatic way they fill spaces with blooms. A comparable pick is orchids, which have symbolism that runs the gamut.

October: Marigold & Cosmo

As October is the beginning of Halloween season, it’s only natural that its flowers speak to the spiritual side of life. Beautiful and warm marigolds are symbols of joy, zeal, and prosperity, but on a deeper level they remind us we’re part of something bigger. A gorgeous comparable bloom is the ornate dahlia, which stands for advancement, transformation, inspiration, and personal resilience. Also plugged into what’s beyond is the cosmos flower, symbolizing peace, tranquility, and equilibrium. Their sweet blooms have the same look and vibe of gerbera daisies and asters.

November: Chrysanthemum & Peony

No flower embodies the mood and the magic of fall quite like the chrysanthemum, whether it’s in the form of spider mums, button mums, football mums, or daisy mums. These floral icons represent flawlessness, endurance, joy, amity and good luck on top of being the season’s queen. Equally majestic peonies are fitting for warming up in chilly November, inviting in wealth, plentitude, empathy, and marital happiness. To vibe with the fall energy, sunflowers — promoting tranquility, joy, and hope — and dahlias — messengers of positivity, gracefulness, everlasting love, and growth — are lovely substitutes. To match the look and feel of proud peonies, it’s hydrangeas all the way.

December: Holly, Narcissus

Most of us spend December excited about the winter holidays, making holly the absolute perfect fit for the last month of the year. This green plant with bright red berries is all about high spirits, safety, renewal, and good energy. On the other hand, narcissus reminds us of the importance of loving yourself, the potential for rebirth, beauty, and optimism. To celebrate the season with gusto, poinsettias are total classics, representing good intentions, tranquility, new beginnings, transformation, and Christmas magic. And of course, there’s always roses, which show love flawlessly year-round.

Whether you’re selecting a meaningful birth flower or a seasonal bloom that captures their spirit, Nanz & Kraft Florist has the perfect picks for a birthday surprise. With a beautifully arranged bouquet, you can make their special day even more unforgettable!