May Birth Flowers And Their Meaning

Do you know the birth flower for yourself or your loved ones? Each month has a birth flower with significant meaning for the people born in that month.  We want to explore the birth flower month flowers for those born in May and understand if the flowers’ meaning gives you a glimpse into the personality of those born this spring.

Knowing the birth month flowers will help you give the right flowers to a person, plant the right flowers in the garden, and purchase the perfect gift. There is a special connection between a person and their birth flowers.

Photo by Arie Wubben

Lily Of The Valley And Hawthorn

May’s two official birth flowers convey the hopes and dreams of those who give them. They are also symbols of friendship and love. If you have someone close to you who was born in May, these flowers can be used as gifts to express your feelings.

Lily Of The Valley

Lily of the Valley (Convallaria Majalis), also called May Bells and Mary’s Tears is a woodland flowering plant that emits a sweet fragrance in the spring. The tiny blooms are white and bell-shaped, borne in tall sprays, and hang like pendants from the stems. The stems arch over with clusters of tiny white bell-shaped blossoms dangling and giving the appearance of bells ringing.

It’s believed that little bells, like their shapes, help keep evil spirits at bay. They are one of America’s favorite cut flowers and make excellent gifting flowers.

It is a native plant that grows in the cool, temperate climate of the northern hemisphere. The plant is a perennial that thrives in partial shade.

The name lily of the valley comes from its resemblance to a bell. In ancient times, it was believed that the plant had healing properties and could cure illnesses. The fragrant lily has a plethora of special meanings, from being the floral emblem of supreme happiness and joy to being a symbol of romance. These beautiful blooms were part of Kate Middleton’s bridal bouquet at her royal wedding.

Photo by Ali Shah Lakhani

Most Famous Varieties

Lilies come in wide varieties and colors, bringing different meanings and symbolism. These fragrant flowers are popularly known as “the queen of flowers” because of their beauty and elegance.

• Hardwick Hall Lily of the Valley is an old English variety of lily grown in Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire, England. It is one of the oldest varieties of lily in existence today. It is considered to be the national flower of England.
• Easter Lily – This variety is known for its bright yellow color. It is said to bring good luck and prosperity.
• Oriental Lily – This variety is considered to be one of the most beautiful types of lilies. Its long and narrow petals make it look more elegant than other varieties.
• Lilium Candidum – This variety has white-colored petals. It conveys the message of hope and faith.
• Lilium Longiflorum – This variety has long, slender petals. It is the most famous variety of lily.

Lily Of The Valley Meaning

• The delicate May flower means re-birth. It symbolizes a fresh start, a new beginning, and a return to happiness.
• It means purity, humility, and motherhood. The flower is often given to new mothers to celebrate the recent birth of a baby.
• The flower means happiness, joy, and reuniting. After a disagreement between two people, it’s often given to convey the desire to forgive and be reconciled.
• In Christianity, the bright white flowers mean the second coming of Christ.
• In Finland, the lily of the valley is the national flower
• In Greek Mythology, the lilies were sacred to Aphrodite, the goddess of love.
• Lily of the valley, Convallaria majalis, even in its scientific name, agrees that this is the perfect traditional birth flower for May.

Lily Meaning by Color

Lilies have different meanings depending on the color of their petals. These cheerful flowers encompass a variety of symbolism which increases the flower popularity; here are some of them.

• Red Lily – It is said to represent passion and fire, and this meaning makes them a perfect gifting flower to any person you are romantically involved with.
• White Lily – This variety is prevalent because of its pure white color. This is the most common variety of lily. It is usually associated with purity and innocence, but some people believe that this variety is a form of witchcraft.
• Silver Lily – It represents beauty and elegance and is the perfect flower for a special occasion.
• Pink Lily – It signifies cheerfulness and youth, and it’s the perfect birth flower gift
• Orange Lily – These sweet-smelling flowers mean wealth and success, and they often have associations with positivity.
• Golden Lily – It brings good fortune and prosperity. I love them in a flower bouquet!
• Purple Lily – These lavish blooms symbolize royalty and nobility.
• Blue Lily – It denotes loyalty and devotion. They are perfect as anniversary flowers.
• Lavender Lily – It indicates peace and harmony and is perfect for all occasions.
• Rose Lily – It stands for love and affection. If you are looking for a Mom birthday gift, don’t look further than these vibrant blooms as a birthday bouquet!

Hawthorn

Hawthorn plant, also known as May Tree and Thornapple, is a native plant to the cool, temperate climates in the northern hemisphere. Hawthorn is a small shrub grown as an ornamental shrub for its attractive flowers and fruits. The shrub produces abundant white or pink flowers in the spring, followed by red fruits. The red fruits, called apples, are small and edible, but you must be careful of the thorns that grow along the shrub’s branches to get fruits. Hawthorn is often planted and grown as a hedgerow shrub to protect cattle. The pollen-rich blooms and red fruits are a rich food source for pollinators, and birds take refuge behind the thorny branches of the shrub.

The Hawthorn flower means renewal and rebirth.  It represents hope and optimism. These popular flowers are often given to newlyweds on their wedding day. These popular gifting flowers are not commonly used as flowers in bouquets or floral arrangements.

There are many species of hawthorn plants that can be found growing wild throughout Europe and Asia. Some of these include the Common Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) – One of North America’s most common hawthorn species. It has large, showy, white flowers that bloom in early spring.

Hawthorn Meaning

• The white or pink blooms mean love and protection.
• In ancient Greece and Rome, the hawthorn shrub was a sign of luck, fertility, and love.
• Because Hawthorns bloom in May, the time of courtship in ancient cultures, the blooms and fruit were often the focal flowers in marriage and birth ceremonies.
• Brides often wear hawthorn blooms in their hair to mean a union of love between the bride and groom.
• Also known as the Fairy Tree, fairies are said to live under the Hawthorn as its guardians. The shrubs were treated with great respect and care, and only brides were allowed to gather the fragrant blooms for their wedding day.
• In Gaelic folklore, the hawthorn shrub means the entrance into another world where fairies lived.
• The Serbian and Croatian cultures believed the Hawthorn held magical power, and stakes made from the shrub branches could be used to slay vampires.
• It is considered terrible luck to cut down a Hawthorn shrub.
• The May blooms mean the beginning of summer, and these beautiful flowers make the perfect flower arrangement due to their symbolic meaning.