February Birth Flowers & Meanings: Violet & Primrose
The flowers most of us associated with the month of February are red roses for Valentine's Day! But for those special people born in the second calendar month, there is another bloom of greater significance.
We're talking, of course, about the February birth flower.
And what birth flower is February, you ask? Read on to learn all about the meaning of the birth flower for February and other fun flower facts.
What is the February birth flower?
There are two beautiful blooms associated with the month of February: violets and primroses.
Each February birth flower meaning is unique and beautiful, and we’ll explore them both below.
February Birth Flower #1: Violet
Violet Flower Meaning
Traditionally, violets symbolised modesty in floriography, due to their tendency to grow low to the ground with their heads bowed almost bashfully.
Nowadays, violets are known for signifying strength, gracefulness, leadership, and royalty, representing many individuals born in February who have great courage and determination.
Violets also symbolise delicate love. The flowers hold important meaning to women in the LGBTQ+ community, as the flower is used as symbol of female love.
These simple purple petals also have surprising spiritual meanings, such as being able to take hold of our imagination, dreams, and future. If you’re a person that’s connected to the spiritual realm, this can boost your abilities and enlightenment!
Violet Flower History & Insights
To when does this February birth flower's meaning date back? Although the violet is native to Europe and Asia, it has a richer history in Ancient Greece and Rome.
This is known as a multipurpose ancient flower, for the Greeks and Romans made use of the bloom back in 500 B.C. for its amazing properties. Not only could this flower create yummy wines, but was used to sweeten a range of festival dishes.
In Greek mythology, this birth flower grew once the God, Orpheus placed his enchanted flute. Another myth mentions the Goddess, Cybele, who witnessed violets grow where her son’s blood was shed after hunting a wild animal.
Violets were also the original flower of Valentine's Day (which coincidentally also falls in February), before red roses took over. The story goes that Saint Valentine, the one whom Valentine's Day is named after, used crushed violets to create ink and write loving messages whilst imprisoned.Â
Violet Medicinal Uses
Did you know that sniffing violet can desensitise your nose? This birth flower for February contains Vitamin C and works as an effective antioxidant.
Its leaves can improve the immune system, cleanse your blood, and assist with congestion, stomach cramps, and sore throats!
Violets can be mixed into teas or syrups to achieve these effects, but you should always consult a health care professional before trying this as a home remedy.
Aside from being medicinal, violets are also edible! With their vivid colours and delicate appearance, violet petals make beautiful decorations atop cakes, in cocktails and more. Just don't go picking violets from any old garden to eat them—only eat ones which you know have been specifically (and safely) grown for human consumption.
Types of Violet Flowers
When you think of "violet", what do you envision? We're betting you picture a particular shade of purple. It might surprise you to know, then, that violet flowers come in all different colours, including red, yellow and black!
Common blue violets
Native to eastern North America, these blue-purple-toned violets can mean humility, modesty, and innocence, much like how purple violets imply the purity of the Virgin Mary. They also mean loyalty, so you could also gift these February birth flowers to someone you’re committed to.
Halloween II violets
The February birth flower violet comes with many surprising varieties, and the Halloween violet is one of them. Also called the Horned Violet, it is a deep ebony with yellow-purple-tinged centres. The perfect bloom for the spooky season!
Matrix violets
Not only can Matrix violets grow scarlet-red, golden yellow and light blue, but these also appear as double radiant shades, tri-coloured or solid-coloured petals. February bouquets with these violets are bound to be beautiful.
Moulin Rouge violets
Bred in Italy, these ruffled petals mimic the skirts of a flamenco dancer. These violet types can come in tri-colours of yellow, red, purple, or blue!
Sunrise violets
These pink and gold petals most surely look like the sunrise. Sunrise violets are notable for changes in colour as they grow old.
Amber Kiss violets
These illuminating saffron-gold coloured blooms can last all through autumn, giving your garden a pop of colour. Imagine taking a photograph of these blooms when the sun sets!
February Birth Flower #2: Primrose
Native to parts of Europe and Asia, there are over 500 varieties of primroses, our second February birth flower.
Primrose Flower Meaning
The common primrose flower represents youth, optimistic thoughts, and renewal.
Primroses are among the first flowers to bloom after winter ends, representing renewal. The name "primrose" actually stems from the Latin prima rosa, meaning "first rose".
Primrose flowers are also known for reflecting femininity and representing all stages of life, birth and death.
Primroses are the perfect petals to gift a February baby to not only send happiness but childhood magic. In Scottish folk tales, eating a primrose is key to fairy sightings!
In the Victorian Era, the primrose was a way of communicating young love or forever love, so it’s perfect for gifting to partner. It shows your commitment and desire to always be with them.
Primrose History & Insights
In Norse mythology, the primrose flower symbolised Freyja, the goddess of love and war. Flowers were laid on altars in dedication to her.
Meanwhile, to the Romans, the primrose flower was sacred to Venus, their own goddess of love and beauty.
And in Ancient Greece, primroses were associated with Aphrodite, their goddess of love.
In Medieval times, primroses were used as flowers of protection, worn around the neck to prevent sickness and to ward off evil.
The primrose was said to be Shakespeare's favourite bloom. He mentioned them several times in his works, including A Midsummer Night's Dream and Hamlet.Â
Charles Darwin even had an interest in this flower due to some primroses having short styles and some having longer styles, examined scientifically as heterostyly.
In the UK, this dainty flower also has a day of its own: Primrose Day, marked annually on the anniversary of Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli's death in 1881.
Primrose Medicinal Uses
Like violets, primroses are edible. This February birth flower's petals can be used for cake decoration, adding colour to salads, sandwiches or pasta, and can even be crystallised as a standalone treat. Since all parts of the flower are edible, there’s plenty of room for creativity.
In traditional medicine, primrose flowers were used to assist with headaches, coughs, migraines and more. Always consult a medical professional before consuming.
Furthermore, these flowers might look harmless but are poisonous to cats, dogs, and horses if ingested.
Primrose Flower Colour Meanings
Yellow primrose
As with most yellow flowers, the yellow primrose is a symbol of happiness and joy. Â
Pink primroses
Pink primroses carry the meanings of grace, femininity and renewal.Â
Purple primroses
If you consider yourself to hold spiritual connections, purple primrose is ideal for this type of healing. They also hold a double meaning of purity, so you could gift this to a newborn February baby!
Red primroses
Like most blazing red flowers, red primroses bring forth feelings of passion, and shows charm and longing for another.
Blue primroses
Gifting your loved one a blue primrose offers them safety, and protection, and is claimed to fight off dark spirits in your home. Likewise, legends say that decorating your front porch with this iridescent colour can invite fairies into your home.
Send Birthday Flowers with Floraly
Whether you're shopping for a February baby or for a loved one born in an entirely different month, you'll find a great range of birthday flowers and gifts in our collection.
If you loved this article about February birth flowers and would like to learn more about the birth flowers of different months, check out our comprehensive birth flower guide.
Or you can explore our Flower Delivery Melbourne, Flower Delivery Sydney and Flower Delivery Perth collections to see what flowers we can deliver to your loved ones in these locations.