April Birth Month Flowers: Daisy and Sweet Pea
In this guide, I’ll take you through everything you need to know about April’s Official Birth Month Flowers – the daisy and sweet pea. Learn about their meaning and symbolism in the language of flowers, as well as their cultural significance around the world today.
April Birth Month Flowers: The Daisy
Are you familiar with He loves me… he loves me not? The children’s game in which you get to pluck the petals one by one while you repeatedly chant the phrase until every petal gets discarded. The last petal tells how a particular person feels about you.
If yes, then you’re probably aware of the daisy flower used in this French game.
Origins of the Daisy
The name daisy originates from an old English term daes eage, which means “day’s eye.” Moreover, the reference is to how the blooms open at dawn as the day begins and closes at night. Other names for this sweet flower are common daisy, lawn daisy, English daisy, bruisewort, and woundwort.
The common name daisy refers to an entire genus in the Asteraceae family and covers many types of daisies that have been popular for garden and bouquet uses.
Among the many types of daisies, the most popular ones aside from the common daisies include Shasta daisies, painted daisies, and gerbera daisies. Shasta daisies have white petals and a prominent yellow center, while painted daisies offer a range of colors from purple to red. On the other hand, Gerbera daisies are famed cut flowers with many color options, such as yellow, orange, pink, and red.
History of Daisy Flowers
Daisy flowers are native to central and northern Europe and Western Asia. They originated as wildflowers in open fields in England but have become naturalized in temperate areas around the globe. The first known cultivation of this cheerful bloom was about 2,200 BC.
Back in the day, Egyptians used daisies as a treatment for many types of diseases. Even the English also used daisies as a remedy against stomach ulcers and eye problems.
Today, the cultivation of daisies is prevalent worldwide. These flowers are popular during spring and available in plenty of colors.
Daisy Flower Symbolism in the Language of Flowers
In the language of flowers, daisy flowers symbolize innocence. The origin of this significance is in the old days when beautiful young, unmarried women used to wear daisies in their hair to convey freedom from guilt and immoral acts.
It also means purity, loyal love, and new beginnings. While roses are perhaps the most notable flowers to express romantic love in this era, history has it that daisies were the most used flowers to convey devotion and affection. These meanings make daisies a thoughtful and meaningful present for someone special in your life, like a girlfriend or a wife.
For others, this humble flower also symbolizes fertility and motherhood. Because of this thought, daisies make an excellent gift for both April birthday celebrants and new mothers.
These birth month flowers for April also signify transformation. As per the Roman myth, these meanings originated from the story of the god of seasons, Vertumnus, who fell in love with a beautiful nymph named Belides. She turned herself into a daisy flower to escape Vertumnus’ unwanted attention.
Another meaning of a daisy flower is “I will never tell” and “loyal love.”
April Birth Flowers: The Sweet Pea
Sweet pea or Lathyrus odoratus is a climbing flowering plant recognized for its fragrance and butterfly-like flowers. These birthday flowers for April are a famous sight not just in gardens but also in bouquets. They are primarily available in shades of violet, blue, white, red, and pink but not in orange and yellow hues.
Origins of the Sweet Pea
Sweet peas are known by their scientific name Lathyrus odoratus. The name originated from the Greek word lathyros, meaning pea or pulse, and the Latin term odoratus, meaning fragrant.
English gardeners call the sweet-scented April birth flower the “Queen of Annuals.”
History of Sweet Peas
The sweet pea we all know today would not be accessible if not for Scotsman Henry Eckford. It was a relatively unknown and undervalued flowering plant until the 1800s when Eckford worked on cross-breeding these flowers.
During this time, the fragrant plant was already in cultivation in Sicily, Italy, and Cyprus. But more than 250 new cultivars were introduced through Eckford and other plant breeders. To this day, many hybrids of sweet peas are readily available.
Sweet Pea Symbolism in the Langauge of Flowers
Sweet peas, the other official birth month flower for April, symbolize blissful pleasure primarily because of their vibrant colors. In the language of flowers, many believe these blooms leave a positive experience and a thoughtful way to say thank you, further symbolizing gratitude.
Given these meanings, sweet peas make an exciting gift for birthday celebrants in April. Send them a fresh bouquet of mix-colored sweet peas that exude a perfect balance between sweetness and elegance.
Other meanings of these birthday flowers for April include departure and goodbye, which makes them a great farewell gift.
What are the Origins of April Birth Month Flowers?
The tradition of birth flowers is thought to have originated in ancient Rome, where flowers were given as gifts to celebrate birthdays and other special events. Each month was associated with a particular flower, believed to hold specific characteristics or powers that would be imparted to people born in that month.
The specific flowers associated with each month have varied throughout history and between cultures. For example, some cultures in the Middle Ages used the symbolic language of flowers, called floriography, to communicate coded messages based on the type and color of the flower given. This practice continued into the Victorian era when the language of flowers became extremely popular and complex.
Like many traditions, the current list of birth month flowers we use today has been influenced by various historical and cultural factors. It’s similar to birthstones, where each month is associated with a specific gemstone.
The Official Birth Flower Calendar:
| Month: | Birth Flower: | Meanings & Symbolism: |
| January: | Carnations & Snowdrop | Pink Carnations (love and appreciation), White Carnations (luck, love, and affection, and Red Carnations (love and friendship). Snowdrop (hope and rebirth). |
| February: | Violet, Iris, and Primrose | Violets (faithful love, truth, loyalty, humility), Iris (hope, faith, passion, purity, and innocence), Primrose (affection, young love, undying affection) |
| March: | Daffodils | Daffodils (new beginnings, faithfulness, luck, prosperity, and hope) |
| April: | Daisy & Sweet Pea | Daisy (purity, love, new beginnings, fertility, and motherhood). Sweet Pea (blissful pleasure, gratitude). |
| May: | Lily of the Valley & Hawthorn | Lily of the Valley (romance, luck, happiness, purity, humility). Hawthorn (hope, love, beauty, fertility, and supreme happiness). |
| June: | Roses & Honeysuckle | Roses (love, passion, romance, purity, gratitude). Honeysuckle (happiness and eternal love). |
| July: | Larkspur & Water Lily | Larkspur (happiness, love); Water Lily (enlightenment, resurrection, purity, beauty, creation). |
| August: | Gladiolus & Poppy | Gladiolus (integrity, honor, respect); Poppy (remembrance, prosperity, enchantment, sympathy). |
| September: | Aster & Morning Glory | Aster (faith, love, achievement, and wisdom); Morning Glory (affection, intimate love, patience). |
| October: | Marigolds & Cosmos | Marigolds (devotion, commitment); Cosmos (harmony, love, innocence, beauty, modesty, joy, and balance). |
| November: | Chrysanthemum & Peonies | Chrysanthemum (friendship, love); Peonies (romance, prosperity, good fortune, honor, and compassion) |
| December: | Narcissus, Poinsettia, and Holly, | Narcissus (innocence and purity); Poinsettia (success, celebration); Holly (happiness and optimism). |
Wrapping Up
April’s birth month flowers, the Daisy and the Sweet Pea, are true garden gems in spring. The Daisy symbolizes innocence, purity, and cheerfulness, reflecting April’s positive vibes after a long winter. Sweet Pea, with its aromatic blooms, represents bliss and fond farewells.
Andrew is the Editorial Director at Petal Republic. He holds a BSc degree in Plant Sciences and has trained professionally at leading floristry schools in London and Paris. In amongst overseeing a global editorial team, Andrew's a passionate content creator around all things flowers, floral design, gardening, and houseplants.