Just as each month has its own birthstone, specific flowers are associated with certain months of the year.
It’s not known exactly how or when this concept started, but it probably evolved from the art of floriography, or the Victorian language of flowers.
During the 1800s, Victorians typically followed strict rules of etiquette. Wearing or sending a flower could send a coded message to a loved one.
“It was like a 19th century emoji,” says Jessica Roux, illustrator and author of Floriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers. “You could express your emotions with a symbol and communicate at a time when words may have been frowned upon.”
Many early floriography books, such as Charlotte de la Tour’s 1819 book, Le Langage des Fleurs and the 1884 book The Language of Flowers by Kate Greenaway, included lists of flowers and their meanings. But depending on the source, the symbolism could differ.
What’s generally accepted is that the concept of flowers as symbols is rooted in a combination of mythology, literature, and folklore, says Roux. And while there’s no symbolism that’s set in stone for each birth month flower, many have similar meanings gathered from multiple sources.
Read on to learn more about the birth month flowers for February:
What Is the Birth Month Flower for February?
Depending on what source you consult, the birth month flower for February may differ. However, the most common flower mentioned for February is the violet, which is closely associated with St. Valentine’s Day, says Roux.
As the story goes, when St. Valentine was jailed, he crushed the purple flowers of violets, which grew near his jail cell, to make ink. He used this to write a letter to his jailer’s daughter, whom he had healed of blindness. When he wrote her, he signed the letter “Your Valentine.”
The iris often is also mentioned as a February birth month flower, says Roux. Clovis I, King of the Francs in the first century, was said to have won a battle after seeing irises growing; after his success, he and his troops adorned themselves with this flower.
What Do Violets Symbolize?
According to various sources, the February birth month flower violet signifies modesty. This may be due to the fact that the flower grows close the ground with its blooms nodding low, like a head bowed modestly over, says Roux.
What Do Irises Symbolize?
Irises, with their three main petals, symbolize valor, wisdom and faith, which is likely why they are associated with the tale of Clovis I’s battle victory.
According to legend, these were the traits that enabled Clovis I’s soliders to be victorious, says Roux.
How to Grow February Birth Month Flowers
If you want to grow your very own February birth month flowers, violets or irises, here’s how:
Violets
- The easiest types to grow are African violets, which make low-maintenance houseplants.
- Give them bright, indirect light.
- Water when the soil feels slightly dry to the touch, but do not get the fuzzy leaves wet.
- Feed regularly with a general-purpose houseplant fertilizer to keep them blooming.
Read more: How to Grow African Violets for Year-Round Blooms
Irises
- Give irises full sun, which is 6 or more hours per day.
- Plant the rhizomes about 2 to 3 inches below the soil surface; don’t put them in too deep, which will prevent blooming.
- Cut back irises flowers after they fade to encourage root growth.
Read more: How to Care for Irises Like An Expert
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Arricca Elin SanSone has written about health and lifestyle topics for Prevention, Country Living, Woman’s Day, and more. She’s passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
Jessica Roux is a Nashville-based freelance illustrator and plant & animal enthusiast. She loves exploring in her own backyard and being surrounded by an abundance of nature. Using subdued colors and rhythmic shapes, she renders flora and fauna with intricate detail reminiscent of old world beauty.
She is the author of Floriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers. You can find out more about her at Jessica-Roux.com
Source: countryliving.com
