Flowers make a thoughtful gift on their own, but a birth month flower carries something extra: a message tied to the exact month someone was born. Give it right, and the gesture reads as far more personal than a bouquet picked at random.
July happens to have two birth flowers instead of one - the larkspur and the water lily. They couldn't look more different. One stands tall and bold in a garden bed, the other floats quietly across still water. Together they say something true about July itself: a month that's loud with heat and celebration, but also slow, bright mornings and long evenings.
What Are the July Birth Flowers?
The tradition of birth flowers dates back to ancient times, long before calendars looked anything like ours. In traditional floriography, flowers carry specific symbolic meanings, and July's pair balances that idea nicely: larkspur brings vibrant energy, water lily brings calm beauty. Having two flowers for one month gives more room for personal choice - pick the one that fits the person, or use both.
Larkspur - The July Birth Month Flower of an Open Heart
Larkspur belongs to the genus Delphinium, and the name itself is a small piece of trivia worth knowing. In Greek, delphinium roughly translates to dolphin's nose, a nod to the shape of the unopened bud before it blooms. The plant is also known by an older folk name, lark's claw, from the spur-shaped petal that gives the flower its common name.
Visually, larkspur grows on tall spikes, often reaching one to three feet, densely packed with small blooms in blue, purple, pink, and white. The height makes it a favorite for adding movement to floral arrangements, and the color range attracts bees and butterflies through most of the summer.
What Does Larkspur Symbolize?
Larkspur symbolizes love, positivity, and dedication. At its core, larkspur represents lightheartedness and strong positive emotions - the kind of flower that reads as an open heart rather than a formal gesture. Larkspur signifies strong bonds of love, which is part of why it shows up so often in birthday bouquets for people born in July.
Larkspur Colors and Their Meanings
Different colors of larkspur carry specific meanings, so the shade you choose actually changes the message:
- Purple larkspur represents first love.
- Blue larkspur symbolizes dignity and grace, a shade that's genuinely rare among flowers.
- White larkspur represents happiness and joy.
- Pink larkspur symbolizes fickleness, or a lighter, more playful kind of affection.
Larkspur History and Symbolism
In ancient Greece, legend traced larkspur back to the blood of the warrior Ajax, spilled on the battlefield of Troy. Whether or not anyone believed that literally, the story stuck, and larkspur carried associations with honor for centuries afterward. During the Victorian era, people planted it near homes and stables believing it warded off evil spirits, and folk tradition in parts of Europe held that it kept witches and bad luck at bay.
Caring for Larkspur
Cut larkspur can last close to a week in a vase - about 6 to 7 days if you change the water every couple of days and give the stems a fresh cut when you do. Pair a light blue larkspur with white flowers in the same bouquet, and the effect reads like ocean breeze against white sand; it's one of the simplest color combinations that never looks flat.
One thing worth real caution: every part of the larkspur plant is toxic if ingested, to pets and people alike, and handling young blooms or seeds can irritate the skin. Keep cut arrangements away from curious pets and small children, and wash your hands after trimming the stems.
Water Lily - July's Serene Water Lily
Where larkspur is loud, the water lily is quiet. It belongs to the Nymphaeaceae family, and comes in two main types: hardy water lilies, which bloom during the day, and tropical water lilies, which include both day-blooming and night-blooming varieties. The flowers close at night and reopen with the morning sun, a rhythm that's given the water lily a spiritual weight in many cultures - it seems to wake and rest like something alive in a different sense.
Cut water lilies are more fleeting than larkspur, lasting only 3 to 4 days once the bloom opens, so timing the cut matters. They work beautifully as floating arrangements in a wide, shallow vase rather than a tall one, since a heavy bud on an unsteady stem needs support rather than height.
What Does the Water Lily Symbolize?
The water lily symbolizes peace, purity, and spiritual rebirth. Its ability to rise clean and bright out of murky water has made it, across many cultures, a symbol of purity and renewal rather than just a pretty bloom. In several Eastern traditions the flower is tied to spiritual growth and enlightenment, which is part of why it still shows up in religious ceremonies and quiet meditation spaces today.
Water Lily History and Culture
In ancient Egypt, water lilies represented creation and rebirth, and the blue lotus in particular, closely related to what we now call Nymphaea caerulea, held a place in religious art and ritual life. The association wasn't just symbolic either; parts of the plant were used for medicinal purposes in several ancient traditions, valued as much for practical remedies as for meaning.
Scale is part of the story too. Some tropical water lily species produce leaves up to 10 feet wide, strong enough to support real weight on the water's surface - a detail that tends to surprise people who only picture the small lily pads from a garden pond.
Caring for Water Lilies
Water lilies grow in muddy, still water and bloom from late spring to early fall in the right conditions. For cut arrangements, always make the cut underwater, then move the bloom into a clean vase right away - water lilies don't tolerate long exposure to air well. Choose vases wide enough to support the stem, since many varieties have buds heavier than the stem beneath them.
Other Flowers That Bloom in July
Larkspur and water lily are the official birth flowers, but July gardens are full of other blooms worth knowing if you want to build out a bouquet.
Dahlias start flowering in July and keep going into late fall, ranging from small round blooms to huge dinner-plate varieties, in nearly every color except true blue.
Lilies bloom for about six to eight weeks starting in June, which puts peak season right in the middle of summer - their fragrance alone makes them worth including in a July birthday arrangement.
Hydrangeas, in white, pink, or blue, add volume and softness to any bouquet without competing with the more structured shape of larkspur or lilies.
Browse our full collection of July birthday flowers here in Los Angeles, or visit the studio in person. We offer free delivery within 4 miles, so getting a meaningful bouquet to someone you care about is easier than it sounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the July birth flower?
July has two birth flowers, larkspur and water lily. Larkspur symbolizes love, positivity, and dedication, while water lily represents purity, rebirth, and enlightenment.
Why does July have two birth flowers instead of one?
A few months share this pattern. Having two flowers allows for more personal choice, so a gift can lean toward larkspur's bold energy or the water lily's quieter symbolism, depending on who you're giving it to.
What does the color of larkspur mean?
Larkspur colors carry different meanings: purple for first love, blue for dignity and grace, white for happiness and joy, and pink for a lighter, more playful affection.
Is larkspur toxic?
Yes. All parts of the larkspur plant are toxic if ingested, and handling young blooms or seeds can irritate the skin. Keep arrangements out of reach of pets and children.
How long do water lilies and larkspur last once cut?
Larkspur typically lasts 6 to 7 days in a vase with regular water changes. Water lilies are more delicate and usually last only 3 to 4 days once the bloom opens.
What does the water lily symbolize in different cultures?
In ancient Egypt, water lilies represented creation and rebirth. In many Eastern traditions, they're tied to spiritual growth, purity, and enlightenment, which is why they still appear in religious ceremonies today.
