July’s Two Birth Flowers: Larkspur and Water Lily
Most sources list two birth flowers for July: larkspur (genus Consolida, closely related to delphinium) as the primary flower, and water lily (genus Nymphaea) as the secondary one. Some sources attribute this pairing to a mid-20th-century florist association, though the exact year cited varies by source, so we won’t pin down a specific date here. What’s consistent across most florist and gardening references is the pairing itself and the general meanings attached to each flower.
The two could hardly look more different. Larkspur grows in tall, upright spikes dotted with small clustered blooms, often reaching several feet in height in a garden bed. Water lily floats flat on still water, rooted in mud below the surface. Between the two, July covers a lot of visual ground — one reaching skyward, the other resting on the water’s surface.
Larkspur: Meaning, Colors, and History
Larkspur is generally associated with an open heart, strong bonds, and in some Victorian “language of flowers” traditions, lightness or levity. Meaning often shifts with color in these traditions:
- Blue larkspur — grace, dignity, an open heart
- Purple larkspur — first love
- Pink larkspur — a lighthearted or changeable nature
- White larkspur — a happy, carefree disposition
One often-repeated piece of larkspur folklore ties the flower to the Greek myth of Ajax, with markings on the petals said to resemble a Greek mourning inscription. As with many flower myths, this is a traditional story rather than something that can be verified, so treat it as folklore rather than history.
Growing and Handling Larkspur Safely
Larkspur does well in full sun with well-drained, slightly alkaline soil, and gardeners typically direct-sow seed in early spring since the plant doesn’t transplant well. It blooms in cottage-garden style spikes from late spring into summer in many climates.
One point worth stating clearly: all parts of the larkspur plant contain toxic alkaloids, and it’s considered unsafe for pets and livestock, with cattle poisoning from larkspur reported as a real concern in parts of the western United States. If you’re growing it at home, keep it away from areas where pets graze or children might handle the plant, and wash your hands after handling cut stems.
Water Lily: Meaning and Symbolism
Water lily symbolism generally centers on purity, rebirth, and (in Buddhist and Hindu traditions) enlightenment — themes that come from the way the flower rises from pond mud and opens cleanly at the water’s surface, echoing the similar symbolism attached to true lotus covered in our guide to flowers that symbolize death, mourning and loss. Many water lily species also close at night and reopen each morning, which feeds into the “rebirth” association repeated across sources.
Color meanings commonly cited for water lily include white for purity and fresh starts, pink for gentleness, yellow for new beginnings, and blue for calm or wisdom — though, as with most flower-color symbolism, these associations are traditional rather than fixed rules.
Water Lily vs. Lily of the Valley vs. Tiger Lily
These three flowers are easy to mix up by name alone, but they’re unrelated plants with different symbolism and different birth months in most traditions:
- Water lily (Nymphaea) — July’s secondary birth flower; an aquatic plant that floats on ponds.
- Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) — a separate, shade-loving perennial most commonly listed as May’s primary birth flower, with small bell-shaped white blooms. See our guide to birth flowers by month for how May’s flower meaning compares.
- Tiger lily (Lilium lancifolium) — a true lily with large, spotted orange petals; it isn’t consistently listed as any particular month’s official birth flower across the sources we reviewed, so treat tiger lily birth-month claims with some skepticism if you see them elsewhere.
When Does Water Lily Bloom?
Water lilies generally bloom from late spring through early fall in temperate climates, with individual flowers often opening in the morning and closing by afternoon — which is a different daily cycle than many people assume from the “all-day bloom” look of a single photograph.
Growing Water Lilies at Home
Hardy water lily varieties can be grown in a container as small as 15–18 inches across, provided there’s enough depth of water above the root crown (often cited as roughly 6–18 inches, depending on variety). They need a good amount of direct sun — most guides suggest at least 6 hours daily — and a heavy planting medium like clay-based aquatic soil rather than a light potting mix, which tends to float. If you’re in a colder zone, hardy varieties can typically stay outdoors through winter once established, though tropical water lily varieties generally cannot.
Gifting Larkspur and Water Lily for a July Birthday
Because larkspur holds up well as a cut flower — often lasting a week to ten days in a vase with fresh water and a trim, similar to the long-lasting options in our best cut flowers for arrangements guide — it’s the more practical choice for a bouquet. Water lily blooms tend to close and decline within hours of being cut, so gifts built around water lily more often lean on potted plants, art prints, or jewelry referencing the flower rather than cut stems.
FAQ
What are the birth flowers for July? Most sources list larkspur as the primary July birth flower and water lily as the secondary one.
What is a water lily flower called? Water lilies belong to the genus Nymphaea, in the family Nymphaeaceae — distinct from true lotus (Nelumbo), which is sometimes confused with it.
Is lily of the valley the flower of May? Yes, lily of the valley is most commonly listed as May’s primary birth flower, separate from July’s water lily.
In which season does water lily bloom? Most water lily species bloom from late spring through early fall, depending on climate and variety.