August Birth Flowers
Read time - 8 mins
A team of flower, style and design experts and enthusiasts. We love sharing advice on all things floral and offering top tips on expressing yourself and your emotions.
A team of flower, style and design experts and enthusiasts. We love sharing advice on all things floral and offering top tips on expressing yourself and your emotions.
By August, summer is in full swing. Gardens are bursting with colour, the evenings are long and golden, and if you or someone you love celebrates a birthday this month, it’s all about two very special flowers: gladiolus and poppies. Both of these blooms have their own story, symbolism, and personality, and capture the warmth and vibrancy of August perfectly.
The gladiolus (often called the Sword Lily) is known for its tall stems and striking flowers, while the poppy is more so recognised for its delicate petals and vivid colours. Together, they represent qualities like strength, confidence, creativity, and beauty.
We all love reading about our zodiac signs and whether we’re a bold Leo or a thoughtful Virgo, but birth flowers are a lovely tradition that we think deserves just as much attention. Flowers tied to your birth month can add a thoughtful, personal touch to birthday gifts and help someone feel truly seen and appreciated.
In this guide, we’ll explore the meaning, history, and symbolism behind August birth flowers and inspire meaningful birthday gifts. If you’re planning to surprise a loved one for their birthday, especially for one of life’s milestone birthdays, take a look at Interflora’s collection of birthday flowers for handcrafted bouquets full of colour, life, and feeling. And for an extra personal touch, be sure to weave in their birth-month flowers where possible.
August birth flower: gladiolus
Why does the gladiolus represent August?
Gladiolus blooms throughout the height of summer, making it a natural choice for August’s birth flower. Its bright, joyful colours reflect everything we love about late summer: think sun-soaked gardens, peaceful countryside walks, lazy picnics in the park, you get the picture.
There’s something wonderfully uplifting about gladiolus at this time of the year. Standing tall among other summer flowers, it brings colour, character, and elegance wherever it grows. In many ways, it mirrors the personalities of those born in August too: confident, vibrant, warm-hearted, and full of life.
History and Symbolism of Gladiolus
The name gladiolus comes from the Latin word gladius, meaning sword, thanks to the flower’s long, blade-shaped leaves. It’s also sometimes referred to as the “sword lily” for that same reason.
Ancient Symbolism and History: Originally grown in the Mediterranean, gladiolus was highly prized by the ancient Greeks and Romans. The flower became closely associated with gladiators, and victorious warriors were often showered with gladiolus flowers as symbols of admiration, honour, and strength. Over time, this helped build the flower’s lasting connection to themes such as courage and resilience.
Medicinal Uses and Art: Historically, gladiolus was also believed to have medicinal properties and was used to treat ailments such as colic and coughs. Its striking beauty later captured the attention of artists too, and it famously appeared in Vincent van Gogh’s painting Vase with Red Gladioli.
Victorian Traditions: In Victorian times, people often gifted gladiolus flowers to express admiration, sincerity and strong character, sentiments that still ring true today. That’s part of what makes gladiolus such a thoughtful flower for celebrating someone special.
Modern Occasions and Millestones: Beyond birthdays, gladiolus is often given as a gift to mark achievements and important milestones, such as graduation ceremonies. In fact, as well as being August’s flower of the month, gladiolus is also linked with 40th wedding anniversaries, thanks to its symbolism of lasting love, loyalty, and the strength built over many years together.
Gladiolus bouquet suggestions
Gladiolus brings height, colour, and elegance to any floral arrangement, making it a beautiful choice for statement birthday bouquets. Its blooms appear in almost every shade imaginable, from vibrant reds and pinks to warm yellows and oranges, alongside cool purples, soft lavenders, and crisp whites.
One of the things that makes gladiolus especially eye-catching is its striking “bicolour” blooms. Many varieties have contrasting colours at their centres or along the edges of their petals, such as deep purple flowers with ruby-red centres or white petals brushed with soft pink.
Recommended Floral Pairings: Because gladiolus has such a tall, spiky shape, it works beautifully when paired with softer, rounder flowers for balance. Sunflowers and zinnias create a vibrant, rustic summer feel packed with personality, while greenery like eucalyptus and baby’s breath fill the space between the stems, adding natural texture.
Interflora’s expert local florists are always on hand to create bespoke birthday bouquets inspired by August’s birth flowers. Whether you’d love to include striking gladiolus blooms or build a bouquet around someone’s favourite colours, simply let us know when ordering, and we’ll do our best to bring your vision to life.
August birth flower: the poppy
Why does the poppy represent August?
Poppies bloom throughout summer and thrive in warm August weather, which makes them a fitting flower for the month. Their fleeting blooms are often seen as a reminder to appreciate beauty while it lasts and to live fully in the moment.
Symbolic Colours and Meanings: Poppies come in a beautiful range of colours, including rich red, vibrant orange, soft pink, crisp white, and deep purple. They’re often associated with remembrance, imagination, peace, and hope, and there’s something wonderfully summery about them too.
Late-Summer Imagery: Poppies conjure up images of warm countryside walks, wildflower meadows dancing gently in the breeze, and long, relaxed evenings where everything feels just a little lighter.
Bright and delicate, they may well remind you of someone special in your life, too: expressive, warm-hearted, and quietly special. To learn more about poppies, take a look at our complete poppy flower guide.
History and symbolism of poppies
Ancient Mythology: Poppies have been grown and celebrated for thousands of years. In Greek and Roman mythology, they were associated with Hypnos, the god of sleep, and Morpheus, the god of dreams. This connection came partly from the sedative properties found in opium poppies.
Wartime Remembrance: They are, of course, most widely recognised as a symbol honouring fallen soldiers in wartime. During the First World War, red poppies famously grew across the battlefields of Flanders and the Western Front, and the poem "In Flanders Fields" helped cement their enduring connection to remembrance.
Symbols of Renewal: Despite their delicate appearance, poppies are also powerful symbols of resilience. They flourish in difficult conditions and return year after year, bringing colour and life wherever they bloom. Because they grow so freely in the wild, they have also been linked with agriculture, fertility, renewal, and even the promise of life after death.
Why august flowers make meaningful gifts
A beautiful bouquet is always a lovely way to show someone you care and put a smile on their face, but choosing flowers connected to their birth month adds an even more personal touch. It shows thought, meaning, and a little extra effort too.
August’s birth flowers balance each other beautifully. Gladiolus stands tall and proud, conveying strength, sincerity, and admiration, while poppies bring a softer touch, representing hope, imagination, and reflection.
Flowers have a certain magic about them and a wonderful ability to express what can sometimes feel hard to put into words. A carefully chosen bouquet that reflects someone’s personality and reminds them just how loved they are is a beautiful thing, and something we’ve been helping people do for generations here at Interflora.
August birth month flower FAQs
July has two birth flowers: the delphinium and the water lily. Delphiniums are tall, elegant flowers that come in shades of blue, purple, pink, and white, while water lilies float gracefully on water with delicate petals. Both capture the brightness and beauty of summer and are associated with positivity, grace, and charm.
July has two birth flowers that reflect the month’s diversity and vibrancy. Delphiniums symbolise lightheartedness, strong bonds, and encouragement, while water lilies represent purity, beauty, and renewal. Together, they offer options to suit different personalities and occasions.
Delphiniums symbolise positivity, joy, and an open heart. They are often associated with celebrating achievements, strengthening relationships, and expressing goodwill. Different flower colours can add further meaning, such as love, happiness, or loyalty. Their uplifting symbolism makes them a thoughtful choice for birthdays, milestones, and other special occasions.
Water lilies are widely recognised as symbols of purity, tranquillity, and renewal. Their ability to rise beautifully above the water is often seen as a representation of growth, resilience, and inner peace. Across many cultures, water lilies are also connected to spiritual awakening, transformation, and the natural rhythms of life.
Need to find the specific flower for your birthday, or just curious about the rest of the calendar. Discover the birth flowers for every month in our full guide.
Yes, August birth flowers make wonderfully personal gifts. Choosing flowers linked to someone’s birth month shows thought and care, especially when paired with a handwritten note explaining their symbolism. They’re ideal for birthdays, milestone celebrations, or simply making someone feel appreciated.
Final thoughts: birth flowers for August
August birth flowers are full of warmth, colour, and personality. A bouquet filled with striking gladiolus and other summer flowers feels undeniably full of life, perfect for celebrating an August birthday. Or perhaps a thoughtful poppy-inspired gift feels more fitting for a friend, partner, or family member turning another year older.
Often it’s the smallest gestures that leave the biggest mark. A surprise bouquet delivered to their door, greeting them at their birthday party with flowers in hand, or even a handwritten note tucked between the stems, can really make someone’s heart sing. After all, birthdays deserve to be celebrated properly, whether it’s simply marking another wonderful trip around the sun or one of the big ones like a 40th or 50th birthday.
Flowers help us celebrate life’s moments big and small. They help us say more when words alone don’t quite feel enough. Browse Interflora’s handcrafted birthday bouquets and find something beautiful for the August-born person in your life.