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Birth flowers

April birth flower: the daisy and the sweet pea

By the Merrylet teamUpdated

April has two birth flowers: the daisy and the sweet pea. The daisy stands for innocence and new beginnings, which suits a spring birthday. The sweet pea stands for blissful pleasure and thanks, and in Victorian flower language, a fond goodbye.

Plate IVAprilDaisy, the April birth flower: a painted stem of white daisies with yellow centersSweet pea, the second April birth flower: a painted stem of lilac sweet peas
Bellis perennisLathyrus odoratus

Two flowers for April

Daisy

Bellis perennis

Innocence, purity and new beginnings

Colors
White, yellow, pink, red
In flower
Early spring into summer
Feels like
Bright, cheerful, simple

Sweet pea

Lathyrus odoratus

Blissful pleasure, thanks and a fond goodbye

Colors
Lilac, pink, white, purple
In flower
Late spring to mid summer
Feels like
Soft, romantic, scented
April birthstoneDiamond
ZodiacAries, then Taurus from April 20

What does the daisy mean?

The daisy means innocence and new beginnings, which suits a spring birthday.

Each daisy is really hundreds of tiny flowers: white ray florets around a yellow disc of smaller ones. It belongs to the aster family, one of the largest plant families on Earth, with more than 32,000 species.

Day’s eye

From the Old English dæges ēage. The daisy opens at sunrise and closes at dusk.

What each daisy color means

A painted white daisyWhiteInnocence, a fresh startFor a new baby, a new chapter
A painted yellow daisyYellowFriendship and joyFor a best friend
A painted pink daisyPinkGentleness and affectionFor a mother or grandmother
A painted red daisyRedLoveFor a partner

What does the sweet pea mean?

The sweet pea means blissful pleasure and thanks.

Victorians gave sweet peas at the end of a visit, as a way of saying “thank you for a lovely time”. That is why it also carries the meaning of a gentle goodbye.

1699The year a monk named Francesco Cupani sent sweet pea seeds from Sicily to England, where they became a favorite of Victorian gardens for their scent.

Daisy or sweet pea: which is the April birth flower?

Both are correct. Birth flower lists are tradition, not law, and they differ a little by country.

DaisySweet pea
Listed first inThe USThe UK
Best forFriends, kids, a fresh startThank-yous, a partner, someone far away

Sending to someone in the UK? Lead with the sweet pea. In the US, the daisy is the one most people know.

Give them their flowers

A birthday card with daisies that don’t wilt

The Bunch birthday card

The Bunch birthday card plays on their phone: the stems fly in one by one and gather into a bouquet, daisies and sweet peas included. Add their name and a few words to the card, send it by text, and they just tap the link.

Something to write inside
  • A daisy for you, because you open up every room you walk into.
  • Born in April, the month everything starts again. Happy birthday.
  • Here’s to a year as fresh as your birth flower.
See the card play, then sendAll birthday cards

Watch the card before you write a word. Your first greeting card is free.

April birth flower questions

What is the April birth flower?
April has two birth flowers: the daisy and the sweet pea. The daisy stands for innocence, purity and new beginnings. The sweet pea stands for blissful pleasure and, in Victorian flower language, a fond goodbye.
Is the daisy or the sweet pea the April birth flower?
Both. Most American lists give the daisy first and the sweet pea second. Many British florists lead with the sweet pea. Either one is a correct April birth flower.
What color daisy is best for an April birthday?
White is the classic April daisy and stands for innocence. In flower language, yellow says friendship and joy, pink says gentleness and affection, and red says love.
Are sweet peas edible?
No. Unlike garden peas, sweet pea seeds and pods are toxic if eaten in quantity. Enjoy them in a vase, not in a salad.
What is the April birthstone?
The diamond. People born in April are Aries until April 19 and Taurus from April 20.

April’s birthstone: diamond, what it means and its color.

Birth flowers for every month

← March: daffodilMay: lily of the valley and hawthorn →

All birth flowers, month by month

Sources