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Birth flowers

May birth flower: the lily of the valley and hawthorn

By the Merrylet teamUpdated

May has two birth flowers: the lily of the valley and hawthorn. The lily of the valley stands for sweetness, humility and the return of happiness. Hawthorn, whose blossom fills hedges in May, stands for hope.

Plate VMayLily of the valley, the May birth flower: a painted arching stem of tiny white bellsHawthorn, the second May birth flower: a painted sprig of white and pink blossom
Convallaria majalisCrataegus monogyna

Two flowers for May

Lily of the valley

Convallaria majalis

Sweetness, humility and the return of happiness

Colors
White, rarely pale pink
In flower
Late spring
Feels like
Delicate, scented, lucky

Hawthorn

Crataegus monogyna

Hope and happiness

Colors
White, blush pink
In flower
May, hence its old name
Feels like
Wild, frothy, joyful
May birthstoneEmerald
ZodiacTaurus, then Gemini from May 21

What does the lily of the valley mean?

The lily of the valley means sweetness, humility and the return of happiness. Its tiny white bells have one of the strongest scents of any spring flower.

In France, people give each other a sprig of lily of the valley on May 1 for luck, and it is sold on street corners all over the country that day.

Muguet

Its French name. On May 1 the French give each other a sprig of muguet for a year of good luck.

What does hawthorn mean?

Hawthorn means hope and happiness. Its white blossom covers hedges in late spring, so thickly that in England the tree is simply called May.

The Mayflower, the ship that carried the Pilgrims to America in 1620, shares its name with the hawthorn’s blossom.

MayThe old English name for the hawthorn tree, after the month its blossom covers the hedgerows.

Lily of the valley or hawthorn: which is the May birth flower?

Both. The lily of the valley is the one on most lists; hawthorn is the traditional second, especially in Britain.

Lily of the valleyHawthorn
Where you find itShady gardens and woodsHedges and country lanes
Best forA mother, a bride, good luckHope, a fresh season, the outdoors type

Lily of the valley is very poisonous to people and pets, every part of it. Enjoy it in the garden or in a card.

Give them their flowers

A birthday card with a garden party inside

The Painted Garden birthday card

The Painted Garden birthday card opens on their phone into a pop-up garden party: a cake on the table, a teddy in a party hat, a rabbit flicking an ear. 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 sprig of lily of the valley for you, for luck all year.
  • Born in May, when everything is in bloom. Happy birthday.
  • Here’s to the return of happiness, and plenty of it.
See the card play, then sendAll birthday cards

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

May birth flower questions

What is the May birth flower?
May has two birth flowers: the lily of the valley and hawthorn. The lily of the valley stands for sweetness, humility and the return of happiness. Hawthorn stands for hope.
Why do the French give lily of the valley on May 1?
It is a tradition said to go back to King Charles IX in 1561, who gave lily of the valley to the ladies of his court for luck. Today people give a sprig to friends and family on May Day.
Is lily of the valley poisonous?
Yes, very. Every part of the plant is poisonous to people, cats and dogs, so keep it away from children and pets.
Why is hawthorn called May?
Because it blossoms in May. In England the tree and its blossom are still called May, and “may” in old rhymes often means hawthorn.
What is the May birthstone?
The emerald. People born in May are Taurus until May 20 and Gemini from May 21.

May’s birthstone: emerald, what it means and its color.

Birth flowers for every month

← April: daisy and sweet peaJune: rose and honeysuckle →

All birth flowers, month by month

Sources