Despite being the shortest month of the year, February often feels like the longest stretch of winter. But if February is your baby's birth month, the "month of love" is the perfect time to light up your life with your new bundle of joy. It may be gloomy and cold outside, but according to your baby's birth flowers, this month is sure to bring you a child who is joyful, free-spirited, and your good luck charm.
What are the February birth flowers?
If you have a February baby, her birth flowers are the wild violet and the enchanting primrose. These flowers are at their best spreading carefree across fields and forests. So while your baby may be born at the height of winter, February’s flowers predict a free-spirited, optimistic child who’s always on the go, bringing you spring on the coldest days.
Violets: blink and you might miss ‘em
Appearing just at the cusp of spring, violets’ sweet smelling blossoms ranging from purple, white, and yellow are in and out faster than a wink. This plant (and your child) has things to do and places to be! These fast-spreading, wild perennials are often found growing in clusters in shaded areas around the globe.[1] Violets are beloved by Queen Victoria, Greek poets, and herbalists alike. The serendipity of encountering a violet’s bright blooms on a gray day is just one reason why violets are associated with the joy of nature.[2]
On the move, joyful and sweet as a violet’s bloom, you can expect all this and more from your February baby. The real question is, will you be able to keep up? As she continues to grow, make sure to find opportunities to nurture her love for nature — she’s going to be leading you down some adventurous trails soon enough!
Primroses: Do you believe in fairies?
According to Scottish lore, all you need to do to see a fairy is eat a primrose.[3] Since primroses are edible (they taste like lettuce), there’s little risk in testing out the theory. Like violets, the perennial primrose blooms right at the end of winter — making them the perfect February flower.
Primroses’ silky flowers, often yellow in the wild, will delight you with their citrusy scent. And you will find over time that they seem to double each year! The name primrose comes from the latin primus, meaning first, which has led to their association with youth, renewal and optimism.
Primrose babies are magical, what else is there to say? Blessed with good luck, their optimism is infectious. And while your baby is too new to need renewal, you will find that spending even five minutes in her wide-eyed company will help you experience your world in a whole new way.
Incorporating the violet and primrose into your family’s life
Adding your child's birth flowers around the house can be a beautiful and special way to honor their entry into the world, their personality and their spirit. Not sure where to start? Here are some ideas:
Find name inspiration. Short on ideas for your little one? Some birth months really don’t work for this, but February’s flowers might just be that magic fit.
Try planting them around your yard. Neither primrose nor violets make great bouquets, but both wildflowers are relatively easy to grow outdoors. Consider a clump of violets or primroses in a shaded corner of your lawn or a window box that doesn’t receive too much direct sun.
Frame vintage botanical prints. Violets and primrose have been beloved flowers for centuries and are often featured in illustrated botanical guides. Browse antique shops for original botanical prints and book pages, purchase printables from Etsy, or download free images from the Biodiversity Heritage Library.
Snuggle up with something soft. Help your little one beat February’s cold with a birth-flower print blanket. There are lots of options online, just make sure to follow age-appropriate guidance for sleeping with blankets.
Catch the sun, the minute it comes out. Cast beautiful purple light around your child’s nursery with a violet-patterned suncatcher. Feeling crafty? A DIY suncatcher is a great project to try out with your child once they hit the preschool years.
Decorate with violet. Violet — it’s a name, it’s a flower, it’s a color, and so much more. Try picking out a light violet paint for the nursery, investing in some purple crib sheets, or tossing a few violet pillows on her rocking chair or glider. Imagine all the violet to come when she’s ready for a bed!
Get adventurous in the kitchen. Both of February’s birth flowers are edible, though violets are slightly more popular than the lettuce-flavored primrose. Violet jelly can sometimes be found at farmers markets (making your own might be a little labor intensive for now) and candied violets are beautiful on cookies and birthday/smash cakes! Soon enough you’ll have a gregarious sous chef to help!
From the What to Expect editorial team andHeidi Murkoff,author ofWhat to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading ourmedical review and editorial policy.
Was this article helpful?
Yes No
