The February birth flowers are the violet and the primrose, with the iris as an alternative in some UK lists. The violet symbolizes faithfulness and modesty, and the primrose symbolizes youth and renewal.
The February birth flower has two standard options: the violet, the primary flower, and the primrose, the second. The Old Farmer’s Almanac lists both, but February is one of only two months where American and British lists disagree: the UK florist Flying Flowers gives the iris and the violet instead.
The violet appears in every list, so it is the safest answer for a February birthday. The violet also has an American connection, as the state flower of Illinois, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin, and its flowers are edible.
This page covers each flower’s meaning, history, bloom time, and pet safety, and explains the iris alternative.
Table of Contents
What is the February birth flower?
The February birth flower is the violet, with the primrose as the second February flower and the iris as a UK alternative. The table compares all three.
| Attribute | Violet | Primrose | Iris |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status for February | Primary birth flower | Second birth flower (US list) | Alternative (some UK lists) |
| Meaning | Faithfulness, modesty, humility, devotion | Youth, renewal, young love | Named for the Greek goddess of the rainbow |
| Genus | Viola | Primula | Iris |
| Common species | Sweet violet (Viola odorata), common blue violet (Viola sororia) | Common primrose (Primula vulgaris) | About 300 species |
| Native range | Sweet violet: Europe and western Asia | Europe, including Britain | North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia |
| Height | 4 to 6 inches | Up to about 8 inches (20 cm) | Varies by species |
| Bloom time | Spring | December to May in Britain | Spring and summer |
| Edible | Yes, flowers and young leaves | Not listed by sources on this page | Not recommended |
| Toxic to pets (ASPCA) | See pet safety section | Toxic, mild vomiting | Toxic, highest in rhizomes |
The meanings for violet and primrose come from the Farmers’ Almanac.
The violet: primary February birth flower
The violet is the main February birth flower and the only February flower that appears in both American and British lists. Violets are small, low-growing perennials with heart-shaped leaves and five-petaled flowers, usually purple, blue, or white.
What does the violet symbolize?
The violet symbolizes faithfulness, modesty, humility, and devotion, according to the Farmers’ Almanac. The meaning changes with color, as the table shows.
| Violet color | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Purple (general) | Faithfulness, modesty, humility, devotion |
| Blue | Trust, devotion, peace, calm, tranquility |
| White | Innocence and purity |
The Farmers’ Almanac notes that in the Victorian language of flowers, a small posy of violets communicated “I’ll always be true.”
Violets in Greek mythology
Two Greek myths explain the violet’s origin. The Farmers’ Almanac recounts that the goddess Artemis transformed a wood nymph into a violet to protect her, and that when Zeus changed Io into a heifer, “Io’s tears of grief and sorrow became violets.” The word “violet” came into English from the French violete in the 1300s, from the Latin viola.
The violet as a state flower
The violet is the state flower of four US states: Illinois, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. The Farmers’ Almanac identifies the common blue violet, Viola sororia, as the species honored.
According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois was the first of the four to choose the violet, which was selected by schoolchildren in 1908.
Can you eat violets?
Yes. Violet flowers and young leaves are edible. The North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox states that both the leaves and flowers of the sweet violet, Viola odorata, are edible and that candied violet flowers are made from this species.
The Farmers’ Almanac adds that the blooms can be sugared or crystallized for cakes, frozen in ice cubes, or made into syrups and jams. North Carolina Extension also notes that sweet violets were historically sold as nosegays in London and that the species name odorata means “scented.”
Only eat violets you can identify with certainty and that have not been treated with pesticides.
The primrose: second February birth flower
The primrose is the second February birth flower in the US list, a low woodland plant with creamy yellow flowers that is among the first to bloom each year.
The Farmers’ Almanac gives its meaning as youth, renewal, and young love, and links it in Norse mythology to Freya, the goddess of love.
Where the name “primrose” comes from
The name “primrose” comes from the Latin prima rosa, meaning “first rose.” According to the Devon Wildlife Trust, the name refers to the plant’s early flowering. The primrose is not related to the rose; it belongs to the genus Primula.
When do primroses bloom?
In Britain, the common primrose flowers from December to May and can appear as early as December in mild years.
The Devon Wildlife Trust describes the plant’s flowers as “large and creamy” with “deep yellow centres,” growing up to 20 centimeters tall from a rosette of rough, tongue-like leaves in woodland clearings, hedgerows, and grassland.
This long season means primroses can be in bloom in February in mild climates, which suits their place as a February birth flower.
The Devon Wildlife Trust also notes that primroses are the food plant for caterpillars of the Duke of Burgundy butterfly, a priority species for conservation in the UK.
The iris: the UK alternative for February
Some UK florists list the iris as a February birth flower in place of the primrose. The UK florist Flying Flowers gives “Iris and Violets” for February, while The Old Farmer’s Almanac gives the violet and the primrose.
According to North Carolina Extension, the iris is named after Iris, the Greek goddess of the rainbow, and the genus name comes from the Greek word for rainbow, reflecting the flower’s range of colors.
The genus has about 300 species and thousands of cultivars, and irises grow from rhizomes, corms, or bulbs depending on the type. Irises bloom outdoors in spring and summer, so February irises come from florists.
US vs. UK February birth flowers
The table compares the February lists.
| Country | February birth flowers |
|---|---|
| United States | Violet, primrose |
| United Kingdom | Iris, violet |
| United Kingdom | Violet, primrose |
The violet appears in all three lists, so it is the one February flower that every source agrees on.
Violet, primrose, or iris: which February flower to choose
Choose the violet for the most widely recognized February flower, the primrose for a spring garden, and the iris for a tall florist bouquet. The table compares the three by use.
| Use | Better choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Answer every list agrees on | Violet | Appears in US and UK lists |
| Tall birthday bouquet | Iris | Long stems, widely sold by florists |
| Small posy | Violet | Traditional Victorian violet posy |
| Edible decoration for a cake | Sweet violet | Flowers can be candied |
| Early spring garden | Primrose | Flowers from December to May in mild climates |
| Home with pets | Check carefully | Primrose and iris are toxic; see below |
Are February birth flowers safe for pets?
Primroses and irises are toxic to pets, and the risk from violets depends on which plant is meant. The table summarizes the ASPCA listings.
| Plant | ASPCA status | Signs |
|---|---|---|
| Primrose (Primula vulgaris) | Toxic to dogs, cats, and horses | Mild vomiting |
| Iris | Toxic to dogs, cats, and horses | Salivation, vomiting, drooling, lethargy, diarrhea; highest concentration in rhizomes |
| African violet (Saintpaulia) | Non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses | None |
The African violet is a common houseplant but is not a true violet; it belongs to the genus Saintpaulia, not Viola. Check the ASPCA database for the exact plant before bringing any February flower into a home with pets.
Other February birthday symbols
People born in February have the amethyst as their birthstone. Jewelers of America lists amethyst as the only February birthstone on the modern list, which was standardized in 1912.
Purple amethyst and purple violets share the same color, a direct match between the month’s birthstone and its birth flower.
| February symbol | Item |
|---|---|
| Primary birth flower | Violet |
| Second birth flower | Primrose |
| UK alternative | Iris |
| Birthstone | Amethyst |
February also includes Valentine’s Day, on Sunday, February 14, 2027, and Monday, February 14, 2028, and a leap day, Tuesday, February 29, 2028. People born on February 29 share the February birth flowers.
The January birth flower is the carnation, with the snowdrop as the second, and the March birth flower is the daffodil, with the jonquil as the second.
What the February birth flower is not
The February birth flower is not the African violet, a popular houseplant from the genus Saintpaulia that shares the name but is not a true violet.
The primrose is also not the evening primrose, a plant in a different genus, Oenothera. Finally, the February birth flower is not the flower for the Aquarius or Pisces zodiac signs, which follow star sign dates that change around February 19.
Frequently asked questions
What is the birth flower for February?
The birth flower for February is the violet, with the primrose as the second February flower in the US list. Some UK florists list the iris and violet instead. The violet appears in every list, so it is the February flower all sources agree on. It symbolizes faithfulness, modesty, and devotion.
What does the February birth flower mean?
The violet means faithfulness, modesty, humility, and devotion, according to the Farmers’ Almanac. Blue violets mean trust and calm, and white violets mean innocence and purity. The primrose, the second February flower, means youth, renewal, and young love. The iris is named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow.
Why does the UK list the iris for February?
Birth flowers have no official list, so florists and almanacs differ. The UK florist Flying Flowers lists the iris and the violet for February, while The Old Farmer’s Almanac lists the violet and the primrose. Both lists include the violet, which makes it the safest February choice.
Are violets edible?
Yes. The flowers and young leaves of the sweet violet, Viola odorata, are edible, according to North Carolina Extension, and candied violets are made from this species. The flowers can be sugared for cakes, frozen in ice cubes, or made into syrup. Eat only violets you can identify and that are free of pesticides.
Which states have the violet as their state flower?
Four states have the violet as their state flower: Illinois, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. The species honored is the common blue violet, Viola sororia. Illinois was the first, and its schoolchildren selected the violet in 1908, according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
What is the February birthstone?
The February birthstone is the amethyst, according to Jewelers of America. The modern birthstone list was standardized in 1912 by the American National Retail Jewelers Association. Amethyst’s purple color matches the violet, February’s primary birth flower, so the two pair well in February birthday jewelry and gifts.
Sources:
- Farmers’ Almanac – February Birth Flower lore
- NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox – Viola odorata
- NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox – Iris
- Illinois Department of Natural Resources – State Symbols
- Devon Wildlife Trust – Primrose
- Flying Flowers – Birth Month Flowers
- ASPCA – Primrose
- ASPCA – Iris
- ASPCA – African Violet
- Jewelers of America – Birthstones
