The January birth flowers are the carnation and the snowdrop. The carnation’s meaning depends on its color, with red for love and affection. The snowdrop symbolizes purity and is one of the first flowers of the year.
The January birth flower has two options: the carnation, the primary flower, and the snowdrop, the second. The two flowers reach January in opposite ways.
Garden carnations bloom in midsummer, so January carnations come from greenhouses and florists, while the snowdrop flowers outdoors in late winter.
January also holds a carnation anniversary: President William McKinley, who made the red carnation his signature flower, was born on January 29. This page covers each flower’s meaning, history, bloom time, and pet safety, with dates for 2027 and 2028.
Table of Contents
What is the January birth flower?
The January birth flower is the carnation, with the snowdrop as the second January flower. The table compares the two.
| Attribute | Carnation | Snowdrop |
|---|---|---|
| Rank for January | Primary birth flower | Second birth flower |
| Meaning | Varies by color; red for love and affection | Purity |
| Scientific name | Dianthus caryophyllus | Galanthus nivalis (common snowdrop) |
| Plant family | Caryophyllaceae (pink family) | Amaryllidaceae |
| Native range | Mediterranean area | Europe and southwestern Asia |
| Height | 1 to 4 feet | 6 to 9 inches |
| Outdoor bloom time | Midsummer | Late winter to early spring |
| Available in January | From florists year-round | Outdoors, in mild regions |
| Scent | Clove-like | Light |
| Toxic to pets (ASPCA) | Toxic to dogs, cats, and horses; mild signs | See pet safety section |
Plant details come from the North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox and the Missouri Botanical Garden.
The carnation: primary January birth flower
The carnation is the main January birth flower and a long-lasting cut flower sold by florists year-round. North Carolina Extension notes that tall carnation varieties of 3 to 4 feet are grown for the floral industry, and that carnations are valued for cut flowers and boutonnieres.
Where the name comes from
The genus name Dianthus comes from Greek and means “flower of the gods.” According to North Carolina Extension, dios means divine, and anthos means flower. The species name caryophyllus refers to the plant’s clove scent, which is still one of the carnation’s most recognizable traits.
Carnation meaning by color
A carnation’s meaning depends on its color. The table lists the meanings tied to the carnation’s role in Mother’s Day, as reported by History.com.
| Color | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Red | Love and affection |
| Pink | Honoring a living mother |
| White | Honoring a mother who has died; purity |
For a January birthday, red carnations carry the general meaning of love and affection. White carnations carry a specific memorial meaning in the Mother’s Day tradition, so they suit remembrance more than celebration.
The carnation and Mother’s Day
The carnation became the flower of Mother’s Day through Anna Jarvis, who organized the first observance in 1908. According to History.com, Jarvis sent 500 white carnations to the first formal service on Sunday, May 10, 1908, at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia.
She chose carnations because they were her mother’s favorite flower and said their whiteness symbolized “the truth, purity and broad charity of mother love.”
President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day in 1914. As carnation prices rose, Jarvis turned against the holiday’s commercialization and urged people to stop buying flowers. Mother’s Day falls on Sunday, May 9, 2027, and Sunday, May 14, 2028.
William McKinley and the red carnation
The red carnation was President William McKinley’s signature flower, and his birthday falls in January. According to the Ohio Statehouse, McKinley adopted the flower after receiving a red carnation boutonniere during his 1876 congressional campaign. He often wore one on his lapel and handed them out to White House visitors.
McKinley was born on January 29, 1843. The Carnation League of America, founded in 1903, established Red Carnation Day to mark his birthday, and on Wednesday, February 3, 1904, the Ohio General Assembly made the scarlet carnation Ohio’s state flower in his honor.
| Carnation date | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|
| Red Carnation Day (McKinley’s birthday, January 29) | Friday, January 29, 2027 | Saturday, January 29, 2028 |
| Mother’s Day (second Sunday in May) | Sunday, May 9, 2027 | Sunday, May 14, 2028 |
The snowdrop: second January birth flower
The snowdrop is the second January birth flower, a small white bulb that flowers outdoors in late winter. Its drooping, bell-shaped flowers can appear while snow is still on the ground, a trait reflected in its common name and in its species name, nivalis.
What does the snowdrop symbolize?
The snowdrop symbolizes purity. According to Cambridge University Botanic Garden, Christians historically dedicated snowdrops to the Virgin Mary and scattered the blooms on altars on Candlemas Day, February 2, as symbols of purity.
Where the name comes from
The genus name Galanthus means “milk flower.” According to the Missouri Botanical Garden, gala is Greek for milk and anthos means flower, referring to the white blooms, while the species name nivalis means snowy.
When do snowdrops bloom?
Snowdrops bloom from late winter into early spring, and the exact timing depends on climate. The Missouri Botanical Garden gives a bloom time of late February to late March in the St. Louis area.
In Britain, snowdrops now flower earlier: Cambridge University Botanic Garden reports research at Kew Gardens showing the common snowdrop’s average bloom date moved from late February in the 1950s to early January by the 1990s. This is why snowdrops fit January better in British gardens than in most of the United States.
The table compares snowdrop bloom times and Candlemas dates.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| St. Louis bloom time | Late February to late March |
| UK average bloom date, 1950s | Late February |
| UK average bloom date, 1990s | Early January |
| Candlemas 2027 | Tuesday, February 2, 2027 |
| Candlemas 2028 | Wednesday, February 2, 2028 |
Snowdrops and Alzheimer’s medicine
The Alzheimer’s drug galantamine was first isolated from a snowdrop. Cambridge University Botanic Garden states that “the alkaloid Galantamine, used to treat Alzheimer’s disease, was first isolated from the snowdrop Galanthus woronowii,” a different species from the common snowdrop, and that plant-based production remains the main method today.
Growing snowdrops
Snowdrops are hardy in USDA zones 3 to 7 and spread into large colonies over time. The Missouri Botanical Garden notes that in good conditions the bulbs naturalize by self-seeding and offsets, that the plant tolerates deer, and that it tends to decline south of zone 7.
It also advises wearing gloves when planting bulbs to avoid skin irritation.
Cambridge University Botanic Garden counts about 20 known snowdrop species, native to Europe and the Middle East. Snowdrop collectors, called galanthophiles, have named hundreds of cultivars.
Carnation vs. snowdrop: which January flower to choose
Choose the carnation for a January birthday bouquet and the snowdrop for a garden or a winter-themed design.
The table compares the two by use.
| Use | Better choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Birthday bouquet | Carnation | Available from florists year-round and long-lasting in a vase |
| Romantic gift | Red carnation | Red carries the meaning of love and affection |
| Winter garden | Snowdrop | Flowers outdoors in late winter |
| Cold-climate garden | Snowdrop | Hardy to zone 3 |
| Warm-climate garden | Carnation | Snowdrops decline south of zone 7 |
| Tattoo or artwork | Either | Carnation for ruffled petals, snowdrop for a drooping bell shape |
Are January birth flowers safe for pets?
Carnations are mildly toxic to pets. The ASPCA lists the carnation as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, with an unknown irritant as the toxic principle and mild gastrointestinal signs and mild dermatitis as the clinical signs.
Snowdrops belong to the Amaryllidaceae, the same family as daffodils and paperwhites, which the ASPCA lists as toxic to pets because of lycorine and other alkaloids.
The Missouri Botanical Garden’s advice to wear gloves when handling snowdrop bulbs points to the same caution. Keep snowdrop bulbs away from dogs and cats, and check the ASPCA database for any flower before bringing it into a home with pets.
Other January birthday symbols
People born in January have the garnet as their birthstone. Jewelers of America lists garnet as the only January birthstone on the modern list, which was standardized in 1912. Deep red garnet pairs naturally with red carnations.
| January symbol | Item |
|---|---|
| Primary birth flower | Carnation |
| Second birth flower | Snowdrop |
| Birthstone | Garnet |
| Carnation anniversary | McKinley’s birthday, January 29 |
January falls in the middle of winter. The December birth flower is the narcissus, with holly as the second, and the February birth flower is the violet, with the primrose as the second.
What the January birth flower is not
The January birth flower is not the snowflake, a similar white bulb in the genus Leucojum that is often confused with the snowdrop. The carnation is also not the same as the garden pink or sweet William, although both are close relatives in the genus Dianthus.
Finally, the January birth flower is not the flower for the Capricorn or Aquarius zodiac signs, which follow star sign dates that change around January 20.
Frequently asked questions
What is the birth flower for January?
The birth flower for January is the carnation, with the snowdrop as the second January flower. Both appear in American and British birth flower lists. Carnations are available from florists year-round, while snowdrops flower outdoors in late winter, making them one of the first blooms of the year.
What does the January birth flower mean?
The carnation’s meaning depends on its color: red means love and affection, pink honors a living mother, and white honors a mother who has died. The snowdrop symbolizes purity. Christians historically scattered snowdrops on altars on Candlemas Day, February 2, as symbols of purity.
Why is the carnation linked to Mother’s Day?
Anna Jarvis made the carnation the flower of Mother’s Day when she sent 500 white carnations to the first observance on May 10, 1908, in Grafton, West Virginia. Carnations were her mother’s favorite flower. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Mother’s Day a national observance in 1914.
Do snowdrops bloom in January?
Snowdrops bloom in January in mild climates such as Britain, where research at Kew Gardens found the average bloom date moved to early January by the 1990s. In colder regions, including St. Louis, snowdrops usually bloom from late February to late March, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Are carnations toxic to cats and dogs?
Yes, but mildly. The ASPCA lists carnations as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, with signs limited to mild stomach upset and mild skin irritation. The toxic principle is an unknown irritant. Keep carnation bouquets out of reach, and contact a veterinarian if a pet eats a large amount.
What is the January birthstone?
The January birthstone is the garnet, according to Jewelers of America. The modern birthstone list was standardized in 1912 by the American National Retail Jewelers Association. Garnet’s deep red color pairs with red carnations, which carry the meaning of love and affection.
Sources:
- The Old Farmer’s Almanac – Birth Month Flowers
- NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox – Dianthus caryophyllus
- Missouri Botanical Garden – Galanthus nivalis
- Cambridge University Botanic Garden – Snowdrops
- History.com – Mother’s Day Carnations
- Ohio Statehouse – William McKinley’s birth anniversary
- ASPCA – Carnation
- Jewelers of America – Birthstones
