The April birth flowers are the daisy and the sweet pea. The daisy symbolizes innocence, purity, true love, and new beginnings, and the sweet pea symbolizes gratitude, friendship, and good wishes.
The April birth flower has two options: the daisy, the primary flower, and the sweet pea, the second.
The two flowers are opposites in one important way: daisy flowers are edible in small amounts, while the sweet pea is poisonous to people, especially its flowers and seeds, even though it looks like the garden pea.
The daisy’s name also records a daily habit: it comes from the Old English for “day’s eye,” because the flower opens with the sun and closes at night.
This page covers each flower’s meaning, name, history, growing season, and safety for people and pets.
Table of Contents
What is the April birth flower?
The April birth flower is the daisy, with the sweet pea as the second April flower. The table compares the two.
| Attribute | Daisy | Sweet pea |
|---|---|---|
| Rank for April | Primary birth flower | Second birth flower |
| Meaning | Innocence, purity, true love, new beginnings | Gratitude, friendship, good wishes, blissful pleasure |
| Scientific name | Bellis perennis (English daisy) | Lathyrus odoratus |
| Plant family | Asteraceae (daisy family) | Fabaceae (pea family) |
| Native range | Europe | Mediterranean: southern Italy, Sicily, Crete |
| Plant type | Perennial | Annual climbing vine |
| Height | 3 to 6 inches | 3 feet as a bush type, up to 8 feet climbing |
| Colors | White, pink, or red rays with a yellow center | Many colors except yellow |
| Scent | Not noted for scent | Very fragrant |
| Edible | Flowers and young leaves, in small amounts | No; poisonous to people |
Meanings come from the Farmers’ Almanac. Plant details come from the North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox pages for the English daisy and the sweet pea.
The daisy: primary April birth flower
The daisy is the main April birth flower, and the English daisy, Bellis perennis, is the species tied to the tradition. North Carolina Extension describes it as a low perennial, 3 to 6 inches tall, with flowers up to 2 inches across in white, pink, or red around a yellow center. The plant is native to Europe and often spreads from flower beds into lawns, where it is treated as a weed.
What does the daisy symbolize?
The daisy symbolizes innocence, purity, true love, and new beginnings, according to the Farmers’ Almanac. The same source explains the true-love meaning through the flower’s structure. A daisy is a composite flower: what looks like one bloom is a central disc of tiny flowers surrounded by a ring of petal-like rays, two kinds of flowers joined as one.
Where the name “daisy” comes from
The word “daisy” comes from the Old English daegesege, meaning “day’s eye.” The Farmers’ Almanac explains that the name refers to how the flower “closes fully at night and opens with the sun.” The Latin name Bellis perennis combines bellus, meaning beautiful, with perennis, meaning everlasting.
Daisy lore across cultures
The daisy appears in Celtic, Norse, and Roman stories. The Farmers’ Almanac records these traditions:
| Tradition | Story | Association |
|---|---|---|
| Celtic | The gods scattered daisies on children’s graves to comfort grieving parents | Comfort in grief |
| Norse | The daisy was linked to Freya, goddess of love and fertility | Love and fertility |
| Roman | The nymph Belides turned into a daisy to escape unwanted attention | Keeping secrets |
Can you eat daisies?
English daisy flowers and young leaves can be eaten in small amounts. North Carolina Extension notes that the flowers have a mildly bitter flavor and can be added raw to salads, but that larger amounts may cause constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, and lethargy. Eat only daisies you can identify with certainty and that have not been sprayed.
The sweet pea: second April birth flower
The sweet pea is the second April birth flower, a fragrant climbing annual that blooms from late spring into summer. North Carolina Extension lists its bloom time as May through July, which means sweet peas planted in early spring flower a month or more after April birthdays in most of the United States.
What does the sweet pea symbolize?
The sweet pea symbolizes gratitude, friendship, good wishes, blissful pleasure, and sincerity, according to the Farmers’ Almanac. The same source notes that sweet peas are traditionally given as a bridal gift.
Sweet pea history
The sweet pea was first recorded in 1695 by Franciscus Cupani, a Franciscan monk who found it growing wild in Sicily. According to the National Sweet Pea Society and Texas A&M AgriLife, Cupani shared seeds with European plantsmen, and a variety named ‘Cupani’ is still sold today as the original bicolored sweet pea.
The table shows the main milestones.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1695 | Franciscus Cupani records the wild sweet pea in Sicily |
| 1700s | Several flower colors become available through natural mutations |
| 1880s | Commercial breeding intensifies; Henry Eckford becomes known as “the Father of the Sweet Pea” |
| 1901 | ‘Countess Spencer,’ the first large, frilly-flowered variety, is introduced |
| 1930s | Rail boxcars carry sweet pea seed from California growers to customers east of the Rockies |
The National Sweet Pea Society notes that all later varieties with the frilly form are called Spencers and that they are the most popular type grown today.
When to plant sweet peas
Sweet peas prefer cool weather, so planting time depends on climate. North Carolina Extension recommends planting in early spring. Texas A&M AgriLife advises gardeners in southern states to sow in fall and to choose short-day flowering varieties, such as the ‘Elegance’ series, and notes that shade from intense afternoon heat and mulching can extend the blooming season.
| Region | When to sow |
|---|---|
| Cooler regions | Early spring |
| Southern states | Fall |
Are April birth flowers safe for people and pets?
Sweet peas are poisonous to people, and some daisies are toxic to pets. The table summarizes the safety information from each source.
| Plant | People | Pets |
|---|---|---|
| Sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) | Poisonous, especially flowers and seeds | See note below |
| English daisy (Bellis perennis) | Edible in small amounts; larger amounts cause stomach upset | Not confirmed in the ASPCA database |
| Daisy (Chrysanthemum species) | Not covered here | Toxic to dogs and cats |
| Perennial pea (Lathyrus latifolius) | Not covered here | Non-toxic to dogs and cats; toxic to horses |
Never eat sweet peas or plant them near edible garden peas. North Carolina Extension warns that sweet pea seeds contain toxins that can cause lathyrism, with symptoms including paralysis, a slow and weak pulse, shallow breathing, and convulsions, and advises that sweet peas “should not be planted near edible peas.”
The ASPCA’s “sweet pea” listing covers the perennial pea, Lathyrus latifolius, a relative of the annual sweet pea. Its “daisy” listing covers Chrysanthemum species, which the ASPCA rates as toxic to dogs and cats. Check the ASPCA database for the exact plant before bringing April flowers into a home with pets.
Daisy vs. sweet pea: which April flower to choose
Choose the daisy for a simple, cheerful bouquet or a lawn-friendly garden, and the sweet pea for fragrance or a wedding. The table compares the two by use.
| Use | Better choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Fragrant bouquet | Sweet pea | Very fragrant flowers |
| Wedding or bridal gift | Sweet pea | Traditional bridal flower |
| Edible cake decoration | Daisy (small amounts) | Sweet peas are poisonous |
| Garden with children | Daisy | Sweet pea seeds are poisonous |
| Trellis or fence | Sweet pea | Climbs up to 8 feet |
| Low border or lawn | Daisy | Grows 3 to 6 inches tall |
Other April birthday symbols
People born in April have the diamond as their birthstone. Jewelers of America lists diamond as the only April birthstone on the modern list, which was standardized in 1912.
| April symbol | Item | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Primary birth flower | Daisy | The Old Farmer’s Almanac |
| Second birth flower | Sweet pea | The Old Farmer’s Almanac |
| Birthstone | Diamond | Jewelers of America |
April dates linked to flowers and planting include Earth Day on Thursday, April 22, 2027, and Saturday, April 22, 2028, and Arbor Day, the last Friday in April, on Friday, April 30, 2027, and Friday, April 28, 2028.
The March birth flower is the daffodil, with the jonquil as the second, and the May birth flower is the lily of the valley, with hawthorn as the second.
What the April birth flower is not
The April birth flower is not the oxeye daisy or the Shasta daisy, which belong to the genus Leucanthemum, although both are often simply called daisies.
The sweet pea is also not the garden pea, Pisum sativum, which is edible, or the everlasting pea, Lathyrus latifolius, a perennial relative. Finally, the April birth flower is not the flower for the Aries or Taurus zodiac signs, which follow star sign dates that change around April 20.
Frequently asked questions
What is the birth flower for April?
The birth flower for April is the daisy, with the sweet pea as the second April flower. Both appear in American and British birth flower lists. The daisy symbolizes innocence, purity, true love, and new beginnings, and the sweet pea symbolizes gratitude, friendship, and good wishes, according to the Farmers’ Almanac.
What does the April birth flower mean?
The daisy means innocence, purity, true love, and new beginnings. Its composite structure, two kinds of flowers joined as one, supports the true-love meaning. The sweet pea means gratitude, friendship, good wishes, blissful pleasure, and sincerity, and it is traditionally given as a bridal gift.
Why is it called a daisy?
The name “daisy” comes from the Old English daegesege, meaning “day’s eye.” The Farmers’ Almanac explains that the flower closes at night and opens with the sun, like an eye. The English daisy’s Latin name, Bellis perennis, means “beautiful” and “everlasting.”
Are sweet peas poisonous?
Yes. Sweet peas are poisonous to people, especially the flowers and seeds, according to Texas A&M AgriLife. North Carolina Extension warns that the seeds can cause lathyrism, with paralysis, weak pulse, shallow breathing, and convulsions. Never eat sweet peas, and do not plant them near edible garden peas.
When do sweet peas bloom?
Sweet peas bloom from May through July in most regions, according to North Carolina Extension, after early spring planting. In southern states, Texas A&M AgriLife recommends fall sowing with short-day varieties such as the ‘Elegance’ series. Shade from intense afternoon heat and mulching can extend the bloom season.
What is the April birthstone?
The April birthstone is the diamond, according to Jewelers of America. The modern birthstone list was standardized in 1912 by the American National Retail Jewelers Association. April birthday gifts can combine the month’s flower and stone, such as a daisy-shaped pendant set with a diamond.
Sources:
- Farmers’ Almanac – April Birth Flower lore
- NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox – Bellis perennis
- NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox – Lathyrus odoratus
- National Sweet Pea Society – Sweet Peas
- Texas A&M AgriLife – Sweet Pea
- ASPCA – Daisy
- ASPCA – Sweet Pea
- Jewelers of America – Birthstones
