The July birth flowers are the larkspur and the water lily. The larkspur symbolizes an open heart, strong attachment, and lightness, with its meaning changing by color, and the water lily symbolizes purity, innocence, and spiritual enlightenment.
The July birth flower has two options: the larkspur, the primary flower, and the water lily, the second. The larkspur is a tall spike of spurred blossoms that grows in garden borders, and every part of it is poisonous.
The water lily floats on the surface of ponds, opens and closes on a daily schedule, and is described by the Farmers’ Almanac as non-toxic.
The larkspur’s two names also describe its shape: “larkspur” refers to a spur like a lark’s claw, and the genus name Delphinium comes from the Greek for dolphin. This page covers each flower’s meaning, names, types, bloom habits, and safety.
Table of Contents
What is the July birth flower?
The July birth flower is the larkspur, with the water lily as the second July flower.
The table compares the two.
| Attribute | Larkspur | Water lily |
|---|---|---|
| Rank for July | Primary birth flower | Second birth flower |
| Meaning | Open heart, strong attachment, lightness, levity | Purity, innocence, passion, wisdom, spiritual enlightenment |
| Genus | Delphinium (and annual larkspurs, often sold as Consolida) | Nymphaea |
| Plant family | Ranunculaceae (buttercup family) | Nymphaeaceae (water lily family) |
| Number of species | More than 500 | About 70 |
| Habitat | Garden borders, full sun | Ponds, still or slow water 3 inches to 2 feet deep |
| Height or size | 1 to 3 feet | Flowers up to 12 inches across |
| Colors | Blue to purple, pink, nearly white | White, cream, yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, blue |
| Bloom time | May to midsummer | Through the growing season |
| Toxic | Every part is poisonous | Non-toxic, according to the Farmers’ Almanac |
Meanings come from the Farmers’ Almanac. Plant details come from the North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox pages for Delphinium and Nymphaea.
The larkspur: primary July birth flower
The larkspur is the main July birth flower, a tall garden plant with spikes of spurred blossoms in blue, purple, pink, and white. North Carolina Extension notes that the Delphinium genus includes more than 500 species of annuals, biennials, and perennials from temperate and subtropical regions of North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, and that the plants bloom from May to midsummer and attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
What does the larkspur symbolize?
The larkspur symbolizes an open heart, strong attachment, lightness, and levity, according to the Farmers’ Almanac. Its meaning also changes with color, as the table shows.
| Larkspur color | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Blue | Grace |
| Purple | First love |
| Pink | Fickleness |
| White | Happiness |
For a July birthday, blue or white larkspur carries a positive message, while pink carries the meaning of fickleness in the traditional color language.
Where the names “larkspur” and “delphinium” come from
Both of the flower’s names describe its shape. According to North Carolina Extension, “larkspur” refers to the spur on each flower, which resembles a lark’s claw, while the genus name Delphinium comes from the Greek delphis, meaning dolphin, because the flower buds of some species look like a dolphin.
Larkspur vs. delphinium
Larkspur and delphinium are names for closely related plants, and florists often use them interchangeably. In garden use, “larkspur” usually refers to the annual species, often sold under the genus name Consolida, while “delphinium” usually refers to the taller perennial species.
North Carolina Extension groups annuals, biennials, and perennials together under Delphinium.
| Attribute | Annual larkspur | Perennial delphinium |
|---|---|---|
| Life cycle | Annual, grown from seed each year | Perennial, returns each year |
| Genus name in trade | Often Consolida | Delphinium |
| Toxic | Yes | Yes |
Larkspur lore
The larkspur appears in Greek, Roman, and Chinese stories. The Farmers’ Almanac records that Greek mythology traced the flower to the blood of the hero Ajax, that Roman legend credited Neptune with turning a dolphin into the flower, and that Chinese tradition links it to dragons and good fortune, especially in dragon years.
Is larkspur poisonous?
Yes. Every part of the larkspur is poisonous to people and animals. The Farmers’ Almanac states that “every part of the delphinium plant, stem, roots, leaves, flowers, and seeds, is toxic.” The ASPCA lists larkspur as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses because of diterpene alkaloids, which cause neuromuscular paralysis.
Clinical signs include constipation, colic, increased salivation, muscle tremors, stiffness, weakness, and convulsions, and severe cases can end in cardiac failure or death from respiratory paralysis.
North Carolina Extension lists human symptoms as burning of the lips and mouth, numbness of the throat, and intense vomiting and diarrhea. Wear gloves when handling larkspur, and keep it away from children and pets.
The water lily: second July birth flower
The water lily is the second July birth flower, an aquatic plant with floating leaves and large, often fragrant flowers. North Carolina Extension counts about 70 species in the genus Nymphaea, native to Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, with flowers up to 12 inches across.
What does the water lily symbolize?
The water lily symbolizes purity, innocence, grief, passion, wealth, wisdom, and spiritual enlightenment, according to the Farmers’ Almanac. The same source notes that in Buddhism and Hinduism, water lilies symbolize resurrection and spiritual awakening.
Water lilies open and close on a schedule
Water lilies open and close at set times each day, and the timing depends on the type. North Carolina Extension divides ornamental water lilies into three groups.
| Water lily type | Opens | Closes | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardy | During the day; times vary by variety | Same day | Goes dormant |
| Tropical day-blooming | 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. | 4:30 p.m. to just before sunset | Not hardy |
| Tropical night-blooming | Evening | Mid to late morning | Not hardy |
Because of this rhythm, a water lily planted as a July birthday gift shows its flowers only at certain hours. A night-blooming type opens in the evening, while a day-blooming type is open from morning into the afternoon.
Growing water lilies
Water lilies grow in still or slow-moving water from 3 inches to 2 feet deep. North Carolina Extension notes that they prefer loamy soil with a neutral pH and full sun, although some tolerate partial shade. Hardy water lilies survive winter by going dormant, while tropical types need warm water.
Larkspur vs. water lily: which July flower to choose
Choose the larkspur for a tall garden border or a cut-flower arrangement, and the water lily for a pond or a home with children and pets. The table compares the two by use.
| Use | Better choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Garden border | Larkspur | Tall spikes, 1 to 3 feet |
| Pond or water garden | Water lily | Aquatic plant with floating leaves |
| Home with pets or children | Water lily | Larkspur is poisonous in every part |
| Hummingbird garden | Larkspur | Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies |
| Cut-flower arrangement | Larkspur | Tall spikes of spurred blossoms |
| Meaning of first love | Purple larkspur | Traditional color meaning |
Other July birthday symbols
People born in July have the ruby as their birthstone. Jewelers of America lists ruby as the only July birthstone on the modern list, which was standardized in 1912.
| July symbol | Item |
|---|---|
| Primary birth flower | Larkspur |
| Second birth flower | Water lily |
| July Birthstone | Ruby |
July includes Independence Day on Sunday, July 4, 2027, and Tuesday, July 4, 2028. In 2027, the federal holiday is observed on Monday, July 5.
The June birth flower is the rose, with honeysuckle as the second, and the August birth flower is the gladiolus, with the poppy as the second.
What the July birth flower is not
The July birth flower is not the sacred lotus, Nelumbo nucifera, which is often confused with the water lily but belongs to a separate family, Nelumbonaceae.
The water lily is also not a true lily in the genus Lilium. Finally, the July birth flower is not the flower for the Cancer or Leo zodiac signs, which follow star sign dates that change around July 22.
Frequently asked questions
What is the birth flower for July?
The birth flower for July is the larkspur, with the water lily as the second July flower. Both appear in American and British birth flower lists. The larkspur symbolizes an open heart, strong attachment, and lightness, and the water lily symbolizes purity, innocence, and spiritual enlightenment, according to the Farmers’ Almanac.
What does the July birth flower mean?
The larkspur means an open heart, strong attachment, lightness, and levity. Blue larkspur means grace, purple means first love, pink means fickleness, and white means happiness. The water lily means purity, innocence, passion, wisdom, and spiritual enlightenment, and it symbolizes resurrection in Buddhism and Hinduism.
Is larkspur poisonous to pets?
Yes. The ASPCA lists larkspur as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses because of diterpene alkaloids. Signs include drooling, muscle tremors, weakness, and convulsions, and severe cases can cause heart failure or respiratory paralysis. Every part of the plant is poisonous, so keep it away from pets and children.
What is the difference between larkspur and delphinium?
Larkspur and delphinium are closely related, and florists often use the names interchangeably. “Larkspur” usually means the annual species, often sold as Consolida, while “delphinium” usually means the taller perennials. The name larkspur refers to a spur like a lark’s claw, and delphinium comes from the Greek for dolphin.
When do water lilies open?
It depends on the type. Tropical day-blooming water lilies open between 7:30 and 9:30 a.m. and close between 4:30 p.m. and just before sunset, according to North Carolina Extension. Tropical night-blooming types open in the evening and close by mid to late morning. Hardy water lilies bloom during the day.
What is the July birthstone?
The July birthstone is the ruby, according to Jewelers of America. The modern birthstone list was standardized in 1912 by the American National Retail Jewelers Association. A ruby pairs with July’s birth flowers in birthday gifts, such as a ruby set in a larkspur- or water-lily-shaped pendant.
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