The June birth flowers are the rose and the honeysuckle. The rose’s meaning depends on its color, with red for passionate, true love, and the honeysuckle symbolizes affection, happiness, and the sweetness of new love.
The June birth flower has two options: the rose, the primary flower, and the honeysuckle, the second. The rose is the only birth flower that is also a national symbol of the United States: President Ronald Reagan designated it the national floral emblem in 1986.
Its meaning depends almost entirely on color, from red for passion to yellow for friendship.
The honeysuckle adds a garden caution: the fragrant Japanese honeysuckle common in American yards is an invasive species, and gardeners are encouraged to plant a native honeysuckle instead.
Table of Contents
What is the June birth flower?
The June birth flower is the rose, with the honeysuckle as the second June flower. The table compares the two.
| Attribute | Rose | Honeysuckle |
|---|---|---|
| Rank for June | Primary birth flower | Second birth flower |
| Meaning | Varies by color; red for passionate, true love | Affection, happiness, sweetness of new love |
| Genus | Rosa | Lonicera |
| Plant family | Rosaceae (rose family) | Caprifoliaceae (honeysuckle family) |
| Plant type | Shrub or climber | Climbing vine or shrub |
| Fragrance | Varies by variety | Japanese honeysuckle very fragrant; native coral honeysuckle unscented |
| Status in the US | National floral emblem since 1986 | Japanese honeysuckle invasive; coral honeysuckle native |
| Safety | ASPCA: non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses | Berries toxic to people in large quantities |
Meanings come from the Farmers’ Almanac. Honeysuckle details come from the North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox pages for Japanese honeysuckle and coral honeysuckle.
The rose: primary June birth flower
The rose is the main June birth flower and has one of the longest cultivation histories of any garden flower. The Farmers’ Almanac notes that roses have been cultivated for roughly 5,000 years, first in China, and that they appear throughout literature, art, and royal symbolism.
Rose meaning by color
A rose’s meaning depends on its color. The table lists the meanings given by the Farmers’ Almanac, drawn from floriography, the language of flowers.
| Rose color | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Red | Passionate, romantic, true love and devotion |
| White | Motherly love, divine love, innocence, youth, purity, sympathy |
| Yellow | Friendly love, platonic caring, sympathy |
| Pink | Young love, innocent crush, femininity, gratitude |
| Orange | Exciting passion, new love, creativity, pride |
| Purple | Enchanting love, royalty |
| Blue | Hidden love, mystery |
Blue, green, and pure black roses do not occur naturally and are dyed, according to the Farmers’ Almanac. For a June birthday, pink or yellow roses suit friends and family, while red roses carry a romantic meaning.
Rose lore: sub rosa and Eros
Greek myth ties the rose to love and to secrecy. The Farmers’ Almanac records that Aphrodite named the rose after her son Eros, the god of love, and that Eros gave a rose to Harpocrates, the god of silence. This legend is the source of the Latin phrase sub rosa, “under the rose,” meaning in secret.
The rose as the national flower of the United States
The rose is the national floral emblem of the United States. President Ronald Reagan signed Proclamation 5574 on Thursday, November 20, 1986, designating the rose as the national flower, and the designation appears in federal law at 36 U.S. Code § 303.
The proclamation notes that “the study of fossils reveals that the rose has existed in America for age upon age,” that George Washington “bred roses, and a variety he named after his mother is still grown today,” and that the White House has its own Rose Garden.
This makes June the only birth month whose flower is also a US national symbol.
Are roses safe for pets?
Yes. The ASPCA lists roses as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Roses are one of the safest birth flowers for homes with pets, although their thorns can still cause scratches and puncture wounds.
The honeysuckle: second June birth flower
The honeysuckle is the second June birth flower, a climbing vine known for sweet-scented, tube-shaped flowers.
The Farmers’ Almanac gives its meaning as “affection, happiness and the sweetness of new love,” with youthful, nostalgic associations.
In Celtic tradition, it symbolizes devoted embraces, and in Chinese and French traditions it is associated with friendship.
Japanese honeysuckle vs. coral honeysuckle
Two honeysuckles common in the United States differ in scent, origin, and environmental impact. North Carolina Extension describes Japanese honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica, as native to Japan, Korea, Manchuria, and China and “highly invasive” in the United States.
It recommends native alternatives, led by coral honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens, which is native to the eastern United States.
| Attribute | Japanese honeysuckle | Coral honeysuckle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Lonicera japonica | Lonicera sempervirens |
| Native range | Japan, Korea, Manchuria, China | Eastern United States |
| Status in the US | Highly invasive | Native |
| Flower color | White, aging to buff or yellow | Scarlet to orange-red; yellow cultivars |
| Fragrance | Very fragrant | Not fragrant |
| Bloom time | Late spring to fall | March to July |
| Wildlife | Not covered here | Nectar source for ruby-throated hummingbirds |
For a June birthday garden, coral honeysuckle carries the birth flower tradition without spreading an invasive plant. It grows in USDA zones 4a to 9b, according to North Carolina Extension.
Can you drink honeysuckle nectar?
Yes. North Carolina Extension states that Japanese honeysuckle “nectar can be sucked from flowers without harm.” The berries are a different matter.
The same source warns that eating large quantities of the berries can cause vomiting, diarrhea, pupil dilation, cold sweat, rapid heartbeat, respiratory failure, convulsions, and coma.
Do not eat honeysuckle berries.
Rose vs. honeysuckle: which June flower to choose
Choose the rose for a June birthday bouquet or a romantic gift, and the honeysuckle for a fragrant or hummingbird-friendly garden.
The table compares the two by use.
| Use | Better choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Birthday bouquet | Rose | Widely available, meaning set by color |
| Romantic gift | Red rose | Passionate, true love |
| Friendship gift | Yellow rose | Friendly, platonic love |
| Home with pets | Rose | Non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses |
| Hummingbird garden | Coral honeysuckle | Nectar source for ruby-throated hummingbirds |
| Fragrant trellis | Climbing rose | Coral honeysuckle is unscented, and Japanese honeysuckle is invasive |
Other June birthday symbols
People born in June have three birthstones: pearl, moonstone, and alexandrite. Jewelers of America lists all three on the modern birthstone list, which was standardized in 1912. June and December are the only months with three birthstones each.
| June symbol | Item |
|---|---|
| Primary birth flower | Rose |
| Second birth flower | Honeysuckle |
| June Birthstones | Pearl, moonstone, alexandrite |
| National emblem | Rose, since 1986 |
June also contains the start of summer and Father’s Day. The summer solstice falls on Monday, June 21, 2027, at 10:10 a.m. EDT, and on Tuesday, June 20, 2028, at 4:01 p.m. EDT.
Father’s Day, the third Sunday in June, falls on Sunday, June 20, 2027, and Sunday, June 18, 2028. The May birth flower is the lily of the valley, with hawthorn as the second, and the July birth flower is the larkspur, with the water lily as the second.
What the June birth flower is not
The June birth flower is not the rose of Sharon, a hibiscus relative in the genus Hibiscus, or the desert rose, Adenium, both of which share the name but are not true roses.
The honeysuckle is also not the bush honeysuckle sold as Diervilla, a separate genus. Finally, the June birth flower is not the flower for the Gemini or Cancer zodiac signs, which follow star sign dates that change around June 21.
Frequently asked questions
What is the birth flower for June?
The birth flower for June is the rose, with the honeysuckle as the second June flower. Both appear in American and British birth flower lists. The rose’s meaning depends on its color, and the honeysuckle symbolizes affection, happiness, and the sweetness of new love, according to the Farmers’ Almanac.
What do rose colors mean?
Rose colors carry different meanings, according to the Farmers’ Almanac. Red means passionate, true love; white means purity and sympathy; yellow means friendship; pink means young love and gratitude; orange means new love and creativity; and purple means enchantment. Blue, green, and black roses are dyed.
Is the rose the national flower of the United States?
Yes. President Ronald Reagan designated the rose as the national floral emblem of the United States in Proclamation 5574, signed on November 20, 1986. The designation is written into federal law at 36 U.S. Code § 303. June is the only birth month whose flower is also a US national symbol.
Is honeysuckle invasive?
Japanese honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica, is highly invasive in the United States, according to North Carolina Extension. The native coral honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens, is recommended instead. It is native to the eastern United States, attracts ruby-throated hummingbirds, and grows in USDA zones 4a to 9b.
Are roses toxic to cats and dogs?
No. The ASPCA lists roses as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, which makes them one of the safest birth flowers for homes with pets. Rose thorns can still scratch or puncture skin, so choose thornless varieties or remove thorns from bouquets.
What is the June birthstone?
June has three birthstones: pearl, moonstone, and alexandrite, according to Jewelers of America. The modern birthstone list was standardized in 1912 by the American National Retail Jewelers Association. June and December are the only months with three birthstones each, so June birthdays have more gemstone choices than most months.
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