May Birth Flower: Lily of the Valley and Hawthorn Meaning, Symbolism and Facts
May is the greenest month of the year. The days grow long and warm. Gardens wake up in full, and spring flowers are everywhere.
May has two birth flowers. Lily of the valley is the main one. Hawthorn is the second. Most May birthdays are Taurus. The last part of the month moves into Gemini.
Quick Answer
The May birth flowers are lily of the valley and hawthorn. Lily of the valley means sweetness, humility, purity, and the return of happiness. Hawthorn means hope, happiness, and protection. One is a tiny sweet bell. The other is a whole tree in bloom.
Table of Contents
- Lily of the Valley: The Primary May Birth Flower
- Hawthorn: May’s Second Birth Flower
- Lily of the Valley vs Hawthorn
- Birth Flowers by Month
- How to Grow May Birth Flowers
- Gift Ideas for a May Birthday
- Frequently Asked Questions
Lily of the Valley: The Primary May Birth Flower
Lily of the valley is small, sweet, and shy. Tiny white bells hang in a row from a short, arching stem. The green leaves are broad and fresh. Few flowers look so clean and calm.
Its scent is famous. Sweet, soft, and fresh, it fills a whole corner of the garden. Perfume makers love it too, and it earns its place on any list of fragrant flowers.
The pure white bells shine among other white flowers in a shady bed. The flower stands for sweetness and purity. It also means humility, and the return of happiness after winter. You can read more about the plant on the lily of the valley page on Wikipedia.
A Lucky Flower in France
In France, May 1 is La Fête du Muguet, the festival of lily of the valley. On that day, people give small sprigs of the flower to family and friends. The gift is a wish for luck and happiness in the year ahead. Street sellers offer the fresh white bells on almost every corner.
The flower is also a favourite in royal wedding bouquets. Its white bells look pure and classic next to a wedding dress. It is the national flower of Finland too, where it blooms in cool northern woods.
Lily of the Valley Quick Facts
- Type: perennial ground cover. It spreads slowly and returns every spring.
- Bloom time: mid to late spring.
- Light: loves shade or part shade, like the edge of a wood.
- Scent: sweet and strong, one of the best-loved scents in the garden.
- Safety: all parts of the plant are poisonous if eaten. Keep it away from children and pets.
You can explore more spring favourites among flowers that start with L.
Hawthorn: May’s Second Birth Flower
Hawthorn is not a cut flower for a vase. It is a small tree, or a thick farm hedge. In May it covers itself with clouds of white or soft pink blossom. On a warm day, the whole tree seems to hum with bees.
Hawthorn stands for hope and happiness. It also means protection. Its thorny hedges guarded fields and homes for hundreds of years. In old Celtic stories, the hawthorn was a magic tree, a door to the fairy world. People treated a lone hawthorn on a hill with great respect.
The Blossom Behind an Old Saying
You may know the old English saying: “Ne’er cast a clout till May be out.” It means do not put away your warm clothes too soon. The “May” in the saying is not the month. It is the hawthorn blossom itself, which country people simply called “May.” When the hawthorn was fully out, spring was truly safe at last.
After the flowers, the tree gives red berries in fall. These berries are called haws. Birds feed on them through the winter, so one tree works like a small wildlife garden. You can browse more flowers that start with H to meet its cousins.
Hawthorn Quick Facts
- Type: small tree or hedge plant, not a cut flower.
- Bloom time: May, with masses of white or pink blossom.
- Light: full sun gives the most flowers.
- Berries: red haws in fall, loved by birds.
- Wildlife: bees love the blossom, and birds shelter in the thorny branches.
Lily of the Valley vs Hawthorn
Both flowers belong to May, but they grow in opposite ways. One hugs the ground in the shade. The other lifts a crown of blossom into the sun.
| Flower | Type | Where It Grows | Meaning | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lily of the Valley | Perennial ground cover | Shady beds and woodland edges | Sweetness, humility, purity, return of happiness | Shade gardens, small bouquets, sweet scent |
| Hawthorn | Small tree or hedge | Sunny fields, gardens, and farm hedges | Hope, happiness, protection | Hedges, wildlife gardens, spring blossom |
Birth Flowers by Month
Want the full year at a glance? Here is the birth flower chart for all twelve months.
| Month | Birth Flower(s) |
|---|---|
| January | Carnation & Snowdrop |
| February | Violet & Primrose |
| March | Daffodil & Jonquil |
| April | Daisy & Sweet Pea |
| May | Lily of the Valley & Hawthorn |
| June | Rose & Honeysuckle |
| July | Larkspur & Water Lily |
| August | Gladiolus & Poppy |
| September | Aster & Morning Glory |
| October | Marigold & Cosmos |
| November | Chrysanthemum & Peony |
| December | Narcissus & Holly |
For the full chart with every month in one place, see our birth flowers chart and guide.
How to Grow May Birth Flowers
Both May flowers are patient plants. Neither one asks for much fuss.
Growing Lily of the Valley
- Plant the small roots, called pips, in fall or early spring.
- Pick a shady or part-shady spot, like under a tree.
- Keep the soil moist, more like a woodland floor.
- Let it spread into a green carpet, or keep it in check in a pot or an edged bed.
Growing Hawthorn
- Plant a young tree in full sun, in any well-drained soil.
- Water it well in its first year, while the roots settle in.
- Prune a hawthorn hedge in winter, when the tree is bare.
- Be patient. The blossom grows richer as the tree gets older.
Home growers in r/gardening on Reddit share what works in hot, cool, and dry climates.
Gift Ideas for a May Birthday
Follow the French way. Give a fresh sprig of lily of the valley, or a small pot of the plant. It is a gift of luck and happiness, and the sweet scent comes free.
May’s birthstone is the emerald, a deep green gem. Its green matches the fresh leaves of both May flowers. An emerald gift with white bells looks rich and calm.
For a new home or a new baby, plant a hawthorn tree. A hawthorn can live for many years. Its May blossom will mark the birthday every spring.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the May birth flower?
May has two birth flowers. Lily of the valley is the main one, and hawthorn is the second. One is a small white flower of the shade. The other is a blossoming tree.
What does lily of the valley symbolise?
It symbolises sweetness, purity, and humility. It also means the return of happiness. That is why the French give it as a lucky gift on May 1.
Is lily of the valley poisonous?
Yes. All parts of the plant are poisonous if eaten. Enjoy its beauty and scent, but keep it away from children and pets.
What is May’s birthstone?
May’s birthstone is the emerald. Its deep green colour pairs well with the fresh green leaves and white bells of May’s two flowers.
What is the hawthorn flower?
The hawthorn flower is the white or pink blossom of the hawthorn tree. It opens in May and covers the tree like a cloud. For more views, see questions about the May birth flower on Quora.
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