Like birthstones and zodiac signs, birth flowers are one of those fascinating traditions to dig into. Whether you’re dreaming of summer or you’re in the thick of it, you may wonder what July’s birth flowers are. Join us in exploring why larkspur and water lily — colorful and summer-blossoming plants — make perfect picks.
Larkspur & Water Lily
July babies get to claim larkspur and water lilies as their destined birth flowers. Summer-blooming larkspurs are best known for their tall blue-violet flowers and add a whimsical flair to any bouquet. Meanwhile, water lilies’ aquatic habitats closely connect to July’s predominant zodiac sun sign, Cancer.
These two flowers are deeply symbolic, with their charm going far beyond their pretty blooms.
Larkspur Color Meanings
Lovely larkspur is traditionally gifted to represent a deep, adoring bond. However, larkspurs — of which there are many colors — mean more than just love.
These colors also symbolize:
- Blue – grace
- White – happiness
- Pink – indecision, fickleness
- Purple – first love
Larkspur and Delphinium are often used interchangeably, despite being different plants, due in large part to the two sharing the same genus for a long time.
Larkspur’s Role in Ancient Mythology
Flowers feature heavily in ancient mythology, and larkspurs get their starring moment in the Battle of Troy. It’s said that Ajax — so enraged over the decision to award fallen Achilles’ armor to Ulysses — threw himself onto his sword, from which larkspurs grew out of the blood-soaked ground.
4 Tips for Growing Larkspur
As annuals (plants that come back every year), larkspurs are awesome plants to invest in. If you or your loved ones are blessed with a July birthday, planting a few larkspurs is one way to deeply connect with your birth.
Here are a few tips to help you grow hearty, bountiful larkspurs:
- Larkspurs are versatile plants and well-suited for flower beds, borders, containers, and flowerpots.
- Plant larkspurs in a sunny area that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight a day.
- Larkspurs prefer slightly alkaline soil, so you may want to perform a soil test before planting.
- Once planted, keep the soil moist with about 1” of water per week.
Related: 14 Classic & Colorful July Flowers That Make Summer Bloom
Water Lily Color Meanings
While water lilies are predominantly given as symbols of purity, they do have many other meanings, including rebirth, fertility, hope, enlightenment, peace, and celebration.
In addition to broad symbolism, different water lily colors have unique meanings of their own.
- Red – passionate love
- White – peace, purity
- Pink – wisdom, knowledge
- Purple – royalty, power
From treating skin conditions and fevers to mouth sores and inflammation, water lilies have long been used in natural remedies.
Water Lily’s Role in Ancient Mythology
It’s no wonder water lilies feature in ancient mythology, given their otherworldly aquatic habitat. In Greek mythology, water lilies were often depicted as both nymphs in disguise and as hiding places for nymphs. These water nymphs were considered protectors and guardians of the bodies of water they inhabited.
4 Tips for Planting Water Lilies
As aquatic flowers with short-lived summery blooms, water lilies may not be your first planting pick. But if this mystical plant has captivated you, here are some helpful tips to ensure yours has everything it needs to last.
- You need to plant the lilies’ tubers in the soil under the water. The stems will then emerge from this soil and grow towards the surface, where the blossoms will float.
- Make sure to maintain a water lily pond coverage of 50%-60% and no more.
- Avoid fertilizing the water lilies once planted, as this encourages algae growth.
- Avoid planting in uncontained bodies of water, as water lilies can become invasive.
Be careful to plant fragrant white water lilies (Nymphaea odorata) and not white water lilies (Nymphaea tuberosa) as these are poisonous, especially to dogs.
July Birth Flowers to Brighten Your Summer
Why choose between July’s birth flowers when you can celebrate with both! These colorful flowers are perfect for summer and will add a much-appreciated whimsical charm to your backyard all season long.
