Primary
Lily of the Valley
In the Victorian language of flowers it signifies returning happiness.
Birth flowers by month
May Birth Flowers
The May birth flowers are the lily of the valley and the hawthorn, and both are bound up with May Day. Lily of the valley is the scented woodland bell sold in bunches in France on May 1; hawthorn is the hedgerow tree so closely tied to the month that it is called the may tree.
- Lily of the Valley
- Convallaria majalis toxic to pets
- Hawthorn
- Crataegus monogyna rose family
Toxicity: ASPCA list.
May birth flowers at a glance
Secondary
Hawthorn
In the Victorian language of flowers it signifies hope.
Lily of the valley flowers in shade from late April to May. Hawthorn blossom covers British hedges in May, and in many years it is the most visible flower of the month.
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May birth flower
Lily of the Valley
The plant
Convallaria majalis, a creeping woodland perennial with two broad leaves and a single arching stem of small white bells. The species name majalis means "of May".
Why it belongs to May
In France sprigs of muguet are given on May 1 for luck, and street sellers are allowed to sell them without a license that day. It has appeared in royal wedding bouquets and gave its scent to Dior's Diorissimo.
Meaning by color
White for the return of happiness, humility and sweetness. A rare pink form exists but carries no separate meaning.
Keeping it
It spreads by underground stems and can take over a shady bed, so it is often planted where it can be left to run.
Safety
Highly toxic: every part contains cardiac glycosides that affect the heart. Serious for children, cats and dogs — even the water from a vase is a risk.
May birth flower
Hawthorn
The plant
Crataegus monogyna, a thorny tree of the rose family used for hedging across Europe. The white blossom is followed by red berries called haws.
Why it belongs to May
Folklore held it unlucky to bring hawthorn blossom indoors, possibly because its scent contains trimethylamine, a compound also produced by decay. The Pilgrims' ship Mayflower shares its old English name.
Meaning by color
White blossom for hope and fertility; the rarer pink and red forms are garden varieties.
Keeping it
Hawthorn tolerates exposure, poor soil and hard pruning, which is why it became the standard farm hedge.
Giving May birth flowers
For a May birthday, a small posy of lily of the valley is traditional — but in a home with children or pets, a potted hawthorn bonsai or a scented candle keeps the association without the danger.
Toxicity notes follow the ASPCA Animal Poison Control, toxic and non-toxic plants list; if a pet has eaten part of a plant, call a vet or a poison line rather than waiting for symptoms.
Paired with the May birthstone
May pairs these flowers with Emerald — green, hardness 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale. Why the pairing is a modern habit →
How many people have a May birthday
May accounts for 8.35% of US births, the 5th largest share of the 12 months. On an average day it sees 11,173 births, the 6th largest daily count of the 12 months.
May: 11,173 births a day, 826 fewer than September.
Questions
What is the May birth flower?
Lily of the Valley is the primary flower, with Hawthorn as the second.
What does the May birth flower mean?
Returning happiness, in the Victorian language of flowers; Hawthorn adds hope.
Sources
Statements of fact on this page were checked against these sources in October 2026. How we choose and check sources: editorial policy.
Cite this page
AstroHot. “May Birth Flowers: Lily of the Valley and Hawthorn Meaning.” Accessed October 27, 2026. https://astrohot.com/birth-flowers/may/
For Wikipedia
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