Are you or a loved one born in May? If so, you might be wondering what the birth flowers of the 5th month are. Well, let’s get to know the blooms and get to know them in detail today!
So, what are the May birth flowers? Let’s answer that now!
What Are the May Birth Flowers?
January has the carnation and the snowdrop, June has the rose and the honeysuckle, and October has the marigold and cosmos. As you can see, most months have more than one birth flower. Now, May is no different. It also has two floras.
May has the lily of the valley and the hawthorn for its birth flowers. The May flowers may not scream, well, May flowers. However, as you will see in a bit, these blooms and the 5th month go well together.
All About the Lily of the Valley
First, let’s talk about the lily of the valley or the Convallaria majalis.
This bloom goes by many names. Sometimes, it is also known as the May lily, May bells, and Mayflower. With that alone, one could say that no other flower deserves to be the May birth flower better than the lily of the valley. However, that is not all there is to this bloom, so let’s get to know it better in the following portions.
Description of the Lily of the Valley
Despite the name of this bloom, it is not a true lily. It does not belong to the Liliaceae. Instead, it belongs to the Asparagaceae. In other words, the asparagus family.
The lily of the valley is a bell-shaped flower that often grows in clumps. Its head is almost always looking down. Seemingly, too shy to look up at its admirers. It is small, growing up to only around 12 inches high and wide. Often, it comes in a beautiful shade of white, but you can also see it in shades of pink and purple.
Beauty is not all this bloom offers, though. It also has a lovely scent said to smell green and sweet.
The lily of the valley is not all good, though. It is toxic to humans and animals. Consuming any part could lead to something simple like a stomach ache or something severe like death. Either way, a trip to the hospital is warranted at the mere suspicion of ingestion.
Additionally, this bloom could also be invasive. Too invasive that some places discourage growing it. In some cases, planting it is even illegal.
Meaning of the Lily of the Valley
Most blooms hide more than one meaning in their petals. The lily of the valley is no different. On one end, it points to happiness. On the other, it also means sadness. Often, though, it signifies motherhood. Still, that is not all. It stands for many other things like purity, humility, and sincerity.
The lily of the valley might be a flora you’re already familiar with and used to seeing. After all, it is a bloom often used in many different bouquets and arrangements. Safe to say, one of the reasons for that is the meanings it holds.
Caring for the Lily of the Valley
The lily of the valley does best in cool regions. With that, growing it where it’s hot and dry is not ideal.
This bloom is different from many others. Unlike many floras that like the sun, the lily of the valley prefers shade. With that, you want to plant it in an area with full or partial shade.
On the other hand, it is not picky with the soil. It can do well in many different ones as long as there is good drainage. When it comes to water, it doesn’t need much. However, it doesn’t do well with too little, either. You want to keep its soil moist but not flooding or soggy.
Generally, the lily of the valley is easy to grow. It usually does not have any serious pest or disease problems. Additionally, it does not require much maintenance to stretch up and out.
There will likely be no problem with growing this bloom. However, controlling its growth might be the problem. As we have said above, this bloom could be invasive. Keeping its growth in check would likely be a constant in your gardening life if you decide to grow it.
The lily of the valley could be grown indoors to control its growth. It is not the easiest task, but it is doable. Check this video out:
All About the Hawthorn
Next, let’s talk about the Hawthorn or Crataegus.
Like the lily of the valley, it also goes by many names. Sometimes, it is also known as the May tree, Maythorn, or Mayflower. As you can see, with that alone, it rightfully deserves a spot as a May birth flower. However, that is not all there is to this bloom, so let’s get to know it better.
Description of the Hawthorn
The hawthorn flower is a small bloom that might remind you of the alstroemeria. This bloom usually has several stamens on its head, and the anthers can remind you of the patterns in the petals of the alstroemeria.
However, its petals do not bear any markings. Additionally, it only has five petals compared to the alstroemeria’s six petals (three of which are actually sepals).
On the other hand, it might remind you of the wild cherry flower, which is not surprising as the two comes from the same family. They both belong to the Rosaceae. In other words, the rose family.
This bloom is often white but can also come in shades of pink.
Again, like the lily of the valley, beauty is not all it offers. It is also fragrant. It gives off a vanilla-like scent with a hint of an almond smell. However, unlike it, the hawthorn is not known to be toxic. On the other hand, it can also be considered invasive.
Meaning of the Hawthorn
Again, like many other blooms, the hawthorn flower has many meanings. However, it is most associated with hope.
Caring for the Hawthorn
Unlike the lily of the valley, you might rarely see this bloom in bouquets and arrangements. However, it can be a great addition to a garden.
This bloom likes its sun. You want to plant it where it can get full sun.
It is also a bloom that is not picky with the soil. It can do well with an array of soils as long as it has good drainage. However, one thing you want to keep in mind if you decide to plant it is that its soil should be moist.
This bloom needs lots of water, considering it grows from a tree. However, it should only get enough water. You only want the soil moist and not soaked.
The hawthorn is an undemanding tree. However, it does have some issues, like apple scabs and leaf spots.
Other May Flowers
The lily of the valley and the hawthorn are both beautiful blooms that bloom in May. They are only two of the flowers blooming in the fifth month, though. Before you go, let’s go and get to know some other May flowers you can pair up with the two floras we discussed.
Carnations
As we have said above, this bloom is one of the January birth flowers. However, it usually begins to bloom in May. The carnation can be an easy and lovely addition to a garden or an arrangement.
Snapdragons
The snapdragon is a reliable bloom. It does best in spring and fall, but it is a beauty that blooms all throughout the seasons. If you need a dash of color or some height in your garden or arrangement, this bloom can likely help you with that.
Anthuriums
The anthurium is another flora that can bloom throughout the different seasons. If you want something simple or unique, it is a flower that can likely help you.
Roses
Of course, we cannot forget to mention the classic – the rose!
As we have said above, the rose is one of the birth flowers of June. While many roses bloom in June, many bloom in May. Whatever the occasion is, this flower can likely be a good choice if all else fails.
Orchids
Finally, we have the orchid. It is not the easiest bloom to grow and care for, but it is one of the longest-lasting blooms out there. The orchid could be an ideal choice if you want a beauty that will last.
Summary
What are the May birth flowers?
The May birth flowers are the lily of the valley and the hawthorn.
Today, we got to know each bloom in detail, from their basic descriptions, meaning, and care. Along the way, we learned just how similar and different the two are.
After that, we showed you some other May blooms you might want to get to know more about next. The lily of the valley and the hawthorn are both lovely blooms. However, there are many other May blooms that are just as pretty. If you want to know more about these and other floras, you might want to check out our other talks! See you!