July Birth Flower: Beautiful Summer Blooms, Meanings & Facts

Quick Answer: The July birth flower comes as a pair, and the two could hardly look more different. Larkspur (Delphinium) rises tall and colorful, its dense flower spikes reaching straight toward the summer sun. Water Lily (Nymphaea) does the opposite, floating low and serene across still ponds, opening each morning and closing each night again. Larkspur represents positivity, love, and an open heart. The water lily represents purity, peace, and rebirth. Together, they capture July in full: bold energy above the surface, quiet stillness below it. July sits at the heart of summer. The days are long and warm. Evenings are bright and relaxed. The month has a cheerful and confident feeling. It makes sense that July has two birth flowers. The two flowers show different sides of the season. One feels bold and energetic. The other feels calm and peaceful. Larkspur represents the brighter side of July.

What Is a Birth Flower?

A birth flower is similar to a birthstone. Each month is linked with a special flower. The tradition has existed for centuries. Its early roots can be traced to Roman festivals. Seasonal flowers were often used to decorate altars and celebrations. The tradition became more popular during the Victorian era. This was when the “language of flowers” became widely known. Different flowers were given different meanings. People could use flowers to express feelings without saying them directly. By the 1800s, flower calendars became more common. These calendars connected specific flowers with each month. The tradition spread across Europe and America. Birth flowers soon became popular choices for gifts and celebrations. Not every month has the same number of flowers. Some months have one main birth flower.

July’s Birth Flower(s): Overview

Larkspur

The primary July birth flower is larkspur. It belongs to the genus Delphinium. The plant is part of the buttercup family. Larkspur is known for its tall flower spikes. The stems can rise several feet above the garden. Many small flowers grow along each spike. The blooms come in beautiful shades of blue, purple, pink, and white. The plant also has deeply divided leaves. Its upright growth gives it a strong vertical shape. Few summer flowers create the same tall and dramatic look. Larkspur is a popular choice for cottage gardens. Its bright colors can make a garden feel lively and cheerful. The tall flower spikes also look beautiful in bouquets. Its bold appearance makes larkspur a fitting July birth flower. July is bright, warm, and full of summer energy. Larkspur captures that feeling with its height, color, and lively blooms.

Water Lily

The water lily is the second July birth flower. It belongs to the genus Nymphaea. It is an aquatic perennial that grows in still or slow-moving water.Water lilies have broad, round leaves. These leaves float on the surface of the water. The plant also produces large, star-shaped flowers. The blooms sit gently above the water. The water lily has a calm and peaceful appearance. This makes it very different from larkspur. Larkspur grows tall and reaches toward the sun. Water lily stays close to the water. The flower also follows an interesting daily cycle. Its petals often open in the morning. They close again as evening arrives. This process can repeat throughout the warm growing season. This daily rhythm gives the water lily a peaceful quality. It has also inspired spiritual meanings in many cultures.

History and Origin of Larkspur

Larkspur has a long and interesting history. Its botanical name is Delphinium. The name comes from the Greek word delphínion. It means “dolphin.” The name refers to the shape of its closed flower buds. They were thought to look like a dolphin’s curved nose. The common name larkspur has a different origin. It comes from the small spur on each flower. Early observers thought the spur looked like a lark’s claw. This feature helped give the flower its familiar name. Larkspur also has a connection to Greek mythology. Some stories link the flower to Ajax, a warrior from the Trojan War. According to one legend, larkspur grew where Ajax met his tragic end. This story gave the flower a connection with grief and remembrance.

History and Origin of Water Lily

The water lily has a long history across many cultures. Its story reaches back to ancient Egypt, Asia, and North America. Ancient Egyptians held water lilies in high regard. The blue water lily was especially important. It was connected with the sun and the idea of renewal. The flower’s daily cycle helped create this symbolism. Its petals open above the water in the morning. They close and disappear beneath the water at night. This cycle was seen as a symbol of rebirth and renewal. Water lilies also appear in Greek mythology. Some stories connect them with water nymphs. This helped strengthen their links with beauty, purity, and mystery. Across different cultures, the water lily gained rich symbolic meaning. Its peaceful appearance also gave it a connection with grace and calmness. Today, its history makes it an especially meaningful July birth flower.

The water lily has a strong connection to July. It blooms during the warm summer months. Its flowers often appear across ponds, lakes, and wetlands. This makes it a natural symbol of midsummer beauty. The flower also has deep cultural meaning. In Buddhist and Hindu traditions, the water lily is linked with renewal and spiritual growth. Its daily blooming cycle adds to this symbolism. The flower opens with the light and closes again later. This cycle can represent rebirth, renewal, and overcoming hardship. It shows how something beautiful can return after darkness. The idea has made the water lily meaningful in many cultures. Ancient Egypt also gave water lilies special importance. The flower was connected with the sun and the idea of renewal. Its habit of opening and closing each day made this connection even stronger.

Meaning and Symbolism of Larkspur

As the bolder of the two July birth flowers, larkspur carries a set of meanings centered on emotional openness and connection. Its core symbolism includes:

• Positivity — reflecting the flower’s bright, energetic color range
• An open heart — one of larkspur’s most consistently cited meanings across flower-language traditions
• Strong bonds of love — tied to its dense, interconnected clusters of blossoms
• Dedication — drawn from the plant’s tall, unwavering, upright growth habit
• Protection — rooted in older folk beliefs about warding off evil spirits and negative energy

Larkspur’s meanings lean toward generosity and confidence, making it a natural choice for anyone who wants a July birthday gift that feels bold rather than understated.

Meaning and Symbolism of Water Lily

Water lilies’ symbolism turns inward, favoring stillness and spiritual depth over larkspur’s outward, social energy. As the secondary July birth flower, its core meanings include:

• Purity — reflected in the clean, unblemished form of its petals
• Innocence — a traditional meaning tied to the flower’s soft coloring and gentle shape
• Rebirth — drawn directly from its daily cycle of closing, sinking, and reopening each morning
• Peace — associated with the calm, still water the flower typically grows in
• Enlightenment — a meaning rooted in Buddhist and Hindu traditions surrounding the flower

Where larkspur speaks to connection with others, water lily speaks to connection within, and that contrast is exactly what makes the July birth flower pairing feel so complete. One flower reaches outward. The other simply rests, fully present, on the water’s surface.

Color Varieties and Their Meanings (Both Flowers)

Larkspur offers a wide, vivid color range, while water lily leans toward a softer, more limited palette that still carries plenty of symbolic depth. Reading through both sets of color meanings side by side shows how the two July birth flowers balance each other, one offering bold emotional statements, the other offering something gentler and more reflective. The table below breaks down the most common colors for each flower and what each one traditionally represents.

Flower	Color Variety	Symbolic Meaning
Larkspur	Purple	Sweetness and first love
Larkspur	Blue	Dignity and strong emotional bonds
Larkspur	Pink	Fickleness or a change of heart
Larkspur	White	Joy and happiness
Water Lily	White	Purity and innocence
Water Lily	Pink	Innocence and gentle affection
Water Lily	Blue	Wisdom and spiritual awakening

Larkspur’s purple and blue shades remain the most requested for July birthday arrangements, largely because they carry the flower’s strongest meanings around love and lasting connection. Water lily’s blue varieties stand out as the most symbolically rich of the group, drawing directly on centuries of Egyptian and Buddhist tradition tied to wisdom and spiritual renewal.

How to Grow Larkspur

Larkspur grows best in full sun, needing direct light for most of the day to produce its tallest, most densely flowered spikes. Rich, well-drained soil suits it far better than heavy or compacted ground, since larkspur’s roots are prone to rot in consistently soggy conditions. Water consistently and moderately, keeping the soil evenly moist without letting it become waterlogged, especially during the plant’s active spring and early summer growth. Most gardeners sow larkspur seed in early spring or the previous fall, since the plant prefers cool weather during its early growth and often struggles once summer heat intensifies. Overall difficulty sits at a moderate level, partly because taller varieties need staking for support and the plant can be susceptible to powdery mildew in humid conditions.

How to Grow Water Lily

July has two beautiful birth flowers: larkspur and water lily. This pairing suits the month perfectly. July is warm, bright, and full of life. Both flowers show a different side of summer. Larkspur is known for its tall flower spikes and vivid colors. Its blooms can bring energy to any summer garden. The flower is often linked with love, affection, and an open heart. Its cheerful look also makes it popular for July birthday bouquets. The water lily has a softer kind of beauty. It floats gently on ponds and calm water. Its blooms create a peaceful and relaxing scene. Water lilies are often associated with rebirth, renewal, purity, and tranquility. Together, larkspur and water lily create a beautiful contrast. Larkspur reaches toward the summer sun. A water lily rests quietly on the water.

Gift Ideas Using July’s Birth Flowers

Because larkspur and water lily suit such different settings, gift-givers have genuine room to get creative with a July birthday. A tall, colorful larkspur bouquet makes a bold, eye-catching gift that captures the flower’s meaning of positivity and open-hearted love. A small potted water lily, paired with a simple container to float it in, offers something quieter and more personal, letting the recipient watch its daily opening-and-closing rhythm unfold at home. Mixed arrangements that combine cut larkspur stems with a few floating water lily blooms in a shallow bowl capture both July birth flowers in a single striking display. For a gift that lasts beyond the growing season, jewelry or artwork featuring both flowers gives a July-born recipient a lasting reminder of their full birth-flower pairing.

Famous People Born in July and Their Connection to the Flowers

Quite a few notable figures share a July birthday, and the symbolism behind larkspur and water lily maps onto their legacies in interesting ways. Nelson Mandela, born on July 18th, is remembered for a message of resilience and quiet inner peace through decades of hardship, echoing the water lily’s symbolism of rebirth and calm strength. Artist Frida Kahlo, born July 6th, built a body of work defined by bold color and unflinching emotional openness, qualities that mirror larkspur’s meaning of an open heart and strong connection. Princess Diana, born July 1st, was widely remembered for combining warmth and public generosity with a genuinely reflective, private side, a balance that echoes the contrast between July’s two birth flowers rather neatly. These connections lean more poetic than scientific, but they help explain why birth flowers remain such a meaningful way to personalize a July birthday.

July Birthstone (Brief Mention)

Alongside its two birth flowers, July also claims a well-known birthstone: ruby, prized for its deep red color and long-standing symbolism of passion, strength, and vitality. Ruby’s bold, saturated tone pairs naturally with larkspur’s vivid color range, giving anyone born in July multiple ways, in gemstone and in flower alike, to mark their birthday with rich, meaningful color.

Fun Facts About Larkspur and Water Lily

• Larkspur’s genus name, Delphinium, comes from the Greek word for dolphin, inspired by the curved shape of its unopened flower buds.
• Every part of the larkspur plant is toxic if ingested, so it’s best admired in the garden rather than handled by curious pets or children.
• Water lily flowers follow a strict daily schedule, opening each morning and closing again by evening, a rhythm that repeats for days at a time.
• Ancient Egyptians associated blue water lily species with the sun god, using the flower in religious art and ceremonial garlands.
• Larkspur has historically been used to produce a natural blue dye, extending its usefulness well beyond simple garden decoration.
• Water lily pads and roots provide shelter and food for fish and other aquatic life, making the plant valuable to pond ecosystems as well as gardens.

Conclusion

July has two beautiful birth flowers: larkspur and water lily. This pairing suits the month perfectly. July is bright, warm, and full of life. Both flowers capture a different side of summer. Larkspur brings bold colors and tall, graceful flower spikes. Its bright blooms can add energy to any summer garden. The flower is also linked with love, affection, and an open heart. Its cheerful appearance makes it a natural choice for July birthday bouquets and gifts. The water lily offers a much calmer beauty. It floats gently on the surface of ponds and still water. Its soft blooms can create a peaceful and relaxing scene. Water lilies are also connected with rebirth, renewal, purity, and tranquility.

FAQs

What is the birth flower for July? 

July has two birth flowers: larkspur and water lily. Larkspur represents positivity, love, and an open heart, while the water lily represents purity, peace, and rebirth.

What does larkspur symbolize as a July birth flower? 

Larkspur symbolizes an open heart, positivity, and strong bonds of love, with specific meanings that shift by color. Purple represents first love, blue represents dignity, and white represents joy.

What does the water lily symbolize as a July birth flower? 

The water lily symbolizes purity, innocence, and rebirth. Largely due to its daily cycle of opening at dawn and closing at dusk. Buddhist and Hindu traditions, in particular, treat this rhythm as a symbol of rising above hardship.

Is a water lily easy to grow at home? 

Water lilies range from moderate to somewhat challenging to grow. Mainly because it requires a pond or dedicated water feature rather than regular garden soil. Smaller varieties can succeed in a large container, making the flower more accessible for gardeners without a full pond.

Is larkspur easy to grow in a home garden? 

Larkspur is a moderately easy plant for most home gardeners. It prefers cool weather and full sun with well-drained soil. Taller varieties need staking, and the plant can struggle once summer heat becomes intense.

Why does July have two birth flowers instead of one? 

Many birth-flower traditions assign two flowers per month, and July’s pairing reflects the season’s dual character. Larkspur reaches peak bloom during the height of summer heat. While water lily thrives in the still, warm ponds that define midsummer landscapes.

Is the water lily toxic or safe to grow around children and pets? 

Water lily is generally considered non-toxic. It is usually safe to grow around children and pets. This makes it a good choice for gardens with ponds.