May Birth Flowers: Lily of the Valley and Hawthorn — The Lucky Blooms Royal Brides Have Carried for 200 Years

May is one of the most abundantly beautiful months in the garden, and its two birth flowers perfectly capture that spirit. Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is May’s primary birth flower — a delicate, sweetly scented bell that has graced royal bridal bouquets for centuries. Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) is May’s secondary birth flower, the ancient guardian tree whose white blossoms burst open right on cue for May Day festivities.

Together, these two flowers speak of happiness returning, love protected, and the sheer optimism of late spring. For a full directory of flower symbolism, see our flower meaning guide. Whether you were born in May or simply want to gift someone who was, understanding the stories behind these blooms adds a depth no shop label can provide.

Lily of the Valley: The Primary May Birth Flower

Lily of the valley has been associated with May longer than almost any other floral tradition in the Western world. Its Latin name, Convallaria majalis, literally means “of the valley of May” — the month is written into its very scientific identity.

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The plant produces arching stems of nodding, bell-shaped white flowers above broad, lance-shaped leaves. It blooms for only a few weeks each spring, which makes every moment with it feel precious. That fleeting quality has shaped its symbolism profoundly: joy that arrives without warning, sweetness that you must savour while it lasts.

Symbolism: Return of Happiness

The most resonant meaning attached to lily of the valley is “return of happiness”. This phrase was codified by botanist Henry Phillips in his 1825 work Floral Emblems, though the sentiment predates his writing by centuries. In Christian legend, lily of the valley sprang from the tears Eve shed when she and Adam were expelled from Eden — a flower born of grief that bloomed into hope.

Its core symbolic cluster includes:

• Return of happiness — the defining meaning, ideal for someone recovering from illness, loss, or a difficult period
• Sweetness — its honeyed fragrance is among the most loved in all of floristry
• Humility — the flowers hang downward, as if bowing their heads
• Purity — white blooms have long carried connotations of innocence
• Good luck — particularly in French tradition (see below)

The French Fête du Muguet: May 1st Tradition

One of the most charming lily of the valley traditions comes from France. Every May 1st, the French give lily of the valley (called muguet) to friends and family as a token of luck and happiness for the coming year. The custom is so embedded in French culture that it is one of the few days when anyone — not just licensed florists — can legally sell flowers on the street without a permit.

The tradition dates to 1561, when King Charles IX received a sprig of lily of the valley as a lucky charm. He was so delighted that he began gifting it to the ladies of his court each May 1st, and the custom spread outward from there. Today, France sells approximately 60 million stems of lily of the valley around May 1st every year.

This makes lily of the valley one of the very few flowers to have an entire national holiday built around it — a remarkable honour that only deepens its symbolism as a flower of joy and renewal.

Lily of the Valley in Royal Bridal Bouquets

Lily of the valley has become the defining flower of royal bridal traditions:

• Queen Victoria carried lily of the valley in her 1840 wedding bouquet, cementing it as a bridal flower for generations to come
• Princess Diana included lily of the valley in her famous 1981 bouquet alongside gardenias, orchids, and yellow Mountbatten roses
• Kate Middleton (now Princess of Wales) chose lily of the valley as the centrepiece of her 2011 bouquet, designed by florist Shane Connolly to reflect the “return of happiness” language
• Meghan Markle also incorporated lily of the valley into her 2018 wedding flowers

This unbroken chain of royal brides choosing the same bloom over nearly two centuries is remarkable — and speaks to lily of the valley’s unique combination of fragrance, meaning, and elegance. For May brides especially, it remains an enduringly meaningful choice. See our guide to wedding flowers and their meanings for more inspiration.

Colour Meanings

White is the classic lily of the valley colour — pure, traditional, and deeply symbolic. However, a rare pink variety also exists:

• White (Convallaria majalis) — purity, happiness, new beginnings; the standard gifting choice
• Pink (Convallaria majalis ‘Rosea’) — all the warmth of white’s meaning plus a touch of rarity and extra affection; harder to find, which makes it a more personal gift

Toxicity Warning

Lily of the valley is beautiful but dangerous. All parts of the plant are highly toxic, including the flowers, leaves, stems, and berries. It contains cardiac glycosides — specifically convallarin and convallamarin — that can cause irregular heartbeat, dizziness, vomiting, and in severe cases, heart failure if ingested.

According to the Poison Control Center, even the water in a vase containing lily of the valley can be toxic. Keep this plant away from children and pets at all times. If ingestion is suspected, call Poison Control immediately at 1-800-222-1222.

This toxicity does not diminish its beauty or its symbolism — it simply means it should be admired, not tasted.

Hawthorn: May’s Secondary Birth Flower

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) is the second birth flower of May — and arguably the one most deeply woven into the landscape and folklore of the month itself. Its common name in British tradition is simply “May blossom” or “the May tree”, because its white flowers open almost exactly as the month begins.

As a plant, hawthorn is a thorny deciduous tree or shrub that forms some of the oldest living hedgerows in Britain and Ireland. In North America, native hawthorn species (Crataegus spp.) serve similar ecological roles. Its five-petalled white flowers have a distinctive, slightly fermented scent — intensely evocative of spring, though not universally beloved.

Symbolism: Hope, Protection, and Fertility

Hawthorn carries one of the most complex symbolic portfolios of any flowering plant:

• Hope — the sight of hawthorn in bloom has historically signalled that winter is definitively over
• Protection — thorns made hawthorn the classic hedgerow plant; symbolically, it guards what it surrounds
• Fertility and abundance — May Day traditions across Britain and Ireland centred on hawthorn blossoms
• Duality — hawthorn sits on the boundary between the mortal world and the fairy world in Celtic tradition; it can bring luck or misfortune depending on how it is treated

May Day Traditions: Bringing in the May

For centuries across Britain and Ireland, May Day (May 1st) was celebrated by going out at dawn to gather hawthorn blossoms — a custom known as “bringing in the May”. Young people would return with armfuls of blossom to decorate houses, barns, and the maypole. The May Queen — a young woman crowned with hawthorn — presided over the festivities as a symbol of the land’s renewed fertility.

These traditions are rooted in pre-Christian Celtic celebrations of Beltane, the fire festival marking the midpoint between spring equinox and summer solstice. Hawthorn was central to Beltane because its flowering coincided almost exactly with the festival date. The phrase “Ne’er cast a clout till May be out” — meaning don’t put away your winter clothes until hawthorn is in bloom — shows how thoroughly the plant defined the season for ordinary people.

Fairy Folklore: The Fairy Tree

In Irish and British folklore, a lone hawthorn growing in a field was considered a fairy tree — a meeting point between the human world and the otherworld. Cutting down a lone hawthorn was believed to bring serious misfortune, even death. This superstition was strong enough that in 1999, during the construction of the new road near Newmarket-on-Fergus in County Clare, Ireland, the route was reportedly altered to avoid cutting down a hawthorn tree — a decision attributed at least partly to respect for the fairy lore surrounding it.

This protective aura surrounding hawthorn reflects its deeper symbolism: it is not just a pretty flower but a threshold plant, one that marks boundaries and demands respect.

The Glastonbury Thorn

One of England’s most famous hawthorn legends centres on the Glastonbury Thorn — a hawthorn tree in Glastonbury, Somerset, said to have grown from the staff of Joseph of Arimathea when he thrust it into the ground on Wearyall Hill. Unlike ordinary hawthorns, the Glastonbury Thorn (Crataegus monogyna ‘Biflora’) flowers twice a year: in May and again around Christmas. A sprig is traditionally sent to the reigning British monarch each Christmas — a tradition maintained to this day.

Medicinal History

Beyond its folklore, hawthorn has a legitimate history as a heart tonic. The berries (haws), flowers, and leaves have been used in herbal medicine for centuries to support cardiovascular health. According to research published in the American Journal of Herbal Medicine, hawthorn extracts have been shown to dilate blood vessels and improve coronary circulation, though it should never replace prescribed medication. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew maintains extensive records of hawthorn’s ethnobotanical uses across European traditions.

Taurus and Gemini: May’s Zodiac Flowers

May spans two zodiac signs, and both birth flowers align with their personalities in interesting ways:

• Taurus (April 20 – May 20) — ruled by Venus and associated with beauty, sensuality, and loyalty. Lily of the valley’s sweetness, its fleeting beauty, and its long history of faithful bridal use resonate strongly with Taurean values.
• Gemini (May 21 – June 20) — ruled by Mercury and associated with duality, curiosity, and communication. Hawthorn’s dual nature — beautiful yet thorny, lucky yet dangerous to offend — reflects Gemini’s complexity perfectly.

Gifting Guide for May’s Birth Flowers

Knowing what to give and when to give it makes the difference between a generic bouquet and a genuinely meaningful gift.

Note on hawthorn as a cut flower: Hawthorn blossom can be brought indoors, but many people find its scent overpowering in an enclosed space. A small sprig in a country-style arrangement works beautifully — a full vase may be intense. Some also follow the old tradition of never bringing hawthorn indoors at all; if you’re gifting to someone with strong folk roots, it may be worth checking first.

Growing May’s Birth Flowers

Lily of the Valley Growing Tips

Lily of the valley is an excellent low-maintenance perennial for the right conditions. According to the Missouri Botanical Garden, it thrives in:

• USDA Zones: 3–7 (tolerates cold winters exceptionally well)
• Light: Partial to full shade — one of the few flowering plants that genuinely thrives under trees
• Soil: Moist, humus-rich, well-draining; add organic matter before planting
• Planting: Plant pips (rhizomes) 1–2 inches deep in autumn or early spring, 6 inches apart
• Spreading: Spreads by underground rhizomes — give it room or contain it with buried edging
• Water: Keep evenly moist; does not tolerate drought
• Toxicity: Wear gloves when handling; keep away from children and pets

Once established, lily of the valley forms dense, weed-suppressing groundcover that returns reliably each spring. It pairs beautifully with hostas, ferns, and bleeding heart in a shade garden.

Hawthorn Growing Tips

• USDA Zones: 4–8 (most common hawthorn species)
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Adaptable — tolerates clay, chalk, and poor soils once established
• Size: Typically 15–25 feet as a tree; can be kept smaller as a hedge
• Wildlife value: Outstanding — berries feed birds through winter; flowers support early pollinators
• Thorns: Handle with thick gloves; thorns can cause injury
• Hedge use: One of the best hedgerow plants for security and wildlife; plant 18 inches apart for a dense barrier

Birth Flowers by Month: Quick Reference

If you were born in a different month, or you’re shopping for someone who was, here is a complete guide to birth flowers through the year:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the May birth flower?

May has two birth flowers: lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) as the primary birth flower and hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) as the secondary. Lily of the valley is the most widely recognised and gifted of the two, symbolising the “return of happiness” and purity.

Is lily of the valley poisonous?

Yes — all parts of lily of the valley are toxic, including flowers, leaves, stems, berries, and even the water from a cut flower vase. It contains cardiac glycosides (convallarin and convallamarin) that are dangerous to humans, dogs, and cats. Call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) immediately if ingestion is suspected.

What does hawthorn symbolise?

Hawthorn symbolises hope, protection, fertility, and good fortune. In Celtic and British folk tradition, it is the defining flower of May Day and the “fairy tree” — a plant that marks the boundary between the human and spirit worlds. As a birth flower, it brings blessings of protection and new beginnings.

Can I grow lily of the valley in shade?

Yes — lily of the valley is one of the best flowering perennials for shady spots. It thrives in partial to full shade and is ideal under trees or on the north-facing side of a building. It grows in USDA Zones 3–7, tolerates cold winters exceptionally well, and spreads to form dense groundcover over time.

What is the best gift for a May birthday?

A bunch of lily of the valley — either from a florist or grown in your garden — is the most personal and meaningful gift for someone born in May. Its fragrance is uniquely evocative, its symbolism (“return of happiness”) is deeply felt, and its connection to May Day and royal bridal tradition gives it a story worth telling. Pair it with a note explaining the “return of happiness” meaning for a gift that lasts beyond the blooms.

Sources

• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — hawthorn ethnobotany and medicinal history
• Missouri Botanical Garden — Convallaria majalis cultivation and care
• Poison Control Center (ASPCA/American Association of Poison Control Centers) — lily of the valley toxicity
• Phillips, Henry (1825). Floral Emblems — “return of happiness” attribution for lily of the valley