July Birth Flower: Larkspur and Water Lily Meaning

July sits at the heart of summer, and its two birth flowers show two sides of the season. Larkspur rises in tall, airy spikes of blue, purple, pink and white in cottage gardens. The water lily floats on still ponds, opening its starry flowers to the sun each morning and closing them by late afternoon.

One is a flower of open meadows and the other of calm water. Together, they make a lovely pair for anyone born in the hottest month of the year.

This guide explains what each July birth flower means, how color changes the message, where the flowers come from and how to grow both at home. It also covers July’s birthstone, the two July zodiac signs and gift ideas. For every month in one place, see our birth month flowers guide.

What Is the July Birth Flower?

July has two birth flowers. Larkspur is the traditional primary flower, and the water lily is the secondary flower. Most US birth flower charts list both, so either one suits a July birthday.

Both flowers earn their spot through timing. In much of the country, larkspur sown the fall before is in full bloom by early summer. Water lilies need warm water to flower freely, so July is when ponds and tubs are at their best. Hardy water lilies may start in late spring, but tropical types wait for the heat of July.

Flower	Botanical name	Main meaning	Flower color	Bloom season
Larkspur	Consolida ajacis and relatives	Open heart, lightness, positivity	Blue, purple, pink, white	Late spring to midsummer
Water lily	Nymphaea species and hybrids	Purity, peace, rebirth	White, pink, red, yellow, blue, purple	Early summer to early fall

Larkspur: July’s Primary Birth Flower

Larkspur is an annual in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. The most common garden type is rocket larkspur, Consolida ajacis. Botanists once grouped it with delphinium, and some still list it as Delphinium ajacis. The two plants look alike, but larkspur is an annual with finer, feathery leaves, while most delphiniums are perennials with broad, lobed leaves.

Where Larkspur Comes From

Wild larkspur grows across southern Europe, North Africa and western Asia, where it pops up in grain fields and dry meadows. It has been grown in gardens for centuries and has escaped into fields and roadsides in parts of North America. Forking larkspur, Consolida regalis, is a close cousin with looser, branching sprays of deep blue flowers.

How Larkspur Got Its Name

Each flower has a long spur at the back that holds nectar. Early gardeners thought the spur looked like the long hind claw of a lark, and the name stuck. Other old names include lark’s heel and lark’s claw. The French call it pied d’alouette, which means lark’s foot.

What Larkspur Looks Like

Rocket larkspur grows 1 to 4 feet tall, with upright spikes packed with small flowers. Each flower has five colorful sepals, one of which forms the spur. Leaves are split into fine, thread-like segments that give the plant a soft, airy look. Flowers come in true blue, violet, lavender, rose, pink and white.

Larkspur Meaning and Symbolism

The broad meaning of larkspur is an open heart, lightness of spirit and positive feelings. The tall, upright spikes and bright colors gave it a cheerful, carefree image. In birth flower guides, larkspur is said to suit July babies who are warm, playful and easy to like.

Larkspur Meaning by Color

Color changes the message. These are the meanings most often given in flower books and florist guides:

• Blue larkspur: grace, dignity and an open heart.
• Purple larkspur: first love. Some older books also tie it to haughtiness.
• Pink larkspur: fickleness in Victorian flower books, though today it is often given simply as a sign of affection.
• White larkspur: joy and a happy, light spirit.

Larkspur in the Language of Flowers

Victorian flower dictionaries listed larkspur under lightness and levity. A posy with larkspur was a light, friendly message rather than a deep declaration. If you want a stronger message of love for a gift, pair larkspur with roses, the June birth flower.

Larkspur in Folklore

Old European folklore links larkspur to protection. People once believed it could keep away scorpions and other stinging creatures. There is also a legend from the Greek myths: when the hero Ajax died, a flower grew from his blood with marks that looked like the letters “AI”, a cry of grief. This is where the species name ajacis comes from, though the story is also told about other flowers.

Water Lily: July’s Second Birth Flower

Water lilies belong to the genus Nymphaea, in the family Nymphaeaceae. They are one of the oldest groups of flowering plants still alive today. The name comes from the nymphs of Greek myth, the spirits that lived in springs, rivers and lakes.

Hardy and Tropical Water Lilies

There are two main groups. Hardy water lilies survive winter in ponds that do not freeze solid and come back each spring. Their flowers float on the water and open by day. Tropical water lilies need warm water and are treated as annuals in most of the US. They hold their flowers above the water, often have a strong scent and include the only true blue water lilies. Some tropical types even open at night.

Water Lily or Lotus?

Water lilies are often confused with the lotus, but they are different plants. A water lily leaf has a deep notch and floats flat on the water. A lotus leaf is round, has no notch and is often held high above the water. The lotus also forms a seed pod that looks like a showerhead. If you have a pond and want to grow one, see our full guide on how to grow hardy and tropical water lilies.

Water Lily Meaning and Symbolism

The water lily stands for purity, peace and rebirth. Its flowers rise clean and bright from muddy water, close at night and open again in the morning. That daily cycle made the water lily a symbol of renewal in many cultures.

Water Lily Meaning by Color

• White water lily: purity, innocence and peace.
• Pink water lily: joy, friendship and gentle love.
• Red water lily: passion and deep feeling.
• Yellow water lily: new beginnings and happiness.
• Blue water lily: wisdom and calm.

Water Lilies in History and Art

In ancient Egypt, the blue water lily, Nymphaea caerulea, was a sacred flower. Because it opened at sunrise and closed at sunset, it was tied to the sun and to rebirth. It appears in tomb paintings and was used in temple offerings. Many old texts call it a lotus, which adds to the confusion between the two plants.

Much later, the French painter Claude Monet made the water lily famous all over the world. He built a water garden at his home in Giverny and painted his water lilies around 250 times in the last decades of his life.

How to Grow Larkspur

Larkspur is one of the easiest annuals to grow from seed, as long as you follow its one big rule. It wants cool weather to sprout and grow, and it hates being moved.

When to Sow Larkspur

• Zones 7 and warmer: sow in fall, from October to December. The seedlings sit through winter and bloom in late spring.
• Zones 6 and colder: sow in very early spring, as soon as you can work the soil. A light frost will not harm the seedlings.
• Succession: sow a second batch two to three weeks later for a longer show.

How to Sow the Seeds

Larkspur seeds sprout best in cool soil, around 50 to 65°F, and in darkness. Cover them with about 1/8 inch of fine soil and press it down lightly. Keep the soil moist until seedlings appear, which often takes two to three weeks. Many growers chill the seeds in the fridge for a week or two before a spring sowing to help them along.

Sow straight into the bed where the plants will flower. Larkspur forms a long taproot, and seedlings raised in pots often sulk or die when planted out. If you must start them indoors, use deep cells and move them while they are small.

Site, Soil and Spacing

• Light: full sun, or light afternoon shade in hot climates.
• Soil: well drained and average. Rich soil makes soft, floppy stems.
• Spacing: thin seedlings to 8 to 12 inches apart.
• Support: tall types benefit from a net or twiggy stakes in windy spots.

Care Through the Season

Water during dry spells, but do not keep the soil soggy. Larkspur needs little or no fertilizer. Cut the main spikes for vases to encourage side shoots. Once summer heat arrives, the plants fade and go to seed. You can pull them, or let a few seed heads ripen so the plants self-sow for next year.

Common Problems

Powdery mildew can coat the leaves in humid weather, especially late in the season. Good spacing and morning watering help. Slugs may chew young seedlings, and aphids sometimes gather on the stems. Most problems appear only when the plants are nearly done, so they rarely spoil the main bloom.

Larkspur in the Vase and Dried

Larkspur is a classic cut flower. Pick stems when the bottom third of the flowers are open, and they will last a week or more in water. It also dries beautifully and keeps its color well. Hang small bunches upside down in a dark, airy room for two to three weeks. Our guide on how to dry flowers covers the method step by step.

How to Grow a Water Lily

You do not need a large pond to grow a water lily. A sunny tub or half barrel that holds 15 to 25 gallons is enough for a small hardy variety.

Light and Water Needs

Water lilies need at least 6 hours of direct sun to flower well. They also need still water, so keep them away from fountains and waterfalls. Most hardy types grow well with 6 to 18 inches of water over the top of the pot. Miniature types are happy with less.

Planting a Water Lily

1. Choose a wide, shallow pot with no drainage holes, or a fabric aquatic basket.
2. Fill it two thirds full with heavy garden soil or aquatic soil. Do not use potting mix, which floats.
3. Set the rhizome at an angle with the growing tip facing up and just above the soil.
4. Top the soil with a layer of washed pea gravel to hold it in place.
5. Lower the pot slowly into the water, starting shallow and moving it deeper as the leaves grow.

Feeding and Care

Push aquatic fertilizer tablets into the soil once a month during the growing season. Remove yellow leaves and spent flowers to keep the water clean. Divide crowded plants every two to three years in spring.

Winter Care

In Zones 4 to 10, hardy water lilies can stay in the pond if the water does not freeze down to the roots. Move the pot to the deepest part of the pond in fall. Tropical water lilies are usually grown as annuals, or their small tubers are lifted and stored in damp sand indoors.

Is Larkspur Poisonous?

Yes. All parts of larkspur contain toxic alkaloids, and the seeds have the highest levels. Eating the plant can cause stomach upset, and large amounts can affect the heart and muscles. Larkspur is a well-known cause of poisoning in cattle on western ranges. The ASPCA lists larkspur as toxic to dogs, cats and horses.

Wear gloves if you have sensitive skin, keep cut flowers out of reach of pets and young children, and never use the plant as a home remedy. If you think a person has eaten larkspur, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Water lilies are generally considered low risk, but it is still best not to let pets chew them.

July Birthstone and Zodiac Signs

July’s birthstone is the ruby, a deep red gem that stands for love, passion and courage. A ruby set beside a blue larkspur is a striking color pairing for a July gift.

People born from July 1 to July 22 are Cancer, a water sign known for being caring and loyal. The water lily is a fitting flower for them. Those born from July 23 to July 31 are Leo, a fire sign known for warmth and confidence, which suits the bold spikes of larkspur.

July Birth Flower Gift Ideas

There are plenty of ways to give the July birth flowers, even if you cannot hand over a pond.

Fresh and Dried Bouquets

A summer bouquet of blue and white larkspur with garden roses or sweet peas is classic and easy to find from florists in early summer. Dried larkspur keeps its color for months and works well in wreaths and small posies.

Gifts That Keep Growing

• A packet of larkspur seeds with a note to sow them in fall.
• A miniature water lily in a glazed pot for a patio.
• A framed botanical print of larkspur or water lilies.
• A ruby piece of jewelry, paired with a small bunch of larkspur.

For more ideas on putting flowers together, see our beginner’s guide to flower arranging.

Fun Facts About the July Birth Flowers

• Larkspur seeds need darkness to sprout, which is why they must be covered with soil.
• The spur on each larkspur flower holds nectar that only long-tongued insects, such as bumblebees, can reach.
• Water lilies are among the oldest flowering plant groups on Earth.
• The giant Amazon water lily, Victoria amazonica, has leaves that can grow over 8 feet across.
• Some tropical water lilies open at night and close by midmorning.
• Monet painted his Giverny water lilies around 250 times.

July Birth Flower FAQs

What is the July birth flower?

July has two birth flowers. Larkspur is the primary July birth flower, and the water lily is the secondary flower. Larkspur stands for an open heart, lightness and positive feelings. The water lily stands for purity, peace and rebirth. Larkspur blooms in early summer, and water lilies are at their best in the warm days of July.

What does larkspur symbolize?

Larkspur symbolizes an open heart, lightness of spirit and positivity. Color adds detail: blue means grace and dignity, purple means first love, white means joy, and pink was linked to fickleness in Victorian flower books. Today, larkspur is mostly given as a cheerful, friendly flower.

What does the water lily symbolize?

The water lily symbolizes purity, peace, rebirth and enlightenment. Its flowers rise clean from muddy water and open each morning, which made it a sign of renewal. In ancient Egypt, the blue water lily was a sacred flower tied to the sun.

Is larkspur the same as delphinium?

Larkspur and delphinium are close relatives in the buttercup family and look alike, but they are not the same plant. Larkspur (Consolida) is an annual with fine, feathery leaves that you grow from seed each year. Most garden delphiniums are perennials with broader, lobed leaves and bigger flower spikes.

When should I plant larkspur seeds?

In Zones 7 and warmer, sow larkspur seeds outdoors in fall so they bloom the next spring. In colder zones, sow them in very early spring as soon as the soil can be worked. Larkspur likes cool soil and dislikes being moved, so sow it where it will flower.

Is larkspur poisonous to pets?

Yes. All parts of larkspur are toxic to dogs, cats and horses, and the seeds are the most toxic part. Keep plants and cut flowers out of reach, and call your vet or a pet poison hotline right away if you think your pet has eaten any.

What is the July birthstone?

The July birthstone is the ruby, a red gem linked to love, passion and courage. People born from July 1 to July 22 are Cancer, and those born from July 23 to July 31 are Leo.