August Birth Flower: Gladiolus and Poppy Meaning and Care

August is a month of big color in the garden, and its two birth flowers match the mood. The gladiolus sends up tall, sword-like spikes of ruffled flowers in almost every color. The poppy opens papery petals that flutter in the slightest breeze, then leaves behind a neat seed pod.

One flower is bold and upright. The other is delicate and fleeting. Both have deep roots in history, and both are easy to grow at home.

This guide explains what each August birth flower means, how color changes the message and how to grow both in a US garden. It also covers the August birthstone, the two August zodiac signs and gift ideas. For every month in one place, see our birth month flowers guide.

What Is the August Birth Flower?

August has two birth flowers. The gladiolus is the primary flower, and the poppy is the secondary flower. Most US birth flower charts list both. In the UK, the poppy is often given as the main August flower, but either one suits an August birthday.

The gladiolus earns its place by timing. Corms planted in spring reach full bloom in mid to late summer, and August is when gladiolus stems fill flower stands and county fair tables. Many poppies bloom earlier in summer, but they are tied to August through long tradition and their strong symbolism.

Flower	Botanical name	Main meaning	Flower color	Bloom season
Gladiolus	Gladiolus species and hybrids	Strength of character, integrity, remembrance	Almost every color except true blue	Summer, 70 to 100 days after planting
Poppy	Papaver species	Remembrance, peace, imagination	Red, orange, pink, white, yellow, purple	Late spring to midsummer

Gladiolus: August’s Primary Birth Flower

Gladiolus is a genus in the iris family, Iridaceae. There are around 300 wild species, and most come from South Africa, with others from the Mediterranean, Asia and tropical Africa. The big garden glads sold today are hybrids, often listed as Gladiolus × hortulanus.

How Gladiolus Got Its Name

The name comes from the Latin word gladius, which means sword. It refers to the long, sharp, sword-shaped leaves. Another common name is sword lily, even though the plant is not a true lily.

What Gladiolus Looks Like

Garden gladiolus grows 2 to 5 feet tall. Each stem carries a spike of 10 to 20 or more funnel-shaped flowers that open from the bottom up. Petals can be ruffled, frilled or plain, and many have a contrasting throat or blotch. Smaller types, such as Gladiolus nanus and the old Byzantine gladiolus, grow 18 to 30 inches tall and are hardier.

Gladiolus Meaning and Symbolism

The gladiolus stands for strength of character, integrity, sincerity and never giving up. Its tall, straight stem and sword shape gave it an image of courage and honor.

Gladiolus in History

In ancient Rome, gladiators were linked to the flower because of its sword shape. Stories say the crowd showered winning gladiators with gladiolus flowers, though this is more legend than record. In the Victorian language of flowers, a gladiolus could mean that the giver’s heart was pierced by love, a nod to the sword shape.

Today, gladiolus is also a flower of remembrance. Tall arrangements of white or soft-colored glads are common at memorial services, where the upright spikes suggest strength and respect.

Gladiolus Meaning by Color

• Red gladiolus: love, passion and strength.
• Pink gladiolus: admiration, kindness and gentle affection.
• White gladiolus: purity, innocence and remembrance.
• Yellow gladiolus: friendship, joy and cheer.
• Purple gladiolus: grace, charm and mystery.
• Orange gladiolus: energy and enthusiasm.

Poppy: August’s Second Birth Flower

Poppies belong to the poppy family, Papaveraceae. The best-known garden poppies are in the genus Papaver, which includes about 70 to 100 species. They have four to six papery petals, a ring of dark stamens and a round seed pod topped with a flat cap.

Common Types of Poppies

• Corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas): the red field poppy of Europe, an annual. Shirley poppies are a garden strain in pink, white and soft shades.
• Oriental poppy (Papaver orientale): a long-lived perennial with huge flowers in late spring. Hardy in Zones 3 to 7.
• Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule): a short-lived perennial grown as a cool-season annual, great for cutting.
• Breadseed poppy (Papaver somniferum): an annual grown for its large flowers and edible seeds.
• California poppy (Eschscholzia californica): a bright orange annual in a related genus and the state flower of California.

Poppy Meaning and Symbolism

The poppy stands for remembrance, peace, sleep and imagination. Its meaning depends a lot on the color and the culture.

The Remembrance Poppy

During World War I, red corn poppies bloomed across the churned-up fields of Flanders in Belgium and northern France. The Canadian doctor John McCrae wrote the poem “In Flanders Fields” in 1915 after the death of a friend, and its opening line about poppies blowing between the crosses made the flower famous. After the war, the red poppy became a symbol of fallen soldiers.

In the US, the American Legion adopted the poppy as its memorial flower in 1920. Many Americans wear a red poppy around Memorial Day, and National Poppy Day falls on the Friday before Memorial Day. In the UK, Canada and other Commonwealth nations, poppies are worn in the weeks before Remembrance Day on November 11.

Poppies, Sleep and Dreams

In ancient Greece and Rome, the poppy was tied to sleep and dreams. Hypnos, the god of sleep, and Morpheus, the god of dreams, were often shown with poppies. This link comes from the breadseed or opium poppy, Papaver somniferum, whose name means sleep-bringing poppy. In art, a poppy often stands for rest, peace or death as a long sleep.

Poppy Meaning by Color

• Red poppy: remembrance, sacrifice and also romantic love.
• White poppy: peace and remembrance of all those lost in war.
• Yellow poppy: wealth, success and happiness.
• Pink poppy: gentle love and imagination.
• Purple poppy: imagination and luxury. In the UK, it also honors animals lost in war.

How to Grow Gladiolus

Gladiolus is one of the easiest summer bulbs. It grows from a corm, a round, flat storage organ similar to a bulb.

When to Plant Gladiolus Corms

Plant corms outdoors in spring, about two weeks after your last frost date, once the soil has warmed. Glads flower about 70 to 100 days after planting, depending on the variety. For flowers all summer long, plant a new batch every two weeks until early summer. A planting in early July can still bloom in many areas before fall frost.

Site and Soil

• Light: full sun, at least 6 to 8 hours a day.
• Soil: loose, well-drained soil. Corms rot in heavy, wet clay.
• Shelter: a spot out of strong wind, since tall stems can blow over.

How to Plant the Corms

1. Choose large, firm corms with a pointed tip. Avoid soft or moldy ones.
2. Dig holes or a trench 4 to 6 inches deep. Plant a little deeper in light, sandy soil.
3. Set each corm pointed side up, 4 to 6 inches apart.
4. Cover with soil and water well.
5. Add a short row of stakes or a net at planting time if you grow tall varieties.

Watering, Feeding and Staking

Give gladiolus about 1 inch of water a week, more in hot, dry spells. Feed with a balanced fertilizer when the shoots are about 6 inches tall, and again when flower spikes appear. Tall varieties need support. Tie stems loosely to stakes, or mound soil around the base of each plant to help hold it up.

Cutting Gladiolus for the Vase

Cut stems when the lowest two or three flowers show color. Leave at least four leaves on the plant so the corm can build up energy for next year. In a vase, the buds open one by one up the spike for about a week. Pinch off the faded flowers at the bottom to keep the stem tidy. Glads are a great choice for a cut flower garden.

Overwintering the Corms

Most large hybrid glads are hardy in Zones 8 to 10. In colder areas, dig the corms after the leaves turn yellow in fall, or about six weeks after flowering. Cut off the leaves, let the corms dry in an airy place for two to three weeks, then remove the old, shriveled corm at the base. Store the new corms in a mesh bag in a cool, dry place around 40 to 50°F until spring.

Common Gladiolus Problems

Thrips are the most common pest. These tiny insects cause silvery streaks on leaves and spoil flower buds. Remove badly affected plants, and before storing corms, treat or discard any that show damage. Corm rot is the other main problem and usually comes from wet soil or poor storage. Plant only firm, healthy corms in well-drained soil.

How to Grow Poppies

Poppies are easy from seed, as long as you sow them in the right place and at the right time.

When to Sow Poppy Seeds

Annual poppies, such as corn, Shirley and breadseed poppies, like cool weather to germinate. Sow them in fall in mild climates, or in late winter to early spring elsewhere. Many gardeners scatter seed over snow or frozen soil in late winter. The freezing and thawing helps the seeds settle in.

How to Sow

Poppy seeds are tiny and need light to sprout. Scatter them thinly over raked soil and press them in gently. Do not cover them, or cover them with only the lightest dusting of soil. Mixing the seed with fine sand helps you spread it evenly. Keep the surface moist until the seedlings appear.

Site, Spacing and Care

• Light: full sun.
• Soil: average, well drained. Poppies do well in poor soil.
• Spacing: thin annual poppies to 6 to 12 inches apart.
• Watering: water seedlings in dry spells, then water only during drought.

Poppies have a long taproot and hate being moved. Sow them where they will grow. If you buy Oriental poppies in pots, plant them out without disturbing the roots.

After Flowering

Deadhead annual poppies for more flowers, or leave the pods to ripen if you want the plants to self-sow. Oriental poppies die back after flowering in early summer and leave a gap. Plant late perennials nearby to fill the space. Dried poppy pods also look lovely in arrangements. Our guide on how to dry flowers shows how to dry them.

Are Gladiolus and Poppies Poisonous?

Both plants can cause harm if eaten. The ASPCA lists gladiolus as toxic to dogs, cats and horses, with the corms being the most toxic part. Poppies contain alkaloids that can upset the stomach and affect the nervous system in pets.

Keep corms, seed pods and cut flowers out of reach of pets and young children. Store gladiolus corms where curious dogs cannot dig them out. If you think a person has eaten part of one of these plants, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

August Birthstone and Zodiac Signs

August has three birthstones. Peridot is a bright lime-green gem linked to strength and good fortune. Spinel comes in many colors, from red to blue, and stands for renewal. Sardonyx is a banded stone of red and white layers, tied to courage and protection.

People born from August 1 to August 22 are Leo, a fire sign known for confidence and warmth. Those born from August 23 to August 31 are Virgo, an earth sign known for being practical and kind.

August Birth Flower Gift Ideas

Fresh Flowers

A tall bouquet of gladiolus makes a bold birthday gift. Choose the color by meaning: red for love, yellow for friendship or pink for admiration. Iceland poppies make a lovely cut flower too. Sear the stem ends in boiling water for a few seconds to help them last.

Gifts That Keep Growing

• A bag of gladiolus corms in mixed colors, ready for spring planting.
• A packet of Shirley poppy seeds with sowing tips.
• A potted Oriental poppy for a perennial bed.
• A peridot piece of jewelry, paired with a small poppy posy.

For tips on putting a bouquet together, see our beginner’s guide to flower arranging. For the month before, read about the July birth flower.

Fun Facts About the August Birth Flowers

• Gladiolus flowers open from the bottom of the spike to the top.
• Many wild gladiolus species from South Africa are pollinated by sunbirds, long-tongued flies or moths.
• Poppy seeds can stay alive in the soil for many years and sprout when the ground is disturbed. This is why poppies bloomed on the battlefields of World War I.
• A single poppy pod can hold hundreds of tiny seeds.
• The California poppy closes its petals at night and on cloudy days.

August Birth Flower FAQs

What is the August birth flower?

August has two birth flowers. The gladiolus is the primary August birth flower, and the poppy is the secondary flower. The gladiolus stands for strength of character, integrity and remembrance. The poppy stands for remembrance, peace and imagination.

What does the gladiolus symbolize?

The gladiolus symbolizes strength of character, integrity, sincerity and remembrance. Its name comes from the Latin word for sword, a nod to its sharp leaves. Color adds detail: red means love, pink means admiration, white means purity and yellow means friendship.

Why is the poppy a symbol of remembrance?

Red poppies bloomed across the battlefields of Flanders during World War I. John McCrae’s 1915 poem “In Flanders Fields” made them a symbol of fallen soldiers. Today, people wear red poppies in the US around Memorial Day and in Commonwealth countries before Remembrance Day.

When should I plant gladiolus bulbs?

Plant gladiolus corms in spring, about two weeks after the last frost, once the soil has warmed. Plant them 4 to 6 inches deep in full sun. For flowers all summer, plant a new batch every two weeks until early summer.

Do gladiolus come back every year?

In Zones 8 to 10, most garden gladiolus come back each year if left in the ground. In colder zones, the corms will not survive winter outdoors. Dig them up in fall, dry them and store them in a cool, dry place until spring.

How do you grow poppies from seed?

Scatter poppy seeds on the soil surface in fall or early spring and press them in lightly. Do not bury them, since they need light to sprout. Grow them in full sun and sow them where they will flower, because poppies do not like to be moved.

What is the August birthstone?

August has three birthstones: peridot, spinel and sardonyx. Peridot is the best known, a lime-green gem linked to strength and good fortune. People born from August 1 to August 22 are Leo, and those born from August 23 to August 31 are Virgo.