If you were born in July, your birth month gifts you not one but two stunning flowers to call your own, the larkspur and the water lily. Both blooms carry centuries of symbolism, folklore, and quiet beauty that make them a meaningful choice for birthdays, anniversaries, or just a thoughtful gesture for someone special. As a trusted florist in Altona, we love helping locals discover the stories behind seasonal and monthly birth flowers, and July’s picks are two of the most fascinating in the calendar. Whether you’re planning a birthday surprise, choosing a gift for a loved one, or simply want to learn more about these blooms before ordering, here is everything you need to know about larkspur and water lily, and how to bring their meaning into a bouquet.
The Story Behind Larkspur
Larkspur gets its unusual name from the shape of its petals, which resemble the spur on a lark’s foot. Tall, spiky, and dramatic, larkspur blooms in shades of purple, pink, white, and blue, often standing as the showstopper in a mixed arrangement. In Greek mythology, the flower is said to have sprung from the blood of the fallen warrior Ajax, giving it a long association with courage and strong bonds. Ancient gardeners also prized larkspur for its striking height, using it to add drama and vertical interest to summer borders long before it became a florist’s favourite for cut arrangements.
Across different cultures, larkspur has taken on slightly different meanings, but a few themes remain consistent. Purple larkspur is often linked to first love and admiration, while pink varieties represent fickleness or a change of heart, and white larkspur symbolises a happy nature and joyful spirit. Because of this range, larkspur is a wonderfully versatile choice depending on the sentiment you want to express. Some gift givers choose a single colour to keep the message focused, while others blend two or three shades together to create a bouquet that tells a fuller story.
Some of the qualities associated with larkspur include
- Strong bonds of love and positive energy
- An open heart and lightness of being
- Protection and good fortune, especially in older folklore
- Reverence, particularly for those celebrating a July birthday
Larkspur also happens to be a beautiful garden flower, thriving in cooler months and adding height and texture to any bouquet. Paired with softer, rounder blooms, it creates a striking contrast that many of our Altona customers love for birthday arrangements. Florists often use larkspur as a natural frame around a bouquet, letting the spikes rise above roses, lilies, or native flowers to give the whole design a sense of movement.
The Elegance of Water Lily
The water lily is July’s second birth flower, and it could not be more different from the larkspur in form, while sharing an equally rich symbolic history. Floating gracefully on still water, the water lily has been treasured for thousands of years, appearing in ancient Egyptian art, Buddhist teachings, and Monet’s most famous paintings. Its serene, layered petals have made it a favourite subject for artists and poets across generations, each drawn to the quiet stillness the flower seems to carry with it.
In many traditions, the water lily represents purity, rebirth, and enlightenment. Because it rises from murky water to bloom in pristine form each morning, it has long been seen as a symbol of resilience and transformation, rising above difficulty to reveal something beautiful. In Egyptian mythology, the water lily, or lotus, was closely tied to the sun and the idea of new beginnings, since the flower closes at night and reopens with the morning light, a daily cycle that ancient cultures read as a metaphor for hope renewing itself.
Water lilies also carry meanings of
- Peace and tranquillity
- Spiritual growth and enlightenment
- Devotion and pure intentions
- A fresh start or new chapter in life
Because true water lilies are aquatic and not typically used in cut flower arrangements, many florists incorporate visually similar blooms, such as lilies or lotus inspired designs, to capture the same serene, elegant feeling in a bouquet. Soft whites, gentle pinks, and creamy tones work particularly well when you want to echo the calm, graceful character of the water lily without needing the flower itself.
Why Larkspur and Water Lily Make a Meaningful July Gift
Together, larkspur and water lily tell a beautiful story for anyone celebrating a July birthday. Larkspur brings boldness, love, and vibrant colour, while the water lily brings calm, purity, and quiet strength. Combining the two, or gifting either on its own, is a thoughtful way to celebrate someone born in this month, whether you are marking a milestone birthday or simply want to brighten their day. It is a gift with a story built in, one that gives the recipient something to learn about themselves as well as something beautiful to enjoy.
A July birthday bouquet featuring larkspur alongside seasonal greenery and soft, rounded blooms creates a naturally balanced arrangement, one that feels both celebratory and heartfelt. If you are shopping for someone who loves symbolism and meaning behind their gifts, sharing the story of their birth flowers alongside the bouquet adds a lovely personal touch, and makes the gesture feel considered rather than last minute, even if you did order it that morning.
How to Style a July Birthday Bouquet
If you want to build a bouquet around these two birth flowers, start with larkspur as your structural element, letting its tall spikes set the height and shape of the arrangement. From there, layer in softer, rounded blooms in whites and pale pinks to nod to the water lily’s calm, layered petals. Finish with a touch of seasonal greenery to soften the overall look and tie the colours together. This kind of layered design gives a bouquet real depth, so it reads as thoughtful rather than uniform, and it photographs beautifully for anyone who likes to share their gifts online.
Celebrate July Birthdays with Wildberry Flowers
Whether you are marking a July birthday or simply want to send a bouquet rich with meaning, Wildberry Flowers is here to help you choose the perfect arrangement. Our Altona studio hand crafts every bouquet with fresh, seasonal blooms, and we offer reliable same day flower delivery in Altona for those last minute surprises, order online before 12pm and we will take care of the rest. We also proudly deliver to Altona Meadows, Altona North, Seaholme, Laverton, Williams Landing, Point Cook, Williamstown, Newport, Port Melbourne, Truganina, Sunshine, Sunshine West, and the surrounding suburbs.
Ready to order? Visit us online, call our friendly team at (03) 9398 1955, or drop by our Blyth Street studio in person. You can also visit our Google Business Profile to see what our happy customers are saying and browse recent reviews before you order.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the birth flower for July?
July has two birth flowers, the larkspur and the water lily, each carrying its own symbolism of love, courage, purity, and renewal.
2. What does larkspur symbolise?
Larkspur is generally associated with strong bonds, positive energy, and an open heart, with specific meanings varying slightly by colour.
3. Can I get a bouquet with larkspur for a July birthday?
Yes, larkspur is a popular seasonal addition to birthday bouquets and can be combined with other blooms to create a colourful, personalised arrangement.
4. Are water lilies used in cut flower bouquets?
True water lilies are aquatic plants and are rarely used as cut flowers, but similar blooms can be chosen to reflect the same peaceful, elegant symbolism.
5. How far in advance should I order a birth flower bouquet?
For a specific colour palette or a larger arrangement, ordering a day or two ahead gives us time to source the best seasonal stems, though same day orders are always welcome for last minute celebrations.