August, with its sultry late summer days, is reflected in its birth flowers, the poppy and the gladiolus. These blooms are known for their intense colors and dramatic appearances, making them perfect representatives of the season. While every month boasts two birth flowers, it’s not always the case that both are ideal for bouquets. However, August is unique in that both poppies and gladioli are celebrated in floral arrangements.

Putting flowers with birth months is a practice that goes back to ancient Rome and is now loved worldwide. Having two flowers representing each month gives you more choices when making a unique party bouquet. This variety gives you many options for flower types, bright colors, and meaningful meanings that can be tailored to the specific genus, variety, and color of the flowers.

 

Primary August Birth Flower: Gladiolus (Gladiolus)

The gladiolus, also known as the “sword lily,” is the birth flower for august. It is famous for its beautiful, tall flower spikes and bright, strong colors, which remind you of late summer. This august flower comes in many beautiful colors, such as red, pink, white, yellow, and purple, making it a great choice for any flower design.

 

Gladiolus Symbolism

Gladiolus is one of the birth flower august and has a deep meaning. It is also the usual flower for 40th wedding anniversaries and stands for love and loyalty. In Victorian flower language, called floriography, the gladiolus was thought to strike the heart with love. It stood for love at first sight, magic, and loyalty. In addition to love, the gladiolus stands for intelligence, good character, and remembering things.

The vibrant colors of gladioli add nuanced meanings:

• Pink: Represents a mother’s love, making it perfect for moms born in August.
• Yellow:Symbolizes friendship and joy, ideal for that steadfast friend.
• White:Conveys innocence.
• Purple:Denotes beauty and good fortune.

 

A bouquet featuring gladioli can convey the perfect sentiment, making it a meaningful gift for your favorite August baby.

 

Gladiolus Varieties

With over 250 species, gladiolus offers a stunning array of choices. Here are a few notable varieties:

• Jester: Features ruffled bright yellow petals with a striking crimson throat.
• Black Beauty:Showcases dark maroon petals with edges so dark they appear almost black.
• Pastel Mix:Includes blooms in soft shades of lavender, pink, peach, yellow, and white.
• Parrot Mix: Displays contrasting colors on the petal tips and throats, creating a vibrant mix of hues.

 

Gladiolus History and Trivia

Gladiolus flowers are loved all over the world for their artistic beauty. They are native to South Africa. In some African countries, these flowers are also made and eaten as veggies, which is pretty cool.

The Latin word “gladius,” which means sword, is where the name “gladiolus” comes from. In ancient Rome, these flowers were linked to gladiators and stood for success and strength. They were often given to fighters who won a battle. Gladiolus plants were brought to Europe in the 1600s. They became very popular in the 1800s and 1900s when floriography became famous.

 

Secondary August Birth Flower: Poppy (Papaver)

The poppy birth flower, formally called Papaver, is August’s second flower. Its bright and delicate flowers symbolize beauty and strength. This beautiful flower has enchanted people for hundreds of years, and it does more than just look nice.

 

Poppy Symbolism

A lot of people wear poppies and gladioli on Memorial Day to remember loved ones. In many cultures, poppies have important meanings concerning sleep, death, rebirth, dreams, and the mind. The opium poppy and its drug-like effects are what connect these two things.

The color of a poppy adds another level of meaning, which can be helpful when picking out birthday flowers for someone who doesn’t have a favorite color. White poppies signify care and sorrow so that they can be used in tribute arrangements. Happiness is represented by red poppies, love that isn’t romantic by pink, health and well-being by orange, and success by yellow.

 

Poppy Varieties

Poppies are a large and bright group of flowers in many shapes and colors. Because they can grow in various temperatures and settings, their names often reflect where they came from and the best conditions for developing them.

• California Poppies:California poppies are native to the west coast of the United States. They come in many colors: pink, orange, yellow, cream, and purple. These bright flowers do very well in their original environment, which is hot and dry.
• Oriental Poppies:Oriental poppies can have flowers that are 9 to 10 inches across. They are known for their beautiful flowers, which come in a beautiful range of colors that make them stand out in any yard.
• Opium Poppies:Opium poppies are unique because their flowers come in various colors and sizes. The Drama Queen type stands out with its blue and red petals that are edged with white and have a pale yellow-green center.
• Himalayan Poppies: The Himalayan poppy is one of the most beautiful and rare types of flower. This genuine blue flower is found at the high elevations of the Himalayas. It is rare and has big, papery flowers that make it stand out. It is also notoriously hard to grow outside of its original mountain habitat.

 

Poppy History and Trivia

Poppies have a long history that goes back to Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece, among other places. In these societies, poppies were linked to sleep, death, and the afterlife. Interestingly, only the opium poppy has been used as medicine because of its narcotic qualities. People have been using opium to treat pain since ancient Mesopotamia.

Poppy flowers have always been of interest to artists because they do so well in their natural environments. Famous artists like Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, and Georgia O’Keeffe often got ideas from these beautiful flowers and painted them in large parts in still life and plein air works.

 

Conclusion

As August’s birth flower, the gladiolus and poppy each have their unique mix of beauty, history, and meaning. With its tall stems and bright flowers, the gladiolus stands for power, honor, and memory, making it a perfect gift for people born in July. On the other hand, the poppy, with its delicate flowers and long history in old cultures, stands for rest, peace, and comfort. It adds a bit of wonder and depth to August’s events.

The Gladiolus and Poppy are important flowers to honor the month of August, whether you’re giving a bunch to someone born in August or just enjoying their beauty. Enjoy their beauty and meaning, and let them add a bit of class and meaning to your August events.