August Birth Flowers & Meanings – Gladioli & Poppies
Birthdays can be exquisite occasions for celebration. More often than not, what we all find amusing is the natural traits a person has attributed to their birth month. Did you know that many individuals believe in flowers and their hidden meanings distributed to all twelve months of a year, which in turn are associated with their historical background?
Let us examine Augustians – not the bigots who followed St. Augustine – but those who took birth in August. The term August implies the strong will and greatness of an exceptionally confident leader. The two flowers, namely Gladioli and Poppy, that are assigned to August are our topics of discussion for today.
That’s right! You will have the opportunity to learn about what makes these flowers so special and unique.
Gladiolus: Primary Plant of August
Hang in there! Before revealing the magical side of Gladiolus, you should be aware of its etymological significance. The word ‘Gladiolus’ has been derived from the Latin word Gladius which literally means ‘sword’. If you look closely at them, you will find that they are structurally sword-shaped, which is also why they are sometimes referred to as ‘sword lilies (although they are nowhere close to lilies).
Belonging to the category of perennial Cormus plants, gladioli can make it beyond two years. As suggestive of its name, the flower has a corm which is a swollen plant stem used as an organ for storage. It helps the plants to sustain themselves through the rough climate of the winter season and other harsh conditions.
While we’re at it, wouldn’t it be wise to know the names of the places where these plants are located? Well, as a genus of the iris family, Gladiolus is present in Mediterranean Europe, Asia, South Africa, and tropical Africa. But, if paid close attention, the only area that is heavily covered with these plants is the Cape Floristic Region (South Africa).
Even though there are around 300 species available in a wide range of chromatic varieties such as pink, yellow, orange, white, and red, and they all have hidden meanings to them, in general, Gladiolus symbolizes faithfulness, integrity, and remembrance in the context of 40th marriage anniversary.
Henceforth, we shall explore the symbolic significance that every color possesses:
Pink Gladiolus
Gladioli that are pink in color represent platonic love, and so, it deserves to be an emotional exchange between a mother and her daughter.
Yellow and orange Gladiolus
Yellow and orange gladioli are both suitable for gifting to your loved ones because they stand for friendship, positivity, and happiness. Go on and congratulate them for coming into your life and being there for you when you need them.
White Gladiolus
It is a fact that white stands for purity, peace, and spirituality. The same can be applied to white gladioli that are put into use during religious ceremonies, weddings, and funeral rites.
Red Gladiolus
Some of us have this preconceived notion that red is dangerous and a sign of doom, but in the case of flowers, it symbolizes passion and romantic love. Present these flowers as a gift to your partner on Valentine’s Day or your wedding anniversary.
They also make a delightful choice for 6-month anniversary gifts, expressing your growing affection and commitment.
Historical Significance
The flower gladiolus has a long historical association with the Gladiators from ancient Rome. They were esteemed warriors known for their victorious strength and bravery. Hence, as discussed earlier, gladioli are one of the celebratory flowers of August.
Poppy: Secondary plant of August
Where do you think the word poppy came from? If you can’t decide, let us tell you that etymologically poppy has been derived from the Latin term Papaver, which was an indigenous plant cultivated by the Sumerians.
The poppy flowers are herbaceous, and they belong and are regarded as the subfamily of the Papaveraceae plant family. Moreover, they are either short-lived biennial or perennial plants struggling to survive climatic changes.
Astonishingly, they can grow to be as tall as 1 meter by allowing the flower to be 15 cm diametrically. Usually, the flowers bear 4-5 petals. The stamens that form create a vertical in the center. Furthermore, some petals have patterns of marking on them, which makes them appear radiant and appealing. Once it’s time, the petals curl in the bud and fall away once the blooming is over.
The flowers start blooming throughout spring and end towards the beginning of the summer season. As far as their location is concerned, they are mostly found across South Eastern Europe and Southern and Eastern Asia.
Like gladioli, poppies have a variegated range of colors available such as red, black, purple, and red; each signifying different ideas.
Red Poppy
Red poppies are widely accepted as a symbol to commemorate the martyrs of World War I. Although introduced by America, it is now used by other countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the UK.
Black Poppy
It can be shocking to realize that black-colored flowers exist at all. But it came to be recognized as a sign of remembrance for the Black African and Caribbean people who contributed to the wars.
Purple Poppy
Purple poppies date back to World War I, wherein the UK’s animal rights group, Animal Aid, observed the Purple Poppy Campaign as a symbol of respect for all the animals that were killed – pigeons, horses, donkeys, and so on.
White Poppy
To bridge the bridge between belligerents, the White poppy was laid out by the Cooperative Women’s Guild as a symbol of peace and anti-war sentiments.
Historical Significance
Poppy flowers got their first recognition when Mesopotamian civilization prospered. The pioneers of the plant hailed from Central and Western Europe and were labeled as indigenous. But later, the poppies that had opium as content were ascribed to the Sumerians. In ancient times, opium, a drug mixture, was used by millions as a narcotic and psychoactive drug for many purposes, like pain relief.
Other August Birth Flowers:
It is not like August is confined to Gladiolus and Poppy. We have come to discover some new ones that sit well with the month:
Dahlia
Dahlia is a famous member of the Sunflowers and Chrysanthemums and is found in Mexico and Central America. They represent commitment, integrity, dignity, and strength.
Peruvian Lilies
Native to South America, Peruvian Lilies are also known as Alstroemeria. They are cultivated during summer and have a range of different colors, such as white, orange, yellow, and pink. In addition to that, they are thought to be significant for friendship and devotion.
Conclusion
Other months, apart from August, have their significance and assigned flowers. Because we have feelings as humans, we can go on to extend them to the surrounding non-living and inanimate things. This is what brings us together for the sake of love and humanity.
There is attachment and bonding since every one of us is fully conscious of our emotions; they need a name and a symbol to be voiced. And for that purpose, flowers are an extraordinary example without which we would’ve lived a bleak and dull life.
All that we were able to discuss for August Birth Flowers was part of what is traditionally followed, but of course, it is solely upon you to choose what suits you better.
