March Birth Flower: Symbolism and Meaning of Daffodils

March is a time when spring begins to show up in most places. It’s fitting that the birth flower of March is a daffodil, one of the early-blooming spring bulbs. This bright yellow, cheery flower is a favorite of many for its happy appearance and symbol of spring being well on its way. Below you’ll find more about March’s birth flower and the symbolism behind it for those born during this month.

Origins of Birth Flowers and Daffodils

A birth flower is a flower that blooms during the month that one is born. Each month has its specific birth flower with a meaning associated with it. The flower brings luck or protection during that month. Some cultures observe two flowers per month as the “birth flower, ” allowing individuals to choose which one they are more drawn to. While the flowers of each month might not bloom during that specific month in all parts of the world, birth flowers are widely recognized across the globe.

Daffodils (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) also go by the name Narcissus and are in the Narcissus genus. There are plenty of different varieties of daffodils that can range in color, size, and sometimes shape. Be sure to plant daffodils in the fall to have them bloom the following spring.

Daffodil or Narcissus?

In Greek mythology, Narcissus is a beautiful young man who enjoyed the love of many but never found anyone to commit love to himself. One day, he stops by a river for a sip of water and looks at his reflection. Of course, he falls in love with himself and through stubbornness and self-obsession, dies by the river attempting to retrieve the love he spots in the river.

A previously rejected nymph named Echo, who loved Narcissus but did not receive his love back, finds his withered body near the river. Echo mourns Narcissus and covers his body with her hair, planning to return later for a proper funeral. When she made her return, there was only a flower left where Narcissus’ body was the day before. The flower has taken on Narcissus’ name but is commonly called “daffodil”.

The origin of the word “daffodil” likely comes from the word asphodel meaning “plant of the lily kind” which could be a reference to its five-petal inflorescence. It’s not uncommon to find Narcissus and daffodil used interchangeably to reference the same type of flower.

What Do Daffodils Symbolize?

The fact that March’s birth flower is a daffodil is no coincidence. Since daffodils are one of the earliest emerging flowers in springtime, they symbolize rebirth and new beginnings. These are also symbols of spring itself. Other symbolic traits of daffodils are joyousness, hope, and good luck. The birth flower of March encapsulates a great meaning of determination, hope, joy, and beauty in a vivid package.

Rebirth and new beginnings can be powerful symbols, especially for people who feel they’ve been stuck in a rut for a while. Since their bloom time is also short, this can be a sign that the window of opportunity for change is often fleeting, and to take chances when they’re appropriate and available.

Without a doubt, the first signs of spring are joyous for most individuals. People are able to get out more and animals can venture out of hibernation to enjoy the beauty spring brings. Daffodils are representative of this shift in nature and can easily extend into one’s life. A bouquet of sunny daffodils can brighten one’s mood and be the nudge in the right direction to start each day with hope. Aside from the joy a bright color like yellow or orange can bring, these color daffodils can also symbolize luck and good fortune for those who receive these flowers.

The daffodil’s persistence in rising below the ground after long, dark, and cold days lends to its symbol of hope. It can mean that despite the hard days or months, it’s possible to emerge as both beautiful and inspiring.

Different Color Meanings of Daffodils

Unlike many other flowers that come in tons of different hues, daffodils don’t see much variety. Regardless of the narrow range of colors, the shades within can vary the meaning widely.

Generally, there are white daffodils, yellow daffodils, and those with both colors. White daffodils are symbolic of innocence and purity. Yellow or orange daffodils are symbols of jubilance and joy. If they are more golden in color, this can skew the meaning more towards luck or good fortune. All meanings apply if these colors are featured on the same flower. However, some daffodils can have a peachy pink tone to them. This color means sweetness, sincerity, or gratitude. There can also be pink daffodils, meaning pride and uniqueness. As pink is not a common shade for these March flowers, “uniqueness” is a perfect meaning behind the color for this particular bloom.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Sergey V Kalyakin/Shutterstock.com