August Birth Flower:
Gladiolus and Poppy

August Birth Flower: Gladiolus

Symbolism: Strength, Bravery, Creativity, Boldness

Zodiac Sign: Leo and Virgo

To begin our look into the birth flowers of August, let's start with the gorgeous Gladiolus. Gladioluss are late blooming flowers, often coming out at the end of Sumer and start of autumn, making them the perfect flower for those born in August.

The first August birth flower we will discuss is the dramatic Gladiolus! Gladiolus are a part of the Iris family (see my February Birth Flower page for more info on the Iris). They are sometimes know of as sword lilies due to their striking size and flamboyant sword-like shape. They come in a variety of colours including yellows, pinks and deep reds and are very popular as cut flowers due to their spectacular blooms.

Gladiators and Gladioli

Gladiolus flowers were important to ancient Roman culture and symbolised strength, valour, admiration, and protection. Their name comes from the Latin ‘gladius’ meaning sword, and another word with this root is, you guessed it, Gladiator! Legend has it that in ancient Rome gladiolus flowers would be strewn around the coliseum to celebrate victorious gladiators after battle. So less “I’m Spartacus!”, more “I’m Gladiolus!”…

Flower fit for a Dame

Australian icon Dame Edna often talked about her love for Gladioli or as she called them, “gladdies”, and featured them in her stage and TV appearances. The Smiths frontman Morrissey also has a fondness for them, and danced around with a bunch of yellow gladioli in the music video for the song “This Charming Man”.

August Birth Flower: Poppy

Symbolism: The Circle of Life, Fertility, Rest, Remembrance, Peace

Zodiac Sign: Leo and Virgo

Another birth flower for August babies is the beautiful poppy. With it's stunning cup shaped petals and wide variety of colours, it's easy to see why the poppy is such a well-loved flower. Throughout human history and across many diverse cultures, poppies have been used for medicinal purposes and also as symbols for themes of life, remembrance and peace.

Poppies Will Make Her Sleep...

If you’ve seen the Wizard of Oz, you'll know that a field of magical poppies are what the Wicked Witch of the West uses to put Dorothy to sleep. This association between poppies and sleep (and danger), goes back thousands of years and can be traced to their connection with opium, a powerful and highly addictive narcotic which is obtained from the seed cases of poppies.

For thousand of years humans used opium as an anaesthetic and in religious and spiritual rituals. The Sumerian people of ancient Mesopotamia are thought to have been the fist people to cultivate opium poppies. They referred to the poppy as the “joy plant”. Less dangerous varieties of poppy such as the Californian poppy are also know for their sedative and relaxing qualities when brewed in teas.

A Flower of Rememberance

Possibly due to their blood red colour, poppies are also often used as a symbol of death and remembrance. Way back in Greek and Roman times, poppies were included in offerings to the dead. For the last 100 years poppies have been particularly associated with war and remembrance.

The haunting poem "In Flanders Fields" by Canadian doctor and soldier John McCrae, immortalised poppies as symbols of remembrance for soldiers who lost their lives in the first world war:

“In Flanders Fields, the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.”

In many commonwealth countries such as Britain, Canada and Australia, red poppies are worn on remembrance Sunday to commemorate the terrible number of lives lost, not only in the First World War, but all wars across the world. The poppy stands as an important symbol of peace and our shared humanity. On this day many people also wear white poppies as a symbol of pacifism.

August Birth Flower Tattoo Ideas: Poppy

August Birth Flower Tattoo Ideas: Gladiolus