What is the birth flower for April?

April has two birth flowers: the daisy (Bellis perennis), which is the primary modern birth flower for April, and the sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus), a climbing annual known for its delicate, fragrant blooms that serves as the secondary April birth flower.

What does a daisy symbolize?

Daisies symbolize innocence, purity, loyal love, and new beginnings. In the Victorian language of flowers, giving a daisy expressed "I will think about it" — a message of cautious hope. Their simple, cheerful appearance has long made them a symbol of childhood joy and fresh starts.

What does a sweet pea symbolize?

Sweet peas symbolize blissful pleasure, delicate beauty, and departure — in the Victorian flower language, they were the traditional gift given to say goodbye or thank you. They also represent gratitude, kindness, and the fleeting beauty of spring.

What colors do daisies come in?

Classic daisies have white petals with a yellow center disc, but cultivated varieties span a wide spectrum: yellow, pink, red, orange, purple, and bi-colored. Gerbera daisies, a popular florist relative, extend the palette further with bold, saturated hues.

What colors do sweet peas come in?

Sweet peas come in one of the widest color ranges of any annual: white, cream, blush pink, hot pink, coral, red, burgundy, lavender, violet, purple, and bi-colored bicolors. Many heritage varieties have a distinctively ruffled, fragrant flower form.

Are daisies and sweet peas easy to grow?

Yes, both are beginner-friendly. Daisies thrive in full sun with well-drained soil and require minimal care once established. Sweet peas prefer cool weather and need a trellis or support; they are best sown in fall (mild climates) or early spring (colder climates) for peak blooms.

Are sweet peas fragrant?

Yes — sweet peas are famous for their intense, sweet fragrance, which is one of the most beloved scents in any garden. Note that sweet pea plants and seeds are toxic if ingested; do not confuse them with edible peas (Pisum sativum).

What is the difference between a common daisy and a gerbera daisy?

The common English daisy (Bellis perennis) is a small, low-growing perennial with white or pink petals and a yellow center. Gerbera daisies (Gerbera jamesonii) are a larger, showier South African relative with bold, wide petals and long stems popular in floral arrangements. Both share the classic daisy ray-flower form but differ in size, color range, and growing habits.

April Birth Flower

Name: April Birth Flower
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Author: Nham Vu

Discover the two birth flowers of April — the Daisy and Sweet Pea — along with their meanings, symbolism, colors, growing tips, and gift ideas.

Birth Flowers of the Month

April — Daisy & Sweet Pea

April bursts into full spring color with two charming birth flowers: the cheerful, sun-faced daisy and the delicate, fragrant sweet pea. The daisy brings innocence and joy; the sweet pea adds ruffled elegance and a legendary scent. Together they define the fresh, optimistic spirit of an April birthday.

Daisy

Bellis perennis

Primary

The daisy is one of the world's most recognized wildflowers. Its bright white petals radiating around a sunny yellow center disc have made it a universal symbol of cheerfulness and simplicity. Native to central and northern Europe, the common daisy (Bellis perennis) has naturalized across every temperate continent and been cultivated for centuries in gardens and meadows alike.

Symbolism

Innocence & purity
Loyal love & faithfulness
Cheerfulness & joy
New beginnings

Common Colors

White Golden Yellow Pink Orange

Quick Facts

Family: Asteraceae
Native to: Central & Northern Europe
Bloom season: Spring – early summer
USDA zones: 4 – 8
Toxic to pets?: Mildly (dogs & cats)

Sweet Pea

Lathyrus odoratus

Secondary

The sweet pea is a climbing annual celebrated for its butterfly-wing blooms and intoxicating fragrance — one of the most beloved scents in any spring garden. Native to Sicily and southern Italy, it was introduced to British horticulture in the late 17th century and quickly became a staple of cottage gardens and flower shows, reaching peak popularity during the Edwardian era.

Symbolism

Blissful pleasure & delight
Gratitude & thank you
Delicate beauty
Departure & farewell

Common Colors

Magenta Pink Lavender White Red

Quick Facts

Family: Fabaceae
Native to: Sicily & southern Italy
Bloom season: Spring – early summer
USDA zones: Annual (all zones)
Toxic if eaten?: Yes (all parts)

Daisy Color Meanings

Different daisy shades carry distinct messages. Click a color to reveal its meaning.

History & Mythology

Daisy

Celtic Mythology

In Celtic tradition, daisies were believed to be the spirits of children who had died in infancy, scattered across the earth by the gods to cheer grieving parents. This gave the flower a dual symbolism of innocence and consolation that persisted into medieval herbalism. Druids considered the daisy sacred and used it in rituals marking the changing of seasons.

Ancient Rome — Belides

Roman mythology linked the daisy to Belides, a wood nymph who transformed herself into a daisy to escape the unwanted pursuit of Vertumnus, god of seasons and change. This story is thought to be the origin of the genus name Bellis. Roman physicians also recommended daisy preparations for eye ailments and joint pain, and soldiers carried daisy extracts to treat battlefield wounds.

Medieval & Elizabethan England

In medieval England, the daisy was called "day's eye" (Old English: daeges eage) because it opens at dawn and closes at dusk. Chaucer praised the daisy in The Legend of Good Women (c. 1386) as the queen of all flowers. During the Elizabethan era, it was a popular motif in embroidery, tapestry, and jewelry — often symbolizing loyal love and worn as a romantic token.

Victorian Floriography

In the Victorian language of flowers, the daisy carried the message "I will think about it" — a gentle, non-committal reply to a romantic overture. It was also used to mean innocence, loyal love, and I share your sentiments. The tradition of pulling petals one by one while reciting "He loves me, he loves me not" became a popular Victorian courtship game that endures in popular culture today.

Sweet Pea

Sicilian Origins — 17th Century

The sweet pea is native to Sicily and southern Italy, where it was first formally described by Franciscus Cupani, a Sicilian monk, in 1695. Cupani sent seeds to Dr. Robert Uvedale in England and Caspar Commelin in Holland around 1699, kickstarting its spread through European horticulture. The original wild species had small, bicolor flowers in magenta and purple — quite modest compared to the lush cultivars available today.

The Edwardian Golden Age

The sweet pea reached peak prestige during the Edwardian era (1901-1910). King Edward VII's queen, Alexandra, was so devoted to sweet peas that they became fashionable in high society. Breeders like Henry Eckford developed hundreds of new varieties, and competitive sweet pea shows drew enormous crowds. Eckford's "Spencer" cultivars — with their distinctively waved, ruffled petals — defined the modern sweet pea and remain the standard in shows today.

Victorian Floriography

In the Victorian language of flowers, sweet peas held a specific and tender meaning: "blissful pleasure" and "departure." They were the traditional goodbye flower — given to a departing guest or a friend moving away to say thank you for a wonderful visit and to wish them well. This association with fond farewell and gratitude made them a staple in thank-you bouquets throughout the 19th century.

Modern Cottage Garden Staple

Today sweet peas remain a beloved fixture of English cottage gardens and are grown worldwide by gardening enthusiasts who prize their fragrance above almost all other annual flowers. They are a perennial favorite at the Chelsea Flower Show and Royal Horticultural Society exhibitions. Cut sweet peas are also popular with artisan florists for their delicate, romantic appearance and exceptional scent in wedding bouquets.

Growing Tips

Growing Daisies

1. Plant in full sun to partial shade; daisies tolerate a wide range of soil types but prefer well-drained, moderately fertile ground.
2. Sow seeds directly in spring or start indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost for earlier blooms.
3. Deadhead spent blooms regularly to encourage continuous flowering through early summer.
4. Divide clumps every 2–3 years to prevent overcrowding and maintain vigorous growth.
5. Water consistently during dry spells; established daisies are drought-tolerant but bloom best with moderate moisture.

Growing Sweet Peas

1. Soak seeds overnight before sowing to soften the hard seed coat and improve germination rates.
2. Sow in fall (mild climates) or early spring (colder regions) — sweet peas need cool weather to thrive and will flag in summer heat.
3. Provide a trellis, netting, or fence for the tendrils to climb; plants can reach 6 feet (1.8 m) in height.
4. Pick flowers frequently — the more you cut, the more the plant produces. Letting pods set seed stops flowering.
5. Feed with a high-potassium fertilizer once buds appear to maximize bloom production and fragrance.

Gift Ideas for April Birthdays

Make an April birthday unforgettable with these daisy- and sweet pea-inspired ideas.

Mixed Daisy Bouquet

A vibrant bunch of gerbera and common daisies is a cheerful, affordable April birthday gift.

Sweet Pea Seed Collection

A curated mix of heirloom sweet pea seeds — a living gift that blooms season after season.

Sweet Pea Perfume

A fragrance capturing the iconic sweet pea scent — fresh, floral, and unmistakably spring.

Daisy Jewelry

A daisy-motif necklace, ring, or earrings — a wearable symbol of April and cheerful style.

Botanical Art Print

A framed botanical illustration of daisies or sweet peas — a timeless and personal keepsake.

Cottage Garden Planting Guide

A beautifully illustrated guide to growing sweet peas and spring flowers — ideal for gardening enthusiasts.

Birth Flower by Month

Select any month to see its traditional birth flower.

Summary

Discover the two birth flowers of April — the Daisy and Sweet Pea — along with their meanings, symbolism, colors, growing tips, and gift ideas.

How it works

Browse the hero cards to compare the daisy and sweet pea side by side.
Explore each flower's symbolism and the messages different colors convey.
Check the Quick Facts grids for botanical family, hardiness zones, and bloom details.
Read the History and Mythology section to discover the lore behind each flower.
Use the Growing Tips panel to cultivate daisies or sweet peas in your own garden.
Pick a gift idea from the April Birthday Gift Ideas section.
Use the month-selector widget to look up birth flowers for any month of the year.

Use cases

Finding a meaningful gift flower for a friend born in April.
Planning an April birthday bouquet with seasonal blooms.
Learning floral symbolism for greeting card design or wedding themes.
Growing daisies or sweet peas in a home garden or container.
Teaching children about birth flower traditions and spring gardening.
Choosing a tattoo or artwork design with personal birth-month significance.
Writing poetry or prose that references April or spring symbolism.
Identifying a flower you received as an April birthday gift.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-06-10 · Reviewed by Nham Vu