July Birth Flower: Delphinium (Larkspur) and Water Lily, Meaning and Symbolism

Born under the high summer sun, July individuals have two tutelary flowers that appear to be opposites: the larkspur, which reaches for the sky with its bluish spikes, and the water lily, which rests, still and luminous, on the surface of the water. Discover what this double floral emblem reveals about you or the person you wish to give it to.

Each month of the year has its birth flower, inherited from an ancient tradition where seasons were associated with a plant capable of summarizing their spirit. July, a month of full bloom, solar zenith, and long days, has been given two complementary emblems. The first, the larkspur — which botanists also call delphinium and which scholarly language names Delphinium — raises its colorful spikes in summer gardens. The second, the water lily, embodies another facet of the season: that of water, rest, and beauty born from the depths. Together, these two flowers paint a portrait of a personality rich in nuances, both sunny and contemplative.

In this guide, you will delve into the history of these two plants, their ancient symbolism, what they reveal about the temperament of those born in July, and you will leave with concrete ideas for gifting, decorating, or even getting tattooed. To place this flower within the context of all twelve months, you can at any time consult our complete guide to birth flowers month by month.

Two flowers for one month: why July has a double emblem

The Anglo-Saxon tradition of birth flowers, popularized in the Victorian era, attributes a primary flower and often a secondary flower to each month. This custom is inspired by floral almanacs and the language of flowers, that delicate grammar which, in the 19th century, allowed feelings forbidden by a simple bouquet to be expressed. July, a pivotal summer month, inherited two plants that are nothing alike but perfectly complement each other.

The larkspur is a full-sun flower, vertical, exuberant. It belongs to the world of air and movement — its popular name comes from the resemblance of its spur to the spur of the lark, a morning bird. The water lily, conversely, is a flower of water and silence, rooted in the mud but turned towards the light. Where one rises, the other opens. This polarity — élan and contemplation, sky and water — makes July a month of fertile tension between two forces, which explains part of the psychological richness attributed to those born in it.

The Larkspur (Delphinium): History and Symbolism

A flower named after a bird and a dolphin

The larkspur first intrigues by its names. In French, it is called "pied-d'alouette" (lark's foot) because of the shape of its floral spur, a graceful extension evoking the foot of the small bird. It is also called "dauphinelle" (dolphin-like), a direct translation of the scientific Latin Delphinium, itself derived from the Greek delphís — the dolphin — because the ancients found the arched silhouette of the cetacean in the closed bud of the flower. Two animals, one of the sky, the other of the sea, for a single flower: it is not surprising that it has become the symbol of a multifaceted soul.

Native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, Delphinium grows wild in mountain meadows before entering ornamental gardens in the Renaissance. Its majestic spikes, which can exceed one and a half meters, make it one of the most spectacular flowers in summer beds. It is found in English gardens, where its verticality structures flowerbeds and guides the eye.

What the larkspur means

In the language of flowers, the larkspur speaks a luminous vocabulary. It expresses sincere attachment, lightness of heart, openness to others, and a form of radiant positivity. To offer a delphinium is to say to the other: "Your presence brings me joy, my heart opens to you unreservedly." The color nuances the message: deep blue, the most emblematic shade of Delphinium, adds a dimension of loyalty and dignity, while white varieties emphasize the purity of feeling and mauve a more melancholic elegance.

This symbolism of blue is not insignificant. The larkspur is one of the rare garden flowers to offer a true, frank, almost electric blue — a rare color in the plant kingdom. If you want to understand how this hue interacts with others in a composition or an outfit, our article on colors that pair well with floral patterns will give you valuable harmony keys.

The water lily: history and symbolism

The flower born from mud

The water lily occupies a singular, almost sacred place in the human imagination. Rooted in the mud of ponds, it pushes through the dark water to open, on the surface, a corolla of immaculate purity. This trajectory — from darkness to light, from mud to beauty — has made it, in many cultures, the ultimate symbol of rebirth and spiritual elevation.

The ancient Egyptians revered the blue lotus, a cousin of the water lily, which they saw closing in the evening and reopening at dawn: a cycle they associated with the death and resurrection of the sun. In the Far East, the water lily and lotus embody the purity of the soul which, born in an imperfect world, manages to detach itself without being sullied. This symbolic charge crosses the centuries and makes the water lily a flower for meditation as much as for ornamentation.

What the water lily means

The water lily, an excellent July flower, symbolizes purity of heart, serenity, beauty that triumphs over adversity, and a form of quiet wisdom. It evokes the ability to remain radiant despite circumstances, to find peace amidst turmoil. To offer a water lily — or its evocation in a composition — is to acknowledge in the other a discreet inner strength, an elegance that does not seek to impose itself.

It is also a flower deeply connected to water and summer: the water lily in full bloom is the very image of July, when ponds are covered with white, pink, or yellow cups under an immobile heat. To extend this immersion into the world of calming flowers, the article when nature soothes: simple pleasures that do good resonates perfectly with the contemplative spirit of the water lily.

What July's birth flower says about your personality

The dual emblem of July depicts a nuanced temperament, where two forces coexist. From the larkspur, the July native derives their relational warmth: they are a welcoming person, whose heart opens easily, bringing lightness and optimism to those around them. Like the stem of the Delphinium rising towards the sky, they aim high, cultivating enthusiasm and generosity of feelings.

From the water lily, the July native draws their inner depth. Behind the apparent warmth, there is a certain gravity, an ability to overcome trials without losing their light, an aspiration for peace. These individuals know, like the flower born from the mud, how to transform difficulties into beauty. They are often perceived as serene, reliable, endowed with a wisdom that their age does not always suffice to explain.

This combination — sunny on the surface, deep beneath — makes July natives endearing and sometimes elusive individuals. Loyal like the blue of the delphinium, pure of heart like the corolla of the water lily, they combine joie de vivre with a true inner richness. If you are curious about the link between flowers and temperament, our article which flower corresponds to your astrological sign extends this reflection on the soul's mirror-flower.

Symbolism of colors and floral associations

The two July flowers come in several shades, each modulating their message. Here is an overview of the most common correspondences, useful for composing a meaningful bouquet or gift.

For a balanced bouquet, blue delphinium pairs wonderfully with pale roses, peonies or lisianthus, its verticality bringing structure to rounder flowers. The water lily, more difficult to integrate into a cut bouquet, is best appreciated in its element — a pond, a bowl — or in an evoked form in decoration and patterns. Its graphic shape also inspires countless prints and decorative objects.

Gift ideas around July's birth flower

Giving someone their birth flower is a deeply personal gesture: it tells them that you have seen them, that you have taken the time to know what represents them. For a July native, several avenues are open to you, from the ephemeral bouquet to the timeless object.

The lasting gift: the eternal flower

Fresh larkspur is beautiful but fragile, and water lilies are rarely picked. To offer beauty that does not fade, turn to a lasting composition. Our eternal roses — genuine stabilized roses that retain their brilliance for years — make a meaningful gift to celebrate the birth or birthday of a July person: the flower that does not die, as a metaphor for attachment. To choose well, our ultimate guide to eternal roses details the shades, sizes, and possible associations.

Floral decor and artificial flowers

To evoke the larkspur or water lily in an interior, artificial flowers offer complete freedom: you can recreate the blue spikes of Delphinium or the floating cup of the water lily without seasonal or maintenance constraints. It's an ideal gift for a July native who likes to be surrounded by nature without the chores of watering. To go further in the art of decorating a space with flowers, our complete guide to floral decor brings together all our design tips, from material selection to color harmony.

A symbolic and personal gift

Beyond the object, it's the intention that counts. A piece of jewelry featuring a water lily motif, a painting evoking delphinium beds, a floral accessory… anything that recalls the person's tutelary flower becomes a tailor-made gift. Our selection of 10 floral gift ideas to please every time is full of inspiration, and the article giving flowers: different meanings will help you choose the right gesture according to the message you wish to convey.

The birth flower tattoo: wearing July on your skin

More and more people are choosing to have their birth flower tattooed, a gesture that is both aesthetic and intimate. For July, the two emblems offer very different styles. The larkspur lends itself to vertical, slender compositions: a flowering stem along the forearm, spine, or ankle, in a gradient of blues or a fine line. Its graphic silhouette works equally well in realistic botanical style as in minimalist fine line.

The water lily, for its part, calls for more circular and symbolic compositions. As a flower of rebirth, it is often chosen to mark a turning point in life, a personal rebirth, a victory over adversity — in perfect consistency with its symbolic meaning. It is represented floating on water, sometimes accompanied by its reflection, in a watercolor style or in black and gray. Before you start, take the time to think about the location, style, and meaning: our article how to choose your floral tattoo will guide you step by step in this lifelong decision.

July in the cycle of birth flowers

July's flower only makes full sense when placed in the larger cycle of the twelve months. Each flower dialogues with its neighbors, and the summer months form a luminous family of which July is the heart. The month preceding it, June's birth flower, opens summer with the rose and honeysuckle, while August's birth flower extends it with the gladiolus and poppy, in a slowly declining heat.

Going back to spring, with May's birth flower and its lily of the valley, allows one to measure the path light has traveled since the first blooms. This month-by-month journey, from winter primroses to autumn asters, reveals a true poetry of the calendar. To explore it in its entirety, return to our complete guide to birth flowers month by month, which brings together the twelve emblems and their meanings.

Frequently asked questions about July's birth flower