January Birth Flower: Carnation and Snowdrop Meanings

The January birth flower is the carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus), and the snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) is January’s second birth flower. For the January birth flower meaning, start with the Victorian language of flowers: the snowdrop stood for hope, while carnation meanings depended on color: Kate Greenaway’s 1884 Language of Flowers lists the striped carnation as “refusal” and the yellow carnation as “disdain”. Today the carnation is linked with love and with mothers, thanks to Mother’s Day, and both flowers are popular for minimalist and fine line birth flower tattoos.

Sources: Kate Greenaway, Language of Flowers (1884); Missouri Botanical Garden; NC State Extension.

What Is the January Birth Flower?

Birth flowers are a tradition, not a botanical fact, and lists vary, but the carnation is the January flower most widely given for January, with the snowdrop as the usual second January birth flower. They suit the month: carnations are long-lasting cut flowers available all winter, and snowdrops are among the first bulbs to flower outdoors, which NC State Extension describes as blooming in late winter to early spring.

The Carnation (Dianthus)

The carnation is a perennial native to the Mediterranean area, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden, which explains its name: Dianthus comes from the Greek dios (divine) and anthos (flower), so “divine flower”, and the species name caryophyllus refers to the aromatic, clove-like scent that also gave it the old name “clove pink”. NC State Extension notes the taller varieties are grown for the florist industry and used as cut flowers and boutonnieres.

Carnations are also the Mother’s Day flower. According to the National Park Service, Anna Jarvis, who campaigned for the holiday, sent 500 white carnations to the first formal Mother’s Day church service in Grafton, West Virginia, on May 10, 1908.

Carnation Color Meanings

Modern meanings and Victorian ones don’t always match. Here is what each color usually means today, with the Victorian meaning where Greenaway’s dictionary gives one:

• Red: today, love and admiration. Greenaway’s entry for the deep red carnation is more dramatic: “Alas! for my poor heart.”
• White: pure love and remembrance. White carnations were Anna Jarvis’s Mother’s Day flower, and they are often worn or given in memory of a mother who has died.
• Pink: today, a mother’s love and gratitude. History.com notes that florists later promoted pink or red carnations for living mothers and white for mothers who had died.
• Striped: “refusal” in Greenaway’s dictionary, the polite Victorian no.
• Yellow: “disdain” in Greenaway’s dictionary, so it is best avoided as a romantic gift if the recipient knows the old meanings.

The Snowdrop: January’s Flower of Hope

The snowdrop is a small bulb with white, nodding flowers. NC State Extension describes it as a bulbous perennial in the amaryllis family, native to Europe and southwestern Asia, that blooms in late winter to early spring and is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9. Flowering when little else does is the reason for its meaning: Greenaway’s 1884 dictionary gives the snowdrop simply as “hope”.

That makes the snowdrop a natural symbol for new beginnings, encouragement during a hard time, or a January birthday.

January Birth Flower Tattoo Ideas

Both flowers translate well into minimalist and fine line tattoos: the carnation’s ruffled petals give texture, and the snowdrop’s drooping bell gives a graceful curve. Some ideas to take to your artist:

Carnation Tattoo Ideas

• Single stem in profile: one carnation drawn in a continuous fine line, for the inner forearm or collarbone.
• Framed bloom: a carnation head inside a thin geometric frame, with dotwork shading on the petals.
• Falling petals: a few loose petals and no stem, for a small, subtle piece on the wrist or behind the ear.
• Color with meaning: red for love, white or pink for a mother, or, for something unusual, a striped carnation for the Victorian meaning “refusal” (a design about boundaries or choosing yourself).

Snowdrop Tattoo Ideas

• Drooping trio: three snowdrops at different heights, heads bowed, in a single fine line.
• Through the snow: one snowdrop rising from a thin curved line for the snowline, a simple picture of hope.
• Botanical study: the whole plant from bulb to flower in vintage illustration style, for a larger placement.
• The January pair: an upright carnation and a nodding snowdrop together, combining love and hope.

Fine line work depends on the artist, so choose someone whose portfolio shows clean, delicate botanical pieces, and bring reference images.

Are January Birth Flowers Safe for Pets?

• Carnation: the ASPCA lists carnation as toxic to dogs, cats and horses, with mild gastrointestinal signs and mild dermatitis; the toxic principle is an unknown irritant.
• Snowdrop: it has no ASPCA entry, but NC State Extension lists it as low toxicity, causing nausea, vomiting and diarrhea if eaten in quantity, with the bulbs toxic if eaten. Keep bulbs away from dogs that dig.

Keep bouquets out of reach of pets, and for a pet-friendly alternative choose dried or faux stems, or one of the plants in our cat-safe plants guide.

For more flower meanings, see our guides to August birth flowers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the January birth flower?

The carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus). The snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) is January’s second birth flower.

Why are there two birth flowers for January?

Birth flower lists are a tradition rather than a fixed standard, and most months have two. Carnations and snowdrops are both associated with winter: carnations as long-lasting cut flowers, and snowdrops as one of the first bulbs to bloom in late winter.

What does it mean if someone gives me a yellow carnation?

In Victorian flower language, a yellow carnation meant “disdain” (Greenaway, 1884). Most people today don’t know that, so the sender probably just liked the color.

Do carnations last long in a vase?

Yes, carnations are known as long-lasting cut flowers, which is one reason florists use them so widely. Recut the stems, change the water regularly and keep them away from heat and ripening fruit.

Can I grow snowdrops indoors?

Not easily. Snowdrops are hardy outdoor bulbs (USDA zones 3 to 9, per NC State) that flower after a cold winter. They are best grown outdoors in part shade and soil rich in organic matter; potted snowdrops can be enjoyed indoors briefly while in flower, then planted outside.

Are carnations appropriate for funerals?

Yes. White carnations in particular are associated with remembrance, and they are a common choice for sympathy flowers.