March birth flower: daffodil and jonquil

The story behind the March birth flowers

March's birth flowers are the daffodil and its smaller, scented cousin the jonquil. The lists are English and American, and in the northern hemisphere March is when daffodils fill parks and roadsides, so the choice made sense there.

The meanings have shifted over time. Kate Greenaway's Language of Flowers (1884) gives the daffodil as "regard" and the jonquil as "I desire a return of affection". The modern reading, new beginnings, comes from the daffodil being one of the first flowers of the northern spring. In Wales the daffodil is also tied to St David's Day, on 1 March.

In Australia the timing is the wrong way round. Daffodils and jonquils are a winter and early spring flower here, sold from about June to September, so a March baby's birth flower is half a year away. A bag of bulbs is the workaround: autumn is planting time, and they flower in late winter. Jonquils are the easier choice for warmer Australian gardens, and they bring a strong sweet scent indoors.

For an actual March bouquet, go with what autumn does well. Dahlias are coming into their best, in colours from butter yellow to deep burgundy. Sunflowers are still in and pick up the daffodil's yellow. Chrysanthemums are starting their natural season and are one of the longest-lasting stems you can buy. Keep dahlias somewhere cool and change the water often, because they drop petals quickly in a warm room.

Gift tip: Tuck a bag of daffodil or jonquil bulbs in with the flowers, since autumn is planting time and they'll bloom for the birthday person in winter.