May Birth Flower Symbolism: The Fascinating History Behind Lily of the Valley

By james-wilson · May 30, 2026

May Birth Flower Symbolism: The Fascinating History Behind Lily of the Valley and Hawthorn

Each month carries a floral signature—a living emblem rooted in seasonal rhythm, folklore, and human imagination. For May, two flowers bloom in quiet harmony: the delicate, bell-shaped Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) and the resilient, thorny Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna and related species). Though botanically unrelated—one a shade-loving perennial herb, the other a hardy, flowering shrub or small tree—they share more than a calendar month. Both have been venerated for centuries as symbols of renewal, purity, protection, and the bittersweet duality of life itself.

This article explores the layered histories and evolving symbolism of May’s dual birth flowers—not as decorative afterthoughts, but as cultural artifacts encoded with meaning. From medieval monastic gardens to Victorian floriography, from Celtic sacred groves to modern ecological restoration, Lily of the Valley and Hawthorn reveal how deeply humans intertwine botany with belief, memory, and identity.

The Botanical Foundations: Two Very Different Plants

Before delving into symbolism, it’s essential to recognize the distinct biological identities of these flowers:

Characteristic	Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)	Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.)
Family	Asparagaceae (formerly Liliaceae)	Rosaceae
Native Range	Temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and eastern North America	North America, Europe, North Africa, West Asia
Flowering Period	Mid-to-late spring (peak in May across much of the Northern Hemisphere)	April–June; most abundant in May in temperate zones
Growth Habit	Low-growing, rhizomatous perennial; spreads via underground stolons	Deciduous shrub or small tree (up to 15 m); thorny, dense branching
Toxicity	All parts highly toxic (cardiac glycosides); ingestion can cause arrhythmia, vomiting, even fatality	Fruit (haws) and leaves safe in moderation; seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides (low risk unless consumed in large quantities)

Despite their differences, both plants thrive in the cool, moist transition between spring and summer—making them natural heralds of May, a month historically associated with fertility rites, agricultural preparation, and communal celebration.

Ancient Roots: Hawthorn in Myth and Medicine

Hawthorn’s presence in human culture predates written records. Archaeobotanical evidence shows hawthorn pollen in Neolithic lake dwellings across central Europe (~5000 BCE), suggesting early use for hedging, fuel, and possibly food. Its Latin name, Crataegus, derives from the Greek kratos (“strength”), referencing the hardness of its wood—a material so dense it was used for tool handles, fence posts, and even Viking ship pegs.

In Celtic tradition, hawthorn held sacred status. Known as the “huath” in the Ogham alphabet—the ancient Irish tree script—it symbolized challenge, protection, and thresholds. Sacred hawthorn trees, often growing singly at crossroads or beside wells, were believed to be portals between worlds. Disturbing such a tree invited misfortune; cutting one down was thought to bring blight upon livestock and crops. As folklorist Katherine Briggs documented, “The hawthorn was never to be touched without permission—real or ritually conferred.”

The Romans associated hawthorn with Cardea, goddess of doorways and thresholds, reinforcing its liminal symbolism. They wove hawthorn branches into marriage garlands during the festival of Floralia (April 28–May 3), honoring Flora, goddess of flowers and fertility. This practice likely influenced later European May Day customs—most notably the English tradition of “bringing in the May,” where young people gathered hawthorn boughs at dawn to decorate homes and village greens.

Medieval herbalists recognized hawthorn’s medicinal value. Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179), the German Benedictine abbess and polymath, prescribed hawthorn tea for “heart sorrow” and circulatory weakness—a use validated centuries later. Modern clinical research confirms that hawthorn extracts improve cardiac output and reduce symptoms in chronic heart failure patients. A 2014 Cochrane Review analyzed 14 randomized controlled trials involving 1,214 participants and concluded that hawthorn supplementation significantly improved exercise tolerance and reduced fatigue compared to placebo (Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;(6):CD006187).

Lily of the Valley: From Medieval Monasteries to Royal Romance

Unlike hawthorn’s rugged, public presence, Lily of the Valley emerged quietly in shaded woodland margins and monastic gardens. Its earliest unambiguous reference appears in the 9th-century Capitulare de villis, a Carolingian agricultural ordinance listing plants to be cultivated in royal estates—including convallaria, noted for its “sweet odor and healing virtue.” By the 12th century, it appeared in illuminated herbals like the Tractatus de herbis, where it was linked to the Virgin Mary and recommended for melancholy and “female complaints.”

The flower’s association with purity and humility stems largely from Christian iconography. Its downward-facing, waxy white bells evoke modesty and reverence; its lack of showy stamens or pistils suggested spiritual chastity. In medieval art, Lily of the Valley frequently appears at Mary’s feet in Annunciation scenes—symbolizing her immaculate conception. The 15th-century Hours of Catherine of Cleves depicts the flower sprouting from a single drop of dew falling onto soil—an allegory of divine grace acting without human intervention.

But Lily of the Valley’s symbolism is not exclusively sacred. In French folklore, it was known as muguet (“lily-wort”) and carried strong associations with luck and prosperity. Since 1896, it has been customary in France to gift sprigs of muguet on May 1st—a tradition born when labor activist Louis-Jean Lajarrige distributed the flowers to striking workers in Lyon as a token of hope. Today, over 70 million stems are sold annually in France each May Day, making it the country’s largest floral event.

The flower’s royal resonance reached its zenith in 1981, when Prince Charles presented Princess Diana with a bouquet containing Lily of the Valley on their wedding day—reviving its Victorian-era reputation as a symbol of “returning happiness.” Queen Victoria, an avid floriculturist, had popularized the flower in England, planting vast beds at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. Her personal copy of Gerard’s Herbal (1597) bears marginalia praising its “sovereign virtue against the falling sickness [epilepsy] and frenzy.”

Victorian Floriography: When Flowers Spoke Louder Than Words

The 19th century codified floral meaning into a sophisticated language. In Victorian England and America, where social propriety constrained emotional expression, bouquets became encrypted messages. Two influential publications shaped this lexicon: Charlotte de La Tour’s Le Langage des Fleurs (1819) and Kate Greenaway’s Language of Flowers (1884).

According to Greenaway, Lily of the Valley signified “the return of happiness”—a phrase reflecting both its springtime reappearance and its role in romantic reconciliation. She also listed secondary meanings: “purity,” “humility,” and “motherhood.” Hawthorn, meanwhile, carried the dual message of “hope” and “defense”—a nod to its protective thorns and life-sustaining berries.

These meanings were not arbitrary. They drew from centuries of accumulated observation: the way Lily of the Valley emerges reliably each May from the same rhizomes, embodying resilience and cyclical renewal; the way hawthorn hedges sheltered livestock and defined property lines, functioning as living fortifications. Even its scent—often described as “green,” “clean,” or “narcotic”—played a role: Lily of the Valley’s fragrance contains high concentrations of lilial and hydroxycitronellal, compounds now known to activate olfactory receptors linked to mood regulation (as demonstrated in a 2020 fMRI study published in Frontiers in Psychology).

Cross-Cultural Echoes: Beyond Europe

Though most strongly embedded in European traditions, both flowers resonate across continents:

Japan: While not native, Lily of the Valley (Yuri no Tani, “valley lily”) entered Japanese horticulture during the Meiji era (1868–1912). It appears in haiku as a symbol of fleeting beauty and quiet devotion—echoing the aesthetic principle of wabi-sabi. A 2017 ethnobotanical survey of Kyoto gardens found it planted near meditation pavilions at 12 of 18 historic temples.
North America: Indigenous nations hold distinct relationships with native hawthorn species. The Lakota refer to Crataegus douglasii as čháŋšaša (“red berry tree”) and use its fruit in pemmican and ceremonial teas. The Ojibwe employ hawthorn bark decoctions for digestive ailments and consider the tree a guardian of medicine circles.
Eastern Europe: In Slavic folklore, Lily of the Valley is tied to the myth of the “tears of the Virgin Mary” shed at the Crucifixion—transforming into flowers where they struck the earth. In Ukraine, it is called konvaliya and features in vyshyvanka (embroidery) motifs representing maternal love and national endurance.

Ecological Realities: Beauty and Risk in the Modern Landscape

Today, both flowers face ecological contradictions. Lily of the Valley is classified as invasive in several U.S. states—including New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—due to its aggressive rhizomatous spread in forest understories. A 2022 USDA Forest Service study found it reduced native spring ephemeral cover by up to 63% in invaded plots, outcompeting bloodroot, trillium, and hepatica for light and nutrients.

Hawthorn, conversely, is a keystone species. Its flowers support over 150 insect species, including the endangered hawthorn shield bug (Aelia acuminata). Its haws feed at least 24 bird species—from thrushes to waxwings—and its dense, thorny thickets provide nesting sites for wrens, blackbirds, and dormice. In the UK, hawthorn hedges are legally protected under the Hedgerows Regulations 1997, recognizing their irreplaceable role in biodiversity corridors.

These contrasts remind us that symbolism must coexist with stewardship. Honoring May’s birth flowers means understanding not just what they represent—but how they function in living ecosystems.

Common Mistakes in Interpreting May Flower Symbolism

Well-intentioned admirers sometimes misapply floral meaning. Here are four frequent oversights:

Assuming universal symbolism. While Lily of the Valley signifies purity in Christian Europe, in some Romani traditions it warns of hidden danger due to its toxicity. Context matters more than dictionary definitions.
Confusing species. “Hawthorn” refers to over 200 Crataegus species worldwide. Crataegus laevigata (English hawthorn) carries different folklore than Crataegus mexicana (Mexican hawthorn), which is prized for its large, tart fruit in traditional Mexican cuisine.
Overlooking toxicity in gifting. Lily of the Valley’s allure masks its danger—especially to children and pets. A single leaf or berry can trigger cardiac distress. Always accompany gifts with clear safety guidance.
Ignoring cultivation ethics. Planting non-native Lily of the Valley in ecologically sensitive woodlands disregards its invasive potential. Opt instead for native alternatives like Maianthemum canadense (Canada mayflower), which shares similar form and symbolism without ecological harm.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does May have two birth flowers?

May’s dual birth flowers reflect historical divergence in floral classification systems. The modern “birth flower” concept emerged from 19th-century American almanacs and European folk calendars, which often assigned multiple plants to months based on regional bloom times and cultural prominence. Hawthorn dominates open landscapes and hedgerows, while Lily of the Valley thrives in shaded woodlands—representing complementary facets of May’s ecological diversity. The American Society for Horticultural Science officially recognizes both in its Birth Flower Registry (2018 edition).

Is Lily of the Valley really linked to luck in France?

Yes—deeply. The May 1st muguet tradition began informally in the 16th century but became codified after the 1896 Lyon labor strike. French law permits tax-free street sales of wild-harvested or garden-grown Lily of the Valley on May 1st only—making it the sole flower with such legal distinction. A 2021 INSEE survey found 87% of French adults associate muguet with “good fortune for the coming year.”

What does Hawthorn mean in Celtic astrology?

In the Celtic Tree Calendar (attributed to Robert Graves’ 1948 The White Goddess), the Hawthorn Moon runs from April 30 to May 29. Those born under Hawthorn are said to possess “discernment, boundary awareness, and protective intuition.” Though modern scholars regard the calendar as poetic reconstruction rather than ancient fact, its enduring popularity reflects deep-seated cultural resonance with the tree’s liminal nature.

Can I grow both flowers in my garden?

Yes—with caveats. Hawthorn thrives in full sun to partial shade, tolerates poor soils, and requires minimal pruning. Choose native species like Crataegus phaenopyrum (Washington hawthorn) for ecological benefit. Lily of the Valley prefers moist, humus-rich shade and spreads readily—best confined to containers or designated beds. Avoid planting near septic drain fields, as its rhizomes can infiltrate pipes. Always wear gloves when handling either plant: hawthorn thorns cause painful puncture wounds, and Lily of the Valley sap may irritate sensitive skin.

Are there conservation concerns for either plant?

Hawthorn faces localized threats from habitat loss and the fungal disease Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae (cedar-apple rust), but overall remains abundant. Lily of the Valley, however, is declining in parts of its native European range due to woodland fragmentation and climate-driven phenological shifts—flowering now occurs 8–12 days earlier than in 1950, disrupting pollinator synchrony (