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- 🎂 December babies share their birthday month with roughly 6.4% of the U.S.
- 💡 The Society of American Florists formalized birth flower lists in 1917.
- 🌸 Mix paperwhites and holly branches in a single vase for a December birthday arrangement that covers both symbols.
December babies share their birthday month with roughly 6.4% of the U.S. population — and two striking birth flowers. The december birth flower pair — narcissus (especially the paperwhite variety) and holly — captures everything winter stands for: resilience, renewal, and celebration. Whether you want a meaningful birthday gift, a tattoo idea, or just a reason to appreciate your birth month, this guide breaks down the history, symbolism, and practical uses of both blooms.
Why does December have two birth flowers?
Most months carry two december birth month flowers, and December follows that tradition. The Society of American Florists formalized birth flower lists in 1917. The original list assigned narcissus to December. Holly joined the lineup later because narcissus bulbs sometimes grew scarce in midwinter.
Here's the practical reason: narcissus blooms indoors during winter, giving florists a living flower to work with. Holly fills the gap with its bold berries and evergreen leaves — perfect for the holiday season. Together, the two cover every December occasion, from birthday bouquets to Christmas wreaths.
Narcissus: the primary December birth flower
Narcissus belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family. The genus includes over 50 species and more than 27,000 registered cultivars. Paperwhites (Narcissus papyraceus) earn the spotlight as December's signature variety.
What makes paperwhites stand out
Paperwhites skip the cold-stratification step that most daffodils need. You plant the bulbs indoors, and flowers appear in 4 to 6 weeks — no outdoor garden required. Each stem produces 5 to 15 small, star-shaped blossoms. The flowers reach about 14 to 18 inches tall. The fragrance? Intense. Some people love it. Others find it overpowering.
Quick growing tip: place paperwhite bulbs in a shallow dish with pebbles and water. Keep the water level just below the base of each bulb. Set the dish near a bright window where temperatures stay between 60°F and 65°F.
The Greek myth behind the name
The name "narcissus" traces back to Greek mythology. A hunter named Narcissus fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. He stared until he wasted away, and a flower grew in his place. Ovid recorded this story in Metamorphoses around 8 AD.
The myth gives narcissus a complicated reputation. The flower symbolizes vanity on one hand and self-awareness on the other. Ancient Romans planted narcissus near tombs as a symbol of the afterlife. Chinese culture associates narcissus with good fortune and prosperity, especially during the Lunar New Year — which sometimes falls in late January or February, close enough to December's spirit of renewal.
Narcissus color meanings
Different colors carry different messages:
White narcissus signals purity, new beginnings, and sympathy
Yellow narcissus conveys joy, friendship, and good luck
Orange-cupped narcissus expresses desire, enthusiasm, and creative energy
Bicolor varieties (white petals, yellow trumpet) represent harmony and balance
Care tips for cut narcissus
Narcissus stems release a sap called mucilage. This sap shortens the vase life of other flowers. Follow these steps to keep your arrangement fresh:
Cut 1 inch off the stems at a 45-degree angle
Place narcissus stems alone in water for 6 to 8 hours before mixing with other flowers
Change the vase water every 2 days
Keep the vase away from heating vents (American homes blast dry heat in December — narcissus hates it)
Remove wilting blooms promptly to extend the life of remaining flowers
One common mistake: people re-cut narcissus stems after the initial conditioning period. Re-cutting releases fresh sap all over again and harms companion flowers. Skip the second cut.
Holly: the secondary December birth flower
Holly (Ilex) spans roughly 480 species worldwide. American holly (Ilex opaca) grows natively across the Eastern United States, from Massachusetts to Florida. English holly (Ilex aquifolium) dominates holiday décor, but American holly thrives in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9.
What does holly look like?
American holly trees can reach 40 to 50 feet tall. The leaves are thick, leathery, and rimmed with sharp spines. Bright red berries cluster along the branches — but only on female trees. A male holly must grow within 200 feet for pollination to occur. No male tree nearby? No berries.
Fun detail: birds love holly berries. Cedar waxwings, mockingbirds, and eastern bluebirds rely on holly berries as a winter food source. The berries contain about 6 calories each. For humans, holly berries cause nausea and vomiting — keep arrangements away from kids and pets.
Holly symbolism through the centuries
Holly's symbolic roots stretch deep.
The ancient Romans exchanged holly branches during Saturnalia, a festival held from December 17 to 23. The Druids of pre-Christian Britain wore holly in their hair to ward off evil spirits. When Christianity spread through Europe, holly gained new meaning: the thorny leaves represented Christ's crown of thorns, and the red berries symbolized drops of blood.
By the Victorian era, holly had become a greeting card staple. The first commercially printed Christmas card, created by Sir Henry Cole in London in 1843, featured holly decoration. Holly still appears on roughly 1.6 billion Christmas cards Americans send each year.
Holly in American holiday traditions
Holly fits seamlessly into U.S. celebrations:
Christmas wreaths often feature holly sprigs alongside pine and cedar
Thanksgiving centerpieces gain a festive edge with holly berry accents
New Year's Eve tablescapes use holly for a splash of red and green
Winter birthday bouquets stand out when a local florist tucks in holly stems
Poinsettias sometimes appear on lists of December birth flowers, too. The plant gained its American association after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, brought cuttings home in 1828. Poinsettias carry their own symbolism — cheerfulness, success — but narcissus and holly remain the traditional pair.
How to choose between holly and narcissus for a gift
Think about the person. Think about the occasion.
Birthday gifts
A potted paperwhite kit makes a thoughtful December birthday gift. The recipient watches the flowers grow over 4 to 6 weeks — the bloom outlasts any cut bouquet. Most paperwhite kits cost between $15 and $35 at garden centers or online retailers. Pair the kit with a birthday card that explains the birth flower tradition. Personal touches matter.
Holiday arrangements
Holly shines during the broader holiday season. A local florist can build a centerpiece with holly berries, pine branches, and red roses. These arrangements typically start around $45 to $75 for a standard size. Ask your florist to use American holly — the leaves hold up better in heated indoor spaces than English holly.
Sympathy and remembrance
White narcissus carries a quieter, more reflective tone. The flower's ancient association with the afterlife makes white paperwhites appropriate for sympathy arrangements. Pair narcissus with white roses or lilies for a soft, respectful display.
December zodiac connections
December spans two zodiac signs. Sagittarius runs from November 22 to December 21. Capricorn covers December 22 to January 19.
Narcissus suits Sagittarius energy — bold, cheerful, a little untamed. Holly fits the Capricorn personality — disciplined, enduring, sharp around the edges. This zodiac matchup gives you an easy way to personalize a birthday gift.
Looking for birthday flowers?
Browse birthday flowers from local florists and pick one that suits the moment.
Growing your own December birth flowers
You don't need a green thumb. Really.
Paperwhites indoors
Paperwhites grow anywhere in the country. They need zero outdoor space. Here's a simple process:
Buy pre-chilled bulbs from a reputable nursery (cost: about $1 to $2 per bulb)
Fill a 4-inch-deep container with gravel or decorative stones
Nestle bulbs into the stones with the pointed end facing up
Add water until the level reaches the bottom of each bulb
Place the container in a bright spot away from direct sunlight for the first week
Stems will appear within 2 weeks. Full blooms open in 4 to 6 weeks.
Pro tip: a 1993 Cornell University study found that watering paperwhites with a 5% alcohol solution (roughly 1 part rubbing alcohol to 10 parts water) reduces stem height by about one-third without affecting bloom size. Shorter stems prevent the floppy, top-heavy look.
Holly outdoors
Growing holly takes more patience. American holly reaches maturity in about 10 years. Plant young trees in fall, spacing them 5 to 6 feet apart. Holly prefers slightly acidic soil (pH 5.0 to 6.0) and partial shade. Water deeply once a week during the first growing season.
Remember: you need at least one male holly for every 3 to 5 female trees to get berries. Ask the nursery to confirm the sex of each plant before you buy.
Common mistakes with December birth flowers
Honest talk — people make these errors all the time:
Overwatering paperwhite bulbs, which causes root rot within days
Mixing fresh-cut narcissus with tulips or roses before conditioning the stems
Assuming all holly berries look the same (winterberry holly has red berries, but inkberry holly has black ones)
Placing holly arrangements near a fireplace or radiator, which dries out the leaves in 48 hours
Gifting a single narcissus stem — the tradition calls for an odd number, and a lone stem can signal loneliness in some cultures
Adding personal touches to a December flower gift
A bundle of narcissus or a sprig of holly gains meaning when you layer in extras.
Attach a handwritten note explaining the birth flower tradition — most people don't know their birth flower
Include a small bottle of flower food with cut narcissus (your florist can supply packets)
Combine paperwhites with a scented candle in a complementary fragrance (vanilla or cinnamon pairs well)
Request a photo from your local florist before delivery so you see exactly what the arrangement looks like
Add a small ornament to a holly wreath — December birthdays overlap with the holiday season, so a dual-purpose gift works beautifully
Your December birth flower, your story
Every birth flower tradition boils down to one question: what does this plant say about the person who carries it? Narcissus speaks to resilience — the bulb sits in the dark for weeks before it pushes out something beautiful. Holly speaks to steadiness — green and sharp through the coldest months.
You don't have to pick just one. Mix paperwhites and holly branches in a single vase for a December birthday arrangement that covers both symbols. Or grow paperwhites on your kitchen windowsill this winter just because you can.
Which december birth flower speaks to you — the fragrant narcissus or the bold holly? Whichever you choose, you're honoring a tradition that stretches back centuries.
Send flowers today
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