December Birth Flower: Holly and Narcissus

Quick Answer

The December birth flower is two plants: the narcissus, usually the white paperwhite, and the holly. Most birth-month lists put narcissus first and holly second, and many add the poinsettia as a third December flower. Narcissus reads as hope, new beginnings and good wishes. Holly reads as protection, goodwill and domestic happiness. Poinsettia reads as good cheer and celebration.

I am Mariia Berezovska, Lead Florist at Casa Dei Fiori in Beverly Hills. December birthdays land in the busiest flower month of our year, and the most common request we hear is simple: make it feel like a birthday, not another holiday gift. Below is what each December birth flower means, how color changes the message, and how to give them well.

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What Is the Birth Flower for December?

What is the birth flower for December? Narcissus and holly, a pair rather than a single bloom, the same pair the Farmers' Almanac gives for the month. Both count as the December flower of the month, and they share one trait: they bring color and scent into the darkest weeks of the year, when most gardens are asleep.

The narcissus birth flower is the genus Narcissus, which holds both daffodils and their smaller, paler relatives, the paperwhites (Narcissus papyraceus). In December the paperwhite is the one you see, often grown indoors from bulbs for the holidays. The holly birth flower is the genus Ilex: English holly (Ilex aquifolium) and American holly (Ilex opaca) are the two most people picture.

The December birth flower pairing means:

• Two plants for one month, either one counts as the birth flower
• Narcissus for the hopeful, fresh half, holly for the protective, festive half
• A white bloom and a red berry, the natural colors of the season
• Poinsettia as a third, festive option on many lists

Best for:

• Anyone born in December who wants a gift with a story
• Arrangements that mix clean white flowers with evergreen texture
• Birthdays that should feel different from the holiday gifts around them

For the full month-by-month picture, see our guide to birth month flowers.

Narcissus: Meaning and Colors

Narcissus meaning has two sides. In Victorian flower language the narcissus stood for rebirth, new beginnings and renewal, and modern florist lists add faithfulness, good wishes and respect. The other side comes from the name: in Greek myth, Narcissus fell in love with his own reflection, which is why some older lists also give vanity or self-admiration. For a birthday, the hopeful reading is the one you want.

Narcissus colors change the message. White is the December color, since the paperwhite meaning is purity, hope and a fresh start. It suits a milestone birthday or someone starting something new. Yellow narcissus, the daffodil most people know from spring, reads as joy, cheer and friendship, with nothing romantic attached.

So is a narcissus the same as a daffodil? Daffodil is the common name for the whole Narcissus genus, so every daffodil is a narcissus. The paperwhite is one species in that genus, white, small-flowered and heavily scented.

That scent is the thing to know before you give paperwhites. It is strong and musky, and some people love it while others find it too much in a small room. If the person is sensitive to fragrance, choose a white design with the same look and a softer scent, such as white roses and orchids in FIRST BUTTERFLIES.

Narcissus also needs care in a mixed arrangement. Freshly cut stems release a sap that can shorten the life of other flowers in the same water, so florists condition narcissus on its own before mixing. We handle that step in the studio. At home, keep narcissus in its own vase for the first day if you add more stems.

Narcissus means:

• Hope, rebirth and new beginnings (white paperwhite)
• Joy, cheer and friendship (yellow)
• Faithfulness, good wishes and respect

Best for:

• A December birthday that marks a new chapter
• A friendship gift with no romantic weight (yellow)
• Someone who loves scent (paperwhites) or a clean, all-white look

Paperwhite narcissus, the primary December birth flower.

Holly: Meaning and Colors

Holly with red berries, one of the two traditional December birth flowers.

Holly meaning is older than Christmas. Romans exchanged holly during Saturnalia, the midwinter festival, as a sign of goodwill. In Celtic and later European folk tradition, holly hung over doors to protect the home through winter. Christian tradition then read the pointed leaves as the crown of thorns and the red berries as blood, which is how holly became a Christmas plant.

So the holly birth flower carries protection, goodwill and domestic happiness. For a birthday, that makes holly a quiet wish for a safe, happy year ahead.

Is holly a flower? Technically yes, but not the part you give. Holly is an evergreen shrub or tree with small white flowers that most people never notice. Birth-flower lists mean the branch: glossy green leaves and red berries. Only female holly plants carry berries, which is why some holly branches are bare.

Holly colors work as design choices more than separate messages. Classic red-berried holly is the festive read. Variegated holly, with cream-edged leaves, is softer and pairs well with white flowers. Winterberry (Ilex verticillata), a deciduous holly, gives bare stems covered in red berries and adds height to a tall arrangement.

One practical note: the ASPCA lists holly as toxic to cats and dogs, and paperwhites are toxic to pets as well, with the bulb the most poisonous part. If the home has pets or small children, ask us for a design with evergreen branches instead of berries, or keep the arrangement out of reach.

Holly means:

• Protection and a safe home
• Goodwill and good fortune
• Domestic happiness

Best for:

• A late-December birthday that wants a festive, wintry look
• A housewarming or a family birthday at home
• Red-and-white arrangements with evergreen texture

Poinsettia: December's Third Birth Flower

Many birth-month lists, especially in Europe and in US gift guides, add the poinsettia to December. It is the flower most people already link to the season, so it is a natural third choice when holly or narcissus feel too quiet.

The poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is native to Mexico. It is named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first US minister to Mexico, who brought it to the United States in the 1820s. What look like red petals are actually colored leaves called bracts; the true flowers are the small yellow clusters in the center.

Poinsettia meaning is the brightest of the three: good cheer, celebration and good wishes, with purity in older Aztec tradition. Red is the classic festive read, white is calm and elegant, and pink is softer and works well for a birthday that should not look like Christmas.

A poinsettia is usually given as a potted plant rather than cut into a bouquet. It is considered only mildly toxic to pets, but it is still best kept out of reach.

Poinsettia means:

• Good cheer and celebration (red)
• Calm and elegance (white)
• Gentle warmth (pink)

Best for:

• A December birthday that wants bold holiday color
• A host or office gift during birthday season
• Someone who keeps a plant longer than cut flowers

White poinsettia styled with gold ornaments, a festive third December birth flower.

December Birth Flower by Day

Use this as a color guide for the card and the arrangement. It follows the zodiac turn in December: narcissus for Sagittarius birthdays, holly for Capricorn birthdays.

Date	Birth Flower	Color	Meaning
December 1	Narcissus	White	Hope and new beginnings
December 2	Narcissus	Yellow	Joy and friendship
December 3	Narcissus	White	Hope and new beginnings
December 4	Narcissus	Yellow	Joy and friendship
December 5	Narcissus	White	Hope and new beginnings
December 6	Narcissus	Yellow	Joy and friendship
December 7	Narcissus	White	Hope and new beginnings
December 8	Narcissus	Yellow	Joy and friendship
December 9	Narcissus	White	Hope and new beginnings
December 10	Narcissus	Yellow	Joy and friendship
December 11	Narcissus	White	Hope and new beginnings
December 12	Narcissus	Yellow	Joy and friendship
December 13	Narcissus	White	Hope and new beginnings
December 14	Narcissus	Yellow	Joy and friendship
December 15	Narcissus	White	Hope and new beginnings
December 16	Narcissus	Yellow	Joy and friendship
December 17	Narcissus	White	Hope and new beginnings
December 18	Narcissus	Yellow	Joy and friendship
December 19	Narcissus	White	Hope and new beginnings
December 20	Narcissus	Yellow	Joy and friendship
December 21	Narcissus	White	Hope and new beginnings
December 22	Holly	Red berry	Goodwill and good fortune
December 23	Holly	Variegated	Protection and a safe home
December 24	Holly	Red berry	Goodwill and good fortune
December 25	Holly	Variegated	Protection and a safe home
December 26	Holly	Red berry	Goodwill and good fortune
December 27	Holly	Variegated	Protection and a safe home
December 28	Holly	Red berry	Goodwill and good fortune
December 29	Holly	Variegated	Protection and a safe home
December 30	Holly	Red berry	Goodwill and good fortune
December 31	Holly	Variegated	Protection and a safe home

December Birthstone and Zodiac

December has three birthstones, and all of them are blue: turquoise, tanzanite and zircon, as listed by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Turquoise is the traditional stone and has long been tied to protection. Tanzanite, the modern addition, is linked to transformation, and blue zircon to wisdom. Some jewelers add blue topaz as a fourth.

The December flower and birthstone pair well in one gift: a blue stone next to white paperwhites reads like winter light, and turquoise and holly share the protection meaning.

December covers two zodiac signs. Sagittarius runs to December 21 and Capricorn begins December 22 in most years, and some lists shift the boundary by a day. Zodiac flower lists vary, but many give the carnation to Sagittarius and the pansy or carnation to Capricorn, with neither sign getting narcissus or holly. So a December birthday can mix the birth flower with carnations by sign.

December birthstone and zodiac mean:

• Turquoise for protection, tanzanite for transformation, zircon for wisdom
• Narcissus for Sagittarius birthdays, holly for Capricorn birthdays on our table
• Carnation as a common zodiac flower for both signs

Best for:

• A birthday card that names stone, sign and flower together
• Pairing white flowers with a blue-stone gift
• A Capricorn gift that mixes holly texture with red and white blooms

Gifting December Birth Flowers in Los Angeles

Flowers for December birthday orders start with one question: does the person want something festive, or something that has nothing to do with the holidays? People born near Christmas often say their birthday gets folded into the season, so we ask before we design.

If they love the season, go festive: evergreen branches, red blooms and a little sparkle, like FLOCON ROUGE or WINTER WONDERLAND. If they want a birthday that feels like their own, go white, fresh and calm, with no ornaments, like FIRST BUTTERFLIES or the fragrant LUSCIOUS SCENT with hyacinth and tulips.

For a romantic December birthday, red and white is the color story of the month: red roses with white orchids says love and still looks like the season.

Want paperwhites, holly branches or a potted poinsettia added? Ask when you order. We confirm availability first, and if a stem has to be substituted, we tell you before the arrangement is built.

December books up fast in Los Angeles, so order a few days ahead for dates close to Christmas. For someone who gets flowers year-round, a flower subscription in Los Angeles covers the birthday and the months after it. Tell us the December date when you order.

December Birthday Flowers from Our Studio

Our December birthday picks in the red, white and evergreen palette of the season, from festive to calm. Same-day delivery across Beverly Hills and Los Angeles when you order early in the day.

Browse the full Christmas and Hanukkah collection or all birthday flowers. For a holiday wreath on the door, see our CHRISTMAS WREATH.

What to Avoid With a December Birthday Bouquet

• Treating it as a Christmas gift. Say "happy birthday" on the card and keep the ornaments optional. A separate birthday arrangement says you remembered.
• Berries in a home with pets or small children. Holly berries and paperwhite bulbs are toxic if eaten. Ask for evergreen branches without berries.
• Heavy paperwhite scent in a small space. Choose white roses or orchids for the same look with a softer scent.
• Mixing freshly cut narcissus straight into a vase. Condition it alone first, or let the florist do it.
• Ordering the week of Christmas without a date. Order early and give us the exact birthday so delivery lands on the day.

For more on the season's plants, see Christmas flowers: names and meanings and our Christmas centerpiece ideas. Celebrating Hanukkah too? Read Hanukkah flowers: what to send.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the birth flower for December?

The birth flower for December is both the narcissus, usually the white paperwhite, and the holly. Narcissus stands for hope and new beginnings, holly for protection and goodwill.

Why does December have two birth flowers?

Most months on the modern birth flower list carry two blooms, and December is one of them. Narcissus is usually listed first, with holly as the second, especially in British and older Almanac traditions.

Is poinsettia a December birth flower?

On many lists, yes. Narcissus and holly are the traditional pair, and many birth-month guides add the poinsettia as a third December flower for good cheer and celebration.

What does the narcissus flower symbolize?

The narcissus symbolizes rebirth, hope, new beginnings, faithfulness and good wishes. White paperwhites lean toward purity and a fresh start, yellow narcissus toward joy and friendship.

What does holly symbolize?

Holly symbolizes protection, goodwill and domestic happiness. It was exchanged in Roman midwinter festivals and hung over doors in European folk tradition to protect the home.

Is a narcissus the same as a daffodil?

Daffodil is the common name for the Narcissus genus, so a daffodil is a narcissus. The paperwhite is one white, fragrant species in that genus and the one tied to December.

Are holly and paperwhites safe for pets?

No. The ASPCA lists both holly and paperwhite narcissus as toxic to cats and dogs. With pets at home, choose an arrangement with evergreen branches and no berries, and keep bulbs out of reach.

What is the December birthstone?

December has three birthstones: turquoise, tanzanite and zircon, all blue. Some jewelers also include blue topaz.

What flowers are best for a December birthday?

Narcissus, holly or poinsettia, but the right pick depends on the person. White flowers for someone who wants a calm, non-holiday birthday, red and evergreen for someone who loves the season, red roses with white orchids for a partner.

Do you deliver December birthday flowers same day in Los Angeles?

Yes. Same-day delivery across Beverly Hills and Los Angeles is available when you order early in the day; the current cutoff is shown at the top of our site. For dates close to Christmas, order a few days ahead, and if you want real paperwhites or holly, tell us first so we can confirm availability.

Send a December Birth Flower That Means Something

A December birthday comes with two traditional birth flowers and a festive third: the fresh hope of narcissus, the goodwill of holly and the good cheer of poinsettia. Pick the mood from the guide above, match it to the person, and send December birthday flowers that feel like their day, not just the season.

Casa Dei Fiori is a luxury florist at 9895 S Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90212. Call (424) 303-2291, or start with our Los Angeles flower delivery for December birthday flowers delivered across the city.