If you’re at a loss for great February birthday gifts, Boyd’s Flowers is here to help! For February, the traditional floral gift is the violet. We will show you some of the designs you can create with these flowers as well as the traditions that make the violet a meaningful gift.

Pots, Planters and Dish Gardens

As far as houseplants go, there are few plants that are easier to care for than violets. A little bit of sunlight and a small dose of water each week, and these beauties will keep on blooming. For that reason alone, they’re the perfect choice for planters and dish gardens. Even a small pot with one or two violets is perfect to add a little life to the home or office.

One of the nicest things about violets is that they come in an endless variety of colors. Between blue, purple, mauve, pink, white and every shade in between, you can create a colorful planter with several violets. There are even more exotic varieties that feature variegated flowers in white and pink, purple or blue.

Violets also work very well in mixed baskets and dish gardens. You can plant them along with other blooming houseplants, or surround them with greenery like ivy, peace lilies, palms and more. However you choose to arrange your violets, the recipient of your gift will certainly be delighted!

Centuries of Tradition

From the ancient Greeks and Romans all the way to the present day, cultures around the world have used violets as a symbol for purity, chastity, modesty, faithfulness and love. The meanings of purity, chastity and modesty stem from a Greek legend in which the goddess Diana protected one of her nymphs from Apollo’s love by transforming her into a violet. Historic art and literature also placed the violet alongside the Virgin Mary, which served to reinforce these meanings.

It is thought that Shakespeare is responsible for the meanings of faithfulness and love. In his play Hamlet, the character Ophelia uses violets to show the queen that she loves her deceased father. Because of these meanings and the strong associations with Christianity, the Victorians used violets to send messages of divinity, purity, love and loyalty.

When it comes to symbolism and tradition, violets have the potential to say much more than flowers like roses or lilies. Whether you send one violet or a whole basket of them, these simple flowers are the best way to send your February birthday wishes.