March Birth Flower: The Daffodil and Jonquil, and What They Mean

The March birth flower is the daffodil, and many lists pair it with the jonquil, a smaller narcissus with several fragrant blooms on each stem. Both are among the first flowers to open after a Canadian winter, which is why they've come to stand for hope and new beginnings.

This guide covers what daffodils and jonquils mean, the one thing florists know about mixing them with other flowers, and how to put together a March birthday bouquet. For the whole family of plants, see our narcissus guide.

What is the birth flower for March?

Daffodils and jonquils both belong to the genus Narcissus. The classic yellow trumpet daffodil is Narcissus pseudonarcissus and its many garden hybrids. The jonquil, Narcissus jonquilla, has narrow, rush-like leaves and clusters of small, sweet-scented flowers. People often use "jonquil" loosely for any small daffodil, but strictly it means this one group.

December's paperwhite is a narcissus too, so the family covers two birth months. Our December birth flower guide covers the winter side. March's birthstone, the aquamarine, is pale blue, and yellow and soft blue make a pretty pairing for a March bouquet.

March birth flower meaning

The daffodil stands for rebirth, new beginnings, hope and good cheer. It's the flower that tells you winter is ending, and that's how most people read it.

• In the Victorian language of flowers, the daffodil stood for regard and chivalry, and the jonquil was said to mean "I desire a return of affection".
• In folklore, a single daffodil is said to bring misfortune while a bunch brings joy, so florists and gardeners alike tend to give them by the handful.
• In Wales, the daffodil is a national emblem, worn on St David's Day, March 1.
• In Canada, the daffodil is the Canadian Cancer Society's symbol of hope, and April is its Daffodil Month.
• For anniversaries, the daffodil is the traditional tenth-year flower. See our anniversary flowers by year list.

Our full daffodil flower meaning guide goes deeper into the history, the colours and the myth of Narcissus behind the name.

Can a florist send daffodils?

Yes, in season. Cut daffodils are a late-winter and spring flower, and March is about as good a month as there is to find them. Availability still depends on the local florist and the week, so treat daffodils as a likely part of a spring bouquet rather than a guarantee. Jonquils are harder to find as cut stems, and many florists won't have them at all.

There's a reason you rarely see daffodils mixed straight into a vase with roses. Freshly cut narcissus stems release a slimy sap that clogs the stems of other flowers and shortens their vase life. Florists usually stand daffodils on their own in water for several hours, then rinse them and add them to an arrangement without recutting. If you're arranging them yourself at home, do the same, or give them a vase of their own.

Choosing a March birthday bouquet

Yellow is March's colour, and the easiest way to say spring. A few ideas:

• A bright spring mix. The Spring Sunshine Bouquet brings together yellow roses, daisies and gerberas with red and yellow tulips, so it carries the season even when daffodils are short.
• Tulips with daffodils. The other early-spring bulb flower, and a natural partner. Our tulip guide lists the arrangements that include them.
• A yellow basket for a desk or a table. The Happy Yellow Basket pairs yellow gerberas, carnations and alstroemeria with small purple accents.
• Yellow and white for a softer look, or yellow and pale blue to echo the aquamarine. Yellow is March's colour, so almost any bright spring mix works.

March birthdays and Easter

In 2027, Easter Sunday falls on March 28 and Good Friday on March 26, so late-March birthdays share the week with Easter. Florists get busy, and cutoffs can be earlier than usual. Order a day or two ahead, and remember there's no Sunday delivery, so a birthday that lands on Easter Sunday needs flowers on Friday or Saturday.

If you want an Easter arrangement as well, our Easter collection is separate from the birthday range. A card that says happy birthday keeps the two clear.

Daffodils, pets and vase life

Daffodils and jonquils are toxic to cats and dogs, according to the ASPCA. They contain lycorine, which can cause vomiting and drooling, and the bulbs are the most dangerous part. Tulips are on the ASPCA's toxic list too. If the birthday person has pets, keep the vase out of reach, or build the bouquet from our list of flowers safe for cats instead.

Cut daffodils usually last four to six days in cool water. They open quickly in a warm room, so a spot away from heat vents and sunny windows keeps them longer. Our vase life guide has more.

What to write on the card

A line about the flower's meaning turns a March birthday bouquet into something more personal. A few to borrow:

• "Happy birthday! Daffodils mean new beginnings, and here's to a great one."
• "Your birth flower is the first sign of spring. That seems right."
• "A whole bunch, never just one, because one daffodil is bad luck and you deserve the good kind."
• "Sunshine for the person who brings it. Happy March birthday."

Sending a March birthday bouquet anywhere in Canada

Flowers on Demand delivers across every province and territory through a network of local florists, who arrange and hand-deliver each order. Delivery is a flat $19.99. For same-day delivery, order before 1:00 PM in the recipient's time zone, Monday to Saturday; there's no Sunday delivery.

Start with our birthday flowers, or find the town you're sending to on our delivery cities page. Local florists occasionally swap a stem for one of similar style and value when a flower is short, so if one flower matters most, say so in the card or delivery note.

Other birth month flowers

March follows the February birth flower (violet and primrose) and comes before the April birth flower (daisy and sweet pea). All twelve are in our birth month flowers guide.