December birth flowers: narcissus and holly
The traditional birth flowers for December, what they meant in the Victorian language of flowers, and how to grow them.
Paperwhite (in the UK, paper-white daffodil)
Narcissus papyraceus
Clusters of up to ten strongly scented, pure white flowers on stems about 35cm tall, with narrow blue-green leaves. Outdoors it flowers in late winter and early spring; bulbs planted indoors in autumn often flower for Christmas or New Year. (RHS)
In the language of flowers
“Egotism” (Greenaway, for the narcissus); “Self-love” (Dumont).
The flower shares its name with Narcissus of Greek myth, who fell in love with his own reflection.
Growing it
Outdoors it survives only in mild areas; elsewhere, grow it in pots under cover or indoors. Give it well-drained soil that stays moist while it’s growing.
Take care: Harmful to people, dogs, cats and tortoises if eaten, and can irritate skin: wear gloves when handling. (RHS)
Sources: RHS
English holly (in the UK, common holly)
Ilex aquifolium
An evergreen tree or shrub with glossy, dark green, usually spiny leaves, small white flowers in spring, and red berries on female plants. (RHS)
In the language of flowers
“Foresight” (Greenaway, Dumont).
Growing it
Grow in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil, sheltered from cold winter winds. Berries form only on female plants with a male nearby. It’s hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9 and throughout the UK and northern Europe.
Take care: The berries aren’t edible, for people or pets. (RHS)
Sources: RHS, Missouri Botanical Garden
About birth flowers
Birth flowers are a tradition, not a rule: lists vary a little, and no one body sets them. The meanings here come from two Victorian flower dictionaries, Kate Greenaway’s Language of Flowers (1884) and Henrietta Dumont’s The Language of Flowers (1851). Both are free to read on Project Gutenberg.
How each flower looks and grows comes from the Royal Horticultural Society and the Missouri Botanical Garden, linked under each flower. Where US and UK names differ, the US name comes first.