7 Leo Zodiac and Birth Flowers (and How to Grow Each One)
Find the Leo zodiac flower, then check the frost date, pond depth or sunny patch each bloom needs before you grow or gift it.
By Vera Collins, Astrology Editor
Updated · 8 min read
The short answer: Sunflower is the Leo flower named by the most florists and garden groups, tied to Leo’s ruling planet, the Sun. ProFlowers also lists Sunset Rose and gladiolus for Leo. Birth-month flowers differ: July brings larkspur and water lily; August brings gladiolus and poppy. Leo runs July 23 to August 22.
- Written by our astrology editor
- Cited 22 sources
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A sunflower seed fits between your fingertips. The plant it becomes has a flower head made of hundreds of tiny florets, according to the University of Georgia Extension.
That’s an appealing choice for a Leo birthday. For someone born in July, the calendar gives you other flowers to consider. If you’re planting rather than buying, the difference between a seed packet and a pond matters even more.
7Water Lily, July’s Pond Birth Flower
FTD names water lily as a July birth flower. If you have a pond, this is a flower to enjoy growing in place rather than arranging in a vase.
Give it full sun. UF/IFAS Extension says water lilies grow well in about 18 inches of standing water, with plants spaced 36 to 60 inches apart.
The University of Illinois Extension says tropical water lilies need warm water and won’t survive freezing.
We couldn’t find an ASPCA listing for water lily. Before adding one where pets roam, check its scientific name in the ASPCA plant database. If you don’t find an entry, ask your vet about that exact plant.
Best for: A July-born Leo with a sunny pond or water garden and room for a container-grown lily.
See more: 6 Gemini Zodiac and Birth Flowers (and How to Grow Each One) →
6Larkspur, the July Birth Flower From Seed
That packet labeled larkspur belongs on a July birthday list. FTD calls it annual delphinium and names it as a July birth flower.
Sow outdoors in fall in a mild climate, or in very early spring. Clemson Extension calls for at least 6 hours of sun for most annuals; Penn State Extension’s sowing guide gives larkspur 12 to 18 inches between plants.
Keep the seed packet and flowers away from curious pets. The ASPCA lists larkspur as toxic to cats and dogs.
Best for: A July-born Leo who wants to sow seeds in a sunny spot pets cannot reach.
5Poppy, the August Birth Flower Pick
Before you plant a poppy for an August birthday, read the scientific name on the seed packet.
Take that name to your local extension service for growing advice. We couldn’t find an ASPCA listing for poppy; check its scientific name in the ASPCA plant database and ask your vet before bringing the plant near pets.
FTD names poppy alongside gladiolus as an August birth flower. It’s a calendar choice for someone who wants a birth-month flower rather than a zodiac pick.
Best for: An August-born Leo who wants a birth-month flower and will check planting and pet-safety advice first.
See more: 5 Sagittarius Zodiac and Birth Flowers (and How to Grow Each One) →
4Dahlia Tubers for an August Birthday
A dahlia takes room. The Society of American Florists names it as an August birth flower, alongside gladiolus. Clemson Extension says large-flowering types need 3 to 4 feet between plants; smaller types need about 2 feet.
Plant tubers after frost has passed, in full sun and well-drained soil. Set a stake before planting; the American Dahlia Society recommends early staking so you don’t drive one through a tuber later.
The ASPCA lists dahlias as toxic to dogs, cats and horses.
Best for: An August-born Leo with room for large flowers and a sunny garden pets cannot reach.
See more: 6 Virgo Zodiac and Birth Flowers (and How to Grow Each One) →
3Gladiolus for Both Leo and August
Gladiolus answers two different birthday questions. ProFlowers names it for Leo; the Society of American Florists names it for August. One flower appears on both lists.
For your garden, plant the corms in spring, 3 to 6 inches deep. Clemson Extension gives spacing of 2 to 3 inches between corms in rows 20 to 36 inches apart. Choose full sun and well-drained soil.
Watch where you store the corms. The ASPCA lists gladiolus as toxic to cats and dogs, with the highest toxin concentration in the corms.
Best for: A Leo who wants one flower named for both traditions and can keep corms away from pets.
See more: 6 Taurus Zodiac and Birth Flowers (and How to Grow Each One) →
2Sunset Rose in a Sunny Garden
Does the spot by your porch get sun through the morning? Count the hours before you buy a rose. Clemson Extension calls for 6 to 8 hours of direct sun, and says morning sun helps dry the leaves.
ProFlowers names Sunset Rose as a Leo pick. For a rose you’ll grow, buy a plant suited to your space and follow its label.
Bare-root roses go in during late fall, late winter or early spring. The University of Illinois Extension gives about 24 inches as a planting distance.
True roses are non-toxic to dogs and cats, according to the ASPCA. The thorns still deserve your attention when you place a pot near a walkway.
Best for: A Leo who loves roses and has a sunny planting spot with room away from walkways.
1Sunflower, the Leo Zodiac Flower to Grow
What flower represents Leo? Sunflower is the clearest answer from florist and garden lists.
1-800-Flowers, Teleflora, ProFlowers and the National Garden Bureau all name it.
Young sunflowers track the sun. University of Georgia Extension calls this heliotropism and gives a preferred soil pH of 6.0 to 6.8.
Sow seeds outdoors after the last frost. Iowa State University Extension recommends a depth of 1 to 2 inches and says seeds germinate in 1 to 2 weeks.
Give plants full sun, with 12 to 24 inches between them, following Penn State Extension’s sowing guidance.
The ASPCA lists sunflowers as non-toxic to dogs and cats. That gives you a pet-safety reason to choose one, too.
Best for: A Leo who wants a widely named zodiac flower and a seed she can sow herself.
The bottom line
Sunflower leads the Leo zodiac lists. For a birth-month choice, check whether the birthday falls in July or August, then check the planting spot and pet safety before bringing a flower home.
Up next
12 Zodiac Flowers for Every Sign (and Their Birth Flowers)
Find each sign’s flower, dates, alternate picks and birth-month flowers in one place, with a pet check before you choose a bouquet.
Read the list →
Reader quiz
Did you catch the details?
5 questions from this article.
What kind of light does the article say to give a water lily?
Questions people also ask
Is the sunflower the official Leo flower?
No body assigns zodiac flowers. Teleflora, 1-800-Flowers and the National Garden Bureau each name sunflower for Leo. Birth-month flowers follow a separate calendar tradition.
Why does August have two birth flowers?
August has more than one birth flower because the lists come from separate traditions, not a single authority. FTD names gladiolus and poppy, while the Society of American Florists names gladiolus and dahlia.
What is a good gift for a Leo woman?
A sunflower arrangement is a zodiac-themed gift for a Leo woman; Teleflora pairs the flower with Leo. Her own taste matters more than a flower chart. If she has pets, check the exact plant in the ASPCA database first.
What birth flower is larkspur?
Larkspur is a July birth flower. FTD names larkspur and water lily for July, and Teleflora also lists delphinium, or larkspur, for that month.
What flowers are toxic to pets?
Among these flowers, larkspur, dahlia and gladiolus are toxic to cats and dogs, while sunflower and rose are listed as non-toxic by the ASPCA. Check each plant’s exact scientific name in the ASPCA database. We couldn’t find ASPCA listings for water lily or poppy; ask your vet about the exact plant before bringing it near pets.
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Sources cited in this article
This article links to 22 outside sources, listed here so you can read them yourself.
- University of Georgia Extension extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C1121&title=growing-sunflo…
- Water lily as a July birth flower www.ftd.com/blog/july-birth-flower
- UF/IFAS Extension edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP436/pdf
- University of Illinois Extension extension.illinois.edu/container-gardens/plants
- ASPCA plant database www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants
- Clemson Extension hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/growing-annuals
- ASPCA lists larkspur as toxic to cats and dogs www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/larks…
- August birth flower merx.prod.ftd.com/occasion/birthday/happy-birthday-flowers
- Society of American Florists safnow.org/aboutflowers/meanings-of-flowers
- Clemson Extension hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/summer-and-fall-flowering-bulbs
- American Dahlia Society www.dahlia.org/growing/fundamentals-of-growing-dahlias
- ASPCA lists dahlias as toxic to dogs, cats and horses www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/dahlia
- ProFlowers www.proflowers.com/blog/flower-astrology-guide
- The ASPCA www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/gladi…
- Clemson Extension hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/growing-roses
- University of Illinois Extension extension.illinois.edu/roses/planting
- True roses are non-toxic to dogs and cats www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/rose
- 1-800-Flowers www.1800flowers.com/articles/flower-facts/zodiac-sign-flowers
- Teleflora tfstatic.teleflora.com/gift-giving-ideas/astrology-flower-symbols
- National Garden Bureau ngb.org/zodiac-flowers
- Iowa State University Extension yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/growing-sunflowers-and-their-vari…
- ASPCA lists sunflowers as non-toxic to dogs and cats www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/sunfl…
Vera Collins
Astrology Editor
Vera writes about zodiac flowers, birthstones and the astrology milestones that arrive after 50, in plain words, and says where the traditions disagree.
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