The 12 Birth Month Trees and Their Meanings—Plus, How to Grow Each One at Home

Trees have long carried symbolic meanings, much like flowers do. In ancient Celtic culture, trees held particular significance, were seen as sacred, and were deeply connected to human life. While today's "birth month tree" chart is a modern interpretation, it draws inspiration from these traditions—especially the Ogham alphabet, which linked trees to different times of the year and assigned each its own symbolic meaning.

To learn more about each birth month tree or plant, we spoke with Sara Gatanas, the creative director at Urban Garden Center. Ahead, she shares the meaning behind each tree, as well as the zones and natural habitat in which each tree thrives.

The 12 Birth Month Trees

JANUARY: Birch

• Meaning: Renewal, fresh starts
• Zones: White Birch: 2 to 6 (best in cool climates) River Birch: 4 to 9 (more adaptable, including parts of New England and Vermont)
• Natural habitat: Moist forests and riverbanks with cool, shaded roots
• How to grow: White birch grows best in-ground in cooler climates and needs shaded, protected roots. River birch is more adaptable and can thrive in containers or urban settings.

FEBRUARY: Rowan (Mountain Ash)

• Meaning: Protection, intuition
• Zones: 3 to 6 (prefers cool climates)
• Natural habitat: Mountains and cool northern forests
• How to grow: Plant in-ground in a cooler environment. This tree struggles in heat and doesn't perform well in containers.

MARCH: Ash

• Meaning: Growth, transformation
• Zones: 3 to 9 (highly adaptable)
• Natural habitat: Floodplains and rich soils
• How to grow: Plant in-ground in a spacious area. This large, fast-growing shade tree needs room to spread out.

APRIL: Alder

• Meaning: Strength, resilience
• Zones: 3 to 7
• Natural habitat: Wet soils, river edges, and marshy areas 
• How to grow: Plant in consistently moist soil. This tree thrives with steady moisture and performs best in naturally damp conditions.

MAY: Willow

• Meaning: Intuition, flexibility
• Zones: 4 to 9 (including Charleston, South Carolina)
• Natural habitat: Along water's edges, including rivers, ponds, and lakes
• How to grow: Plant in-ground near a water source. This tree needs ample moisture and has aggressive roots, so give it plenty of space.

JUNE: Hawthorn

• Meaning: Love, protection
• Zones: 4 to 8 (including regions like the English countryside, such as the Cotswolds)
• Natural habitat: Open woodlands and hedgerows
• How to grow: This small tree works well in tight spaces and thrives in large containers.

JULY: Oak

• Meaning: Strength, stability
• Zones: 3 to 9 (varies by species, including Virginia and the Southern U.S. region)
• Natural habitat: Forests and uplands
• How to grow: Plant in-ground with plenty of space. This tree develops deep roots and needs room to grow.

AUGUST: Holly

• Meaning: Protection, endurance
• Zones: 5 to 9 (including New Jersey and the Mid-Atlantic coast)
• Natural habitat: Woodlands and understory areas
• How to grow: This tree grows well in containers and makes a nice hedge or vertical accent.

SEPTEMBER: Hazel

• Meaning: Wisdom, creativity
• Zones: 4 to 8 (including Oregon's Willamette Valley)
• Natural habitat: Woodland edges
• How to grow: This multi-stemmed shrub can be grown in-ground or in large containers, making it a versatile option for different spaces.

OCTOBER: Grapevine

• Meaning: Abundance, passion
• Zones: 4 to 10 (including Napa Valley, California)
• Natural habitat: Sunny, open areas, often climbing over structures
• How to grow: Plant in full sun with a sturdy support system, such as a trellis. This plant grows well in containers.

NOVEMBER: Ivy

• Meaning: Connection, persistence
• Zones: 4 to 9 (including Boston and the New York City metro area)
• Natural habitat: Forest floors, often climbing trees and structures
• How to grow: This highly adaptable plant thrives in containers and vertical systems, such as trellises or walls.

December: Elder

• Meaning: Reflection, renewal
• Zones: 3 to 9 (including upstate New York and the rural Northeast)
• Natural habitat: Moist soils and field edges
• How to grow: This fast-growing shrub performs well when planted in the ground or in large containers.