March Birthstone and Flower: Aquamarine & the Daffodil

March's birthstone is aquamarine and its birth flower is the daffodil, with the jonquil recognised as a secondary March flower. Together they make one of the most recognisable birthday pairings of the year: a pale blue-green gemstone and a bright yellow spring bloom. This guide covers what each one is, what they've traditionally been taken to mean, and how people pair them for a March birthday gift.

March at a glance

The March birthstone: aquamarine

Aquamarine is a variety of the mineral beryl — the same family as emerald — coloured by traces of iron. Its name comes from the Latin aqua marina, "water of the sea", which is a fair description of the colour: anything from a barely-there sky blue through to a deeper blue-green.

It sits at 7.5–8 on the Mohs hardness scale, which makes it robust enough for everyday jewellery. Most aquamarine on the market — including most of ours — is Created Aquamarine, grown rather than mined, which gives an even colour at a lower price. Natural Aquamarine is mined, varies more from stone to stone, and often carries small inclusions.

March has a traditional second stone, bloodstone: a dark green chalcedony flecked with red. It appears in older birthstone lists but is rarely worn today, and we don't stock it.

For colour grading, treatment and how the two types differ, see our Aquamarine Stone Guide.

The March birth flower: the daffodil

The daffodil (Narcissus) is March's birth flower across most modern lists. In the northern hemisphere it flowers right at the start of spring, which is where most of its symbolism comes from — new beginnings, renewal, the end of winter. In Wales it's worn on St David's Day on 1 March.

The jonquil is a particular kind of narcissus with clustered, strongly scented yellow flowers, and it's often listed alongside the daffodil as a secondary March flower. In the language of flowers it was traditionally associated with affection returned.

One quirk worth knowing if you're giving daffodils: a single daffodil was traditionally considered unlucky, and a bunch the opposite. It's folklore rather than fact, but it's the kind of detail that makes a gift card write itself.

What they're traditionally said to mean

Both the stone and the flower carry symbolic associations that have built up over centuries. These are cultural traditions and beliefs rather than properties of the objects themselves.

• Aquamarine — calm, clarity and courage. Sailors were said to carry it for safe passage, which is the oldest and most persistent of its associations.
• Daffodil — renewal, new beginnings, and the arrival of spring.
• Jonquil — affection and desire returned.

More on the stone's symbolism: Aquamarine Meaning & Symbolism and What Does the March Birthstone Mean?

Pairing the two for a March birthday

The stone-and-flower pairing works well as a gift because the two halves are cheap and expensive in the right proportions — flowers carry the moment, jewellery carries afterwards.

• A pendant and a bunch of daffodils. The most common pairing. An aquamarine pendant in sterling silver against yellow blooms is a straightforward, effective combination.
• Studs for a first gift. Aquamarine earrings are the lowest-risk choice if you don't know the person's taste well.
• A ring for a milestone. Aquamarine rings suit a significant birthday rather than an ordinary one.
• Potted bulbs instead of cut stems. They last past the week, which suits a gift meant to be remembered.

More ideas: Gift Ideas for March Birthdays.

March zodiac signs

March spans two signs. Pisces runs to 20 March and is traditionally linked with aquamarine — see Pisces Jewellery and the Pisces Birthstone Guide. Aries begins on 21 March and carries into April, so late-March birthdays sit across the March and April birthstone lists.

Caring for aquamarine

Warm water, a drop of mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners, chlorine and household chemicals, and keep pieces out of prolonged strong sunlight. Full guide: Aquamarine Jewellery Care.

Frequently asked questions

What is the March birthstone and flower?

The March birthstone is aquamarine and the March birth flower is the daffodil, with the jonquil listed as a secondary March flower. Bloodstone is a traditional alternative birthstone for March.

Why is the daffodil the flower for March?

Daffodils flower at the very start of spring in the northern hemisphere, which is where their association with renewal and new beginnings comes from. They are also worn in Wales on St David's Day, 1 March.

What's the difference between a daffodil and a jonquil?

A jonquil is a type of narcissus, so all jonquils are daffodils in the broad sense. Jonquils have clustered, strongly scented yellow flowers and narrow, rounded leaves, while the flower most people picture as a daffodil is a single large trumpet bloom.

Written by the Irosk team. Irosk is a family-owned Australian jewellery brand based in Brisbane, specialising in 925 sterling silver birthstone and gemstone jewellery. Free express shipping Australia-wide.