Amy Draiss
If you’re into astrological or birth signs and you love to garden, the Celtic tree zodiac calendar is the perfect pairing. Trees are an integral part of Celtic culture, but the calendar itself was popularized in 1948 by Robert Graves, a British poet and mythologist. His calendar paired a tree with the lunar cycles of the moon, creating a series of birth month trees for devotees of astrology.
For those of you interested in growing and caring for trees, the tree zodiac is a fun way to incorporate your birth sign into your gardening hobby. Curious as to what kind of tree you might be aligned with? If you’ve ever wondered if “I were a tree, what kind of tree would I be?” then keep reading to learn about birth month trees. Hopefully understanding your birth tree by month will help you to get to the roots of your next purchase and add an extra dimension of meaning to your planting.
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What is the Celtic Tree Zodiac?
To help you identify and choose your tree, it can help to understand the significance of the tree in Celtic mythology. Celtic culture dates back 3,200-2,600 years ago. Celtic religious beliefs spread through most of Europe during the Bronze and Iron Ages. Celts believed the natural world was imbued with power. Trees had special significance, enforcing the interconnectedness between the spiritual and physical worlds.
The tree's roots, trunk and branches symbolized the connection between the spirit world, mortal world and underworld. They emphasized the balance of harmony and nature, while their cyclical shedding and regrowth of foliage symbolized rebirth. Trees were also believed to hold the souls of ancestors. Trees are often represented in art and jewelry as the Celtic Tree of Life, or Crann Bethadh in Irish. The ancient Irish writing system (or Ogham alphabet) interprets each character as a tree or plant, leading Graves to presume the Celts used a lunar tree calendar with 13 moon cycles. Thus, the Celtic tree zodiac calendar was born.
Grow a Tree using the Celtic Tree Zodiac
There is some contention regarding the Celtic tree calendar. Those opposed to the calendar claim the Celts had a calendar based on 12 months, plus an interjected month based on the Metonic cycle which links solar and lunar cycles but relies most heavily on lunar. At any rate, the Celtic tree calendar assigns each of the 13 lunar months to a particular tree – and these are the birth trees.
While astrology uses sidereal calendars (those based on the position of the sun in relation to the zodiac constellations), the Celtic calendar relies on lunar cycles, creating 13 months and therefore 13 plants. So which month (and what tree) would you be, according to the Celtic calendar? Discover which one has extra significance for you, and which tree deserves to be in your yard.
December 24-January 20
Capricorns, birch trees are the trees for your lunar month. They represent renewal and rebirth, hence their position at the start of the new year. Birch trees are visually spectacular, with stark white bark providing contrast to other green plants. Birch tree types look particularly pretty in the snow, but they also have gorgeous fall colors, making them aesthetically pleasing year round.
Plant in full sun, where they can receive at least 6 hours per day, in consistently moist but well-draining soil. Mulch around the trees to retain moisture. You can buy River Birch Trees in quart pots from Amazon.
January 21-February 17
If you were born between these dates, astrologically you are an Aquarius, an air sign symbolized by the water bearer, but your birth month tree is the rowan (aka mountain ash). Rowan trees require full sun and well-draining soil, but are generally low maintenance and need little pruning. They should have any damaged or diseased limbs pruned out in late winter to early spring.
I don’t know if people born during this time period are low maintenance, but according to the Celtic tree calendar, rowan trees symbolize protection and intuition. Buy American Mountain Ash Seedlings as two year old bare roots from Amazon.
February 18-March 17
People born during this period are creative poets, or at least that’s what this tree month’s tree symbolizes. Astrologically, you are a Pisces, a water sign. At any rate, ashes are beautiful and large, up to 80 feet (24m) in height. With that great size comes a large root system that is best to keep away from underground pipes and infrastructures.
Found throughout North America and Europe, ash tree varieties are known for their strong yet flexible wood which is made into furniture, tools, and even used in aviation construction. This tree is prone to emerald ash borer and should be regularly monitored for the pest. Keep the tree consistently moist in well-draining soil. Mulch around the tree to retain moisture, and prune in late winter or early spring. You can buy ‘Raywood’ Ash trees in pots from Lowe’s.
March 18-April 14
If you were born in this lunar calendar month, your tree spirit is the alder, which symbolizes determination and courage. Alder trees are also known for their nitrogen fixing abilities and are commonly used in carpentry.
This tree is perfect for those that have moist soil – possibly near a creek or other waterway, as alders like wet environments. These trees are unfussy about soil type and will even thrive in heavy clay soils. A smaller tree topping out at about 20 feet (6m), the catkins provide interest from late winter into spring, becoming cones in the fall. You can buy Tag Alder live plants in containers from Walmart.
April 15-May 12
Most people born during this period are Taurus, characterized by the bull, but according to the Celtic tree zodiac calendar, your tree is the graceful willow. Willows thrive in consistently moist soil. This goes hand in hand with the Celtic representation of a willow’s connection to water and wisdom. With their graceful dipping boughs, many willow tree varieties are the perfect fairy tale specimens.
Plant willow trees in full sun, in consistently moist but well-draining soils. Otherwise, this whimsical tree is low maintenance, with the exception of some minor pruning to remove any broken or diseased branches. You can buy Weeping Willow trees in a range of heights from Fast Growing Trees.
May 13-June 9
Part Taurus and part Gemini (or the twins), anyone born during this period will have an affinity to hawthorn trees. Hawthorns represent love and protection, and they are the star attraction during the summer Gaelic festival of Beltane. Hawthorns make stunning four-season trees for home growing. These romantic trees bloom with a profusion of white (or occasionally pink) blossoms in spring. They thrive in full sun and well-draining soils, but they do not like wet feet. Still, once established, hawthorns are quite low maintenance – even fairly drought tolerant.
Their beautiful spring blooms hide their thorny habitat, but the birds don’t mind. Hawthorns will grow densely together, creating an impenetrable hedge – plus, they do not mind regular pruning. Once the blooms fade, berries (or haws) are produced which can be left as wildlife fodder or turned into jams, jellies, wine or tea. Buy Washington Hawthorn trees as 1-year old plants from Amazon.
June 10-July 7
Cancerians and cusp Geminis should plant the mighty oak tree, representative of longevity and stability. You can start an oak tree from an acorn, or buy a sapling from a nursery. Either way, the common oak tree lives up to its longevity designation – indeed, some varieties take up to 75-100 years to reach maturity.
If you do plant an oak, make sure you have plenty of room. Oak trees can reach 40-80 feet (12-24m) in height, and some even reach 100 feet (30m) tall with a significant spread. Select a spacious area in your yard, with full sun, well-draining soil and consistent moisture. You can buy a range of oaks at different stages of maturity from Fast Growing Trees.
July 8-August 4
Cancers and Leos, you can celebrate your nobility and resilience by planting a holly bush. Now, I am a Cancer, but this is one bush I will not be adding to the landscape, having had one before that became invasive. This is common in the Pacific Northwest (PNW), where English holly has escaped cultivation and can now be found everywhere, outcompeting native flora.
That said, holly is quite lovely, with its unique, deep green, glossy (and often spiky) leaves, accompanied by red berries for much of the year. Holly bushes can live for up to 300 years, so if you do plant one, remember, it’s a commitment. Holly is a shade tolerant tree but it prefers full sun. Plant it in slightly acidic, well-draining soil, in the spring or fall. You can buy ‘Blue Prince’ Holly in large pots from Walmart.
August 5-September 1
The tree for this lunar month, the hazel, signifies knowledge. Astrologically, both Leos and Virgos should plant this tree in their Celtic tree garden. Hazel trees produce hazelnuts, also known as filberts, between September and October. This tree is on the smaller side, about 10-15 feet (3-4.5m) in height. Hazelnut trees can even be container grown, which makes them an excellent choice for those with a smaller garden footprint.
Grow hazel trees in full to partial sun, with well-drained loamy soil. Once established, these trees are drought tolerant. Prune them when they are young to shape them and make harvesting easier. You can buy American Hazelnut Filbert Trees in mixed sizes from Fast Growing Trees.
September 2-September 29
While not really a tree, this lunar month celebrates grape vines, which are said to represent joy and celebration. Certainly their fermented fruit is used to celebrate many occasions! There are at least 4,000 grape varieties, and some sources report this could be as many as 10,000! So there is certainly a grape type for you.
You may wish to grow grapes to eat fresh, or to process into jelly or juice or to ferment into wine. Check that the grapes you select can be grown in your USDA zone. In general, grapes prefer full sun in well-draining, acidic soil. You can buy a range of grape vines as plants or bare roots from Burpee, including deep purple ‘Concord’ and golden ‘Marquis’ varieties.
September 30-October 27
While also not a tree, the Celtic calendar celebrates fall babies with ivy, which is symbolic of survival and perseverance. When determining which ivy best for your garden, just bear in mind that it is nothing if not persistent. It will grow indoors or outside, in the cooler and warmer zones of USDA 4-9, and it can be tenacious and aggressive (even invasive) in its growth.
Easy to grow, ivy prefers partial shade and well-draining soil. Plant it in the spring or fall. It can be pruned to control its growth and it makes a terrific ground cover, especially in shaded spots where other plants fail to thrive. Buy Greenwood Nursery Ivy as bare root bundles from Amazon.
October 28-November 24
Again, this one is not technically a tree, but it is included as a birth month plant. The reed represents honesty and musical aptitude with reed instruments. Most folks born during this period identify astrologically as Scorpios, known for their passion and loyalty. Reeds make gorgeous ornamental grasses, especially near or in water features, both manmade and natural.
Reeds can be grown from seeds, cuttings or rhizomes, and should be planted in full sun with adequate spacing and consistent moisture. Some of these perennial wetland grasses can be invasive, spreading through rhizomes and the seeds of the plant. You can buy Pink Muhly Grass from Fast Growing Trees.
November 25-December 23
The last birth month tree on the Celtic calendar is the elder. Also referred to as the elderberry, this versatile tree is easy to grow and is available in a variety of sizes. The elder represents completion and reflection, perfect for the end of the year, as many of us reflect on the year at its close. Said to have antiviral properties, elder trees are also grown for their edible berries, which are often processed into preserves. Partially self-fruitful, elderberries do best when you plant two or more cultivars near each other.
Prune the plant each year, in either late winter or early spring. Elderberries are produced on new rather than old growth. Otherwise, plant elderberries in full sun to partial shade, in most types of soil, provided it is well-draining. Buy Hirt’s Elderberry ‘Black Lace’ as potted plants from Amazon.
How to Use Your Birth Tree in the Landscape
Many of these lunar birth trees are associated with a specific time of the year, which is no coincidence. For instance, hawthorns are May’s birth month tree, because this is when they bloom. Hazelnuts are the birth tree for much of August, and that’s entirely due to the fact that their nuts will soon be developing for harvest.
If you want to use your birth month tree in your landscape, first check to make sure it will thrive in your USDA planting zone. Then, do some research and check on its growth habit, mature size, whether it needs a pollinator (for those trees that produce fruit or nuts), and so on.
Since Celtic birth trees are associated with the spirit world, often including fairies and other fanciful beings, you could even use your birth tree as a focal point in a fairytale garden. Include other whimsical plants and garden art, fairytale containers, plus paths and other hardscaping ideas, to create your dream garden come alive. Have fun and be creative!
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