Final Fantasy 7 Remake, unlike its original source material, sets the entire game in the cityscape of Midgar, the fictional city comprised of the slums on the ground and affluent areas supported by a giant plate above. Neither the dwellings of the elite on the plate nor the slums below have much in the way of flora. But plants and flowers play a key role as a token that represents one of the main characters: Aerith Gainsborough.
Aerith is a flower-seller and a gardener; her home in the slums is a rare oasis somehow filled with blooms. Since flowers are such a key aesthetic fixture in FF7R, considering birth flowers may offer some insights into the game’s beloved characters. This article includes spoilers for both Final Fantasy VII Remake and the original, so watch out if you haven’t played those games yet!
10 Cloud Strife - August - Gladiolus
Cloud, the hero of the game, was born in August making his birth flower the gladiolus. This bright flower is also known as the “sword lily” which makes absolutely the most sense for Cloud, who is best recognized by his massive buster sword that effortlessly hangs off his back in a way that is virtually impossible in real life. A purple gladiolus represents strength, honor, and remembrance.
He’s certainly strong as an ex-member of Soldier, but Cloud spends the game tortured by memories of the past. Despite the well-earned chip on his shoulder, he often displays an innate sense of honor. Cap that off with the Soldier purple jumpsuit and Cloud is nearly a living embodiment of his birth flower.
9 Rufus Shinra - March - Daffodil
Rufus is the young son of President Shinra and one of the complex villains of FF7R. While he obviously engages in acts of cruelty and evil, his story arc through other games and movies includes the possibility of redemption (as well as the possibility of long-lost brothers).
The daffodil appears at the beginning of spring and represents new beginnings and new ventures. President Shinra was not a force for good before his death, and it is doubtful whether Rufus will eventually turn away from his father’s path in the next installments of Remake. He still represents the dawning of a new era in the game, albeit a violent one.
8 Jessie Rasberry - October - Marigold
Although the Remake developed Jessie’s character much more than the original game, her official birthdate is still unknown. But based on her story, the marigold makes a good choice for her birth flower.
The marigold is a beautifully cheerful flower that radiates energy and passion much like Jessie herself. But despite her optimism, Jessie ultimately meets a tragic fate. The marigold, while sunny to look at, is often called the flower of the dead and symbolizes grief, making it a heartbreaking but appropriate choice for Jessie.
7 Tifa Lockhart - May - Hawthorn
Born in May, Tifa’s birth flower should be the hawthorn. This tree flower represents a duality: love, hope, and femininity on one side with protection, masculinity, and supreme happiness on the other. Tifa herself embodies all the qualities of this duality without strain on her character.
She’s tough as nails and unbeatable in a fight, but equally at home donning a fancy dress of questionable style and flirting with Cloud. She’s upbeat and practical about her situation in the slums, but her hopes for creating a better world with Avalanche are never far from her mind.
6 Barret Wallace - December - Holly
The ever-quotable Barret is a December baby making his birth flower the holly. As a flowering evergreen, the holly is a symbol of hope in the darkest of times, and as leader of Avalanche, this is the perfect metaphor for Barret’s role in the dystopian world Shinra has created.
The holly’s prickly leaves are good protection against would-be destroyers, including, interestingly, lightning, and for this reason, it is seen as a symbol of both protection and stubbornness. Barret, both as daddy to Marlene and defacto dad of the group, is a valiant protector, and possibly the stubbornest character in the game (and rightfully so).
5 Zack Fair - June - Honeysuckle
Zack appears only briefly in FF7R, but his backstory has been fleshed out in numerous other games and media, including the PSP game Crisis Core, which features Zack as the protagonist. Honeysuckle represents love and a big part of Zack’s story centers on him being Aerith’s pre-FF7R love interest.
Honeysuckle is a climbing vine that is notoriously hard to get rid of, and as such, it also represents devotion and an everlasting lover’s embrace. Anyone who is familiar with the tragic ending of Crisis Core, and Zack’s constant desire to get back to Aerith, will understand how appropriate this flower is for Zack.
4 Sephiroth - January - Carnation
Sephiroth’s official birthdate is not known, but based on what drives him in the story it is easy to guess that his birth flower would be a carnation, specifically a pink one. Carnations have multiple meanings. They are the flower most often present at funerals and graduations, making them the flower of death and transition.
Death follows Sephiroth like a shadow in the game; he not only causes untold deaths but at the beginning of the game, he is thought to be dead himself. In the original Final Fantasy 7, he dies, returns, and transforms several times, in true JRPG boss fashion. Pink carnations are also symbols of a mother’s love, and Sephiroth’s entire character is ruled by his internal issues with his “mother” Jenova.
3 Yuffie Kisaragi - November - Chrysanthemum
A spirited young warrior-in-training from Wutai, Yuffie will feature in the recently announced upcoming DLC for FF7R, about which we only know a little. Her birthday is in November, making her birth flower the chrysanthemum. This is a significant flower in many East Asian cultures, including Japanese culture, where it can represent the imperial family. Wutai’s aesthetics are heavily coded to make it an East Asian city in the original FF7.
Moreover, Yuffie is the daughter of the leader of Wutai effectively making her Wutai’s royalty. In more western traditions, the chrysanthemum can represent friendship, which is the core lesson of Yuffie’s journey as a member of the party in FF7. The chrysanthemum is the perfect flower to capture both the regalness and the warmth of Yuffie’s character arc.
2 Aerith Gainsborough - February - Primrose
Aerith is born in February, making the primrose the clear choice for her birth flower. The primrose represents young love, with one common meaning for their gift being: “I can’t live without you.” Although what will happen to Aerith in the next installment of the remake is still a mystery, anyone familiar with Aerith’s story from the original Final Fantasy 7 will understand why that is appropriate for Aerith.
The primrose can mean premature death, but, as one of the first flowers to bloom in spring, it can also be associated with new life and rebirth, something that Aerith tasks herself with on behalf of the planet.
1 Nanaki AKA Red XIII - April - Sweet Pea
Nanaki is a lion-like creature who is possibly the last of his race (although ending scenes from the original FF7 suggest otherwise). His people were destroyed by an invasion, and part of his original arc in FF7 involves the discovery that his father, Seto, sacrificed himself to protect Nanaki and his mother.
The sweet pea is often given as a goodbye gift, symbolizing both farewell and thank you at once. The sweet pea is the perfect flower to embody Nanaki’s understanding of his father’s sacrifice, and acceptance of his death in FF7.
NEXT: Which Final Fantasy 7 Character Are You Based On Your Zodiac Sign?
