The Best Mother's Day Flowers to Give

Mother’s Day occurs every year on the second Sunday of May in the United States and many other countries. It is a time of showing love and respect for mothers and most people give their mothers gifts to show appreciation for all the mothering they’ve got throughout the year.

One of the most popular gifts is a bouquet of flowers. However, while flowers are lovely in and of themselves – a bouquet can also be filled with meaning. Indeed, many flowers have traditional meanings and people in many cultures once used flowers to convey their feelings. Here is a list of the best Mother’s Day flowers an appreciative child can give.

Carnations are the Traditional Mother's Day Flower

Traditionally, carnations are a sign of admiration, love, and respect; so its no wonder its one of the top Mother’s Day flowers. Its scientific name Dianthus supposedly means “flower of the gods”. However, carnations are also recognized as the official Mother’s Day flower by many.

Although Mother’s Day has a long tradition throughout the world, it was not officially recognized in the United States until 1914 when one woman grieving over the loss of her mother decided to campaign for the holiday. Anna Jarvis began her campaign by handing out 500 carnations one Sunday to all the mothers in attendance at the church her own mother once taught Sunday School in.

Although her campaign involved many other strategies, Anna sent her mother’s favorite flower to the Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church, in West Virginia every year in honor of her mother. About 10,000 carnations were sent over the years and the flower came to be the official flower of Mother’s Day.

Roses are Good for Moms Too
Roses are another classic flower given to mothers. Although it is widely known that roses are a sign of love, many think roses are only for romantic occasions. Red roses can be given to a mom, especially if they come in a bouquet of other flowers. Pink roses are even better as they traditionally show appreciation and gratitude. Although yellow roses once meant jealousy to people in Victorian times, today yellow is seen as a sign of joy and friendship. Roses are one of the best Mother’s Day flowers for their classic beauty and also double as a sign of joy or appreciation.

Gerbera Daisy's Can Brighten Any Mother's Day
Daisies traditionally signify purity or innocence; however the gerbera variety is one of the best Mother’s Day flowers to give because of its joyful meaning. Gerbera daisies have an added meaning of cheerfulness and often look best when daisies of several different colors are put into the bouquet. These flowers are a bright, cheery, and can uplift anybody’s day.

Orchids are Ideal for the Untraditional Mom
Orchids are a great flower for any occasion because they are long-lasting. Some varieties can last two weeks or longer. Orchids are also a sign of beauty, wealth, and luxury. So, this flower is ideal for the child showing he or she is taking good care of a mother. The orchid is also still regarded by many as a rare and unique flower. This makes it one of the best Mother’s Day flowers, ideal for the unique mother.

In the United States the most popular flowers given on Mother’s Day include carnations, roses, and gerbera daisies. However the best Mother’s Day flowers are the ones specially chosen and given with love.