The Best Flowers for Mother’s Day (and What They Mean)
Mother’s Day is a perfect time to show love and appreciation through something as timeless and meaningful as flowers. Across centuries and cultures, blooms have carried special meanings, a tradition known as the “language of flowers” or floriography.
In Victorian times, bouquets were often used to send messages that words couldn’t capture. Today, those same symbolic touches make gifting flowers even more thoughtful. Some flowers symbolize gratitude, while others represent deep affection, strength, or elegance… all qualities that make moms so special. Each bloom tells a story, bringing beauty, emotion, and joy into the lives of those who receive them.
Choosing the right flower can make your gift even more personal, creating a memory she’ll cherish long after the day is over. From lush hydrangeas to classic roses, delicate daisies to exotic orchids, there’s a perfect match for every mother’s unique spirit.
Roses
Roses have long been the symbol of deep love and admiration, making them one of the most meaningful choices for Mother’s Day. Their vibrant colors and timeless elegance speak volumes without needing many words. Different varieties can add even more personality to your gift, from bold and passionate to warm and cheerful.
Double Red Knockout Rose
The Double Red Knockout Rose is famous for its intense red blooms and exceptional hardiness. Red roses traditionally symbolize deep love and respect, making this a beautiful, lasting tribute to mom. This variety is also disease-resistant and blooms repeatedly throughout the season, offering a longer show of affection.
Julia Child Rose
The Julia Child Rose offers cheerful, buttery yellow blooms that symbolize warmth, friendship, and joy. Named after the beloved chef, this rose brings a playful and welcoming spirit to any garden. It’s known for its rich fragrance and easy-growing nature, perfect for busy moms who love low-maintenance beauty.
Care Tips:
Roses love full sun, aim for 6+ hours a day. Plant them in well-draining soil and water regularly at the base, not the leaves, to avoid disease. Prune in early spring to encourage new growth and remove deadwood. Knockout and Julia Child roses are both low-maintenance, making them perfect even for beginner gardeners.
Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are a beautiful way to express gratitude, understanding, and heartfelt emotion. Their big, bountiful blooms bring a soft, welcoming feel to any space, and their shifting colors can add layers of meaning depending on the variety. They’re perfect for moms who love lush, statement-making plants.
Limelight Prime Hydrangea – Panicle Hydrangea
The Limelight Prime Hydrangea shines with bright green blooms that slowly mature into rich pinks and reds through the season. It symbolizes renewal and positivity, making it an uplifting Mother’s Day gift. Strong stems and compact growth make it easy to grow and enjoy.
Stargazer Hydrangea – Macrophylla Hydrangea
Stargazer Hydrangea dazzles with bright pink or blue mophead blooms, often representing heartfelt emotions and deep understanding. This classic garden favorite thrives in part sun and adds a charming cottage vibe to any yard.
Puffer Fish Hydrangea – Panicle Hydrangea
The Puffer Fish Hydrangea features full, fluffy white blooms that burst open like fireworks. They represent purity, abundance, and a fresh start. Truly, a thoughtful pick for celebrating a new mom or honoring life’s beautiful moments.
Care Tips:
Panicle hydrangeas like Limelight Prime and Puffer Fish thrive in full to partial sun. The more sun they get, the better they bloom. These varieties are hardy, heat-tolerant, and can handle drier conditions once established. Keep their soil moist during the first growing season, and add mulch to hold moisture and regulate temperature.
Macrophylla hydrangeas, like the Stargazer, prefer morning sun and some afternoon shade, especially in hot Illinois summers. They need more consistent watering, and their bloom color can change based on soil pH–acidic soil produces blue flowers, while alkaline soils turn them pink. All hydrangeas benefit from regular watering during dry spells and a dose of slow-release fertilizer in spring.
Daisies
Daisies are bright, cheerful, and full of meaning. They often symbolize innocence, purity, and loyal love. Their simple, sunny appearance makes them a heartwarming choice for Mother’s Day, especially for moms who appreciate something playful, fresh, and full of life. They bring instant joy, whether displayed in a bouquet or grown in a container on the patio.
White Gerbera Daisies
White Gerbera Daisies stand out for their large, pure blooms and clean lines. The color white adds a layer of sincerity and timeless beauty, making them ideal for expressing pure love and appreciation. Gerberas are long-lasting cut flowers and thrive in containers or garden beds where they can soak up plenty of sun. Their strong, upright stems make them especially eye-catching in arrangements.
Care Tips:
Gerbera daisies thrive in well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade. Water at soil level when the top inch feels dry, and avoid letting water sit on the leaves. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flowers. They do great in pots or garden beds, and appreciate a little balanced fertilizer every couple of weeks.
Lilies
Lilies are elegant, fragrant, and full of meaning. They are perfect for expressing admiration, devotion, and a deep, nurturing love. Their trumpet-shaped blooms make a bold statement and carry a sweet, uplifting scent that fills any room. Lilies are often seen as a symbol of motherhood and renewal, making them an especially fitting gift this time of year.
Easter Lily
The Easter Lily, known for its pure white petals and delicate fragrance, represents purity, hope, and the enduring bond between mother and child. Its graceful shape and clean color make it a beautiful centerpiece for spring celebrations or a peaceful spot in the garden. Typically available during the Easter season, this graceful flower continues to hold meaning throughout the spring months.
Care Tips:
Lilies like bright, indirect light indoors and a sunny spot outdoors once planted. Keep the soil moist but not soaked, and be sure there’s good drainage. After blooms fade, don’t cut back the leaves right away. Let them yellow naturally to store energy for next year’s blooms. Remove pollen if bringing lilies indoors to avoid staining.
Orchids
Orchids bring an exotic, graceful touch to any Mother’s Day gift. Known for their beauty and strength, orchids symbolize admiration, elegance, and enduring love. They bloom for weeks and are surprisingly low-maintenance, which makes them a favorite for moms who appreciate something refined yet easy to care for.
Orchid Plants
These stunning plants feature tall, arching stems lined with long-lasting blooms in shades of white, pink, purple, and more. Perfect for bright indoor spots, they thrive in indirect sunlight and only need watering about once a week. A single orchid can transform a space and offer weeks of beauty.
Orchid – 6” Pot
The Phalenopsis orchid is an ideal choice for gifting. They’re compact, stylish, and ready to impress. Each one is unique and striking, a symbol of luxury and thoughtfulness.
Care Tips:
Orchids thrive in bright, indirect light and prefer warm, humid environments. Water about once a week (less if humidity is high) and let excess water drain completely. Never let orchids sit in standing water. Use a potting mix designed for orchids (not regular soil), and don’t be afraid to trim the stem once flowers drop to encourage a new bloom cycle.
How to Choose the Right Mother’s Day Flowers for Your Mom
The best Mother’s Day flowers are the ones that speak to her personality and style. Is she classic and elegant? Go for timeless roses. Does she love a splash of color and a lively garden? Hydrangeas or daisies are a perfect match. For the mom who loves unique, low-maintenance plants, orchids make a beautiful, lasting impression. And if fragrance is important, lilies are both striking and sweet-smelling.
You can also think about what each flower means–choosing blooms that reflect your relationship or a special memory. No matter what you pick, what matters most is the thought and love behind it. At Platt Hill Nursery, we’re here to help you find something she’ll truly adore.
Let us help you make this Mother’s Day unforgettable. Stop by Platt Hill Nursery in Carpentersville or Bloomingdale, or shop online to find beautiful, meaningful gifts that bloom long after the holiday has passed.
