Giving flowers is a long-standing custom used to show appreciation for the mother figures in our lives. Floral gifting on Mother’s Day remains incredibly popular, accounting for approximately a quarter of all holiday flower sales annually. While the holiday has a definitive traditional flower, modern preferences have introduced a variety of other popular blooms, offering vibrant choices for every taste.
The Traditional Answer: The Carnation
The single most common flower associated with the origins of Mother’s Day is the carnation, designated as the official bloom of the holiday by its founder, Anna Jarvis. In 1908, Jarvis chose the flower to honor her deceased mother, who had cultivated a garden of carnations. She selected the carnation because it was said to not drop its petals when it dies, instead hugging them to its center, which Jarvis felt symbolized a mother’s enduring, never-dying love.
The color of the carnation was originally used to signify the status of the mother being honored. A white carnation was traditionally worn or given in remembrance of a mother who had passed away, symbolizing purity and a mother’s unconditional love. Conversely, a red or pink carnation was designated for a mother who was still living, representing admiration and deep love. This tradition established the carnation as the foundational floral emblem for the holiday, tying it directly to the holiday’s historical roots.
The Language of Flowers: Symbolism and Color
Beyond the carnation’s historical meaning, the concept of floriography, or the language of flowers, conveys specific messages through color choice. This system of symbolic meaning, popularized in the Victorian era, allows the giver to communicate heartfelt sentiment without words. Understanding these color meanings guides the selection of a flower that carries the perfect emotional weight.
Pink signifies appreciation, gratitude, and a mother’s love, making it a popular choice for Mother’s Day arrangements. White blooms symbolize purity, reverence, and innocence, often representing the unconditional nature of a mother’s love. Yellow flowers convey joy, friendship, and happiness, which are perfect for celebrating the cheerful bond between a child and mother.
Top-Selling Modern Alternatives
While the carnation holds the title of the traditional flower, modern sales data indicates that other blooms now dominate the market. Roses, for instance, have become the number one selling flower for Mother’s Day bouquets, surpassing the historical favorite in volume. These are often chosen for their classic beauty and wide availability, with pink and yellow being the preferred colors over the traditional red rose associated with romantic love.
Tulips and lilies are consistently ranked among the top-selling flowers due to their vibrant spring colors and elegant appearance. Other popular choices reflect current trends and aesthetic preferences for a more opulent arrangement.
- Tulips symbolize perfect love.
- Lilies often represent purity and motherhood.
- Orchids symbolize luxury and rare beauty.
- Peonies represent prosperity and honor.
Keeping Your Mother’s Day Flowers Vibrant
Providing proper care helps extend the life of a cut bouquet, allowing the recipient to enjoy the flowers for as long as possible. The first step involves immediately cutting the bottom of the stems at a 45-degree angle; this maximizes the surface area for water absorption and prevents the stem from resting flat on the vase bottom, which can block water uptake.
Flowers should be kept in a cool environment, away from direct sunlight, heating vents, or other sources of heat that can cause them to dehydrate rapidly. Water should be changed at least every two days, and a flower food packet should be added to the fresh water each time to provide necessary nutrients and inhibit bacterial growth.
Keep the arrangement away from ripening fruit, such as bananas or apples, which release ethylene gas. This plant hormone accelerates the aging and wilting of the flowers.