Every spring, flower shops around the world burst into a pastel riot—hand-tied bouquets spilling from storefronts, buckets of stems soaking in cold water, and florists moving at a blur. Mother’s Day is one of the year’s busiest floral holidays, a moment when people express what often goes unsaid through petals and fragrance.
But why these flowers? Why carnations in one place and lilies in another? Why does Japan favor roses while Australia leans toward chrysanthemums? The answer is woven through history, folklore, personal stories, language, and even a touch of marketing magic.
This florist guide explores the surprising—and sometimes poetic—journey behind the blossoms we choose for Mother’s Day.
1. Carnations: The Original Mother’s Day Emblem
Carnations have a curious ability to look both delicate and determined—ruffled layers perched on strong, unyielding stems. That duality mirrors motherhood, and perhaps that’s why carnations became the first flower associated with Mother’s Day.
The story begins in 1908, in a church in West Virginia, where Anna Jarvis held the very first official Mother’s Day celebration to honor her late mother. Jarvis chose a simple symbol for an extraordinary bond: white carnations, her mother’s favorite flower. She believed carnations represented the purity of a mother’s love—long-lasting, steadfast, and deeply rooted.
The tradition caught on with surprising speed, spreading across the United States in a matter of a few years. Florists embraced it. Schools adopted it. Churches held special services decorated with carnations. Soon, a custom emerged:
- White carnations honored mothers who had passed
- Pink or red carnations celebrated those still living
Countries like Canada, Japan, South Korea, and many European nations adopted the tradition as Mother’s Day itself spread across borders. By the mid-20th century, carnations had become the most recognizable flower of the holiday—a classic bloom with a sentimental origin story that still tugs at the heart.
2. Chrysanthemums: A Bloom Made for “Mums”
Sometimes symbolism isn’t built over centuries—it happens almost by accident. In Australia, Mother’s Day falls in May, which happens to be when chrysanthemums are at their seasonal peak. But there’s another reason they dominate the day: their name ends in “mum.”
That linguistic coincidence turned chrysanthemums into a holiday staple. Florists stock eye-catching golden yellows, creamy whites, and soft pinks—colors that feel warm, familiar, and comforting. Australian schoolchildren often give a bunch of chrysanthemums to their mothers and grandmothers, a tradition passed down through generations.
The flower also carries broader meanings in other cultures—respect in China, celebration in Japan—but in Australia it’s the cheerful everyday flower that became a charming, pun-based symbol of the entire holiday.
3. Roses: A Modern Favorite with Timeless Appeal
In places like Japan and parts of Europe, roses—especially pale pink ones—have become the unofficial Mother’s Day standard. While roses are better known for romantic love, their softer hues evoke gentleness, gratitude, and affection.
Japan’s connection to roses on Mother’s Day began post–World War II, when the holiday was reshaped into a celebration of maternal devotion. Carnations and roses shared the spotlight, but roses—already beloved in Japanese gardening culture—quickly became a fashionable choice.
Pink roses carry meanings that align naturally with motherhood:
- admiration
- appreciation
- gentle love
- elegance
Their universality makes them as common in London florists as in Tokyo department stores during early May.
4. Lilies: Purity, Legacy, and Maternal Grace
Lilies have long been associated with motherhood—long before there was a designated day to celebrate it. In many Christian traditions, the Madonna lily symbolizes the Virgin Mary’s purity and divine motherhood. In Greek mythology, lilies were said to have sprung from the goddess Hera as she nursed her son Hercules.
While lilies are not a Mother’s Day staple everywhere, they appear in various countries—often in religious contexts or in bouquets meant to honor mothers who have passed away. White lilies, in particular, carry a serene elegance that speaks to reverence, remembrance, and maternal grace.
In parts of Latin America and Europe, lilies often accompany Mother’s Day Masses and family altar offerings, blending cultural heritage with personal tribute.
5. Orchids: A Tropical Tribute to Strength and Beauty
In Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, and other parts of Southeast Asia, orchids—especially the purple dendrobium—are a popular Mother’s Day choice. Orchids are known for their durability and stunning, sculptural appearance, making them symbols of:
- strength
- beauty
- refinement
- resilience
These qualities resonate with cultural ideals of motherhood in the region, where maternal figures are honored for their steadfast devotion and quiet power. Orchids are often given not as cut flowers but as potted plants, offering a long-lasting reminder of appreciation.
Thailand, which celebrates Mother’s Day on the Queen Mother’s birthday (August 12), is especially known for weaving orchids into its nationwide festivities.
6. Spring Blossoms: Celebrating Motherhood Through Seasonal Beauty
In many European countries—France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom—Mother’s Day flowers are less about a single symbolic bloom and more about what is in season: tulips, daffodils, ranunculus, peonies, and other spring favorites.
These flowers represent:
- renewal
- warmth
- the return of life
- the nurturing aspects of motherhood
In France, where Mother’s Day falls later in spring, bouquets often include peonies, considered luxurious, abundant blossoms symbolizing prosperity and feminine beauty. In the U.K., daffodils—one of the first flowers to bloom after winter—became connected to “Mothering Sunday,” the older church-based version of the holiday.
Here, Mother’s Day becomes a celebration of seasonal abundance, with flowers acting as small, colorful heralds of spring.
7. Marigolds: Honoring Mothers Through Spiritual Tradition
Although Mother’s Day in Mexico is filled with a variety of flowers, the cempasúchil (marigold) carries unique cultural weight. While more commonly associated with Día de los Muertos, marigolds sometimes appear in Mother’s Day observances as symbols of the spiritual bond between the living and the departed.
Their vibrant gold and orange hues reflect warmth, devotion, and the cycle of life—fitting attributes in a country where motherhood is celebrated with deep reverence.
How Flowers Became the Universal Language of Mother’s Day
Despite the differences, one thread links all these traditions: flowers offer a way to express emotions that often feel too large for words. Whether it’s a carnation pinned to a lapel, a child handing over chrysanthemums after school, or a carefully chosen stem of orchids or roses, each flower carries its own story—woven through history, culture, and sentiment.
Mother’s Day, at its heart, is about connection. And around the world, flowers have become the gentle, fragrant messengers of gratitude—bridging generations, countries, and traditions with every bloom.