The Best Plants To Give Mom For Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is the perfect holiday to give the gift of a plant. A bouquet may be more popular, but flower arrangements wilt and die after a week or so. If you buy the right plant for your mother, she can watch it bloom and thrive year after year. With so many plants to choose from in May, however, it can be a daunting task figuring out which plant will make the best gift for your mom this Mother’s Day.
Some of the best flowering plants to give your mother this Mother’s Day include hydrangea, rose, and lilac bushes. Some easy-to-grow species that last a long time include succulent gardens, some orchids, peace lilies, lavender, and flowering air plants. You can get creative and get your mother a citrus tree, tulip bulbs in a decorative pot, or find a stunning flowering bonsai for a unique and extra-special gift.
Your mother will likely be happy with any beautiful plant this holiday, but you should know some plants make better gifts than others. You don’t want to buy your mom a living plant that will only bloom once, or something too difficult to maintain. If you can’t think of what to get your amazing mom as a Mother’s Day gift, we’ve got you covered. Below is a list of some of the best plants to give your mother as a gift this Mother’s Day.
12 Great Plants You Can Give Your Mom On Mother’s Day
1. Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are one of the most iconic symbols of spring. They have beautiful and delicate large pom-pom blooms that come in various colors including blue, white and even purple. If you live in an area with mild summers and plenty of moisture, hydrangeas can make a perfect gift.
You can find small hydrangea bushes in full bloom to give to your mother. They make a great centerpiece for her to enjoy for several weeks. Once the blooms die, she can then plant the bush in her yard. These plants can grow several feet high, will last for decades if properly cared for, and provide stunning flowers every spring.
2. Succulent Garden
If your mother loves plants but can’t remember to water them, then a succulent garden is a great gift. Succulents are plants that require very little water and do well in partial sun. This makes them very easy to grow.
To give this gift an extra special touch, you can arrange the succulent garden yourself. Choose a shallow pot and some of your favorite succulents. Arrange them and use a potting mix, and top it with river rock gravel or bark. This is a personal gift that your mother will love.
3. Lilac Bush
If you live in a region with four seasons, then you likely already know all about the intoxicating and nostalgic aroma of lilacs. These beautiful purple flowers grow into large bushes the size of small trees.
Once a year, around Mother’s Day, they produce many clusters of flowers that give off one of the best smells on the planet. A lilac bush is a great gift for a mom who needs a few more plants in the yard. Since this plant blooms around Mother’s Day, it can act as a friendly annual reminder of how much you appreciate your mom.
4. Lavender
If you want to give your mom a versatile plant with many uses, consider giving her a flowering lavender plant. Lavender has pretty purple flowers, but it offers so much more than its flowers. This herb has a beautiful smell, and it even helps keep mosquitoes away naturally.
If your mom loves DIY projects, she can use lavender to make essential oils, soap, and even candles. Lavender can survive indoors near a window or outside. This makes it a versatile and functional plant to give to your mom.
5. Tulip Bulbs In A Decorative Pot
Tulips are one of the symbols of springtime and rebirth. They sprout up from the ground and flower in the early spring, letting everyone know it is time to celebrate the end of winter. Tulips are bulbs that grow back each year, which means they are a Mother’s Day gift that keeps on giving.
You can give tulip bulbs as a gift, and even put them in a hand-decorated pot instead of wrapping them in gift wrap. Since there are hundreds of tulip varieties, you can choose the color and style you think your mom will like best.
6. Peace Lily
The peace lily is a great low-maintenance houseplant that is commonly given as a gift on Mother’s Day. Peace lilies are not only easy to care for and beautiful, but they also have symbolism. In addition to peace, lilies symbolize admiration. This makes them the perfect symbolic gift for a mom who also needs a flowering house plant.
7. Rose Bush In Her Favorite Color
Roses are one of the most popular flowers on Mother’s Day. A rose bush can make a great gift, especially if your mom lives in the right climate to grow roses. You can pick out a rose bush in her favorite color, and choose a variety that will be easy for her to grow.
Rose bushes can last many generations, especially if they are properly cared for. This makes a rose bush a gift that keeps on giving.
8. Orchids
Orchids are one of the most chic and unique flowering plants on Earth. There are hundreds of types, from common to extremely rare. The one thing all orchids have in common is that they all make great Mother’s Day gifts.
They require minimal water and prefer shade to sun, which makes them a great indoor plant. They are also readily available in grocery stores and nurseries, especially around Mother’s Day. This makes them a beautiful and easy gift to bring to your mom, especially if you are shopping last minute.
9. Flowering Bonsai
If your mom has a green thumb and you want to get her something extra special, consider giving her the gift of a bonsai tree. Caring for a bonsai can be a lot of work, but it’s a labor of love.
If your mom has expressed interest in owning a bonsai, then use Mother’s Day as the perfect excuse to buy her one. These plants can live for hundreds of years, making them a truly special and unique gift.
10. Azaleas
Azaleas are another iconic and long-lasting flowering bush. Like lilacs and hydrangeas, azaleas come alive and bloom every spring, around the same time as Mother’s Day. These shrubs not only bloom every year, but they are fairly low-maintenance. This makes them a great gift for any mom with a yard, as long as the climate is suitable.
11. Flowering Air Plants In A Terrarium
If you want to give your mom a stunning plant, but you know she doesn’t like to water or maintain plants, then an air plant is a great option. You can find some remarkable flowering air plants at local nurseries, and all you need to do is put this plant in a bathroom or somewhere that gets some occasional mist.
Consider gifting the air plant in a beautiful glass terrarium, as this will take the gift to a whole new level. It also means all your mom needs to do is place it somewhere and then admire it.
12. A Citrus Tree
Lastly, if you live in a climate where citrus trees thrive, then consider planting one for your mom this Mother’s Day. Orange, lemon, and lime trees offer all sorts of benefits. They have fragrant blossoms and boast useful and tasty fruit at least once a year.
Imagine the joy your mother will have when she is able to make fresh-squeezed juice from the tree you planted for her. Just make sure you choose the right citrus tree for the climate where she lives.
Closing Notes On The Best Plants To Give Mom On Mother’s Day
Plants make an excellent Mother’s Day gift. Since this holiday is in May, it’s the perfect time of year to give a living plant, especially if your mom has a green thumb. Some long-lasting shrubs that make great gifts include azaleas, lilacs, roses, and hydrangeas.
If you live somewhere warm, consider a succulent garden or a citrus tree. If your mom loves a challenge, a bonsai tree can be an extra special gift, but if she doesn’t like to water her plants, opt for an air plant or orchid.
Related Guides:
- Garden Gifts Every Mother Deserves
- 10 Ways To Help A Bouquet Of Flowers Last Longer
- Tips To Help Keep Your Orchid Thriving

Tom Gaffey is an expert writer who currently resides in Washington D.C. Tom has a passion for real estate and home improvement writing, as well as travel and lifestyle writing. He lived the last twelve years in Hawaii where he worked closely with luxury resorts and event planners, mastering his knowledge of aesthetics and luxury products. This is where he found his passion for home improvement and a keen interest in DIY projects. Currently, Tom resides in Washington D.C, and also working on his debut fiction novel.
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