Let's give plants this Mother's Day! Plants come in all different sizes, colors, and shapes. Every Mother will be overjoyed with happiness from a gift like a beautiful flowering plant, or a spectacular green houseplant. Plants are not only 'the new' and trendiest design objects these days, but they also bring life into your garden, patio, or living room. Get inspired by these beautiful plants for Mother's Day.
Eleven Best Mother's Day Plants for 2024
If you're like many of us, Mother's Day is one of those holidays that sneaks up on you. You know it’s sometime in the late spring, but the exact date always slips your mind. Unlike holidays like Christmas, which most of us would have a hard time forgetting, Mother’s Day is just one of those holidays that tends to slip through the cracks. Too often, we go from one day when Mother’s Day isn’t even on our radar, to the next day when we suddenly realize Mother’s Day is the next day and still don’t have a gift prepared. But that can be fixed rather quickly with this amazing list of 11 Mother's Day plant ideas that you can give your adored mother. The 11 best Mother's Day Plants are:
- Hydrangea
- Potted rose
- Alocasia
- Bougainvillea
- Leucanthemum
- Monstera
- Fuchsia
- Passiflora
- Hanging Basket
- Mandevilla
- Begonia
1. Hydrangea
Native to Asia and the Americas, Hydrangeas have been beloved for centuries for their stunning clusters of flowers. With a rich history and cultural significance, these beautiful plants bring an air of elegance to any space, making them one of the best Mother's Day plants. Hydrangeas are often given as a symbol of gratitude and heartfelt emotion, making them a perfect choice for Mother's Day. Their large, lush blooms in shades of blue, pink, and white can create a visually stunning arrangement or potted plant.
Care Tips: Hydrangeas are easy plants that prefer partial shade and well-draining soil. Keep them evenly moist and feed with a balanced fertilizer during the growing season.
2. Potted Rose
A potted rose is always a good choice as the best Mother's Day plant. With a history dating back thousands of years, roses have long been a favorite for their beauty and fragrance. Hailing from Asia, Europe, North America, and Africa, there are over 150 species and thousands of cultivars. Roses are synonymous with love, appreciation, and admiration, making them an ideal Mother's Day gift. Potted roses can be enjoyed indoors before being planted outside, providing lasting beauty.
Care Tips: Place potted roses in a sunny location with good air circulation. Water regularly, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings. Feed with a balanced fertilizer during the growing season.
3. Alocasia
Alocasias, and especially the Alocasia wentii, is a stunning tropical foliage plant, with arrow heart-shaped leaves, making this also a good choice as the best Mother's Day plant. The dark green leaves and strong stems of this compact strong tropical will make the Alocasia wentii a real eye-catcher in any room. Giving the room an instant jungle feeling, your mother will be very grateful to receive such beauty for Mother's Day. Mothers are perfect caretakers, so with some sunlight and water, she is going to enjoy her Mother's Day plant for a very long time, only getting more beautiful. Alocasia exists in different sizes, so you can also combine a taller one with a smaller one.
Care Tips: Place Alocasias in a well-lit spot with indirect sunlight, and maintain evenly moist soil without letting it become waterlogged.
4. Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea is native to South America, where its vibrant, colorful bracts have captured the hearts of many, and is part of the Mother's Day plant ideas group. This tropical plant that is also known as the 'paper flower', has become a popular choice for brightening up gardens and homes worldwide. The intense colors and bold appearance of Bougainvillea make a dramatic statement and can be a unique, eye-catching gift for Mother's Day.
Care Tips: Provide full sun and well-draining soil. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings and feed with a low-nitrogen fertilizer during the growing season
5. Leucanthemum vulgare
The Leucanthemum is also known as the oxeye daisy, dog daisy, and moon daisy, and is without a doubt one of the most beautiful plants for Mother's Day. This plant is a European native that has naturalized in many parts of the world. Its cheerful, daisy-like flowers are a charming addition to any garden.
Its Mother's Day Appeal is the simple, and classic beauty of it, and makes it a lovely Mother's Day gift, symbolizing innocence and purity.
Care Tips: Plant in full sun or partial shade, in well-draining soil. Water regularly, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering.
Leucanthemum vulgare by @groenrijk_zevenaar
6. Monstera
Monsteras are great, but the Monstera is just awesome for Mother's Day. The Monstera adansonii is a beautiful smaller Monstera type that is part of the Mother's Day plant ideas group. When it gets older, it develops holes in the leaves. All Monsteras do that, and that's why they also call them the Swiss cheese plant. This tropical loves to climb and being a toxic plant to pets, it would be the perfect plant to have in a hanging basket or on a shelf in your bathroom. It loves high humidity and warm temperatures, and with minimum care, it grows easily. Create a warm and green feeling in your house by adding this plant to your presents for Mother's Day.
Care Tips: Provide bright, indirect light and keep the soil evenly moist, allowing the top inch to dry between waterings.
7. Fuchsia
Found primarily in Central and South America, Fuchsias are prized for their unique, pendulous flowers that come in an array of colors. Their exotic appearance adds a touch of the tropics to any garden. They are for sure one of the best plants for Mother's Day. Also for in a hanging basket, Fuchsias are a captivating gift for Mother's Day, with their graceful, hanging blooms that create a sense of whimsy and elegance.
Care Tips: Fuchsias prefer partial shade and well-draining, fertile soil. Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy, and feed with a balanced fertilizer during the growing season.
8. Passiflora
Passiflora, also known as passionflower, is native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. With over 500 species, these vigorous climbers are adored for their intricate, otherworldly blooms. The unique and exotic beauty of passiflora makes it an unforgettable Mother's Day gift, symbolizing love, devotion, and faith.
Care Tips: Plant in a sunny or partly shaded location with well-draining soil. Provide a sturdy support for climbing. Water regularly, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings, and feed with a balanced fertilizer during the growing season.
9. Hanging Basket With Mixed Annuals
A very good idea as a plant gift for Mother's Day is a hanging basket, filled with a variety of colorful annuals from different regions, carefully selected to create a harmonious, eye-catching display. A hanging basket filled with vibrant mixed annuals is a delightful and practical Mother's Day gift, providing instant color and charm for any outdoor space.
Care Tips: Place the hanging basket in a suitable location based on the light requirements of the chosen plants. Water regularly, as hanging baskets tend to dry out quickly. Feed with a balanced fertilizer during the growing season to promote continuous blooms.
10. Mandevilla
Another of the best plant gifts for Mother's Day is the Mandevilla plant. A Mandevilla for Mother's Day is a thoughtful and beautiful present that will surely bring joy to any mom. With its vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowers and elegant vines, the Mandevilla plant is the ideal way to express your love and appreciation on this special day.
Care Tips: Ensure your Mandevilla plant thrives by providing it with ample sunlight, regular watering, and occasional fertilization for vibrant blooms and healthy growth.
11. Begonia
Want to gift mom with lasting beauty this year? Begonias are the perfect pick when looking for plants for Mother's Day. Begonias are perhaps one of the most enduring and traditional houseplants you'll come across. But also one of the prettiest. Some varieties of begonia houseplants are grown for their flowers while others are grown for their striking foliage.
Care Tips: To keep your Begonias flourishing, provide them with well-draining soil, consistent moisture (without overwatering), and a bright, indirect light environment. Don't forget to remove faded flowers to promote continuous blooming!
Mother’s Day Plant Gifts and Their Importance
Besides these wonderful listed plants above, there are hundreds of other Mother's Day gifts for plant lovers. Always remember the importance of giving your mom a detail that comes from the heart, naturally, just as plants are a gift of nature, rather than something material. You might be considering why plants for Mother's Day make such a great gift and here are the main benefits your moms will get when having plants around during her special day:
- Plants are living and breathing. They grow, change, and can make for an exciting, albeit small new dynamic in the life of the owner.
- The aesthetic value of plants increases with their presence in any space. They are a source of happiness and color whether they are kept inside or outside.
- Plants require little attention. They require more maintenance than artificial plants, which only require occasional dusting. They don't require as much feeding, cleaning, or activity as pets do. All that plants require is water, healthy soil, light, and sporadic pruning. All of this is just the right level of dedication to keep the owner interested and involved without being overly busy.
- Plants last far longer than a bunch of flowers and can serve as a wonderful token of your affection and appreciation.
- Giving your mother a special plant can be a great opportunity to introduce her to something brand-new and thrilling that she has never experienced.
A plant may be the best present for your mom in particular for additional reasons. Maybe she likes to garden and is constantly excited to get a new plant to care for. It is for that reason that having in mind outdoor and indoor gift options for Mother's Day is also important.
Three Outdoor Plants for Mother’s Day
If your mom is more of a gardener, rather than a patio, or houseplant lover then she'll probably love any of these three outdoor plants for Mother's Day. Take note because besides being outdoor plants, they are also impossible to kill, making them an even better choice because of their long-lasting properties.
1. Ajuga (Bugleweed)
Ajuga (bugleweed) is an impossible-to-kill plant you'll want to introduce to your backyard and gift for Mother's Day. The Ajuga plant is a robust perennial that'll quickly outgrow all the shady or partially shady spots in your mom's garden with a stunning color palette including light and dark greens, as well as a little brown here and there. This outdoor plant grows just about 6 inches tall and is considered to be one of the most maintenance-free plants of all time. A perfect choice without a doubt!
Care Tips: Grow in partial to full shade, with well-draining soil that stays consistently moist but not soggy.
2. Caladium
What can your mom not love about the Caladium? With big, extremely unique, and beautiful leaves, this plant will give your mother's garden the tropical vibes she's been actively looking for. Caladium features colorful patterns that vary from leaf to leaf and spectacular foliage with colorful patterns. This incredible plant is considered an impossible-to-kill outdoor plant due to its leaf's strength and long durability in any weather condition. Make momma happy with this plant for Mother's Day.
Care Tips: Position in bright, indirect light or dappled shade, and maintain evenly moist soil, avoiding both dryness and waterlogging.
3. Hosta First Frost
To finish off the outdoor plants for Mother's Day 2024, the Hosta First Frost, also known as the plantain lily is a great plant option to gift for Mother's Day. Growing to about 40 cm (16 inches) tall and 75 cm (30 inches) wide, planting a large group of this variety can help fill the space in a low-light garden. Time to get First Frosta Hosta in your mother's backyard and make her happy!
Care Tips: Plant in partial to full shade and water regularly, keeping the soil consistently moist without overwatering.
However, if you want more outdoor plant options, you can always read the article '10 Impossible-To-Kill Outdoor Plants You’ll Want to Have In Your Garden'.
Four More Indoor Plants for Mother's Day
These indoor plants, besides being low-maintenance are the perfect gift idea for Mother's Day if your mom is more of a houseplant lover.
1. Polka-Dot Begonia
The Polka-Dot Begonia is a completely eye-catching and exotic plant to gift on Mother's Day. This stylish houseplant features wing-shaped leaves covered in shimmery silver polka dots. Though a young Begonia maculata makes for cute desk decor, and as it gets older it can reach up to four feet tall. Fully grown, it can brighten up any corner from the floor up.
Care Tips: Provide bright, indirect light and water regularly, keeping the soil consistently moist but not soggy.
2. Calathea Lancifolia
Calathea lancifolia is a tropical plant you can find originally in the rainforest in Brazil. Its beautiful colors make it stand out in your house. It's even called a rattlesnake plant because of its striking patterns. Long and narrow, wavery leaves have ruffled edges that are unique to this Calathea species. They are bright green with alternating dark-green markings down each leaf. The underside of the leaves is purple. Of course, they also fold up at night. Calathea is one of the plants that doesn't like too much salt in the soil, so calmly let hand-warm water flood through the pot, and your plant will love it. It definitely ranks in the list of Mother's Day plants your moms will absolutely adore.
Care Tips: Place in low to medium light and maintain consistently moist soil, taking care not to let it dry out completely.
3. Ctenanthe Oppenheimiana
Want to gift Mom some color this Mother's Day? Gift her one of the most popular Mother's Day plants: Ctenanthe oppenheimiana is preferably placed in a bright place in the house, without direct sunlight. This allows the colors to show their best, without the leaves being able to burn.
However, it does need light for photosynthesis, so make sure the leaves are kept clean. Keep the soil slightly moist at all times but remember the plant shouldn't be in soaked soil constantly. Plants of the Calathea family require a higher humidity compared to most other houseplants to grow optimally - otherwise, the edges of the leaves may begin to wither, somewhat negating the wow effect of the leaves. This is one of the 7 best plants for Mother's Day to gift and score in 2024.
Care Tips: Situate in medium to low light and keep the soil evenly moist, allowing the top layer to dry slightly between waterings.
4. Parlor Palm (Chamaedora Elegans)
Last but not least, the parlor palm is a beautiful leafy plant that will add an instant tropical flair to any space and is the perfect Mother's Day gift for plant lovers. Its dark green fronds create a bushy, lush plant perfect for tabletops, desks, and shelves. An all-around crowd-pleaser, Chamaedora elegans are non-toxic and adaptable. This is an easy-to-care-for indoor plant for Mother's Day.
Care Tips: Provide bright, indirect light and water moderately, allowing the top inch of soil to dry between waterings.
Now that you have loads of choices, make sure to make your moms happy on this day by gifting her one of the Mother's Day plants. She'll be extremely ecstatic for sure.
Header and feature image by @3res.