What flower is traditionally given on Mother's Day?

Carnation is the flower traditionally given on Mother’s Day, especially in the United States and Canada. The custom began with Anna Jarvis, who chose the carnation because it had been her mother’s favorite flower.

At the first Mother’s Day observance in 1908, Jarvis distributed about 500 carnations at a church service in Grafton, West Virginia. The flower soon became associated with the holiday, particularly through church services that handed out carnations to worshippers.

The color developed symbolic meanings. White carnations were associated with mothers who had died, while pink or red carnations came to represent mothers who were living. Florists later promoted these conventions, and the tradition became part of broader Mother’s Day flower-giving.

Roses, lilies, tulips, and mixed bouquets are also popular modern gifts, but they are not the flower most specifically linked to the holiday’s original American tradition. Mother’s Day became an official U.S. observance in 1914 and is held on the second Sunday in May.