Why a Potted Plant Beats Flowers This Mother’s Day (And What to Buy in May)

If you’re thinking about buying flowers for Mum this Mother’s Day, it might be time to rethink the bouquet.

Cut flowers are undeniably beautiful, but they’re also fleeting and increasingly expensive for something that may only last a few days in a vase. For the same price (and sometimes less), you could give a flowering potted plant that will continue to grow, bloom, and bring joy for years to come.

It’s a simple shift, but a meaningful one. Instead of a short-lived display, you’re giving Mum something she can plant in the garden or keep in a favourite pot – a living reminder that keeps on giving long after the day has passed.

Early May in Australia is one of the best times to plant. The soil is still holding warmth from summer, while the cooler air helps reduce stress on new plants. That combination allows roots to establish well before winter, setting the stage for strong growth and future flowering.

What to look for in a Mother’s Day plant

When choosing a potted plant, aim for something that offers more than just a quick burst of colour. The best options are:

• Long-lasting or perennial
• Suited to pots or garden beds
• Happy being planted in autumn
• Easy to care for

And remember, it doesn’t have to be flowers. If Mum loves something edible, a healthy passionfruit vine can be a wonderful gift that produces fruit for years to come. Or, for something beautifully fragrant, a lush rosemary or mint bush will fill the garden with scent and be useful in the kitchen as well.

Best potted plants to buy in Australia in early May

Chrysanthemums – the classic, reimagined. Although they are not my favourite, they are synonymous with Mother’s Day, but instead of cut stems, choose a potted chrysanthemum. I find a few days in the vase they developed a horrible smell. However, if planted, they’ll return each year with vibrant autumn blooms.

Camellias – timeless and elegant. They can last for decades. With glossy evergreen leaves and beautiful blooms through autumn and winter, it’s perfect for pots or as a feature shrub in the garden.

Pansies and violas – colour through the cooler months. These cheerful flowers thrive in the cooler weather and will keep blooming right through winter, brightening up garden beds and pots alike.

Asters – hardy and full of life. These fabulous flowers are reliable perennials that produce masses of daisy-like flowers and attract pollinators, adding life as well as colour to the garden.

Australian natives – naturally resilient and pretty funky plants. Plants like correa, crowea and banksia are well-suited to local conditions. They’re often low-maintenance, drought-tolerant once established, and provide beautiful seasonal flowers.

Geraniums (Pelargoniums) – dependable favourites perfect for sunny spots, geraniums flower for long periods and are easy to propagate, making them a gift that can multiply over time.

Cyclamen – delicate but enduring. Ideal for pots and sheltered spaces, cyclamen offer elegant blooms during the cooler months and return each year from their tubers.

Passionfruit – a gift you can taste. For something a little different, a passionfruit vine is both ornamental and productive. With the right support and a sunny position, it will reward mum with delicious fruit and lush green growth.

Rosemary – fragrance and flavour combined. A healthy rosemary bush is hardy, drought-tolerant and wonderfully aromatic. It’s just as at home in the garden as it is near the kitchen door, ready to be picked and enjoyed.

Mint – fresh, fast-growing and endlessly useful. Mint is one of the easiest and most rewarding herbs to grow, making it a perfect gift for Mum. It thrives in pots (best to keep it contained if you are planting in the garden), grows quickly, and can be used in everything from teas to desserts and savoury dishes. With regular picking, it will keep producing lush, fragrant leaves for months on end.

Lavender – calming, fragrant and long-lasting. Lavender is a beautiful addition to any garden, with its soft purple flowers and soothing scent. It thrives in sunny spots with good drainage and can be enjoyed for years, attracting pollinators and providing fragrant cuttings for the home.

Lisianthus – delicate, rose-like blooms. Often seen in bouquets, lisianthus also make a lovely potted gift. With their soft, elegant blooms, they bring a touch of sophistication to patios and sheltered garden spots. While they prefer a bit of care and a warm position, their long-lasting flowers make them a rewarding choice and a beautiful alternative to traditional cut flowers.

Planting tip

Before planting, make sure you check the plant tag or planting card for guidance on the best time to move your gift on to the patio or into the garden. In cooler climates, it’s often best to wait until the risk of frost has passed in spring before planting outdoors. If you are living in the warmer climate of northern New South Wales or Queensland, now is the perfect time to plant.

There’s something special about a plant that settles into the garden, whether its in a pot on the patio or transplanted into a garden bed, it becomes part of everyday life. Each new bud and bloom is a reminder not just of Mother’s Day, but of the thought behind the gift.

So this year, instead of spending on a bouquet that fades within days, consider something that will flourish into a never ending “I love you”.