Liz Galst 1 minute read 

# This Mother’s Day, show your love with eco-friendly flowers

  Published: May 7, 2025  

 

 

   The classic Mother’s Day rose presents a conundrum: The blooms represent a lot of love but also a lot of climate pollution. More than 80% of flowers sold in the United States — roses especially — travel from overseas, on carbon-intensive, refrigerated jets.

                ![Mimo Davis holding freshly cut flowers](/sites/default/files/styles/1440px_width_scale/public/2025-02/Screenshot%202025-02-04%20at%2011.52.16%E2%80%AFAM_0.jpg?itok=sbvd69Op) Mimo Davis, of Urban Buds in St. Louis, Missouri, is part of an expanding network of farmers and florists offering locally grown flowers. (*Kim Dillon*)

Here’s how to show both your mom and the Earth a little love this Mother’s Day.

## Buy seasonal 

Buy seasonal: While locally grown roses might not be available for Mother’s Day — in many parts of the country, they’ve not yet started to bloom — there are plenty of stunning alternatives to telegraph your love. Look out for peonies, irises and lilacs from your local growers and purveyors.

## Flowering plants 

Amaryllises, anemones, tulips and daffodils can all be grown in pots, ready to bloom in May. If DIY is your thing, plan for Mother’s Day 2026 — potted bulbs generally take about two months to flower.

## Give an experience 

Who says flower gifts have to be so literal? Try a gift of a flower arranging class.

“Or you could get someone a membership to a botanical garden, where they can see beautiful flowers all year long,” says flower farmer Mimo Davis of Urban Buds in St. Louis, Missouri.

                ![A bouquet of flowers ](/sites/default/files/styles/1440px_width_scale/public/2025-02/IMG_2688.jpg?itok=o7YOloqK) Roses aren't the only way to show your love. This Mother's Day, look out for locally grown tulips, irises and peonies. (*Courtesy of* [*Urban Buds*](https://www.citygrownflowers.com/))

## Delayed gratification 

Many local flower farmers and florists offer gift subscriptions, so you can get beautiful, in-season deliveries throughout the year.

“I always think this is actually a better gift, because you can give more flowers, more often,” says Ellen Frost, owner of Baltimore’s Local Color Flowers, which sources from nearby farms.

## Fair trade, foam-free 

Even if you’re buying from your local supermarket or a national delivery chain, you can still up your sustainability game. Flower sustainability expert Becky Feasby recommends looking for Florverde-certified options because they meet certain environmental and labor standards. Likewise, she suggests avoiding plastic floral foam, which doesn’t biodegrade and isn’t recyclable.

 

 

 

  

 

 

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