Mother’s Day is fast approaching and this year, we have more to be thankful for than ever. In 2020-21, moms went above and beyond their normal duties. Moms of school-age children became teachers, translating educator emails into at-home lessons. They worked doubly hard to balance work and housework as older children moved home. Mothers that couldn’t safely visit their children took on the title of, “Zoom hostess with the mostest,” during virtual holiday celebrations.
So, this year, Americans want to show their moms how much they care and appreciate them. Although we at Breck’s are partial to gifting our mothers beautiful flowers, we wanted to ensure that we’re getting moms exactly what they want during this special 2021 Mother’s Day. So we went straight to the source, asking moms what they really want this year, to help children across the country make Mother’s Day amazing.
Our study consisted of two parts. First, we looked at the average Google Trends search volume of 20 common flower types during the week leading up to Mother’s Day over the past five years in order to find the most popular Mother’s Day flower in each state.
Second, we surveyed 700 moms across the U.S. about what they want most for Mother’s Day in terms of flowers, gifts, and experiences. Then, we analyzed the responses to build the following guide to a perfect Mother’s Day.
Check out our insights and tips below!
The Most Popular Mother’s Day Flower in Every State
First, we looked at Google Trends for search volume of popular flower varieties during the week leading up to Mother’s Day over the past five years. These results show which flowers mothers and children in each state were most likely browsing around Mother’s Day.
The most popular flowers were roses – the top-searched variety in 18 states from Arizona to Massachusetts. Roses are perfect for a mom with classic style and, let’s face it, what woman doesn’t feel special when a bouquet of deep, red roses is waiting for her.
Behind roses, the second-most-popular varieties were gardenias, cyclamen, and poppies. At Breck’s, one of our favorites of these popular flowers is gardenias, which we offer in beautiful gift arrangements planted in a variety of pot styles.
Some standout popular flowers were crocuses, the most popular flowers in Hawaii and Kansas as well as tulips, the perfect Dutch spring bulbs that earned top-searched spots in Michigan and Indiana.
Mother’s Day By the Numbers
The top-searched flower type, roses, was similarly the most highly-requested flower type according to survey responses. Over 60% of moms said they would want to receive roses on Mother’s Day. Other popular varieties included tulips and lilies – per 46% and 40% of moms respectively.
Notably, sunflowers, which were not among the top-searched flowers in any state, were on the wishlists of over 33% of mothers. So, don’t forget the possibility of spreading joy with big yellow sunflowers this year!
Having looked at the flowers moms wanted most, we wanted to get a better understanding of other gift items people offered as tokens of love to their moms. First, we asked individuals how much they spend on Mother’s Day each year. As much as our moms may tell us not to spend a dime on their special day, we know that treating a mom to a bouquet of flowers, a nice brunch, or a spa day is worth every penny.
According to survey responses, we found that the average amount spent on a Mother’s Day gift is $67.92, and the average amount spent on flowers each Mother’s Day is $41.43. For what it’s worth, moms do appreciate when their families buy gifts. 58% said that they prefer a purchased gift over a homemade gift. So…maybe supplement that macaroni necklace with a real piece of jewelry.
Next, we decided to ask which types of material gifts moms would enjoy receiving the most. The top answer was flowers, plants, or other gardening wares (56%). We were thrilled to see that moms were excited about receiving pants, planters, and gardening materials in addition to flower bouquets. After all, a Mother’s Day planting of summer bulbs can turn into a yearlong activity that we can share with our moms.
Other physical gift categories that moms are most excited about include food and wine (52%) and clothing, jewelry, or accessories (49%).
The most sought-after gift experience from moms this year is a night out to dinner and a movie, which 55% of moms would enjoy. With more and more options for dining and entertainment opening up this spring, we hope that significant others and children are able to treat their mom to a safe and relaxing night on the town.
Other experiences that moms would enjoy most are spa days or group vacations. While it is a little harder to plan vacations or spa days due to current COVID-19 safety protocols, perhaps flowers and dinner can be a temporary gift while future gift experiences await deserving moms.
Wrap Up
Overall, we learned a lot in our analysis of what moms really want this Mother’s Day. Some of our key takeaways include:
- You can’t go wrong with roses. Roses were the top-searched flower and the flower variety that most moms would like to receive.
- Moms appreciate store-bought gifts more than homemade gifts, and the average American spends around $70 on presents for mom.
- The most sought-after gift from moms was a gift of flowers and plants, while the most sought-after Mother’s Day experience was a night out with dinner and a movie.
No matter how you celebrate, it’s important that we take May 9 (mark it in your calendar!) to express our love and appreciation for all our moms do. Check out the gifts, guides, and resources we have to help your love for your mom bloom!
