Flower calendar · May
May flowers: the month of mothers
May is the month of flowers: Mother’s Day in almost every country, muguet in France, Teachers’ Day in Mexico and Colombia, and peonies and roses in full season.
- Dates
- 6 in the calendarthe month with the most dates
- Big date
- Mother’s Day1st Sunday, May 10 or 2nd Sunday
- In season in Spain
- Peony and rosecarnation, lilac, iris
- Star flower
- Carnationthe Mother’s Day flower
Dates for giving flowers in May
May is the month with the most dates in the flower calendar:
| Date | What is celebrated and why | Flower | Color | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| every year | Muguet du 1er mai Since King Charles IX (1561), a sprig of lily of the valley has been given on May 1 to wish good luck. On that day selling muguet in the street is tolerated without a license. | Lily of the valley (muguet) | White | France |
| 1st Sunday of May | Mother’s Day In Spain it is celebrated on the first Sunday of May, the month Catholic tradition dedicates to the Virgin Mary. Carnations and peonies are the classics. | Carnations, roses or peonies | Pink | Spain and Portugal |
| 2nd Sunday of May | Mother’s Day Anna Jarvis promoted the day in the USA in 1908 and chose the carnation, her mother’s favorite flower. From there it spread to much of the Americas and Europe. | Carnations | Pink | USA, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Venezuela, Brazil, Italy and more |
| every year | Mother’s Day (Día de las Madres) In Mexico it has been a fixed date since 1922, when the newspaper Excélsior promoted the celebration. Serenade, family lunch and a bouquet that can’t be missing. | Roses and carnations | Pink | Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador |
| every year | Rose Day In Korea the 14th of every month has a theme for couples. May’s is roses: if you follow K-dramas or K-pop, it will sound familiar. | Roses | Pink | South Korea |
| every year | Teachers’ Day Mexico has celebrated its teachers every May 15 since 1918, and Colombia does so on the same day in memory of Saint John Baptist de La Salle, patron saint of teachers. A flower with a handwritten note is the most common gesture in classrooms. | Daisies, sunflowers or a small plant | Yellow | Mexico and Colombia |
The big star is Mother’s Day, which falls on different dates depending on the country: the first Sunday in Spain, the fixed date of May 10 in Mexico and the second Sunday in much of the Americas. You’ll find the full table by country and which flowers to give in the Mother’s Day guide.
On May 15, Teachers’ Day in Mexico and Colombia, classrooms fill with flowers and notes for teachers. And on May 1 in France, muguet is given to wish good luck.
Why May is the month of flowers
In the northern hemisphere, May is the peak of spring: there are never so many flowers open at once. Catholic tradition dedicates it to the Virgin Mary, and for centuries flowers were offered to her in churches and homes. In Spain that heritage lives on in the May Crosses, crosses decorated with carnations and other flowers in squares and courtyards, and in the Córdoba Patios Festival, when residents open their courtyards covered in flowerpots.
Flowers in season in May
| Month | Spain | Mexico and Central America | Argentina, Chile and Uruguay |
|---|---|---|---|
| May | peony, rose, carnation, lilac, iris, lily of the valley | rose, carnation, lilium, gerbera, sunflower | chrysanthemum, rose, camellia, lilium, alstroemeria |
In Colombia, Ecuador and the Andes, the high-altitude climate lets growers produce roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, alstroemerias and hydrangeas all year round: that is why they are two of the world’s largest flower exporters. This table is a guide: the season changes with the area and the year, and greenhouses extend almost all of them.
In Spain it is the best moment for peonies, whose season lasts just a few weeks, and for garden roses, with more scent than greenhouse ones. Carnations, lilacs and irises complete the month. In Mexico production focuses on roses, carnations and lilies for May 10. In Argentina, Chile and Uruguay it is autumn, with chrysanthemums, camellias and alstroemerias.
What to give in May
- For your mother: carnations, the original Mother’s Day flower; peonies if you want something special; pink roses for tenderness.
- For your grandmother: a flowering plant that lasts, such as a potted hydrangea or an orchid.
- For your teacher: daisies, sunflowers or a single flower with a note.
- For luck: a little bunch of muguet or white flowers on May 1.
Tips for the month
Mother’s Day is the second biggest date of the year for sales after Valentine’s Day, and in Mexico May 10 is probably the first. Order a week ahead and, if you can, pick up the bouquet the day before. Peonies are best bought in bud so they open at home and last longer.
If you live in Spain, make the most of it: May is the month when you’ll find the most local, seasonal flowers. Ask your florist which ones come from nearby: they are fresher and travel less.
Remind me 3 days before
Download the reminder and open it with your phone’s calendar: it repeats every year and alerts you three days before, so you have time to order the bouquet.
Frequently asked questions
Which flowers are given in May?
Above all flowers for Mother’s Day: carnations, roses, peonies and lilies. Also muguet on May 1 in France and a little bunch for teachers on May 15 in Mexico and Colombia.
When is Mother’s Day in May?
The first Sunday of May in Spain and Portugal, May 10 in Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador, and the second Sunday of May in Colombia, Peru, Chile, the US and many other countries.
Which flowers are in season in May?
In Spain, peonies, roses, carnations, lilacs, irises and lily of the valley. In Mexico, roses, carnations and lilies. In the Southern Cone, chrysanthemums and camellias.
Why is May the month of flowers?
Because in the northern hemisphere it is the peak of spring and Catholic tradition dedicates it to the Virgin Mary, with offerings of flowers. In Córdoba, the May Crosses and the Patios Festival are also held.
When should you order Mother’s Day flowers?
A week in advance. The Saturday before Mother’s Day, and May 10 itself in Mexico, are among the busiest days of the year for florists.
