Native blooms and classic pinks top Mother’s Day floral trends

MOTHER’S Day has become one of the biggest dates on the retail calendar and, for florists, it often marks the end of the busiest stretch of the year.

At Torquay Florist, the lead-up to the day is a familiar mix of pressure, planning and plenty of petals, with staff saying the rush arrives all at once after a steady run through Valentine’s Day and wedding season.

“It’s one of the two big days we’ve got in the year,” florist Tull said. “A lot rides on it.”

She said the season can be “slightly insane”, but also rewarding, with the shop’s order book filling fast and the final weekend before Mother’s Day always the most intense.

“All of a sudden, it’s everything all at once,” Tully said.

“It keeps me toes, and I love it.”

Rylee, who has been at Torquay Florist since owner Courtney Ward opened the store, estimated around 70 per cent of Mother’s Day orders are placed in advance, with the remaining walk-ins often racing in to secure what is left.

The florists said pre-orders help them manage stock and avoid waste, particularly because they like to sell out rather than have flowers sitting around afterwards.

When it comes to style, pinks and purples remain firm favourites for Mother’s Day, with many customers still drawn to classic soft-toned arrangements.

“That’s just how it’s always been,” Tully said.

But along the Surf Coast, natives have also become a strong favourite.

“They love native blooms,” staff member Steph said, pointing to the popularity of wattle.

She said the preference often reflects coastal homes and earthy interiors, where native arrangements feel at home.

The team source flowers locally from Geelong Flower Farm, Melbourne markets and a range of local growers, allowing for variety throughout the season.

The florists acknowledged Mother’s Day can be a hard time for some, but said it is also a beautiful one, with many families using flowers to celebrate the mothers in their lives.

“It’s just nice when people come in looking for a bouquet for mum,” Tully said.

Once the day is over, though, the shop expects a much quieter week with wedding season simultaneously coming to a close.