The traditional choice is still right
Carnations are the Mother’s Day flower for a reason: they last longer than roses and they mean enduring affection, which is closer to the truth than romance.
Pink carnations are the traditional stem. If she has a favourite colour, use it instead — that is a better signal than tradition.
- Classic: pink carnations with a soft note
- For a mother who dislikes fuss: one carnation and a lily
- For a mother who likes colour: sunflowers with a daisy
- For a mother you are close to: peonies, full and warm
What to write
Name one thing. The shifts she worked, the drive she made every Sunday, the fact that she never once complained about the thing you know she minded.
If you have been difficult, say so. “I was hard work at fifteen and you never made me feel like it” is the sort of line that gets kept.
Avoid “thank you for everything”. It is the one message that says nothing specific.
If your mother has died
You can still send something, to yourself or to a sibling, or write the note and keep it. The day does not stop mattering because the person is not there.