From Bouquets to Filet Mignon: What Instacart Orders Reveal About the Best Mother's Day Gifts

Mother's Day topped every other holiday for gift orders in 2025. Flowers, gourmet dinners, sweet treats – here's what customers sent and cooked for the special moms in their lives.

Key Takeaways

• Mother's Day was the #1 day for gift orders in 2025, with customers placing gift orders 18x more often than average.

• Over half of Mother's Day gift orders included a flower bouquet, and nearly 1 in 4 included fresh-cut roses. 

• It wasn't just flowers. Categories like Lobster Tails (+193%), Filet Mignon (+114%), and Cheesecake (+131%) all spiked – a sign that plenty of families celebrated with a gourmet dinner at home.

• Flower preferences varied dramatically by region. Roses ruled the South and West, while tulips dominated the Northeast. Montana stood out nationally, leading the entire country in tulip interest at +155% above the national rate. Meanwhile, Florida went all-in on orchids at +231% above the national rate.

• Hawaii went above and beyond – not only did it lead the nation in rose purchases (+232%), it also ranked #1 in the country for the share of orders marked as gifts on Mother's Day.

• Canada had its own spin on gifting. Bouquets and roses topped the list north of the border too, but potato chips and yellow bananas also cracked the top 10 – proving that sometimes mom's favorite snack is the most thoughtful gift of all.

Moms do it all. The early mornings, packed lunches, endless logistics, and the 'just checking in' texts that somehow arrive at exactly the right moment. Moms deserve to feel celebrated every day – and on Mother's Day, people make sure of it. 

This Mother's Day, don't let her down – even if the clock is working against you. Instacart is your secret weapon for pulling off the perfect surprise: same-day delivery on flowers, gourmet ingredients, self-care essentials, and more, straight from our Mother's Day Gifting Hub [LINK]. And for the gift that keeps on giving, grab an Instacart gift card for 10% off when you spend $50+ (up to $20 in savings, through 5/11)*. Either way, the surprise is always right on schedule. 💐

Turns out, we're all in on surprising mom. Last year's orders prove it. ⤵️

The Biggest Gifting Day of the Year

Mother's Day was the single biggest gifting day on the Instacart platform in 2025. Customers placed gift orders 18x more often than average – enough to edge out Valentine's Day and claim the top spot on the gifting calendar. The numbers don't lie: moms are celebrated like no one else.

Bouquets, Chocolate, and a Few Surprises

As you’d expect, flowers led the way for Mother’s Day gifts. Over half of all Mother's Day weekend gift orders contained a combination flower bouquet (53.2%), and nearly a quarter included fresh-cut roses (24.8%). 

But beyond the blooms, the carts got creative – chocolate, cakes, and even strawberries made frequent appearances, because the best gifts often come with something sweet on the side.

Beyond Bouquets: Cooking Gourmet for Mom

Mother's Day isn't just about what you send – it's about what you serve. Several categories closely related to a special home-cooked meal saw dramatic spikes compared to their yearly averages, suggesting that plenty of families celebrated by treating mom to a gourmet night in. 

Chocolate Covered Fresh Fruit led the charge at 1,610% above average, followed by Lobster Tails (+193%), Tarts (+182%), Shortcake (+171%), Macarons (+141%), and Cheesecake (+131%). Filet Mignon (+114%) and Frosted Cakes (+98%) rounded out a spread with serious "forget the reservation" energy.

Every U.S. State’s Favorite Flower for Mom, Revealed 

Turns out, where you live says a lot about how you shop for mom. Roses, tulips, and orchids each dominated different corners of the country – here's how it all shook out.

Roses dominated across the South and West, with Hawaii (+232% more often than the national average), Idaho (+126%), and Wyoming (+96%) leading the pack. 

• And it's no surprise Hawaii showed up so strong on flowers – the Aloha State also ranked #1 in the country for the share of orders marked as gifts on Mother's Day. When Hawaii celebrates mom, it goes all in. 

The Northeast, meanwhile, pledged allegiance to tulips – Connecticut (+78%), Rhode Island (+76%), and Massachusetts (+71%) all ordered them well above the national rate. But no state out-tulip'd Montana, which ordered them 155% more often than average. An outlier and a legend.

Then there's Florida, where orchid purchases ran more than 231% above the national rate – which makes sense, given that Florida produces more orchids than any other state in the country. The Sunshine State knows what it's doing when it comes to long-lasting blooms.

Oh Canada, You Really Love Your Moms

Mother's Day gifting enthusiasm doesn't stop at the border. Canadian Instacart customers showed up for mom in a big way too, with a top 10 gifting list that looked familiar in some ways – and distinctly Canadian in others.

Combination flower bouquets (49.4%) and fresh-cut roses (17.9%) topped the list, just like in the U.S., with chocolate candies (17%) close behind. But scroll a little further down and things get interesting: potato chips and yellow bananas both cracked the top 10, a fun reminder that sometimes the best gift is simply mom's favorite snack. Fresh cut lilies and carnations also made the Canadian list – flowers that didn't crack the U.S. top 10 at all.

Regionally, flower preferences varied just as much as south of the border. New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island led the country in tulip purchases (both over 60% above the Canadian average), while Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec leaned hardest into roses. And Prince Edward Island doubled up – topping the orchid charts too, at 101% above average. PEI knows the key to mom’s heart (it’s lots of flowers). 

Celebrate All Moms with the Perfect Gift, Delivered through Instacart

Instacart's Mother's Day Gifting Hub makes it easy to find a thoughtful, special gift for mom with same-day delivery – perfect for last-minute gifters! Here are some ideas that'll bring a smile to her face and make sure she feels appreciated in all the right ways:

• 🌸 Start with something beautiful – fresh-cut flowers are always a win, and for good reason: Mother's Day is the #2 day for flower purchases on Instacart all year.

• ☕Pair the blooms with everything she needs for a picture-perfect brunch: rich coffee, fresh juices, flaky croissants, eggs, and bacon.

• 🛁🍰Round it out with luxurious self-care favorites like skincare, bath supplies, and hair masks – or go straight for the indulgent stuff, like ingredients for her favorite cocktail or a decadent dessert she'll actually want to eat.

Make it a Gift!

Want to send a gift directly to mom's door? Simply choose the "make this order a gift" option. You'll be prompted to enter your recipient's name and phone number, pick a festive digital card image, and add a personal message. Once you place the order, Instacart sends a notification to the recipient, allowing them to schedule delivery for a convenient time, view your special message, and track the gift's arrival – in as fast as 30 minutes!

From fresh flowers to a perfectly seared filet to a long-overdue spa night, Instacart has everything you need to make mom feel celebrated in a big way.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there – you've more than earned it. 💐

*10% off an Instacart gift card purchase is valid through 5/11/2026 at 8:59 AM ET and is valid only in the United States and Canada for one digital gift card purchase of $50 or more, up to a maximum of $20 off, and purchased through Instacart.com, while supplies last. Discount will be applied to the total purchase price and excludes taxes, service fees, special handling fees and/or other fees. In order to take advantage of this offer, customers must have a valid account on Instacart.com with a valid form of accepted payment on file. Only one offer per account. Instacart reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time. Offer may not be sold, copied, modified, transferred or used retroactively for prior purchases. Void where restricted or prohibited by law. Offer may not be combined with any other sale, promotion, discount, code, coupon, and/or offer. Offer has no cash value. Instacart is not a retailer or seller. Instacart may not be available in all zip or post codes. Instacart Terms and Conditions shall apply.