With Mother's Day just around the corner we've found the best of the best in all things flowers.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote that 'flowers are the earth laughing'. It's only natural then that every year we go out and splash our hard earned cash buying mum a mix of flowers guaranteed to a put a smile on her face. After all, nothing says 'I love you mum' more than a glorious bunch of perennials, right?
If you're in the know, the floristry scene is hotter than ever right now, with fabulous new, independent florists and flower-delivery services setting up shop all over the place. Whether you're looking for something that will fit through mamma's letterbox (yes, that is indeed a thing) or just want to spoil her rotten with the fanciest boho couture stems on the planet, the men and women that man our shore's flower emporiums are waiting every second of the day to tempt, dazzle and inspire you with their stellar mixes.
Below we've plucked, examined, picked at and smelt every single stem, petal and stamen to bring you this year's best pick of bouquets to suit all mums to ensure she has the happiest Mother's Day yet.
From Marks and Sparx to purveyor of all things A List and luxury, Wild Things, here's 11 phenomenal blossoms to make your mum feel even more special this Mothering Sunday.
Neill Strain Floral Couture - The Buckingham
Available in bunches of 12,18, 24 or 30 roses, Neil Strain's Mother's Day offering is nothing short of regal. Beautifully elegant, the roses are a mix of three varieties from the couture lines' Avalanche range. Standing tall at 80cm per stem, the impressive mix is blended with a luxurious supply of textured foliage and wax flower to enhance each rose's ludicrously astounding petal count. If you're wondering what it smells like, imagine a quintessential English rose garden during the peak of the summer. In short, its aroma is wondrous. Whilst it doesn't come cheap, it's sure to put a massive bright smile on any mother's face - it sure did ours.
Best for: mums who need to be spoilt.
How long do they last for? Our bouquet lasted a good seven days.
Starting at £195, Neil Strain, Buy it now
Interflora - Majestic Mother's Day
There's something wonderfully simple, yet extremely chic about Interflora's Majestic Mother's Day hand-tied bouquet. Expertly arranged, the mix is all about contrast and is dominated by warm shades of pink, creamy on trend whites and pale peaches, which give it a kaleidoscopic pastel effect in the home. Three light pink alstroemeria, three peach germini, three shockingly pink carnations, roses and two bouvardia, as well as three white large-headed roses with eucalyptus and aspidistra leaves make up this particularly fragrant concoction. Whilst not as extravagant on the eye, it's a well-trimmed stunner, thoughtfully hand-tied with a ribbon donning 'with love' for extra cute factor.
Best for: mums who have a soft spot for simplistic elegance and fresh garden aromas.
How long did they last for? Our bouquet lasted four days before it began to wilt.
£55 and includes gift card and personal message, Interflora, Buy it now
Fortnum & Mason - Enchanted Bloom
As the name suggests, this mesmerising bundle of flowers is beautifully enchanting. Delicate, yet commanding in appearance, Fortnum & Mason offers a glorious pastel combo which wreaks absolute Britishness. Hand-tied with mint, rich lavender flowers and generous Senecio stems, this exceedingly fragrant bouquet of roses and herbs works as somewhat of a natural perfume worthy of a pride spot on your mother's coffee table. Each Fairtrade rose stem is sourced direct from Tambuzi farm in Kenya, so it's luxurious, as well as ethical. Our lovely delivery arrived so well packaged that not a bruise was in sight. The stems were nice and tall, looked absolutely gorgeous, and were without doubt, the best smelling on this list.
Best for: mums who love strong scents (candles and perfumes especially).
How long did it last for? Our Fortnum's bouquet lasted an impressive nine days before we had to wave it adieu.
£50 - £125 and available as a 11, 18 or 28 stem bouquet, Fortnum & Mason, Buy it now
Moyses Stevens - The Carnival
If your mum loves colour, this stunningly rich bouquet was quite simply made for her. Warm and sunny, this affordable luxe spray from Instagram favourite Moyses Stevens is made up of lavender, seven 'All for Love' roses, lisianthus, asclepias and a dazzling amount of British foliage picked from the sprawling fields of Dartmoor. Inspired by the rich history and plethora of flora found at London's Kew Gardens, the extremely generous floral is a real feast for the senses and is in a word, magical. Scent wise, think secret garden meets the Garden of Eden with a quick pit stop at the Mad Hatter's tea party. in other words, it's flamboyance personified. Better yet, it's available in three sizes, and you can add chocolates and champagne if you want, too. Our bunch was truly exceptional, over the top and lovingly bonkers.
Best for: mums who appreciate wild, vivid colours and something a little bit different.
How long did it last for? The Carnival lasts a commendable 10 full days.
From £60, Moyses Stevens, Buy it now
Princess & KO - The Sorbet
Princess & KO have gone all out with their pretty corals of deep bright pinks, royal purples and bold oranges to create a playful mix of magnificent florals that will brighten up any boudoir, dull or not. Wild roses clash with delightfully fresh eucalyptus which will fill the nose, as well as the heart with a feeling of extreme calm and serenity. The whole thing is somewhat fabulously unconventional in appearance, but at first glance, you'll easily tell it's been skilfully crafted in the name of all things fun.
Best for: mums who are playful and a little bit cheeky.
How long did it last for? A good seven days before we sadly had to say goodbye.
From £65, Princess & KO, Buy it now
Bloom & Wild - The English Garden
Feminine and vintage-esque, this generous mix of flowers has been designed with the proper English garden in mind. Tall, strong and bountiful, the immense stems are said to represent everything Bloom and Wild loves about England's green and pleasant land. Exactly 43 stems are up for grabs, each made up of soft peach and pink roses, white scabiosa, pale pastel pink phlox, light green lisianthus and white delphiniium. To give it that extra special touch, you can add cosmetics and creams courtesy of Cowshed for an extra £12 and special Japanese floristry scissors for £8. Best part is that mum gets to arrange the entire bouquet herself, and it comes through the letterbox. Such fun!
Best for: mums who are just hopeless romantics.
How long did it last for? Eight glorious sun-filled days.
£60, Bloom & Wild, Buy it now
Appleyard - Mum's Hydrangea
Fresh, different and a little unconventional, Appleyard's quirky and mammoth mix screams wow factor pretty. The bijou consists of three bright green Hydrangea, three pink Snapdragon, three Lilac Rose, three Clemtis, and five sturdy Hard Ruscus masterfully arranged and thought out.
Best for: mums who adore all things quirky and different.
How long did it last for? It took six days for this strong bijou to lose its luster.
From £49.99, Appleyard, Buy it now
Selfridges - The Rosetti
This rather elegant arrangement courtesy of luxury florist Philippa Craddock at Selfridges will bring a much welcome taste and smell of spring into your mum’s home. Named after celebrated poet Christina Rosetti, Craddock & Co have managed to tie together an absolute picture. A vivid combination of blush, pastel and silvery tones, the romantic clash of colour includes large headed peach roses, spray roses, lisianthus, blousy ranunculus, petite wax flower and brunia berries and eucalyptus to create a divine scent that will dazzle mums and homes alike. Wonderfully packaged and extraordinarily tied, this is a lovely contemporary option which last for ages.
Best for: mums who love nothing but a good book filled in a conservatory full or spruces and plant problems.
How long does it last for? Philippa Craddock lasted a good eight days in our vase.
From £75.00, Selfridges, Buy it now
Marks and Spencer - Large Mother's Day bouquet with chocolates
Mark's and Spencer's generous eye-catching large bouquet is quite the visual stonker. Pink germini tower over roses, santini, bloom chrysanthemums, scented stocks and rhododendron foliage. Ours came fully pre-prepared and was carefully and robustly packaged to ensure not a bruise on a stem was in sight. Full of charm, it makes for a marvellous table or windowsill centrepiece. You even get a free box of pink Marc de Champagne truffles to give mum, too.
Best for: mums who go gaga for all things bright pink and girly.
How long did it last for? It took a good six days before this bouquet's leaves' began to look sad.
£35, available online only from M&S, Buy it now
Wild Things Flowers - Mamma Mia
Perfectly framed, Mayfair boutique Wild Things' stunning Mamma Mia bouquet will literally make your mum yelp mamma mia! Inspired by the palest pastels, this out of the ordinary bunch is crowned with several Clooney ranunculus Hanoi ruffles, snowy lush and luxe hortensia clouds, as well as crisp white lilac, silk smooth rose heads and tall majestic trails of jasmin. The fragrance is magical – like an enchanted wild garden that's been shoved into a sacred bubble. Amazingly, it was the only bouquet we received where the price included a vase. Wrapped in Wild Things' signature grosgrain ribbon, mum will be delighted that she'll get to nab the apothecary vase, which is just as chic as the bouquet itself. Ours lasted well over a week, so all pockets will remain happy.
Best for: mums who are desperate for a whiff of spring in their homes.
How long did it last for? It knocked all the others out the park and lasted 12 beauteous days.
From £150, Wild Things, Buy it now
Lakeland - Hyacinth teapot
Rare is the mum who doesn't like a teapot filled with fragrant hyacinths. Lakeland has an awful lot of flower power to offer mums this year, but for something a little different and quirky, opt for this blue-enamelled tea pot filled with royal purple hyacinths, anemones and baby's breath. Whilst lovely and one of the most affordable options on this list, the only thing that let it down was it's extremely bulky packaging.
Best for: mums who like to keep souvenirs after their flowers have died.
How long does it last for? Ours lasted a good six days before we bid it farewell.
£39.99 with free express delivery, Lakeland, Buy it now
Verdict:
Whilst praise was unanimously high for Neil' Strainn's immense and tremendously pomp luxury couture pastel bouquet, it ultimately fails to scoop top spot because of it's immense price tag. With this in mind, and for the sheer happiness it brought to all who saw it, Wild Things' magnificently arranged, photogenic and charming fragrant bouquet (complete with vase) reigns supreme in the battle of best Mother's Day bouquets 2018.
