A bouquet of flowers can do someone a world of good. However, beside their beauty, there's a whole host of surprising health benefits that many flowers can offer.

Mother's Day and flowers go hand-in-hand, so let's take a look at some of the best flowers that offer your mum something extra special.

Lavender

Lavender is a member of the mint family and is popular amongst flower aficionados and amateurs alike due to the bright purple colouration of the flowers. The word lavender originates from the Latin word Lavare, which means 'to wash', which it was likely assigned because of the aroma it possesses.

Despite the beautiful flowers it produces, lavender is actually a herb that was originally native to areas in Northern Africa and elevated, mountainous regions throughout the Mediterranean. Today, it is grown all across the world and is frequently sought after because of its appearance and health applications. Found in virtually all garden centres in the UK, lavenders are a fantastic gift to help add a pleasant fragrance to Mother's Day.

Lavender is a violet flower admired for its distinct aroma. It may be eaten fresh or dried and pairs well with a variety of ingredients, such as citrus, berries and savory herbs.

Mexican Marigold

This is a rather uncommon variant of the traditional marigold which you might not have heard of before. That's because it's most famous in the Americas, where, as the name would suggest, it is native to Mexico. The Mexican marigold has been used both decoratively and medicinally since the time of the Aztecs.

In today's society, this flower is widely used during the Mexico holiday The Day of the Dead, as the flower itself is known as the 'flor de muertos', or flower of the dead. Despite the morbid name, the beauty of the orange/yellow flowers of the Mexican marigold means that this particular flower can make for a fantastic Mother's Day gift instead of the more traditional options available like tulips, lilies or daisies.

As well as the visual beauty of the Mexican marigold flower, the chemical composition and nutritional content of the flower can also provide some surprising health benefits. The leaves and petals of the Mexican marigold are frequently used in leafy salads to add some colouration and beauty to the dish, but many nutritional experts believe that they may also be able to help support your immune system and heart health due to the antioxidants they contain.

A study conducted in Thailand in 2011 looked to analyse the phenolic compound content and antioxidant activities of edible flowers. 12 different flowers, including Tagetes erecta (Mexican marigold) were consumed as a vegetable and were used as ingredients in cooking. The results of the study found that "Tagetes erecta had the highest total flavonoid content", and the researchers concluded that the flower "showed the highest antioxidant activity" amongst the flowers that were analysed for the duration of the experiment.

This study identified that one of the major flavonoids that was identified in the edible flowers assessed in the experiment was quercetin. Quercetin is a well-known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory plant pigment that is believed to be able to help combat the hardening of arteries, which is often referred to as atherosclerosis. Nothing sends a better message to mums this Mother's Day than the gift of a beautiful flower that can also help to give their ticker a boost!

Leaves and whole plant are digestive, diuretic, and febrifuge, hypotensive, narcotic, anaesthetic, sedative and stimulant.
It is used internally in the treatment of sore eyes, diarrhoea, nausea, indigestion, colic, hiccups, rheumatism, malaria and feverish illnesses.

Roses

You really can't go wrong with a bouquet of roses for Mother's Day. Their beautiful crimson colour and unbelievably pleasant smell are enough to make anyone feel loved, but they also contain a very well-known vitamin that's sure to surprise even the most avid flower fans. We're constantly told by government institutions and medical experts alike that we need daily supplies of vitamin C, because of the many different health functions and benefits it offers.

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is one of the most popular vitamins in the world and can be found in a variety of different fruits and vegetables like:

  • Citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit
  • Leafy vegetables like kale, spinach and lettuce
  • Strawberries, blueberries and blackberries

Vitamin C's main claim-to-fame comes from its ability to help support your immune system against free radical molecules, which look to steal electrons from the cells that make up your entire body. This oxidative damage, if consistent and left to progress, could result in much more serious health issues like infections and disease arising. The European Food Safety Authority has even authorised the health claim that vitamin C "contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress". 

Vitamin C isn't naturally produced in the body, meaning that you have to make sure that your diet provides a satisfactory daily intake (40mg for adults aged 19-64 years old ) to enjoy the benefits it can provide. Surprisingly, rose petals, if eaten, are known to provide you with small doses of vitamin C. The petals, as well as rose water, are regularly used in Middle Eastern and Moroccan cuisine for flavouring, decoration and fragrance, but they can also be used to help make sure you receive very small doses of this very beneficial nutrient.

Although a serving of rose petals doesn't come close to meeting the daily recommendation of vitamin C, every little helps towards the final recommended intake goal.

There is, however, another part of the rose plant that is known to be able to contribute massively to your daily vitamin C recommended intake. Rosehips, which are small berries that grow on a rose plant, contain the seeds of the flower. Nutritionally, it is believed that every single rosehip berry can contain 10 times as much vitamin C than an orange, another fruit widely renowned for its vitamin C content.

Although the impressive nutritional content of rosehip berries is not considered public knowledge, experts have extensively researched the plant ever since vitamin C was first discovered in the 1930's in Hungary. For instance, a British report published in 1942 from the research laboratories of the Hammersmith and the Royal Botanic Gardens found that a sample of rosehip berries taken from areas north of the Lake District in the UK contained, on average, a vitamin C content of over 1000mg per 100g of rosehips.

Their studies ultimately concluded that "a number of common [rose] species contain large amounts of vitamin C, often exceeding 1% in the flesh of the ripe hips."

To help maximize the thought and effort you put into a flowery Mother's Day gift, instead of choosing a traditional bouquet of roses, trying buying a potted version of the plant that has rose hip buds attached to it. That way, you can ensure the receiver enjoys their own supply of fresh rose hip berries to help support their health. Alternatively, you could also buy a packet of rose seeds for them to plant in their own gardens. Be aware, however, that different climates and weather conditions can affect the overall nutritional outcome of the fruit, and they can take at least 2 years to properly grow and ripen.

All varieties of roses are edible, but the ones with the sweetest fragrance are likely to have the most flavor. Rose petals can be used to infuse liquids with flavor or added to sugar or butter to boost your favorite recipes.

Hibiscus

Hibiscus plants produce large, ornate blossoms that usually grow in tropical and subtropical climates around the world. Hundreds of hibiscus species exist, but the most popular edible variety is known as roselle or Hibiscus sabdariffa.

Hibiscus flowers can grow as large as 6 inches (15 cm) in diameter and are found in a wide array of colors — including red, white, yellow and various shades of pink.

Although sometimes grown for strictly ornamental purposes, hibiscus is also well known for its culinary and medicinal applications. You can eat the flower straight from the plant, but it is usually used for tea, relishes, jam or salads.

Many cultures drink hibiscus tea for its medicinal properties. Some studies indicate that hibiscus may help reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels, although more research is needed to better understand how hibiscus can support heart health (1Trusted Source, 2Trusted Source).

The tea is bright red and has a tart, somewhat sour flavor. It may be served hot but is particularly refreshing over ice on a hot summer day.

Hibiscus flowers are large, colorful blossoms that grow in warm climates. The flowers can be eaten raw but are often used to make herbal tea. Some research suggests that hibiscus may have a positive impact on cholesterol and blood pressure.

Pansy

Already quite pleasant to look at, pansies are equally pleasant to eat.

Pansies have small blossoms, measuring about 2–3 inches (5–8 cm) in diameter. They exist in many colors, but hues of purple, blue and yellow are most common. They have five overlapping petals with a dark area in the center that resembles an ink stain.

Typically, pansies have a mild, fresh and lightly floral flavor — although there is some flavor variation depending on the type.

Because pansies can have so many color variations, they make an excellent decorative addition to desserts, such as pastries, cakes and cookies. For extra flair, you can candy the petals before adding them to your dish.

For a simpler preparation, pansies can be finely chopped and added to a simple green salad for a pop of color and texture.

Aside from being a unique addition to a meal, pansies are also a rich source of several potent plant compounds known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties

Although commonly used for ornamental purposes, pansies make a colorful and nutritious addition to a variety of desserts and salads.

Chamomile

Chamomile is a floral herb used in cooking and traditional medicine for centuries.

Medicinally, chamomile is often consumed to reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality.

The flowers closely resemble daisies, albeit much smaller. They lend a slightly sweet, earthy flavour to the foods they're cooked with.

Most recipes call for heating the flowers in a liquid to extract their flavors and bioactive compounds. The leaves and flowers are usually dried first but can be used fresh.

While most often utilized for chamomile tea, the blossoms can also make syrups or other infusions for baked goods, smoothies or desserts.

Chamomile flowers are widely used medicinally to reduce anxiety and improve sleep. They have an earthy, slightly sweet flavor and may be used to make tea or other infusions.