Mother’s Day Hack: Buy Her a Tree

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Mom’s not going to say no to flowers. In fact, she’d love them. But wouldn’t it be nice to switch things up? Put a little more effort into this year’s gift for Mom. Maybe she’s picky when it comes to gifts, in which case we’d say try out designer jewelry. But I got to thinking about my own mom and what she’d like. Honestly, instead of flowers or fancy jewelry, it’d probably be a new plant.

Mom’s always been the outdoorsy type. She’s a home DIY legend who’s always sending us updates on how her plants are doing. (Azaleas are currently thriving on one side of the driveway but not the other. She’s going to do a soil test.) But don’t think this woman has a green thumb. She’s killed as many plants as she’s fostered to maturity, but she still loves doing it.

That’s to say, whether your mom has a green thumb or not, why not go out on a limb and gift her a live plant this year? Read on for our top ten picks.

Red Japanese Maple Tree

If mom's an investment type, a mature Japanese maple can add money to a home's value when it comes time to sell. If she doesn't care about all that, it's a gorgeous tree that cycles through rich read colors throughout the seasons. And if she's within its planting zones, it's a fool-proof tree.

Kwanzan Cherry Tree

Ornamental cherry trees have been introduced all over the U.S. Every town and city claims it has some notable amount of cherry blossoms. It's because they're stunning. Every spring, pink and white blooms all over the place. It's my favorite spring time bloom.

This Kwanzan variety is one of the easiest to care for. For the first two years, you'll want to be diligent with fertilizing, but after it's established, it's good to go.

Ginkgo Tree

Ginkgo trees are incredible. There's evidence of the genus dating back 200 million years. This Ginkgo biloba is grown across the world today, and it's recognized as one of, if not the, oldest species of tree still in existence.

It's an ancient tree, but it's another one that's quite easy to care for. Ginkgos are commonly grown as street trees because they're unfazed by street pollution, and quite resistant to disease and pests.

Of course, the main draw is the dramatic yellow the leaves turn in fall. Few trees are as striking when the weather cools down.

Miss Molly Butterfly Bush

The monarch butterfly migration pattern is one of the most incredibly things we have in North America. Every winter, these butterflies spend a few generations in Mexico, and every summer they fly back up to Canada. Growing up we'd plant little monarch pit stops full of flowers. Now, I do it on my Brooklyn rooftop, so we mostly get local bees. But an occasional butterfly will stop in during the summer months.

Milkweed is the most common plant for butterfly pit stops, but it has a tendency to grow tall and spindly, not pretty on its own. This butterfly bush is dense, so it looks amazing.

Money Tree

A popular symbol of fortune, a money tree is a great one to gift. It looks good, and it's incredibly easy to care for. It likes bright light, can do with any indirect light, and takes weekly watering. As it grows, so will mom's fortune... Which I guess you can try to consider your fortune, too.

Double Knock Out Rose

I mean, instead of getting her some roses that will die within a week, get her a low-maintenance perennial that will giver her roses for years to come. All she needs to do is prune it in late winter or early spring, and it'll stay as a short, dense bush.

Phenomenal Lavender Plant

Lavender is one of the best-looking plants out there, but it can only be planted as an annual in most places. This variety is tough. Mom can plant it wherever she needs some Mediterranean beauty, and it'll keep coming back year after year.

Endless Summer Hydrangea

This hydrangea variety is one of the most popular out there, because it blooms all throughout the summer. Since hydrangeas naturally grow in a dense shrub, this makes a perfect option for home exteriors, driveway planters, and anywhere mom wants to add a pop of color in the summer.

Mother's Day Bulb Garden

This bulb garden is the most logical step up from flowers. They'll bloom soon after arrival, and unlike a bouquet, they'll stick around for the rest of the year.

As far as care, this option is incredibly easy. Every few days, water them until water flows out of the bottom of the pot.

Scentsation' Honeysuckle Vine

Nothing smells better in the springtime than honeysuckle. It's a tad finicky, but if you can get it full to partial sun it's beautiful on a patio. Have it climbing up a pergola, or put it high up in a planter and let the vines drape down.

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