Autumn in Australia
Flowers in season in May in Australia
May is Mother's Day month, and Mother's Day week is the busiest of the year for most florists. Chrysanthemums are the traditional flower and are at their natural autumn peak. Local cymbidium orchids are starting, roses, lilies, carnations and gerberas are steady from the glasshouses, and late dahlias and lisianthus are still around early in the month. Melbourne may see the first anemones. Tulips and peonies are not in local season yet, so May stems are mostly imported and dearer. Order a few days ahead for the Sunday, and be flexible about exact stems.
Season months from 28 Australian grower, wholesaler and market sources, checked 1 October 2026.
12flowers
in season
in season
At market in May
What's in season
Show for
Natives and grown here
4
Nothing in this group is at market this month for the state you picked.
Seasonal cut flowers
8
Nothing in this group is at market this month for the state you picked.
Pick of May
Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums are one of the best buys at market this month. Chrysanthemums flower naturally in autumn and spring, but commercial growers control day length to crop them all year, so they are at market in every month.
All about chrysanthemums25 weeks to Mother's Day
Mother's Day flowers, in season in autumn
Mother's Day is the busiest week of the year for florists. Chrysanthemums are the traditional Australian choice, and May also brings cymbidium orchids, roses and lilies. Order a few days ahead.
Order from a local florist
Founding florist
Tulipanna
Bondi NSW
Order for Mother's DayGrow your own
Plant in May, flowers later
What to get in the ground in May. Pick your climate: planting times shift a month or two between Hobart and Brisbane.
Plant now in temperate areas
Gladiolicorms
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Flowers in about 90 to 100 days, roughly 13 to 14 weeks.
How to plant gladiolus corms
- Plant from late winter in frost-free areas, and wait for early spring where winters are cold and wet.
- Choose full sun, sheltered from strong wind, in light, well-drained soil improved with compost and aged manure.
- Set corms flat side down, growing tip up, 10 to 15cm deep and 10 to 15cm apart. Groups of six to nine look best.
- Put stakes in at planting time so you don't spear the corms later. Tall spikes need the support once they open.
- Keep the soil moist while they grow but never boggy. Feed with a flower fertiliser before flowering.
- Plant a new batch every 4 to 6 weeks for a longer run of flowers.
Tip: Let the leaves brown and die off before cutting them back, as they feed the corm for next year.
Sources: diggers.com.au, gardenexpress.com.au, abc.net.au, ultimatebackyard.com.au, bunnings.com.au
What's on
Flower events in May
No festivals on our list this month. The botanic gardens and places below are still worth a visit.
Get out and see them
Open in May
Cedar Creek Farm
Cedar Creek (Wollombi Valley)
Usual season: September to May
Curlew Ridge Flower Farm
Woodford
Usual season: August to May
Hunter Valley Sunflowers
Largs
Usual season: January to May
Kalbar Sunflower Festival
Kalbar
Usual season: April to May
Pure Maiden Farm
Maiden Gully
Usual season: September to May
Red Hill Lavender Farm and Distillery
Main Ridge
Usual season: September to May
Born in May?
May birth flowers: Lily of the valley and Hawthorn
Lily of the valley means a return of happiness. In Australia it's a rare, imported stem in May, and flowers in southern gardens in spring.
May birth flowers- Lily of the valley
- Hawthorn
Questions people ask
What flowers are in season in Australia in May?
12 flowers are in season in May: Banksia, Eucalyptus, Grevillea, Protea, Carnations, Chrysanthemums, Dahlias, Gerberas, Lilies, Lisianthus, Orchids and Roses. Checked 1 October 2026.
Which Australian native flowers are in season in May?
Banksia, Eucalyptus and Grevillea.
Which flowers are at their peak in May?
Banksia and Protea, with the months either side also in season.