Occasions
Grandparents Day in the US: date and flowers to give
United States · Nationwide
National Grandparents Day in the United States is the first Sunday after Labor Day in September. For a gift, we suggest a small carnation or gerbera bouquet with a vase and a card from the grandchildren. The forget-me-not is the celebration’s symbolic flower, but you can choose the gift around the flowers they enjoy most.
Upcoming calendar dates
United States
Agenda Floral, with you
Add it to your calendar
Subscribe to receive the changes we publish or download a copy with yearly repeats to import.
Use in Google Calendar or another calendar
Open Google Calendar on a computer. Beside “Other calendars”, click “+” and choose “From URL”. Paste the address below to add the subscription. You can then view that calendar on devices using your account.
Guide to adding Agenda Floral to Apple and Google Calendar
Apple or Google decide when to check for updates. We cannot guarantee that changes appear immediately. Importing the file gives you a copy that does not receive our future corrections. Importing again may duplicate events. We do not add alarms, although your calendar may apply its own alerts.
When Grandparents Day falls and planning a visit
Labor Day is the first Monday in September. Grandparents Day follows on Sunday and can fall between September 7 and 13. Use the US date when ordering a gift from another country.
You can bring the bouquet when you meet at home or arrange delivery when they will be there. If the florist does not deliver that Sunday, agree another delivery time or earlier pickup. That changes when you give the gift, not the observance date.
Forget-me-nots and choosing the gift flowers
The forget-me-not is associated with Grandparents Day. You could include that detail in a card with a drawing of its small blue flowers. For the bouquet, choose a flower they enjoy that the florist can prepare for your date.
Carnations bring ruffled petals to an arrangement. Gerberas offer open flowers with visible centers. A compact bouquet with a vase can stay on a side table during the visit. These are gift suggestions rather than a flower you are required to bring.
A gift from the grandchildren with a personal memory
If several grandchildren are taking part, you could give one bouquet together and write a shared card. Add a specific memory or a photo instead of a generic greeting. For example: “For those afternoons in your kitchen that always turn into stories. We are looking forward to spending this Sunday with you.”
If your grandparents live in different homes, plan each delivery with its own address and time. When ordering from outside the US, include the ZIP code and a contact phone number for delivery. The delivery guide helps you settle those details without mixing up delivery day and the day of your visit.
Which flowers to choose
Compare flowers to choose the format, colours and care that suit the occasion.
Carnation
Main flower in our selectionWe suggest carnations in a compact bouquet with a vase, ready to display at home. Choose a color your grandparents enjoy and add a card from the grandchildren.
Gerbera
Gerberas are another option for flowers with visible centers. You could order a small bouquet to accompany a visit or a family photo.
Guides to help with your decision
When to give forget-me-nots
Forget-me-nots for an anniversary or thank-you. Choose a pot and position, prepare a personal note and include useful care instructions.
Mother’s Day in the US: date and flowers to give
Mother’s Day is the second Sunday in May in the United States. Choose peonies or carnations and arrange a delivery that fits her day.
What to write in a card with flowers
Ideas for writing a flower card in your own words. Examples for birthdays, thanks, anniversaries and sensitive moments.
How to order flowers from a distance and plan delivery
How to send flowers from afar and choose the format, date and handover. Includes UK letterbox flowers and addresses and deliveries in other countries.
Frequently asked questions
Is Grandparents Day always the second Sunday in September?
No. The rule is the first Sunday after Labor Day. Because Labor Day is the first Monday in September, Grandparents Day can fall on September 7 and be the first Sunday of the month.
Do I have to give forget-me-nots?
You can choose other flowers they enjoy. For a bouquet, we suggest carnations or gerberas and you could use a forget-me-not drawing on the card. If you want to give the plant, use its guide to consider where it will be cared for and check availability for your order.
Sources and what they support
- U.S. Government Publishing Office · 36 USC §125 · 2023 edition
36 USC §125 specifies the first Sunday in September after Labor Day for the observance. It prescribes no flowers or public holiday. The 2023 federal edition is corroborated by the 2026 campaign.
- Office of the Law Revision Counsel · 5 USC §6103
Labor Day is the first Monday in September. This yields a following-Sunday window of September 7–13; it does not make Grandparents Day a public holiday.
- U.S. Census Bureau · National Grandparents Day · 2014
A historical 2014 note associates the forget-me-not with the observance through its organising council. It establishes no species, September supply or current popularity of the suggested flowers.
- Generations United · Grandparents Day 2026
The Generations United campaign announces September 13, 2026 and suggests memories, photos and family contact. Card and bouquet examples are original rather than organiser requirements.
How we put these guides together
We review dates, care and recommendations to help you plan each gift.
Spotted something we should review? Contact Agenda Floral.