---
title: "Parents' Day flowers for florists: price surge and when to stock up (2026–2028) | Floreboard"
url: https://floreboard.com/en/guides/holidays/korean-parents-day/
language: en
last_reviewed: 2026-10-06
publisher: Floreboard (芳华绘)
---

# Parents' Day flowers: a florist's stocking guide

Before Parents' Day (Korea), carnation wholesale prices typically run 1.5–2.5× normal; stock up about 21 days ahead. Dates and order-by dates for 2026–2028.

- **Market:** Korea

- **Flowers affected:** [Carnation](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/carnation/)

- **Typical price:** 1.5–2.5× normal wholesale

- **Stock up:** 21 days ahead

## Dates and order-by dates

| Year | Date | Start stocking by |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2026 | 2026-05-08 | 2026-04-17 |
| 2027 | 2027-05-08 | 2027-04-17 |
| 2028 | 2028-05-08 | 2028-04-17 |

## How people buy for it

On 8 May in Korea, children pin a red carnation to their parents' chests or give carnation baskets and corsages. Demand is almost entirely carnations, in red and pink.

## The flowers that surge

| Flower | Role | Vase life | In season | Fragrance | Pets |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Carnation](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/carnation/) | Focal flower | 10–14 days | Year-round | Light | mildly toxic |

## What the surge does to material cost

If the affected flowers make up the share of a design's material cost shown below, a 1.5–2.5× surge raises the whole design's material cost by:

| Affected flowers as share of material cost | At 1.5× | At 2.5× |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 40% | +20% | +60% |
| 60% | +30% | +90% |
| 80% | +40% | +120% |

[How florists price arrangements: cost, markup and margin](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/florist-pricing-and-margin/)

## Alternatives that are not priced up

Flowers with the same role that are available at this time of year and not on this holiday's surge list — the basis for a "holiday-proof" option:

| Instead of | Consider |
| --- | --- |
| [Carnation](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/carnation/) | [Orchids (cut)](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/orchid/), [Heliconia](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/heliconia/), [Rose](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/rose/), [Bird of paradise](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/strelitzia/) |

## What florists should know

- For Chinese, Japanese and Korean clients avoid 4 stems (it sounds like "death"); for Japanese clients also avoid 9.

## FAQ

### When is Parents' Day in 2026, 2027, 2028?

2026: 2026-05-08; 2027: 2027-05-08; 2028: 2028-05-08 (Korea).

### Which flowers get more expensive before Parents' Day, and by how much?

Carnation wholesale prices typically run 1.5–2.5× normal.

### How far ahead should florists stock up for Parents' Day?

About 21 days ahead — around 2026-04-17 for 2026 — and quote at holiday prices.

### What can florists offer instead of the flowers that surge before Parents' Day?

Instead of carnation: orchids (cut), heliconia, rose, bird of paradise.

## Other holidays for the same flowers

[Women's Day](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/holidays/womens-day/) · [Mother's Day](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/holidays/mothers-day/) · [Teachers' Day](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/holidays/chinese-teachers-day/)

[Holiday flower price calendar](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/holiday-flower-prices/)

Last reviewed: 2026-10-06. Surges are typical wholesale ranges for stocking and quoting; local markets vary.