Flowers are a timeless gift, bound to appeal to almost every recipient. But the delivery can be hit or miss: A lackluster bouquet doesn’t strike the right chords, and a late arrival is more unfortunate. Luckily, we’ve done our research (and received bountiful blooms from some of these services, ourselves) to compile a list of the best flower delivery services that truly deliver. Our top pick, The Bouqs Co., features modern bouquets and exclusively uses sustainable blooms. Another no-fail favorite is 1-800-Flowers, which offers a huge array of arrangements for all occasions (and budgets).
Whether it's for a special occasion or "just because," the best flower delivery services make it ... [+] easy to send fresh, beautiful blooms.
ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTOS: RETAILERS
Shopping for flowers online offers ease and accessibility, plus plenty of variety to choose the perfect arrangement. While some flower delivery services specialize in roses, others take pride in offering a multitude of bouquets, many of which can be selected for same- or next-day delivery. Ahead, we rounded up the best flower delivery services to help you express your love—even if you’re miles apart. And if you’re shopping for Mother’s Day, we've also curated the best Mother’s Day flowers that are especially festive for the occasion.
Price: $49 and up | Same-day or next-day delivery: Yes |Subscription options: Yes
The Bouqs Co. stands out for a number of reasons. For starters, the brand sources all of its flowers from sustainable farms that take everything from worker conditions to water and soil quality into consideration. As for the arrangements, they’re downright beautiful. Whether you’re in the market for roses, peonies, lilies, orchids, tulips or just about any bloom in between, The Bouqs Co. has beautiful blooms to choose from. (Be sure to check out the arrangements with plantable succulents, too.) And, if the person you’re shopping for (yourself included) adores receiving fresh bouquets, you can sign up for a monthly flower subscription service, starting at just $44 per delivery.
Best Flower Delivery Arrangements
An Endless Array Of Bouquets, Baskets And Goodies To Add On
MOST POPULAR
1-800-Flowers
1-800-Flowers Floral Embrace Bouquet
Price: $33 and up | Same-day or next-day delivery: Yes |Subscription options: Yes
No matter who you’re shopping for, 1-800-Flowers has dozens of different arrangements, from simple bouquets to animal-inspired displays. Beyond flowers, the online retailer is also home to a bunch of different gift options, including well-stocked baskets, candles, jewelry, spa goods and more. In other words, if you’re not sure what you’re looking for, 1-800-Flowers will give you plenty of ideas. For those looking to save even more and want to gift a recurring flower delivery, 1-800-Flowers also offers 15% off flower subscriptions.
Best Value Flower Delivery
An Array Of Bouquets, Plants And Gifts That Arrive Quickly
From You Flowers
From You Flowers Pink Rose Succulent Garden Bouquet
Price: $31 and up | Same-day or next-day delivery: Yes |Subscription options: No
From You Flowers has it all—vibrant bouquets, unique plants and succulents, overflowing gift baskets, sweet teddy bears and even sweeter wine sets, complete with cheese and crackers. The value for their flowers is worth noting as well (many of their most popular, bestselling bouquets are around $40). Don’t miss the company’s same-day delivery section, which is also full of perfectly appropriate arrangements for every occasion—holidays, get well soon, sympathy and more.
Trendiest Flower Delivery
Artful Arrangements That Elevate Any Space
Urbanstems
UrbanStems The Spring Showers Bouquet
Price: $58 and up | Same-day or next-day delivery: Yes |Subscription options: Yes
Simplicity is always in style, but there’s something to be said about thinking outside the box (or, in this case, the bloom). Case in point? UrbanStems’ cult-favorite artful arrangements. Here, you’ll find flowers available in a wide range of vivid colors that include a playful mix of blooms, greenery and garnishes, all of which make for an immediate décor statement. Whether you’re searching for something vibrant like the aptly named The Firecracker or something soft and romantic like The Peony, UrbanStems has it all including ultra-customizable prepaid subscriptions.
Best Roses Delivery
Classic Arrangements That You Can Make Your Own
Ode à la Rose
Ode À La Rose The Felice Bouquet
Price: $58 and up | Same-day or next-day delivery: Yes |Subscription options: Yes
Ode À La Rose specializes in classic arrangements of roses, tulips and orchids. As stunning as all of the brand’s bouquets are, what’s even better is that you can customize how they’re shipped out. Want a vase? There are eight styles to choose from (for an additional fee onto the final charge). Perhaps you’d like to bundle your bouquet with a Sugarfina Bento Box or a box of assorted macarons? It offers those options, too. The point is, Ode À La Rose makes it easy to buy not only beautiful simple arrangements but also small gifts to further celebrate the occasion.
Best Local Flower Delivery Service
A Century-Old Service That Offering Florist-Delivered Flowers
FTD Flowers
FTD Flowers Fiesta Bouquet
Price: $45 and up | Same-day or next-day delivery: Yes |Subscription options: No
Whether you strive to support local or you’re searching for same-day delivery, the FTD Flowers website has a dedicated florist-delivered section that routes orders through your neighborhood flower shop. (Availability depends on area, of course). If time and distance is not of the essence, you’ll find plenty more options sitewide, including bunches of single-species blooms, colorful arrangements and bouquet bundles with food and gift pairings. And we’d be remiss not to mention the company’s long-lasting command of the floral delivery industry: FTD has been shipping flowers since 1910.
Best Flower Delivery Subscription
A Subscription Club For Monthly (Or Even Weekly) Bouquets
BloomsyBox
BloomsyBox Original Flower Subscription Club
Price: $45 and up | Same-day or next-day delivery: Yes |Subscription options: Yes
Why settle on one fresh bouquet when you could gift an entire year’s worth to your loved one? That’s the idea behind BloomsyBox’s Flower Subscription Club. Shoppers can choose between monthly, weekly and bi-weekly subscriptions, all of which ship out at least 22 stems per shipment and as many as 32. Of course, if you fall in love with a specific bouquet from the subscription (or prior to signing up for one), you can always opt for standalone bouquets as well.
Best Plant Delivery Overall
A Sweeping Selection Of Fresh House Plants And Succulents
The Sill
The Sill Pink Watercolor Orchid
Price: $34 and up | Same-day or next-day delivery: No |Subscription options: Yes
For the plant lovers in your life, The Sill has the best variety of easy-care, pet-friendly house plants and succulents. But they also have stunning potted florals that will—let’s face it—outlive a standard bouquet of blooms. Choose from orchids, anthuriums or bromeliads in vibrant shades of pink, red and orange that will brighten up a room as quickly as a dozen roses.
Best Value Plant Delivery
Rare, Interesting Greenery At An Affordable Price
Editor’s Pick
BWH Plant Co
BWH 4-Inch Calathea Roseopicta Medallion
Price: $7 and up | Same-day or next-day delivery: No |Subscription options: No
If your recipient isn’t really a flower person but you want to gift them something equally thoughtful and decorative, we recommend BWH Plant Co.’s diverse assortment. The Florida-based shop’s offerings start at only $10 and include easy-care, pet-friendly and rare varieties. Plus, if you’re gifting this to a plant lover, you can add one of the company’s fun merchandise items to your delivery (we’re eyeing the Plant Jungle candle and Shopkeeper Tee).
Best Plant Delivery Bundles
Why Give One Plant When You Can Give Two (Or More)?
Lively Root
Lively Root Sending Hugs Bundle
Price: $10 and up | Same-day or next-day delivery: No |Subscription options: Yes
Another purveyor of potted plants, Lively Root’s offerings range from pet-friendly plants to indoor trees to bundles for beginners. Speaking of bundles, why send your leaf-loving recipient just one variety? Lively Root offers plant packages like the Zen Pet Friendly Collection, Your Indoor Jungle Delivered and the Sending Hugs Bundle, pictured (it includes a peace lily, a calathea and a card).
The staffers on our editorial team can vouch for many of these services firsthand, having received plants for product testing or as gifts from loved ones.
Other team members also back bouquets delivered by The Bouqs Co. as well as potted plants from Lively Root and BWH Plant Co.
We consulted flower delivery services expert, Kaylyn Hewitt, head of floral design at The Bouqs Co., for guidance on what to look for in a bouquet when shopping online.
We included the flower delivery services with arrangements we would recommend or send to our own friends and family.
We focused on customer-favorite brands that offer a wide variety of blooms (and leaves) for every type of recipient.
Why Is It Better To Buy Pre-Arranged Flowers Online?
If you’ve ever tried making your own bouquet, you know that assembling a show-stopping arrangement is harder than it looks. When it comes to special occasions, it’s best to leave it to the pros. But don’t worry—despite enlisting expert help, a hand-picked flower arrangement still makes a heartfelt impression. “If you’re gifting, you’re able to cater your gift to the recipient while also purchasing something that’s been thoughtfully designed,” Kaylyn Hewitt, head of floral design at The Bouqs Co., points out.
As far as shopping online (as opposed to, you know, picking up the phone or actually walking in to a florist shop), the best flower delivery services make picking and purchasing the perfect bouquet a seamless experience. Browsing online means you have access to thousands of options so you can pinpoint the one that’s right for your budget and your recipient’s style. Further, you can have your choice of well-known, big-box florists (who might offer the best and fastest delivery options) or ones that are, or are supplied by, small businesses that appreciate your support.
How Can I Make Fresh Flowers Last Longer?
Watching a gorgeous bouquet wilt is always a bit depressing, but (to put it poetically) the fleeting nature of its beauty is what makes flower-giving so indulgent and romantic. However, Hewitt says, “While different types of flowers have different vase lives, certain practices can help all flowers last as long as possible.” She shares some tricks of the trade below:
Prep your plants from the get-go. “Give your stems a fresh cut upon arrival to allow flowers to drink up as much water as possible,” Hewitt advises.
Keep a clean vessel. “You’ll want to use a clean vase to avoid any bacteria or fungi from growing, since that can speed up the death of your flowers,” she says.
Find a sweet spot. “Keep your flowers out of direct sunlight because the sun’s rays can shorten a flower’s vase life,” Hewitt instructs, adding that harsh rays can cause wilting.
Practice regular maintenance. “Changing the water every other day is extremely important, as well, to stop the build of harmful bacteria,” Hewitt explains, noting that cool water is best. And don’t forget to add flower food when you give your bouquet new water. When your blooms naturally start to wilt, prune dead leaves and petals to keep them looking as fresh as possible.
