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Want to send flowers? As we’ve posited, you don’t need a societally-approved reason (birthday, anniversary, apology) to do so.
We’ve mentioned several online flower shops we like over the past few years. Below, we highlight some of those and why you should consider them today, tomorrow, on your anniversary, on Valentine’s Day or on a random Tuesday in March. Your recipient will thank you whenever they arrive. Also, we should note that several delivery services (DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart) and stores (Whole Foods) offer flower delivery as well.
The Bouqs Co.
A farm-direct, transparent-sourcing florist that offers flower subscriptions, frequent deals (like $20 off your first order), some same-day delivery and even fun collaborations (like a bouquet and vibrator combo, which, sadly, is sold out). They offer the freshest bouquets you’ll find, based on our personal experience.
The Best Bouquets to Order From 1-800-Flowers
From under-$50 gift boxes to a roomful of red roses, our favorite gifts from the online florist1-800-Flowers
The giant in the flower industry — the company works with 5,000 florists nationwide — 1-800-Flowers also offers variety and plenty of deals (there’s a 20% off deal for early Valentine’s Day shoppers). They also have flower subscriptions and you can add several non-flower gifts, like food baskets. You can see some of our favorite bouquets and gifts from 1-800-Flowers here.
Teleflora
The site’s Deal of the Day offers a set price — lower than other arrangements on the site — for a local florist to design their bouquet for your loved one with just a bit of guidance from you. Plus, you can get same-day flower delivery and the site offers a good explanation of the language and meaning of different flowers.
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Yes, you just bought her a gift a month ago, and yes, you have to buy her another right now. We got you, though.FTD
Flowers (and non-flower gifting options) from this century-old business are modestly priced, and same-day delivery is an option.
POMP
Sustainably grown flowers from family-owned farms — and the brand suggests that these same roses have been featured at the Tony Awards, Rose Bowl and Miss America Pageant. Bouquets are available to ship the next day nationwide.
Enjoy Flowers
No middleman here; you’ll get artisan bouquets from farms in Colombia, available via subscription.
Farmgirl Flowers
Farmgirl started with a very minimalist idea: One daily arrangement, with no sizes, flower types or colors to choose from. While no longer the case, these are premium bouquets with purposely limited (but beautiful) options.
UrbanStems
Farm-sourced and promising “on-trend flowers and creating one-of-a-kind arrangements,” UrbanStems also has same-day delivery in DC, NYC and a few other cities, along with a good selection of plants.
Matilda’s Bloombox
A family-owned business based out of San Francisco that partners with flower farmers in California — delivery is free in San Francisco, San Diego, Orange County and Austin, but arrangements are available nationwide with a delivery fee (boxes start at just $45). They also include instructions on how to arrange your flowers after delivery.
BloomsyBox
Not only does this online florist pick stems that shy away from traditional red roses (though those are available!), they also offer gift bundles and a unique New York Botanical Subscription, which promises seasonal, hand-crafted bouquets curated by floral experts from the famed botanical gardens.
Fresh Sends
More than just flowers, Fresh Sends promises everything from “viral bouquets” to hand-crafted candles, perfumes and candy, which you can combine into bundled gifts.
What to Look for in an Online Florist
When it comes to the particulars, that’s really up to you and what your giftee would appreciate. But when I order flowers, I take into account reliability, scheduling (can you actually get your order delivered when you want it — and do you trust the company to fulfill that request?), price and variety. Not necessarily “more is better,” but I do like online florists who offer a few options beyond standard roses. If they can include chocolates, stuffed animals, wine, etc., all the better. Other questions to consider: How much can you personalize the gift or the accompanying card? Are these flowers going to look nice three days from now? Does the florist have a mission statement or a good cause they’re supporting? For some people, flowers grown responsibly near a volcano and shipped in a way that lowers environmental impact may be important. For others, it’s just a matter of getting a nice bouquet to the right person at the right time.
Q&A
Should you get men flowers?
Yes. I detail why here.
Are flowers really necessary?
Look, get your partner something, no matter what they (or you) think about the holiday. Farmgirl Flowers actually found some interesting results in their latest survey: In a survey of more than 400 women across the U.S. on their flower preferences, they found that “thoughtfulness” matters most. Recipients feel most seen, loved, and celebrated when a bouquet reflects their personality, with a clear preference for mixed, colorful arrangements featuring a variety of flowers. Only 2.5% said they would choose a traditional red-rose-only bouquet. As well, many of the respondents said they’d prefer flowers to arrive on Friday so they can enjoy them all weekend. “Friday delivery feels more intentional and avoids the stress of waiting on a February 14th delivery,” as the survey surmised.
Why are flowers more expensive to deliver on Valentine’s Day?
Hidden Garden Flowers in LA has a good explainer on this very topic. Calling Valentine’s Day is the “Super Bowl of flowers,” the florist notes that flowers are a crop (“they grow on a schedule, not on Amazon Prime timing (heehee!)”). Essentially, growers need to plant and forecast months in advance, increase their labor, use up greenhouse space, pay more for heating/lighting and time it all to hit for one week in February.
Have you tried every florist on this list?
Actually, I’ve tried most of them personally and asked people I trust about the others.
Can I get my significant other a stuffed animal instead of flowers?
Well, not in place of. But can you? One editor here says no. I say yes. It’s a personal preference; figure it out before you actually buy one (also, still buy flowers).
Have you had a bad experience with florists on Valentine’s Day? And what did you do?
More than once, but usually under extenuating circumstances. In the late ’90s, I used a service advertised in a newspaper (I’m old) that I’d never heard of; the delivery was sent to my partner’s workspace and arrived two hours after she was supposed to be done with work. The other incident occurred in February 2021, when COVID-19 was still in full force (yes, it was okay to order flowers during the pandemic). My current partner received a nice bouquet, but it wasn’t the one I ordered and the card was wrong (it was a cheesy poem from someone named “Zach” — which has now been incorporated into every follow-up flower delivery). I was less than thrilled with the florist’s response, even though it included a phone call from a company rep to my gf apologizing. It did not, however, include a new bouquet delivered in time for Valentine’s Day. Which brings me back to an early point: It might be best to order a bouquet so it arrives early.
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