Mother’s Day is quickly approaching, and showing the mother figure in your life that you appreciate them goes a long way. A flower delivery service is a fast and easy way to send a gorgeous bouquet of roses or a floral arrangement as a gift. Many online services offer international shipping, so even if your family and friends are an ocean away, you can still show your appreciation through flowers.
Local florists also have delivery services available within designated areas and you can even opt for same-day delivery in a lot of cases, which is great if you’ve put off getting a gift until the last minute.
Also: The best plant subscription boxes
What is the best flower delivery service right now?
To help you decide on a perfect arrangement for Mother’s Day, ZDNET rounded up the best flower delivery services, including our top pick, 1-800 Flowers. We’ve broken down the best places to get flowers delivered based flower options, business practices, and delivery policies and prices.
Pros
- Same-day delivery available
- Balloons, gift baskets, food available
- Arrangements for almost any occasion
- International shipping
Cons
- Wine delivery not available in all states
For over 40 years, 1-800 Flowers has been providing high-quality flower arrangements for almost any occasion. They offer same-day delivery on hundreds of bouquets and other gifts like chocolates and jewelry. You can bundle a flower arrangement with balloons, candles, or candies for an extra surprise.
If flowers aren’t your thing, you can send gift baskets with specialty chocolates, supplies for cozy tea time, keto-friendly or gluten-free snacks, and even wine. And if you ever feel overwhelmed by the sheer variety of flowers, arrangements, and gifts, 1-800 Flowers has handy guides for deciphering what different colors of flowers mean, how to care for different plants, and how to preserve your bouquet for longer-lasting displays.
1-800 Flowers features: Same-day delivery | Vase options | House plants
Pros
- Same-day delivery available
- International shipping
- 24/7 customer service
- 7-day freshness guarantee
Cons
- Limited Sunday deliveries
FTD was founded by 10 florists in 1910 who, along with local delivery and pickup, allowed customers to send orders via telegraph. Now, over 110 years later, they’re keeping with that innovative spirit by allowing you to send floral arrangements across the country and around the world via the internet.
Along with fresh-cut flower arrangements, you can order fruit baskets, baked goods, charcuterie baskets, and specialty chocolates. And if you’re planning an employee appreciation or corporate event, you can bulk order small gift baskets for attendees.
They also offer same-day delivery on dozens of arrangements, so even if you’re left scrambling at the last minute, you can still send a beautiful, thoughtful bouquet.
FTD features: Standard shipping and delivery starts at $17.99 | Ship by occasion | Gifts and sweet treats
Pros
- Flower subscriptions available
- Eco-friendly gift options
- Same- or next-day delivery available
- Sustainable bloom sourcing
Cons
- Pricier than other services
The Bouqs Co. was founded in 2012 with a mission to provide farm-direct, sustainable sourcing for floral arrangements and bouquets. They partner with growers who use sustainable growing practices like recycling water from irrigation systems, using planting methods that reduce soil erosion, and working towards a net-zero carbon output.
Along with traditional roses, carnations, and sunflowers you see in most bouquets, The Bouqs Co. offers unusual blooms like pink ginger along with lush greenery for eye-catching arrangements. Along with one-time orders for holidays and special occasions, you can also sign up for their floral delivery subscription.
Subscriptions range from $40 to $65, depending on the bouquet size, and you can choose a delivery frequency from weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or bi-monthly so your home can have fresh floral arrangements all year long.
The Bouqs Co. features: 3 subscription options | Wedding flower arrangements | 3 delivery speeds
Pros
- Dried flower arrangements
- Subscription service
- Farm-sourced plants
Cons
- On the pricey side
- No same-day delivery options
Urbanstems is the flower delivery service for anyone who may think it’s silly to spend money on something that is going to last a few weeks, at most. The company not only offers traditional floral arrangements, but they also ship dried flower and plant bouquets that will last as long as you want them to. And since dried arrangements don’t need water or light to look their best, they’re a great gift idea for anyone who might not have inherited a green thumb.
Urbanstems also offers a subscription service for weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly deliveries of fresh or dried flowers. Subscriptions range from $55 to $105 per delivery, depending on the size of the bouquet and type of plants used. And if flowers aren’t really your style, you can choose from a wide variety of succulents and leafy potted plants to add to your growing collection of plant babies.
Urbanstems features: Free shipping option | 3 subscription options | Shop by recipient/occasion
Pros
- Eco-friendly packaging
- Free shipping available
- Affordable bouquet options
Cons
- No same or next day delivery
- Does not ship internationally or to Alaska and Hawaii
Farmgirl Flowers was founded in San Francisco back in 2010 on the idea that “less is more,” and with the mission to cut down on plastic waste generated by the floral industry. Each bouquet is hand-crafted by in-house florists and wrapped in burlap before shipping off to you or a loved one.
Founder and CEO Christina Stembel chose burlap because it’s compostable, and she began working with coffee roasters to buy their used burlap sacks for packing materials. Burlap can also help flowers stay fresher longer when damp, providing needed water to thirsty blooms.
Along with more eco-friendly packaging and gorgeous blooms, Farmgirl Flowers has a special store page for bouquets that have free shipping, a store page for arrangements under $70, and a dedicated page to check out new arrangements. They also have a small selection of preserved and dried bouquets for longer-lasting displays.
Farmgirl Flowers features: Faux flower options | Variety of plants | Eco-friendly packaging
The best flower delivery service is 1-800 Flowers based on its selection of flowers and gifts, its affordable price points, and the fact that it offers same-day delivery.
Flower Delivery Service | Price | Same-day delivery? |
1-800 Flowers | Starting at $35 | Yes |
FTD | Starting at $35 | Yes |
The Bouqs Co. | Starting at $44 | Yes |
Urbanstems | Starting at $32 | No |
Farmgirl Flowers | Starting at $57 | No |
While these flower delivery services are all great choices, it ultimately comes down to if same-day delivery is important to you, what kind of bouquet style you prefer, and what price you’re willing to spend.
Choose this flower delivery service… | If you want… |
1-800 Flowers | The best overall option. It offers same-day delivery as well as international shipping, so your loved one will receive their flowers no matter what. |
FTD | A flower delivery service that has been in business for more than 100 years. The company also has a 7-day freshness guarantee. |
The Bouqs Co. | A flower delivery service that you can subscribe to. It partners with growers who use sustainable growing practices. |
Urbanstems | A dried flower bouquet delivered to your door. It also offers succulents and leafy potted plants. |
Farmgirl Flowers | Hand-crafted floral bouquets with a more rustic feel. Free shipping is available in the company’s eco-friendly packaging. |
Before buying a bouquet for Mother’s Day, consider the following factors:
- Delivery options: Pay attention to services that offer same-day delivery or next-day delivery since not everyone plans ahead. Also consider services with lower delivery costs.
- Products offered: Many flower delivery services offer more than just flowers, such a chocolates or fresh fruit, so consider those with multiple products to choose from.
- Price: Flowers are expensive, so perks like free shipping from a service can really stand out.
To compile this list, we examined top brands in the flower delivery service space. We paid attention to customer reviews — both good and bad — to make our final decisions. If a ZDNET contributor had tested a product and written a review, we looked at that first to make sure that we were examining the possible downsides to these products through a user-driven lens.
If you prefer to support local businesses rather than order online, you can call your local florist to see if they offer deliveries for bouquets. Most do have some form of local delivery, but call ahead to see about availability, delivery radius, and any restrictions they may have.
Of course! Whether you order online or from a local florist, you can absolutely let them know you want the flowers delivered on a specific day and time. Just remember that once that bouquet leaves the florist, there is a possibility of a carrier delay.
Between staffing issues, severe weather, and inventory system mix-ups, there is always the possibility that your bouquet could arrive later (or earlier if things run very smoothly!) than expected. Damage during transit is a possibility as well. Things get bumped around, and flowers aren’t exactly known for their durability.
But if your bouquet arrives with dead or severely damaged blooms, contact customer service. Be patient, and be nice to the customer service folks when asking about delays, refunds, or exchanges; they can’t control what happens to your bouquet once it leaves the shop.
Fresh-cut flowers don’t last for very long outside of a vase or refrigerated florist case, so you often pay extra for expedited shipping. Fresh flowers also cost a lot of time, energy, and money to grow and arrange.
Florists are highly trained to spot and treat any plant diseases that may affect greenhouse inventory as well as how to expertly arrange bouquets to look their best. Increased demand around holidays also affects pricing, since florists have to work extra hard to meet delivery deadlines and the increase in customers.
Mother’s Day falls on the second Sunday of May every year. This year, it is Sunday, May 12.
There are plenty of other flower delivery options out there for you to choose from the next time you’re looking to send flowers. Here are a few other trust-worthy flower delivery services to look into:
