PayPal Flowers: How to Pay for a Bouquet Delivered in Russia

Many flower shops abroad accept PayPal, but PayPal does not work for flowers delivered in Russia: the service suspended its operations in the country in 2022, so Russian flower delivery services, including ours, cannot take PayPal payments. To send a bouquet to Russia with us you pay online on the site by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay.

That sounds like a dead end if PayPal is your usual way to shop, but it rarely is in practice. Below we explain what still works, how families abroad usually handle payment, how to avoid sites that promise PayPal and then disappoint, and how to choose a bouquet that arrives exactly as you imagined.

Why PayPal is not available for flowers in Russia

PayPal stopped serving Russia in March 2022. Since then, Russian businesses cannot receive PayPal payments and Russian residents cannot send or receive money through it. This applies to any company that actually delivers inside Russia, not only to florists, so if you search for 'paypal flowers' to a Russian city, you will find that local delivery services simply do not offer it.

You may still come across international websites that let you check out with PayPal and promise delivery to Moscow or Saint Petersburg. Be cautious: before paying, check who actually delivers, whether the site shows the real bouquet composition and whether you can talk to someone about the address and time. A cheap checkout is little comfort if the flowers arrive a day late or look nothing like the photo.

We wrote a separate, more detailed note on this, PayPal for flowers to Russia: what actually works, if you want to compare the options side by side.

Payment methods we accept

On our site you pay online by bank card, through SBP (the Russian Faster Payments System) or with Yandex Pay. Payment happens at checkout, before the bouquet goes to the florist, so there is no cash handling at the door and the recipient is never asked for money.

SBP and Yandex Pay are especially convenient if someone in your family has a Russian bank account: they can pay from their phone in a few taps, while you choose the bouquet and write the card text. This is how many people living abroad send flowers to parents and grandparents, splitting the roles between the person who chooses and the person who pays.

If you are not sure whether your card will go through, ask a manager before placing the order rather than after. You can see the full terms on our delivery and payment page.

Bouquets we can deliver

Bouquet of 1 yellow sunflowers

$13

Bouquet of 3 white French roses with eucalyptus, 50 cm

$18

Bouquet of 3 red French roses with eucalyptus, 50 cm

$18

Bouquet of 3 pink roses with eucalyptus, 50 cm

$18

What you get for your money: delivery details

We deliver across Russia ourselves. City delivery costs 500 RUB; for remote districts and suburbs the operator confirms the price when confirming the order, so you know the total before anything is sent out. In large cities express delivery takes 1-2 hours after confirmation.

If timing matters more than speed, choose an exact time with a 30-minute margin either side, or a window: 09-12, 12-15, 15-18 or 18-21. You can also pre-order from 1 to 30 days ahead, which is the most reliable way to have flowers arrive on a birthday morning when you are in a different time zone and might otherwise wake up too late.

The courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival. If nobody is home, we agree a second delivery the same day or, with your consent, leave the flowers with a neighbour or a concierge. Delivery is anonymous by default, and a card with your text is free.

Double-check the city and the address before paying. Many Russian cities have streets with the same names, and a mistake in the house number or entrance code is the most common reason for a delayed delivery. A correct phone number for the recipient solves most problems on the spot. Finally, keep your confirmation. If anything needs adjusting after payment, such as the time window or the card text, contact us as early as possible so the change reaches the courier in time.

Choosing a bouquet that travels and lasts

Since you will not be there to put the flowers in water, choose varieties that forgive a little neglect. Roses, chrysanthemums, alstroemeria, carnations and eustoma all last a week or more with basic care. Peonies and hydrangeas are beautiful but sensitive to warm, dry flats, and from October to April Russian apartments are heated and the air is dry.

For an elderly recipient, a bouquet in a box or basket with water-retaining foam is often the kindest choice: no vase to find, no stems to trim, just topping up water every couple of days. For someone who loves arranging flowers, a classic hand-tied bouquet gives them the pleasure of setting it up themselves.

Keep Russian etiquette in mind: for any celebration, choose an odd number of flowers, because even numbers are associated with funerals. In large mixed bouquets this no longer matters, but with 5 or 7 roses people will count.

How to order from abroad step by step

Start in our bouquets catalogue and pick a bouquet by occasion and composition. Have the recipient's full address ready, including entrance number, floor, flat and door code if there is one, plus a phone number that will actually be answered; the courier will call it before arrival.

Write the card text in advance. If your recipient reads only Russian, you can write in Russian or ask us to help with wording. Then choose the timing: express, an exact time, a window or a date up to 30 days ahead. Pay by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay to confirm.

If you want to agree any detail by message, from a tricky address to the exact card wording, write to a manager on WhatsApp. We can also send you a photo of the bouquet before delivery, which is reassuring when you cannot see it in person.

Do not leave the order to the last hour on an important date such as 8 March or a birthday falling on a weekend. Even when payment goes through instantly, demand on holidays is high, and pre-ordering a few days ahead secures the time slot you want.

Matching the bouquet to the occasion

For a birthday, bright mixed bouquets with roses, eustoma and seasonal flowers feel festive without being formal. For a mother or grandmother, softer pastel tones and a fragrant variety such as spray roses are usually welcomed. For a colleague or a business contact, a restrained bouquet in white and green says thank you without seeming too personal.

For apologies and 'thinking of you' moments, smaller is often better: five or seven good roses with a warm card read as sincere, while a huge arrangement can feel like overcompensation. For anniversaries and declarations of love, red roses remain the classic, and the number of stems can carry its own message if you explain it on the card.

If you are sending flowers for a funeral or a memorial day, the rules change: choose an even number of stems, calm colours such as white or dark red, and a short, respectful card. Say so when you order, so the bouquet is put together appropriately.