Sending Flowers to Russia: The Questions People Ask on Reddit, Answered

Yes, you can still send flowers to Russia from abroad, and the threads on Reddit about it mostly circle the same worries: will the payment go through, will the bouquet look like the photo, will it actually arrive, and what if the recipient is not home. The short answer is to order directly from a service that delivers in Russia itself, agree the details in writing and ask for a photo of the bouquet before it leaves.

Below, we take the questions that come up again and again in forum threads and answer them the way we would answer a customer who writes to us: practically, with what is true for our own delivery, and with the Russian flower etiquette that people abroad often do not know about.

'Is it even possible to send flowers to Russia now?'

This is the first question in almost every thread, and it is a fair one. People abroad often find that the way they used to send flowers home no longer works, and they assume flower delivery in Russia has stopped. It has not: delivery inside Russia works as usual, it simply has to be ordered from a service that delivers there itself.

We deliver across Russia, from Moscow and Saint Petersburg to regional cities. Delivery within a city costs 500 RUB. For remote districts and suburbs, the operator confirms the price when confirming the order, so you know the full amount before anything is sent. If you are in the United States, our guide on how to send flowers from America to Russia walks through the process step by step.

The practical advice from forums is sound: avoid sites that will not tell you who actually delivers and how to contact them. You want a phone or messenger contact, clear delivery rules and a person who will answer before the order goes out.

'How do I pay from abroad?'

Payment is the most common pain point in Reddit threads, because many foreign cards behave differently with Russian payment systems. On our site you can pay online by bank card, SBP (the Russian Faster Payments System) or Yandex Pay. SBP and Yandex Pay are convenient if you, or a relative who is helping you, have a Russian bank account.

If you are not sure your card will be accepted, do not guess and do not try the same card ten times. Write to a manager first, describe how you want to pay and agree the order before you pay. The delivery and payment page lists the current options.

A useful tip that appears in many threads: if a relative in Russia is willing to pay for you, they can pay by SBP in a couple of taps, and you can settle with them later. It is often the fastest way when the order is for the same day.

Bouquets we can deliver

Bouquet of 1 yellow sunflowers

$13

Bouquet of 3 white roses with eucalyptus, 50 cm

$18

Bouquet of 3 red roses with eucalyptus, 50 cm

$18

Bouquet of 3 pink roses with eucalyptus, 50 cm

$18

'Will it look like the photo, and will it actually arrive?'

Forum stories about disappointing bouquets usually have the same cause: the buyer had no way to see what was sent. The simplest protection is to ask for a photo of the finished bouquet before delivery. We send one on request through WhatsApp, and that is also where you can agree the time, the address and the text of the card.

About arrival: the courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before getting there. If the recipient is not home, we agree a second delivery the same day or hand the flowers to a neighbour or a concierge, but only with your consent, so the decision stays with you.

Give the recipient's correct phone number with the country code and, for flats, the entrance number, floor and door code. Russian apartment blocks are big, and these details are what turns a stressful delivery into a quick one.

'Can I stay anonymous, and what should the card say?'

Delivery is anonymous by default: the courier does not name the sender. If you want the recipient to know who sent the flowers, say so in the card, which is free and can carry any text you write. If you want to remain a mystery, leave the card unsigned or sign it with a hint only the recipient will understand.

Write the card text in Russian if the recipient does not read English well. Short, warm wording works best: 'S lyubovyu' (with love), 'Skuchayu' (I miss you) or 'S dnyom rozhdeniya!' (happy birthday). A manager can help with the Russian version if you send your text in English and explain who the flowers are for.

One etiquette detail from Reddit threads is worth repeating: the card is often read aloud in front of family, especially at a birthday or on March 8. Keep it personal but not too private.

'What do Russians actually like to receive?'

Odd numbers, always, for any happy occasion: 3, 5, 7, 11 or more stems. Even numbers are for funerals, and older recipients will notice. Very large bouquets of 25 or 51 roses are popular for romantic gestures, while a mother or grandmother is usually happier with a varied, generous mixed bouquet than with a single variety.

Roses are the safe choice for a partner, chrysanthemums and alstroemeria last longest in a heated flat in winter, and tulips are the flower of spring and especially of International Women's Day. Our article on March 8 flowers in Russia explains why that day matters so much. For a new mother, light pastel flowers with little scent are best; strong lilies are best avoided in a home with a newborn.

Avoid sending only yellow flowers to older relatives, as some still connect them with separation, and keep carnations for mixed bouquets rather than on their own, since they are associated with memorial days.

Timing: how to make sure the flowers arrive on the day

In large cities, express delivery takes 1-2 hours after the order is confirmed, which is useful when you remember a birthday at the last minute. If you want a specific moment, choose an exact time, accurate to plus or minus 30 minutes, or one of the time windows: 09-12, 12-15, 15-18 or 18-21.

For busy dates such as December 31, February 14 and March 8, order in advance. Pre-orders are accepted 1-30 days ahead, so you can place the order when you think of it and not worry about it on the day. Remember the time difference: Moscow is UTC+3, and Russia spans eleven time zones, so a morning delivery in Vladivostok is still the previous evening in Moscow.

Once you have chosen a bouquet in the catalogue, the order takes a few minutes. Agree any special requests on WhatsApp, pay online and wait for the photo.