Sending Flowers Internationally: How It Works and What to Check

Sending flowers internationally works as a remote order: you choose and pay online from home, and the bouquet is made and delivered in the recipient's country rather than shipped across borders, so it arrives fresh, often on the same day. To send flowers to Russia, you choose a bouquet on Turboflora, enter the recipient's address and preferred time, pay online, and our courier brings the flowers to the door.

The practical part is where people from abroad usually get stuck: which time zone to use, how to write the address, what to put on the card, and how to be sure the bouquet will actually be handed over. This guide walks through each step the way we explain it to customers who are ordering from another country for the first time.

Why flowers do not travel with the order

Cut flowers are living material. A bouquet sealed in a box for two or three days of international transit, plus customs checks on plant material, would arrive tired at best. That is why international flower delivery is really a remote order: you choose and pay from wherever you are, and the bouquet is made shortly before delivery.

For you, this changes what to look for. The question is not how the flowers will be packed for a flight, but whether delivery actually covers the recipient's city, how quickly, at what time, and whether you can stay in touch while the order is in progress. For Russia, we deliver across the country, with express delivery in large cities 1-2 hours after the order is confirmed.

It also means the bouquet you see in the catalogue is made to order for your delivery, so the flowers are fresh when they reach the recipient. Seasonal varieties may differ slightly in shade or shape from the photo, which is normal for natural material; if exact colours matter to you, say so when you order.

Before you pay: a short checklist

Get the address right in the local format. In Russia that means city, street, building number, plus the building section (korpus) or entrance if there is one, the flat number and the floor. Large apartment blocks often have several entrances and a door code; if you know the code, add it to the order comment. A mistake in a single digit can cost an hour of the courier's time.

Always include the recipient's phone number. The courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival, which is the simplest way to make sure someone opens the door. If you want the bouquet to be a complete surprise, you can still give the number; the courier simply says a delivery is on its way without spoiling who it is from.

Decide on the card text before you open the order form. A card with your text is free, and it is the only part of the gift that speaks in your voice, so it deserves a minute of thought. Check that the payment method works from your country: on our site you can pay online by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay. Finally, read the delivery and payment page once, so there are no surprises about remote districts, where the operator confirms the delivery price when confirming the order.

Bouquets we can deliver

Bouquet of 1 yellow sunflowers

$12

Bouquet of 3 red gerberas

$20

Bouquet of 3 white matthiola

$22

Bouquet of 3 pink matthiola

$22

Time zones and timing the surprise

Russia spans eleven time zones, and this catches out many senders. Moscow and St Petersburg are on one time, Yekaterinburg is two hours ahead of Moscow, Novosibirsk four, Vladivostok seven. When you choose a delivery time, always think in the recipient's local time, not your own; otherwise a bouquet meant for breakfast can arrive in the middle of the night or after the birthday dinner is over.

You can choose an exact time (plus or minus 30 minutes) or one of the time windows: 09-12, 12-15, 15-18 or 18-21. For birthdays, the morning window is a classic: the flowers set the tone for the day. For an office delivery, late morning is safest, after people have arrived and before lunch meetings. For an evening celebration, ask for the bouquet a couple of hours before guests come, so it has time to stand in water.

If the date matters, do not leave it to the last day. You can pre-order 1 to 30 days ahead, which is the calm option for anniversaries, March 8 and New Year, when demand peaks. If you remember on the day itself, express delivery in large cities still makes it possible within 1-2 hours after confirmation.

Choosing flowers that read well across cultures

Flower etiquette in Russia has a few rules that differ from Western Europe or North America, and following them shows care. Bouquets for happy occasions traditionally have an odd number of stems; even numbers are associated with funerals and remembrance. In large bouquets of 15 stems or more, this rule is relaxed, but for a small bouquet of roses, choose 5, 7 or 9.

Colour carries meaning too. Red roses say love and passion and are best kept for a partner. For a mother, a grandmother or a teacher, soft pinks, creams, peach tones or mixed seasonal bouquets feel warmer and more appropriate. Yellow flowers have mostly shed their old association with parting, but some older relatives still notice it, so if in doubt, combine yellow with other colours. White chrysanthemums and carnations in even numbers are mourning flowers and should not be sent to celebrate.

If you are unsure, think about the recipient's home and habits. A compact bouquet is easier to place in a small flat; long-lasting varieties such as alstroemeria, chrysanthemums and spray roses suit people who will enjoy the flowers for a week. If you describe the person and the occasion to our manager, they can suggest a bouquet that fits.

Writing the card from far away

When you cannot hand the flowers over yourself, the card does the talking. Keep it to two or three lines: who it is for, what the occasion is, and a personal touch that only you could write, such as a shared memory, a nickname or a promise to visit. Long letters are better sent separately; a crowded card is hard to read and loses its warmth.

Think about the language. Many diaspora families write in Russian for parents and grandparents, even when they speak English at home. If you write in Latin letters, that is fine too, but keep the wording simple. Sign the card if you want to be recognised: delivery is anonymous by default, and the courier does not name the sender, so an unsigned card leaves the recipient guessing, which is charming for a secret admirer and confusing for a grandmother.

On delivery day: staying in control from abroad

The most stressful moment for senders abroad is the hour of delivery, when you cannot see what is happening. The easiest way to stay in the loop is to agree everything with a manager on WhatsApp: they help choose the bouquet, confirm the time, address and card text, and can send you a photo of the bouquet before it leaves.

If the recipient is not at home, the flowers are not left on a doorstep. We agree a second delivery the same day, or hand the bouquet to a neighbour or concierge, but only with your consent. City delivery costs 500 RUB; for remote districts and suburbs, the operator confirms the price when confirming the order. Smaller towns have their own details, and our guides to towns such as Pereslavl-Zalessky show what to expect outside the big cities.