What Kind of Flowers Should You Send?

The best kind of flowers depends on the recipient: roses suit a romantic gesture, tulips feel informal and cheerful, and chrysanthemums offer varied shapes for a fuller bouquet. Start with their favourite flower or colour, then consider the occasion, fragrance and where they will display the flowers.

If you are sending flowers to someone in Russia from abroad, the choice also involves etiquette and delivery details. An odd number of stems is customary for a celebratory gift, while even numbers are traditionally associated with mourning. A thoughtful choice does not need a complicated floral message: a suitable bouquet, a clear personal card and a well-agreed arrival time usually matter more.

Choose a flower type that suits the person

Roses are useful when you want a recognisable, deliberate gesture. Red roses commonly suggest romance, while pink or cream roses can suit thanks, affection or a birthday. Shape matters as much as colour: a tightly arranged rose bouquet feels more formal than an airy mixture. For a colleague or a new friendship, avoid a strongly romantic presentation unless that is your intention.

Tulips have a lighter, less ceremonial character and work well for a cheerful greeting or an informal thank-you. Their stems can continue to lengthen and bend after cutting, so a changing outline is normal. Carnations offer ruffled texture, while chrysanthemums range from small branching flowers to large focal blooms. Either can help you choose by shape rather than by symbolism alone.

Lilies bring large flowers and can have a noticeable scent, although fragrance varies by type. Ask about scent if the recipient dislikes perfume or will keep the bouquet beside a desk. Avoid lilies entirely in a home with cats: true lilies and daylilies are highly toxic to them. Browse the Bouquets catalogue for options, but let the recipient's preferences guide your shortlist.

Use colour and meaning without making the message ambiguous

Flower meanings are conventions, not a language everyone interprets identically. Red often reads as romantic; pink can express warmth or admiration; yellow can feel bright and friendly. Some recipients may associate yellow flowers with separation, so their own tastes matter more than a general colour guide. If you know they love yellow, that preference is a stronger reason to choose it.

For a birthday, choose a colour the person wears, uses at home or has mentioned liking. For congratulations, a lively mixture can make sense; for a quiet expression of support, a restrained palette may feel more appropriate. White flowers can look elegant in a celebration, but context matters because they also appear in sympathy arrangements. Explain the occasion when asking for help.

In Russia, an odd stem count is the customary choice for celebratory bouquets, particularly when the flowers are easy to count. Even numbers are traditionally reserved for funerals and remembrance. With a mixed bouquet containing branching stems, counting may be less obvious; tell the manager that it is a celebratory gift so the arrangement follows the intended etiquette.

Bouquets we can deliver

Bouquet of 1 yellow sunflowers

$13

Bouquet of 1 white lilies

$19

Bouquet of 1 pink lilies

$19

Bouquet of 3 gerberas mix

$21

Match the bouquet to the occasion and setting

For a partner, begin with what they enjoy rather than assuming that only red roses will do. A favourite flower can feel more personal than a conventional romantic choice. For a parent, friend or relative, use the card to name the reason for the gift: a birthday wish, thanks for their help or a simple message that you are thinking of them from abroad.

For a colleague or professional contact, keep the message warm and clear, with no wording that could suggest an unintended romantic interest. Think about the setting, too. A substantial bouquet may suit a home celebration, while someone receiving flowers at work may need to carry them home. Consider whether the recipient has room for a vase and a safe place to display the flowers.

When someone is unwell, consider fragrance, available space and any restrictions at the place where they are staying. Check whether a hospital or care facility permits flowers before arranging delivery there. For sympathy, establish whether you are sending comfort to the family or flowers for a funeral; those are different occasions, and Russian stem-count etiquette makes that distinction especially relevant.

Consider care needs before choosing

If the recipient enjoys arranging flowers, a bouquet with blooms at different stages of opening can give them something to watch and adjust. If they prefer minimal fuss, ask about flowers that suit a simple vase arrangement. No cut bouquet is maintenance-free, and vase life depends on the flower type, its condition and the room, so a fixed number of days is not a useful promise.

Once the flowers arrive, use a clean vase and fresh water. Remove any leaves that would sit below the waterline, then recut the stem ends with a clean, sharp tool before placing them in water. If flower food is provided, follow its directions rather than guessing the dose. Check the water daily, replenish it as needed and clean the vase when changing cloudy water.

Keep the bouquet away from radiators, strong direct sunlight and ripening fruit. Remove faded blooms and any foliage that drops into the water. Tulips may curve towards the light, while lilies can open gradually; these changes do not necessarily mean the bouquet is deteriorating. If you have cats, choose flowers only after checking their safety, and keep all floral materials out of pets' reach.

Plan the arrival around the recipient's day

Choose a delivery time when the recipient is likely to be at the address, especially if you are organising the gift from another country. Check the time difference before suggesting an arrival time and state the intended date clearly. A birthday delivery to a workplace needs a different plan from flowers sent to someone who will be out celebrating for much of the day.

Turboflora delivers flowers across Russia. In large cities, express delivery is available in 1–2 hours after the order is confirmed. You can also arrange delivery at an exact time with a tolerance of plus or minus 30 minutes, choose a window of 09–12, 12–15, 15–18 or 18–21, or pre-order 1–30 days ahead. Read the Delivery and payment information when planning your order.

The courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival, so provide a phone number they can answer. If the recipient is absent, we agree a second delivery the same day or, with the sender's consent, hand the flowers to a neighbour or concierge. City delivery costs 500 RUB; for remote districts and suburbs, the operator confirms the price when confirming the order.

Order flowers to Russia with a clear personal message

Start with the occasion, the recipient's preferred colours and any important constraints, such as avoiding lilies or strong fragrance. Then prepare the delivery address, recipient's phone number, intended date and card text. If you are unsure which bouquet fits, contact a manager on WhatsApp for help choosing and agreeing the time, address and message; you can also arrange a photo of the bouquet before delivery.

Delivery is anonymous by default: the courier does not name the sender. A card with your text is free, so include your name in that text if you want the recipient to know who sent the flowers. Keep the message specific and easy to understand. A sentence such as “Happy birthday, Mum. Thinking of you and sending love from London — Anna” explains both the occasion and the sender.

Online checkout uses CloudPayments. Check the payment options displayed at checkout; acceptance of every foreign card is not guaranteed. Before completing the order, review the recipient's details and your message carefully. When ordering from abroad, make sure the agreed delivery time refers to the recipient's city, so your intended greeting arrives on the right day.