How to Send Flowers to Russia: the Way That Works Best
The best way to send flowers to Russia is to order from a Russian flower shop that makes the bouquet and delivers it itself, pay online with a card that works from abroad, and give the courier a full address with the recipient's phone number. This avoids international middlemen, keeps the bouquet true to the photo and lets you choose an exact delivery time in the recipient's own city.
We have run flower shops in Saint Petersburg since 2011, and a large share of our orders come from customers abroad. The same handful of questions come up every week: will my card work, what time will it arrive, what if nobody is home, what should I write. This article answers them in the order customers usually ask, with the practical detail you need to place the order with confidence.
Paying from abroad: the first thing customers ask
Payment is the most common worry, and for good reason: many Russian sites do not accept cards issued outside Russia. At Pyat Tsvetov foreign bank cards are accepted, with payment processed via Robokassa. Customers inside Russia can also pay online by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay. All payment happens on the site, so you do not need a Russian account or a relative to pay on your behalf.
The delivery price is simple to plan. City delivery costs 500 RUB. For remote districts and suburbs, the operator confirms the price when confirming the order, so you see the full cost before the bouquet goes out. If the address is outside a city centre, mention it clearly in the order so the operator can check it quickly.
One practical tip: place the order from the same device and browser you will use to pay, and keep your phone at hand in case your bank asks you to confirm an international payment. Banks abroad sometimes flag a first payment to a Russian site, and approving it in your banking app usually solves it in a minute.
Getting the address right the first time
A Russian address runs from large to small: city, street, house number, then korpus or stroenie if the building has one, then the flat. Apartment blocks in Saint Petersburg and other big cities often have several entrances with separate door codes, so add the entrance number, the floor and the intercom code whenever you can. These details save more time than anything else you can write.
The recipient's phone number is essential. Our courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival, and that call solves most problems with codes, gates and courtyards. If the recipient is not home, we agree a second delivery the same day or, with your consent, hand the flowers to a neighbour or concierge.
If the bouquet is a surprise, you can still give the number without worry. Delivery is anonymous by default, and the courier does not name the sender. The recipient learns who sent the flowers only from the card, and the card with your text is free.
Bouquets we can deliver
Choosing the delivery time across time zones
Customers abroad often set the time in their own zone by mistake. Russia stretches across eleven time zones, and even Saint Petersburg and Moscow may be several hours ahead of or behind you. Always choose the time as the recipient will see it on their clock.
In large cities we offer express delivery 1-2 hours after the order is confirmed, which helps when a birthday has slipped your mind. You can also choose an exact time with a margin of plus or minus 30 minutes, a window of 09-12, 12-15, 15-18 or 18-21, or pre-order 1-30 days ahead. In Saint Petersburg delivery runs around the clock, so a bouquet can arrive at midnight on a birthday or early in the morning before work.
Holidays need early planning. 8 March, 14 February and 1 September are the busiest flower days in Russia, and New Year has its own rhythm, with Orthodox Christmas following on 7 January. Our article on New Year's Eve vs Orthodox Christmas explains which date suits which recipient; for all of them, pre-ordering a week or two ahead is the calmest approach.
Flowers that survive the Russian winter
From November to March, the weather decides more than taste does. Between the courier's car and the recipient's door a bouquet may spend a minute or two at minus ten or colder, and some flowers do not forgive that. Roses, chrysanthemums, carnations, alstroemeria and eucalyptus hold up well; hydrangeas, gerberas with thin stems and early tulips are more fragile and need careful wrapping.
In winter we advise customers to choose denser arrangements over airy ones in the coldest months. A compact bouquet keeps warmth better and looks fresh for longer once it is in a vase. Our guide to the best flowers for Russian winter delivery lists the varieties we trust most.
Ask the recipient to unwrap the flowers within a few minutes of arrival, trim the stems by one or two centimetres at an angle and put them in cool water away from radiators. Russian flats are heated strongly in winter, and a bouquet placed next to a radiator will fade twice as fast as one standing by a cooler window.
Matching the bouquet to the occasion and the person
Russians give flowers for far more occasions than many senders expect: birthdays, anniversaries, name days, graduations, the first day of school, a new job, a hospital discharge and a housewarming. For a housewarming, a potted plant or a bright, long-lasting bouquet is a good choice, and our notes on Russian housewarming customs explain what else to keep in mind.
For a partner, roses remain the safe classic, with red for passion and pale tones for tenderness. For a mother or grandmother, chrysanthemums, alstroemeria and soft pink or white mixes are widely loved. For a colleague, choose something neutral and elegant, such as a medium mixed bouquet in calm colours, rather than red roses, which in Russia are read as romantic.
Two etiquette rules matter everywhere. A small bouquet for a living person always has an odd number of stems, because even numbers belong to funerals. And yellow flowers still carry an old association with separation for some older people, so for grandparents it is wiser to choose another colour. When you are unsure, browse the catalogue by occasion rather than by flower.
Placing the order step by step
Choose the bouquet on the site, enter the recipient's name, full address and phone number, then pick the delivery date and time in the recipient's local time. Type your card message in the card field; it is printed and delivered with the flowers at no charge. Add any notes for the courier, such as the entrance, floor and door code, in the delivery comment.
Pay online by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay, or with a foreign bank card through Robokassa. Once the order is confirmed, the bouquet is made and delivered on the date you chose; for remote addresses, the operator confirms the delivery price at this stage. Full conditions are on the delivery page.
If you have a question the site does not answer, such as an unusual address, a hospital delivery or a specific flower you are looking for, call us on 8 (812) 507-67-05. Our three shops in Saint Petersburg, on Ilyushina Street, Obvodny Canal Embankment and Srednerogatskaya Street, have been taking such orders since 2011, and we would rather spend two minutes on the phone than deliver a bouquet that misses the mark.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay for flowers in Russia with a foreign card?
Yes. At Pyat Tsvetov foreign bank cards are accepted, with payment processed via Robokassa. Customers in Russia can also pay by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay.
How much does flower delivery in Russia cost?
City delivery costs 500 RUB. For remote districts and suburbs, the operator confirms the price when confirming the order.
How quickly can flowers arrive?
In large cities express delivery takes 1-2 hours after the order is confirmed. You can also choose an exact time, a three-hour window or pre-order up to 30 days ahead, and in Saint Petersburg delivery runs around the clock.
What if the recipient is not at home?
The courier calls about 15 minutes before arrival. If the recipient is out, we agree a second delivery the same day or, with your consent, leave the flowers with a neighbour or concierge.
Can I send flowers to Russia anonymously?
Yes, delivery is anonymous by default and the courier does not name the sender. Just leave your name off the free card.
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