The Bouquet as a Product: What Is Inside, What It Is Worth, How Long It Lasts
A bouquet as a product is a finished arrangement of cut flowers and greenery, conditioned, cut to height, wrapped or set in a box or basket, and handed over with a card. When you order one online you are buying three things at once: the flowers themselves, the florist's work of building and conditioning them, and delivery to the door at an agreed time. Knowing how each part works helps you choose a bouquet that looks like the photo and lasts.
In our Saint Petersburg shops, open since 2011, customers ask the same questions again and again: how many stems are really in it, will it look the same as on the site, which format stays fresh longest, and what happens if the recipient is out. This guide answers those questions the way we answer them at the counter.
What a finished bouquet is made of
Every bouquet has a structure. There are focal flowers, usually roses, peonies, chrysanthemums or lilies, that carry the look; secondary flowers such as spray roses, eustoma or alstroemeria that fill the gaps and add movement; and greenery like eucalyptus, pistachio or ruscus that frames everything and makes the bouquet look natural rather than packed. A good florist balances these so the bouquet has depth from every side.
Before a flower goes into a bouquet it is conditioned: stems are cleaned of lower leaves and thorns, recut under water and left to drink in cool storage for several hours. This step decides much of the vase life. A rose that was put into a bouquet straight from transport will often droop on the second day, while a properly conditioned one opens slowly over a week.
The final parts are the tie point, where stems are bound in a spiral so they spread evenly in a vase, the wrapping or container, and the card. In a hand-tied bouquet the spiral binding matters more than people think, because it lets you put the bouquet straight into a vase without untying it.
How to read a bouquet listing
A product page should tell you the composition: which flowers, how many stems, and roughly how tall and wide the finished bouquet is. Stem count is the most reliable number. Height in centimetres is useful for roses, where 40, 50, 60 and 70 cm stems look very different in a room, and width tells you whether the bouquet suits a small flat or a large table.
The photo shows a typical example, not a cloned copy. Natural flowers vary in head size and shade from batch to batch, and seasonal stems like peonies or ranunculus change in colour through the season. When a specific variety is unavailable, a florist replaces it with a flower of the same colour and similar size so the overall look stays the same. If the exact shade matters to you, it is worth calling before ordering.
Look at the season, too. A bouquet built around ranunculus or peonies is at its best when those flowers are in season, while roses, chrysanthemums and carnations are stable all year. Choosing seasonal flowers usually gives you a fresher product.
Bouquets we can deliver
Formats: hand-tied, box, basket
A hand-tied bouquet in paper or film is the classic format. It looks generous, travels well, and goes into a vase in a minute. Its weakness is that the recipient needs a vase of the right size; a tall rose bouquet in a short jug falls apart. Our guide on choosing a vase shape explains which shapes suit which bouquets.
A box or basket arrangement is built in wet floral foam. The recipient does not need a vase, which makes it good for offices, hospitals, older relatives and anyone who might not have time to deal with flowers that day. Foam arrangements are watered by pouring a little water onto the foam every day or two; they last well but cannot be recut, so they usually do not outlive a well-kept hand-tied bouquet.
Mono bouquets of one flower type, such as 25 or 51 roses, are the easiest to judge as a product because you know exactly what you are getting. Mixed bouquets are more about the florist's eye: they look richer for the same budget and are better when you want the gift to feel personal rather than formal.
Freshness and vase life: what to expect
Vase life depends on the flower. Chrysanthemums, carnations and alstroemeria often last two weeks; roses and eustoma about a week; tulips five to seven days; peonies and ranunculus a few days at full bloom. A mixed bouquet ages unevenly, and removing the first flowers that fade keeps the rest looking good for longer.
Most of the vase life depends on what happens at home. Recut stems by 1-2 cm, use clean water and flower food, change the water every two days and keep the vase away from radiators and direct sun. A clean vase matters more than people expect, because bacteria from the previous bouquet block the stems; see how to clean a vase between bouquets.
If the bouquet arrives in the evening and needs to wait, it can stay overnight in a cool room in water. Warm, dry air in heated flats is the main thing that shortens vase life in Saint Petersburg from October to April.
Delivery is part of the product
When you order flowers you are also buying the handover. We deliver across Russia. City delivery costs 500 RUB; for remote districts and suburbs the operator confirms the price when confirming the order. In large cities express delivery takes 1-2 hours after the order is confirmed, or you can choose an exact time within about 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 is around the clock.
The courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival. If nobody is at home, we agree a second delivery the same day or, with the sender's consent, leave the flowers with a neighbour or concierge. Delivery is anonymous by default, and a card with your own text is free, so you decide whether to sign it.
You can pay on the site by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay, and foreign bank cards are accepted through Robokassa, which is important if you are ordering from abroad. The full terms are on the delivery and payment page.
Choosing the right bouquet for the occasion
For a birthday or anniversary, pick a bouquet sized to the room it will stand in, and an odd number of stems if it is a small mono bouquet, as even numbers are for funerals in Russia. For a business gift, a box or a restrained mono bouquet is safer than a lush romantic mix. For someone in hospital, check the ward rules first; many do not allow strongly scented lilies.
If you are not sure, describe the recipient and the occasion and let the florist build the composition; that is often how the best bouquets happen. You can browse the bouquets catalogue and call us on 8 (812) 507-67-05 with any questions about composition, size or timing.
Frequently asked questions
What is included in a bouquet product?
The flowers and greenery, the florist's conditioning and arranging work, the wrapping or container and a free card with your text. Delivery is charged separately; within the city it costs 500 RUB.
Will the bouquet look exactly like the photo?
It will match the composition, colour scheme and size, but natural flowers vary from batch to batch. If a variety is unavailable, it is replaced with a similar flower of the same colour.
Which bouquet format lasts longest?
A well-kept hand-tied bouquet in a vase usually lasts longest because the stems can be recut. Box and basket arrangements in floral foam are more convenient but cannot be recut.
Can I pay with a foreign bank card?
Yes. Foreign bank cards are accepted through Robokassa, and you can also pay by Russian bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay.
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