How to send flowers to Russia from another country
6 min read
Sending flowers into Russia from abroad sounds complicated and mostly is not. The one thing worth understanding before you order is that nothing is shipped across a border. No bouquet flies from London to Kazan. A florist inside the recipient's own city makes it on the day of delivery, and a local courier carries it across town. Your money crosses the border; the flowers never do.
What actually happens after you press order
- You choose the recipient's city and a bouquet. Prices are shown in roubles with a dollar and euro equivalent at the central bank rate.
- The order goes to a florist working in that city. For Saint Petersburg that is our own shop; in other cities it is a partner florist we work with regularly.
- The florist assembles the bouquet the same day — this is why seasonal availability matters more than the photo on the site.
- A courier delivers it, usually within one to two hours of confirmation in larger cities.
- We send you a photo before or at handover, so you see what was actually given.
What you need to know about the recipient
A name and a mobile phone number are enough to start. A full address is better, but Russian couriers routinely work from a phone number alone: they call, agree a time, and meet the person at a convenient point. If you want a surprise and do not want the recipient called in advance, say so in the order comment — we will keep the call to the last minute instead.
Flats in Russian buildings often sit behind an intercom and a code. If you know the entrance number or the code, add it. If you do not, it is not fatal; it just costs the courier a few minutes.
Timing across eleven time zones
Russia spans eleven time zones. When it is 9 in the morning in London it is midday in Moscow and evening in Vladivostok. An order placed in the American evening lands in the Russian night, and the florist starts on it the next morning. If the date matters — a birthday, an anniversary — order a day ahead and name the date. Same-day is normal, but only inside the recipient's working day, not yours.
How much to spend without looking odd
A bouquet that reads as generous in Russia is usually smaller and cheaper than its equivalent in Western Europe or the United States. Flowers are an ordinary, frequent gift there, not a special-occasion extravagance, and a well-made mixed bouquet of seasonal flowers is respected more than a large uniform bunch. Spending very heavily is not rude, but it can read as formal or business-like rather than warm.
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The one mistake foreigners make most
Sending an even number of flowers. In Russia an even count belongs at a funeral; a gift to a living person is always odd — three, five, seven, nine. Above roughly eleven stems people stop counting and it no longer matters, but below that the rule is absolute and everyone notices. We cover it properly in Russian flower etiquette.
Paying from abroad
This is the part that changed after 2022 and the part worth asking about rather than assuming. Cards issued outside Russia do not work with Russian payment providers the way they used to. If your card is refused, write to us on WhatsApp or Telegram before trying again — we will tell you which payment routes are currently working, and we will not take an order we cannot actually deliver.
Frequently asked questions
Do the flowers cross the border?
No. A florist in the recipient's own city makes the bouquet on the day of delivery and a local courier brings it. Only the order and the payment cross the border.
How fast can it be delivered?
In cities of any size, usually one to two hours after the order is confirmed, within the recipient's working day. In small towns it can be the same day or the next morning, depending on the courier's route.
Do I need the exact address?
It helps, but a name and a working mobile number are enough. The courier calls and agrees a place and time with the recipient.
Can I keep it a surprise?
Yes. Say so in the order comment and the courier will call only when already nearby, rather than in advance.
What if nobody answers the phone?
The courier tries again and we contact you. The bouquet is kept in cool conditions and delivered later the same day or the next morning; it is not simply left at a door.
Ready to send a bouquet?
Pick a city, choose the flowers, and we will hand them over with a photo confirmation.
Choose a city →