How to Order Flower Delivery to Russia from the USA
You can order flowers from the USA for delivery anywhere in Russia online: choose a bouquet on our site, enter the recipient's address and phone number, write the card text and pay with your American bank card, since foreign cards are accepted via Robokassa. City delivery costs 500 RUB, and in large cities a bouquet can arrive 1-2 hours after the order is confirmed, at an exact time, or on a date up to 30 days ahead.
Pyat Tsvetov has run flower shops in Saint Petersburg since 2011, and orders from the United States are a regular part of our day. The questions American customers ask by phone are remarkably consistent: will my card work, what time will it arrive, what do Russians expect from a bouquet. Here are the answers our florists give.
Paying from the USA
The question we hear first is about payment. Foreign bank cards are accepted on our site, and the payment is processed via Robokassa. The price is shown in rubles; your bank converts the amount to dollars at its own rate, so the figure on your statement may differ slightly from a currency calculator. If your card has protection against foreign transactions, approve the charge in your banking app when prompted.
Other payment options on the site are bank card, SBP and Yandex Pay. SBP and Yandex Pay are convenient if a relative in Russia wants to pay for you, for example when you choose the bouquet and your sister completes the payment.
City delivery costs 500 RUB. For remote districts and suburbs, the operator confirms the delivery price when confirming the order. The conditions for each option are on the delivery and payment page.
Working across the time difference
Moscow and Saint Petersburg are seven hours ahead of New York and ten hours ahead of Los Angeles. Siberia and the Far East are further ahead still: Novosibirsk is four hours ahead of Moscow, Vladivostok seven. When you order in the evening on the East Coast, it is already the middle of the night in Russia, and 'tomorrow morning' for the recipient begins within a few hours.
The easiest solution is to pre-order. You can book delivery 1-30 days ahead and choose a time window of 09-12, 12-15, 15-18 or 18-21, or an exact time within plus or minus 30 minutes. For a birthday, many customers choose the 09-12 window so the bouquet arrives before the recipient leaves for work. Our article on how far ahead to order flowers in Russia covers holidays and busy dates in more detail.
If you remember a date at the last minute, express delivery in large cities takes 1-2 hours after the order is confirmed. In Saint Petersburg we deliver around the clock, so an order placed during your American afternoon can still reach someone in the city in the middle of their night, if that is what you want.
Bouquets we can deliver
Getting the address right
Most delivery problems with orders from abroad come from the address, not the flowers. Russian addresses include the city, street, building number, sometimes a building section (korpus or stroenie), the entrance (podezd), floor and flat number. Write all of them, and add the door code if you know it. Large residential complexes in Saint Petersburg and Moscow can have a dozen entrances on one street number.
Give us a phone number that the recipient actually answers. The courier calls about 15 minutes before arrival, so the person can come to the door or meet the courier downstairs. If the recipient is not there, we agree a second delivery the same day or, with your consent, leave the flowers with a neighbour or concierge. If you are planning a surprise and cannot ask the recipient directly, our guide on confirming a recipient's address suggests tactful ways to check the details.
Delivery is anonymous by default: the courier does not name the sender. This is ideal for a surprise, but it means the card is your signature. The card with your text is free; write your name, or a nickname the recipient will recognise, especially if relatives in Russia know you by a Russian form of your name.
What Russians expect from a bouquet
American customers are often surprised by a few Russian customs. Small and medium bouquets should have an odd number of stems; even numbers are for funerals. Bouquets in Russia are usually handed over beautifully wrapped, and recipients tend to expect that rather than a plain vase arrangement. Large bouquets of 25 stems or more are exempt from the odd-number rule.
Colour matters to the older generation. Many grandmothers still associate yellow flowers with separation, so for an older relative we suggest pink, white, cream or red. For a mother's birthday, roses, spray roses and eustoma are the most requested combination in our shops. For a colleague or a business contact, a restrained bouquet or a box arrangement looks more appropriate than a romantic dozen red roses.
Women in Russia receive flowers on more occasions than in the USA. The big dates are 8 March, International Women's Day, when demand is the highest of the year; 1 September, when children bring flowers to teachers; birthdays and name days; and Mother's Day at the end of November. If you have family in Russia, a bouquet on 8 March is noticed far more than one on Valentine's Day.
Choosing a bouquet you cannot see in person
Ordering flowers from another continent means trusting a photo. Start in our bouquets catalogue and read the description of each bouquet, not only the picture; a bouquet that fills the screen may be a compact posy in reality. If you are unsure about the scale, choose a bouquet one size larger than you think, because Russians tend to read a generous bouquet as a sign of respect.
Consider the season at the destination. In winter, temperatures in much of Russia stay below freezing for months, and the courier carries bouquets wrapped against the cold; dense roses and chrysanthemums handle the short walk from the car to the door best. In summer, peonies (late May to early July) and sunflowers are popular, while hydrangeas need a cool room and plenty of water.
For an elderly parent who lives alone, a box arrangement is often the kindest choice. It stands on a table without a vase and does not need daily water changes. For someone who loves to fuss over flowers, a classic hand-tied bouquet gives them the pleasure of cutting the stems and arranging it themselves. If you would like a florist's advice on a specific bouquet, call us on 8 (812) 507-67-05.
Helping the bouquet last
You will not be there to unwrap the flowers, so it helps to send a short message to the recipient with simple care tips. Cut 1-2 cm off the stems at an angle, remove leaves that would sit in water, and use a clean vase with cool water. Change the water every one or two days and trim the stems each time.
The vase should stand away from radiators, which in Russian flats are often very hot in winter, and away from direct sunlight and ripening fruit. With this care, roses and chrysanthemums usually last a week or more, and alstroemeria and spray roses often longer. A bouquet that stays fresh for ten days keeps your gift in sight long after the delivery call.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay with an American credit card?
Yes. Foreign bank cards are accepted on our site, with payment via Robokassa. The price is in rubles, and your bank converts it to dollars.
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 fast can flowers arrive if I order from the USA?
In large cities express delivery takes 1-2 hours after the order is confirmed. You can also choose an exact time, a time window or a date 1-30 days ahead.
Will the recipient know the flowers are from me?
Delivery is anonymous by default, so the courier does not name the sender. Sign the free card if you want the recipient to know.
Who do I contact with questions about my order?
Call us on 8 (812) 507-67-05. From the USA, dial +7 812 507-67-05.
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