Paying for Flowers to Russia When You Want to Use PayPal
If you are looking to pay for a flower delivery in Russia with PayPal, the short answer is that it is not possible: PayPal stopped serving Russia in 2022, and Russian flower shops, including ours, cannot accept it. What does work is paying on our site with a foreign bank card, which is processed through Robokassa, or with a Russian card, SBP or Yandex Pay if you or a relative have one.
Customers who call our shops in Saint Petersburg from abroad usually ask three things: whether their Visa or Mastercard issued outside Russia will go through, whether the payment is safe, and what happens if something goes wrong with the delivery. Below we go through each of these, explain how to prepare before paying so the order goes smoothly, and add a few florist's notes on choosing a bouquet when you cannot see it in person.
Why PayPal is not an option for Russian deliveries
PayPal suspended its services in Russia in early 2022. Since then, Russian businesses cannot receive PayPal payments, and Russian residents cannot use PayPal accounts for domestic purchases. Any site that sells flowers for delivery inside Russia and shows a PayPal button is either not delivering itself or is routing the money through a third country, which makes refunds and support much harder to sort out.
For you as the sender, this means the choice is about which card or method you use, not about finding a workaround. Paying the business that actually delivers the flowers directly is the simplest path: if a question comes up about the time, the address or the card text, you are talking to the people who make and deliver the bouquet. We collected the common options and their pros and cons in paying for Russian flower delivery: PayPal, Wise and what works.
Paying with a foreign bank card
Foreign bank cards are accepted on our site through Robokassa, a Russian payment service. In practice, this is what most of our customers abroad use: a personal debit or credit card issued in Germany, Israel, the USA, Kazakhstan or elsewhere. You enter the card details on the payment page as you would in any online shop, and your bank may ask you to confirm the payment with a code or in its app.
Before paying, it helps to check two things with your bank. Some banks block payments to Russian merchants by default or flag them as unusual, and a quick look at your card settings or a message to your bank's support usually resolves this. It is also worth making sure that online and international payments are enabled on the card. If a payment is declined, nothing is charged, and you can try a different card.
Your bank will convert the amount from roubles into your card currency at its own rate, and some banks add a fee for foreign transactions. This depends entirely on your bank, so look at its terms if the exact amount on your statement matters to you.
Bouquets we can deliver
Other ways to pay: SBP, Yandex Pay and help from relatives
Besides cards, the site accepts SBP, the Russian fast payment system, and Yandex Pay. These are convenient if you have a Russian bank account or if a relative in Russia is happy to pay for you. A common arrangement among families is that the person abroad chooses the bouquet and writes the card text, and a sibling or friend in Russia completes the payment.
Whichever method you use, the order is the same: you choose the bouquet, enter the recipient's name, phone number and address, select the delivery time and write the card. The payment confirms the order. More details on accepted methods and delivery zones are on the delivery and payment page.
Choosing a bouquet you cannot see in person
Ordering from another country, you rely on photos, so pick a bouquet by its structure rather than by the exact shade on your screen. Roses, chrysanthemums, alstroemeria and lisianthus travel well and look close to the photo; peonies and tulips change a lot between bud and full bloom. If you know the recipient's favourite colour, choose a bouquet where that colour dominates rather than one where it is a small accent.
Think about the number of stems as well. In Russia an odd number of flowers is given to living people in bouquets under about a dozen stems, while even numbers are used at funerals. Older relatives notice this, so a bouquet of 7, 9 or 11 roses is safer than 10. Finally, think about the recipient's home: a hatbox arrangement in floral foam needs no vase, which is practical for elderly parents or a hospital visit.
A checklist before you pay from abroad
Most problems with orders from abroad have nothing to do with payment itself; they come from missing details. Have the recipient's full name and a Russian mobile number ready, since the courier calls about 15 minutes before arrival and needs someone to answer. Write the address with the entrance number, floor, flat number and door code if there is one: Saint Petersburg courtyards and old buildings with several entrances are easy to get lost in, and a code saves time at the door.
Think about time zones. Saint Petersburg is on Moscow time, which may be many hours ahead of or behind you, so choose the delivery window in local time, not yours. For a morning surprise, the 09-12 window works well; for someone who works office hours, 18-21 is safer. If the date matters, such as a birthday or 8 March, order a few days in advance rather than on the day itself, when demand is highest.
Prepare the card text before you start checkout. Many senders write in Russian for older relatives and in English for friends; either is fine, and a short, personal line reads better than a long one. Keep a screenshot of the order confirmation and the payment receipt from your bank, in case you need to call us with a question about the order.
Delivery times, anonymity and what happens at the door
We are Pyat Tsvetov, with three of our own flower shops in Saint Petersburg since 2011, and we deliver across Russia. In Saint Petersburg delivery is around the clock. In large cities express delivery takes 1-2 hours after the order is confirmed; you can also pick an exact time within about 30 minutes, a window such as 12-15 or 15-18, or pre-order 1-30 days ahead, which is useful for birthdays and 8 March. City delivery costs 500 RUB; for suburbs and remote districts the operator confirms the price when confirming the order.
Delivery is anonymous by default: the courier does not name the sender. A card with your text is free, so you decide whether to sign it. The courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival. If nobody answers or the recipient is out, we agree a second delivery the same day, or, with your consent, leave the flowers with a neighbour or concierge.
If you have questions about payment from abroad or about a specific order, call us on 8 (812) 507-67-05. You can browse bouquets in the catalogue and place the order online whenever it suits your time zone.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay for flowers to Russia with PayPal?
No. PayPal does not operate in Russia, so Russian flower shops cannot accept it. Use a foreign bank card on our site instead; it is processed through Robokassa.
Will my foreign Visa or Mastercard work?
Foreign bank cards are accepted through Robokassa. Some banks block payments to Russian merchants by default, so if the payment is declined, check your card settings or contact your bank.
Is there an extra fee for paying from abroad?
Your own bank may charge a foreign transaction fee and converts the amount at its own rate. Check your bank's terms if the exact figure matters.
Can a relative in Russia pay for my order?
Yes. They can pay with a Russian card, SBP or Yandex Pay while you choose the bouquet and write the card text.
How quickly can flowers be delivered after payment?
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 up to 30 days ahead.
Ready to send a bouquet?
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