How to ship flowers internationally
To ship flowers internationally with Pyat Tsvetov (5 Flowers), choose a bouquet for the recipient’s destination and enter their delivery details when ordering. We deliver across Russia and abroad to eight countries and more than 60 cities; check the destination before choosing flowers. For orders abroad, the displayed price is in rubles and already includes delivery.
Customers in our Saint Petersburg shops often need help with the same practical details: choosing an appropriate bouquet, arranging delivery around someone’s day and making the sender clear from another country. We have been working since 2011 and have three flower shops in Saint Petersburg. This guide explains what to prepare, how Russian and overseas delivery terms differ, and how to help the flowers last after arrival.
Check the destination before choosing a bouquet
Start with the recipient’s country and city, rather than a bouquet you have already selected. Our Flower delivery abroad page lists all supported overseas destinations and is in Russian. These include cities in Kazakhstan, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Armenia, Spain, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan. Open the relevant country or city page to see the bouquets offered for that destination.
For a recipient in Russia, use the Bouquets catalogue and prepare their full delivery address. City delivery costs 500 RUB; for remote districts and suburbs, the operator confirms the delivery price when confirming the order. Do not apply that city fee to an order abroad. Overseas bouquet prices already include delivery, so compare the price shown on the destination page.
Keep the recipient’s city, street, building and flat or office details together before starting checkout. Add entrance information if it will help the courier find the correct door, and check the recipient’s telephone number carefully. For a workplace, include the organisation’s name where relevant. A complete address is especially useful when you are arranging a gift from abroad and cannot explain the location in person.
Choose flowers for the person and the occasion
The most useful starting point is the recipient’s taste: colours they wear, flowers they buy for themselves or a style you have seen in their home. A soft, loosely arranged bouquet and a compact, brightly coloured one can express very different moods. If you have no clear preference to follow, choose a balanced arrangement suited to the occasion. Size alone does not make a gift more thoughtful.
In Russia, an odd number of flowers is customary for a celebratory gift when individual stems are counted; even numbers are associated with mourning. This matters most with a simple bouquet of clearly countable stems. Colour meanings are less fixed, so avoid treating any colour as a universal message. Red roses often suggest romance, while the card can make the intended tone clearer for a friend, relative or colleague.
Think about where the flowers will go after delivery. A large bouquet needs a suitable vase and enough space, which may be inconvenient on a crowded desk or during a busy working day. If the recipient is sensitive to fragrance, pay attention to the flowers listed in the bouquet description and avoid strongly scented choices. For a household with cats, avoid lilies because they are highly toxic to them.
Bouquets we can deliver
Plan delivery around the recipient’s day
When sending flowers to Russia from another time zone, work from the date and time at the delivery address. Check whether the recipient will be at home, at work or travelling during the intended period. A birthday surprise is easier to receive when it fits an ordinary part of their day. Avoid choosing an office address simply because you know it if the person may be working elsewhere.
In large Russian cities, express delivery is available in 1–2 hours after the order is confirmed. Other options are delivery at an exact time with a tolerance of plus or minus 30 minutes, or the windows 09–12, 12–15, 15–18 and 18–21. You can also pre-order 1–30 days ahead. Read the Delivery and payment information when deciding which arrangement suits the recipient.
These express and time-window conditions apply to Russian cities; they should not be assumed for destinations abroad. For an overseas order, use the information on the relevant country or city page and clarify any essential timing before relying on it. In Saint Petersburg, we deliver around the clock. For questions about an order or delivery arrangements, call 8 (812) 507-67-05.
Write a card that makes the distance feel smaller
A short, specific card usually says more than a long formal greeting. Mention the occasion, add one personal thought and sign your name if you want the recipient to know who sent the flowers. For example, a birthday message can recall something you look forward to doing together. Write in the language the recipient finds most comfortable, especially when a family shares more than one language.
Delivery is anonymous by default: the courier does not name the sender. A card with your text is free, so include your name there if the gift should be clearly identified. Do not rely on the recipient recognising the bouquet or guessing from the date. For a colleague or business contact, signing with your name and company can prevent an otherwise warm gesture from becoming confusing.
For delivery in Russia, the courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival, so allow for that contact when planning a surprise. If the recipient is absent, we agree a second delivery the same day or, with the sender’s consent, hand the flowers to a neighbour or concierge. Choose an address where the recipient can realistically receive the bouquet. If another person may accept it, make your wishes clear when arranging the order.
Place the order and check payment details
An order abroad follows the same basic steps as an order in Russia: choose a bouquet on the country or city page, enter the address and card text, and pay online in rubles. The overseas price is already converted to rubles and includes delivery. Review the destination and bouquet together before paying. A similar city name or an old saved address can send an otherwise carefully planned gift to the wrong place.
Online checkout uses CloudPayments. Check the payment options displayed at checkout, because acceptance of every foreign card cannot be promised. If you are ordering from outside Russia, review those options before making plans that depend on a particular card working. Keep the delivery information and final card text ready so that you can check the whole order together.
Before submitting, read through the recipient’s name, phone number, address, delivery date and message once more. Check that the date reflects the recipient’s location, especially if you are ordering late at night in your own country. For Russian express delivery, the 1–2 hour period starts after the order is confirmed. If a detail is unclear or needs discussion, call 8 (812) 507-67-05.
Help the bouquet stay fresh after arrival
Once the flowers arrive, the recipient should put them in a clean vase with fresh water as soon as practical. Remove wrapping that would sit in the water and take off leaves below the waterline. Recut the stem ends with a clean, sharp tool before arranging them. These simple steps reduce debris in the vase and help the stems take up water.
Place the bouquet away from radiators, direct sunlight and draughts from open windows or air-conditioning. Keep it away from ripening fruit, which releases ethylene that can shorten the life of some cut flowers. Check the water level daily, refresh the water regularly and remove fading flowers or fallen leaves. If flower food is supplied, follow its packet instructions rather than guessing the concentration.
If the flowers arrive in floral foam, keep the foam moist instead of treating the arrangement like a loose bouquet in a vase. Add water carefully so it reaches the foam without spilling over the container. The useful care advice depends on how the flowers are arranged, so look at the bouquet before taking it apart. You can pass these tips on after delivery without revealing the gift beforehand.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send flowers to Russia while I am abroad?
Yes, we deliver flowers across Russia, and you can place an order online with the recipient’s address and card text. Checkout uses CloudPayments; check the options displayed there for payment.
Which countries can I send flowers to outside Russia?
We deliver abroad to eight countries and more than 60 cities, including destinations in Kazakhstan, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Armenia, Spain, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan. The complete country and city list is on the Flower delivery abroad page.
Is international delivery included in the bouquet price?
For orders abroad, the price displayed on the country or city page is already converted to rubles and includes delivery. In Russia, city delivery costs 500 RUB, while the operator confirms the price for remote districts and suburbs.
How quickly can flowers be delivered in Russia?
Express delivery in large Russian cities takes 1–2 hours after the order is confirmed. Exact-time delivery with a tolerance of plus or minus 30 minutes, set time windows and pre-orders 1–30 days ahead are also available.
Will the recipient know who sent the flowers?
The courier does not name the sender because delivery is anonymous by default. Include your name in the free card text if you want the recipient to know the gift is from you.
Ready to send a bouquet?
Pick a city, choose the flowers, and we will hand them over with a photo confirmation.
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