What about lilies? A practical guide to choosing and sending them
Lilies make a striking gift when the recipient enjoys large flowers and has room for a bouquet that changes as its buds open. Before choosing them, check the recipient’s preference for fragrance and whether cats live in the home: true lilies are extremely toxic to cats. Choose another flower if there is a cat, and ask about the particular lily’s scent if strong fragrance would be unwelcome.
For a customer choosing lilies, the useful starting points are the recipient’s home, their taste and the occasion. At Pyat Tsvetov (5 Flowers), established in 2011 with three own flower shops in Saint Petersburg, we approach the choice through these practical details. A beautiful flower still needs to suit the place where it will stand. This guide explains what to consider before sending lilies, how to care for them and how to arrange delivery to someone in Russia.
Choose lilies by fragrance, shape and opening stage
Lilies vary considerably in fragrance, so the word “lily” alone does not tell you how strongly a bouquet will smell. Oriental lilies are commonly fragrant, while Asiatic lilies generally have little or no scent; hybrids can vary. If the recipient dislikes perfume, ask about the specific flowers being considered rather than relying on their colour or appearance. Our guide to lily varieties, scent levels and vase life explains these differences in more detail.
The opening stage matters as much as the flower’s appearance in a photograph. A bouquet with a mixture of open flowers and developed buds offers an immediate display while leaving something to unfold over the following days. Tight buds give less colour at first, and there is no reliable way to promise that every bud will open for a particular dinner or photograph. Describe the occasion and the desired effect when discussing your choice, especially if the flowers are intended for a table that evening.
Match the flowers to the person and the occasion
Lilies can suit birthdays, thank-you gifts and family celebrations, but their meaning depends on the recipient’s culture and personal associations. White lilies can suggest purity or remembrance and may feel formal or funeral-related to some people. Pink or brighter colours can create a more celebratory impression, although colour alone cannot settle the meaning of a gift. For someone whose preferences you do not know well, a clear card message helps explain the occasion without relying on flower symbolism.
Consider where the recipient will put the bouquet and how much attention they want to give it. Large lily blooms need space around them, so a crowded desk or a narrow dining table may be an awkward setting. Someone who enjoys watching buds develop may appreciate lilies more than a person who wants a compact arrangement with little daily attention. When sending across a language barrier, a short, personal message is often more useful than a formal statement about what each flower supposedly represents.
Bouquets we can deliver
Check cat safety and household preferences first
True lilies, including common bouquet lilies in the genus Lilium, are extremely toxic to cats; daylilies are dangerous to them too. Exposure can involve petals, leaves, pollen or water from the vase, so putting the bouquet on a high shelf is not a dependable precaution. Do not send these flowers to a home with cats, even if the recipient usually keeps flowers out of reach. If a cat may have contacted or swallowed any part of a lily, seek urgent veterinary advice without waiting for symptoms.
Fragrance is a separate consideration and deserves a direct check with the recipient or someone who knows their preferences. A strongly scented bouquet may be unwelcome in a bedroom, shared office or small room, particularly for someone sensitive to smells. Calla lilies are botanically different from true lilies, but the shared name should never be treated as evidence that a flower is safe for pets. If the household situation is uncertain, pause the lily choice and establish what will be suitable before ordering.
Prepare the vase and manage pollen carefully
Start with a thoroughly washed vase and fresh water, then remove any leaves that would sit below the waterline. Recut the stem ends with a clean, sharp tool before placing the flowers in water. If flower food is supplied, follow its instructions rather than adding an improvised mixture of sugar or household chemicals. Choose a vase that supports the stems without squeezing the blooms together, and leave room for the buds to open without pressing against a wall.
As a flower opens, its pollen-bearing anthers become accessible and can be gently removed before they shed loose pollen. Use a tissue and avoid brushing the anthers against petals, clothing or upholstery; removing them reduces staining but does not make lilies safe for cats. If dry pollen lands on fabric, avoid rubbing it or adding water immediately, which can spread the stain. Gently lift loose particles with sticky tape, then follow the fabric’s care instructions for any remaining mark.
Keep the bouquet fresh as individual flowers fade
Place lilies away from direct sunlight, radiators and draughts that dry the flowers. Check the water every day, replenish it as needed and change it if it becomes cloudy, washing the vase before refilling. Keep submerged foliage out of the water and remove fallen petals promptly. Vase life varies with the variety, the flowers’ condition and the room, so treat a stated number of days as a guide rather than a promise.
Individual flowers on a lily stem can fade at different times, so remove spent blooms carefully while leaving healthy buds and flowers in place. Avoid pulling petals or forcing closed buds open, as this can damage the developing flower. If you combine lilies with roses, keep the vase clean and reassess the arrangement as each stem ages; our guide to putting roses and lilies in the same vase covers the practical considerations. A bouquet usually looks better when tired material is removed than when every original flower is kept until the end.
Arrange a lily gift for someone in Russia
Start with the bouquets catalogue, then confirm the intended flower choice and any important fragrance preferences before completing your order. We deliver flowers across Russia, with city delivery costing 500 RUB; for remote districts and suburbs, the operator confirms the delivery price when confirming the order. Express delivery in large cities is 1–2 hours after order confirmation, and other scheduling options include an exact time within ±30 minutes or the windows 09–12, 12–15, 15–18 and 18–21. You can also pre-order 1–30 days ahead, and delivery in Saint Petersburg is available around the clock.
Use the recipient’s local date and time when planning a gift from abroad, and provide an address and contact details that let the courier reach them. The courier calls about 15 minutes before arrival; if the recipient is absent, we agree a second delivery that day or handover to a neighbour or concierge with the sender’s consent. Delivery is anonymous by default, meaning the courier does not name the sender, and a card with your text is free. Online checkout uses CloudPayments: check the payment options displayed there, consult delivery and payment information, or call 8 (812) 507-67-05 with questions.
Frequently asked questions
Are lilies a good choice for a birthday bouquet?
Yes, when the recipient likes their appearance and fragrance and has no cats at home. Choose the colour with their taste in mind and add a birthday message to make the occasion clear.
Do all lilies have a strong smell?
No. Oriental lilies are commonly fragrant, while Asiatic lilies generally have little or no scent, so ask about the particular variety if fragrance matters.
Does removing lily pollen make the bouquet safe for cats?
No, removing the anthers only helps reduce pollen staining. Other parts of true lilies and the vase water remain dangerous to cats, so choose different flowers for a home with cats.
Can I send lilies anonymously to someone in Russia?
Our delivery is anonymous by default: the courier does not name the sender. A card with your text is free, so you can decide whether to identify yourself in the message.
Can I pay for a flower order from abroad?
Online checkout uses CloudPayments; check the options displayed at checkout for your payment method. Acceptance of every foreign-issued card is not guaranteed.
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