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Guides · Spain

How to order flowers from a distance and plan delivery

For someone who lives far away I would start with a florist that can prepare and deliver the bouquet in their town. Then agree on the format and a date when they can receive it. Explain which detail matters and which changes you would accept if a flower is unavailable. This helps the gift keep your idea even when you cannot choose every stem in person.

Coral-orange gerbera against a dark green background
Colour and shape vary between cultivars. Use it as a visual reference rather than to identify a plant.

Choose how the gift will arrive

Ask whether it will arrive as an arranged bouquet, a display with a container or boxed stems the recipient will need to arrange. For someone without a vase I would choose a format with a container. Someone who enjoys arranging flowers may like stems to display in their own way. Check what the order includes because a photograph of the finished display does not explain how it arrives.

Start with something you know about the recipient. You could request gerberas if they enjoy a clear colour or show a lisianthus photograph for a different shape. The photo helps explain your preferences. Then ask for a description of the arrangement available for your date rather than assuming an identical result.

Agree on substitutions before paying

Separate what matters from what can change. You might want to keep purple tones and the size even if one species is replaced. If a flower has a personal connection explain that you would like to be consulted before it changes. Agree on how to reach you and what to do if you cannot reply in time.

Ask for a total including delivery and your chosen container. When ordering from another country check the currency of the charge too. A specific proposal is more useful than comparing stem counts alone. Keep the description and the terms you have accepted.

Plan the local date and receiving address

Use the date and time at the delivery destination. Include the town and postcode and check that the address is complete. Ask whether the service offers a particular time or a delivery window. If the recipient will be out you can agree on another time instead of leaving flowers waiting.

Before sending flowers to work check that they would enjoy receiving the gift there and that someone can meet the courier. Agree on what happens if nobody is available. Do not assume a reception desk or neighbour will accept flowers without checking. A delivery confirmation alone does not explain who received them or where they were left.

An example order when you cannot be there

You could say: “I would like to send a birthday bouquet. They like purple tones and have a small table. Please include lisianthus if available and a container. I would like to be consulted if that flower changes. Delivery should be in the afternoon using the destination’s local time. What can we agree on if they are not home?” Add a card in your own words and check how it will be signed.

Then confirm approximate dimensions, the full price and the accepted delivery window. If the provider cannot meet part of the request decide which alternative suits you before proceeding. These are questions to plan an order rather than a promise of services offered by every florist.

When the gift is going to another country

Ordering flowers to be prepared at the destination differs from carrying a bouquet across a border. To give flowers to someone in Argentina while you are in Spain you could find a service working in their town and confirm delivery directly. This avoids arranging international transport of the bouquet yourself.

To carry flowers in your luggage check the country’s and carrier’s conditions before buying them. For example, SENASA lists flowers and garden plants among prohibited products in its information for travellers to Argentina and asks visitors to check requirements. Do not apply that list to every destination or treat it as import permission. Check the celebration date in the recipient’s country too.

Help them enjoy the gift on arrival

Ask for instructions on removing packaging and caring for the chosen format. The RHS recommends clean vases and water and a position away from heat. If the gift has no container the recipient needs somewhere to put it when it arrives.

If they live with cats or dogs check the flowers and foliage in the whole arrangement before ordering. A substitution can change that choice. Our flowers and pets guide explains what to check without treating every mixed bouquet as safe. The card message guide also offers examples to help with your note.

Which flowers to choose

We suggest flowers that may suit each occasion. Where a custom is documented, we explain it separately. For a personal gift you can choose another flower if you know the recipient will like it more.

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep the surprise without risking delivery?

You can ask someone they trust to confirm availability without revealing the gift. If you cannot check this agree on a delivery alternative with the florist and make clear what should happen if nobody is there.

Should I request a bouquet photograph?

It may help if the provider offers it. Ask whether it will show your order or a style reference. A photograph does not replace the description of the format, dimensions and delivery terms.

What if delivery does not happen as agreed?

Keep the order confirmation and contact the provider to explain what happened. Ask where the flowers are and what solution they propose. Do not assume another delivery, a refund or a timescale you have not checked.

Sources and what they support

  • RHS · Acondicionamiento de flor cortada

    Recommends clean water, clean vases and a position away from heat for cut flowers. Supports care on arrival rather than any delivery company’s terms.

  • SENASA · Información para ingresar a Argentina

    Lists flowers and garden plants among prohibited products in its traveller information and asks travellers to check requirements before visiting. Applies to Argentina, not every country or commercial import authorisation.

How we put these guides together

We consult institutional sources to check dates and customs. For plant facts, we use horticultural sources. Our gift ideas start with each flower’s appearance and the recipient’s taste. A shop link documents a particular offer. It does not prove that a flower is popular or part of a tradition. We keep adding to this selection rather than claiming to cover every species.

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