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The best online flower delivery services for streamlining your gifting quest
Here’s what you need to know about opting for online flower delivery and the best places to shop this year
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Flower delivery has come on in leaps and bounds in the past five years. That means that it's never been easier to conjure up a gorgeous bouquet for a last-minute gift for her, a time-honoured Mother's Day present or a Valentine’s Day moment (even when it’s not Valentine’s Day). It also means you can't get away with using the petrol station as your go-to flower shop anymore.
Now, flower delivery services such as Bloom & Wild, Flowerbx and the best from Selfridges all offer delivery — in many instances for either next- or nominated-day — on beautiful and diverse flowers for almost every conceivable occasion, from red roses for an anniversary to chrysanthemums for a bereavement. Many of them now also allow for the building of hampers, giving you even more chance of putting together a gift that's better than any of her exes have managed to muster.
Chances are that flowers (yes, even letterbox flowers) are exactly the thing to soothe your mum-related gifting anxieties… whether you buy a bunch by itself, as part of a larger bundle, or as the beginning of a rolling subscription that’ll see cut flowers turn up at their front door at intervals.
Below, you’ll find a slate of the best letterbox flowers and delivery services operating in the UK. From M&S to haute florists coming out of London’s Selfridges, all are gifting hubs favoured by British GQ writers and editors, particularly when we’ve left buying a gift to the last conceivable minute. And if you're not so much a flower guy, fear not: we've listed some of our favourite bouquets from each outlet as suggestions.
SKIP TO: What are GQ's best online flower delivery services? | What should you look for when buying flowers | Does the size of the bouquet matter when you buy flowers online? | Are there any flower trends to be aware of at the moment? | Are boxed letterbox flowers OK? | How can you tell if online flowers are going to be fresh?
What are GQ's best online flower delivery services?
- Best online flower delivery service: Bloom & Wild, from £25 at bloomandwild.com
- Best flower subscription service: Arena Flowers, from £25 at arenaflowers.com
- Best luxury flower delivery service: Moyses Stevens, from £50 at selfridges.com
- Best letterbox flowers: Flowerbx, from £40 at flowerbx.com
- Best for red roses: _A_ppleyard, from £24.99 at appleyardflowers.com
- Best affordable flower delivery service: Marks & Spencer, from £25 at marksandspencer.com
What should you look for when buying flowers?
Following the same principles you do when buying something more expensive — a tattoo, perhaps, or new knitwear — can’t hurt when it comes to buying flowers, even though you probably won’t be spending anywhere near as much. What are those principles? Looking for a florist with an excellent reputation is your first port of call. Second up, it’ll pay to opt for somewhere with great customer reviews. Now you’re sure your giftee will receive a luxe bouquet, have a think about what types of flowers you’re going to buy. "There are lots of beautiful flowers around to rival traditional roses,” Rosebie Morton, founder of The Real Flower Company tells us. “Think about all the spring narcissi and gorgeous, mad-coloured tulips. One might even find sweet peas if the sun has been shining.”
Carnations, orchids and pink hydrangeas also make for a great romantic gesture, while sunflowers and daffodils connote friendship and lilies and chrysanthemums sympathy.
Does the size of the bouquet matter when you buy flowers online?
While nothing says how much someone means to you like an ostentatious arrangement delivered to one's desk or door, less can also often be more with flowers. “It's the composition and message within the flowers, not the size that counts,” says Morton. So, do your research and coyly find out which flowers, colours and scents do it for them.
Are there any flower trends to be aware of at the moment?
Aside from the obvious seasonality, Morton has witnessed one change that transcends the calendar year. “We’re seeing a great amount of interest for a return to nature and a more relaxed, wild approach to flower arrangements,” she says, also noting the ongoing increase in demand for British flowers in handcrafted poseys.
Are boxed letterbox flowers OK?
When you buy flowers online, some florists will offer the option to order either hand-picked, hand-delivered, hand-tied bouquets, or a letterbox bunch that's cheaper and sometimes more practical if you know the recipient won’t be home to receive them. “They’re definitely OK,” says Morton, “but they can be a bit restrictive because the flowers need to be quite strong and sturdy to withstand the travel and landing on the doormat! Delicate flowers, such as scented roses, may not enjoy this.”
How can you tell if online flowers are going to be fresh?
Online florists, like any other company, are only as good as their reputation. “Make sure that you buy from a company that prides itself on its quality, sustainability and provenance,” says Morton. “Preferably, buy from somewhere that grows their own. That way there’s a much higher chance that the flowers will be fresh.”