The Best Flower Delivery Service

Finding the Best Services

We’ve all been there: An anniversary creeps up on you or your sister-in-law has a new baby, and you need to send some flowers—stat. To help you find beautiful arrangements that last, the Good Housekeeping Research Institute evaluated bouquets from “direct from grower” flower delivery services. These services claim to offer fresher and longer-lasting blooms than those ordered from the local flower shop.

Testing the Flowers

We tested each service by ordering a dozen mixed flowers and then asking volunteers and a professional florist to inspect them. The blooms then went to the Institute’s climatology chamber, where they were kept at a temperature of 70 degrees F with 55 percent humidity, to simulate an average late spring day. (Flowers lasted about a week.)

The Winning Service

The winning service was Flowerbud.com. Its bouquet was both the favorite upon arrival and once it fully bloomed. Plus, the company’s phone reps answered our customer questions more thoroughly and efficiently than some of the other services in our test.

One caveat: Make sure you read all the details before you submit your order. Depending on which service you use, you may have to arrange the flowers yourself upon arrival or pay extra for a vase.

How to Care for Your Flowers

Keep your flowers fresh long after delivery with these handy tips:

*Cut stems at an angle before placing them in water. It creates more surface area and allows the flowers to drink more water.

*Fill the vase with clean, room-temperature water, and replace the water every other day.

*Keep flowers at a constant temperature by avoiding direct sunlight.