Best cheap funeral flower service USA

Best cheap flower delivery services in the USA

Send flowers on the fly and make someone’s day with these budget-friendly flower delivery services

What’s better than wondering if everyone will forget your Christmas present this year, only to wake up to a knock on the door and a big bunch of flowers? Not many things, actually, is the answer. There is something about knowing that someone has thought of you that really makes your day. So if a big opportunity is coming for someone, why not do the same for them?

But don’t be put off by the masses of incredibly expensive flower delivery services out there – even though they’re pretty good too. It turns out there are dozens of great companies that will deliver bouquets straight to your loved ones without breaking the bank. So, even if you’re on a budget, you can still make someone’s day at the click of a button. We’ve rounded up the best affordable flower delivery services across the US. Thank us later.

Best cheap flower delivery

1. Ode à la Rose

Ode à la Rose is one of those companies that looks seriously posh but is actually quite affordable. While these bouquets are great for any occasion (like a wedding, birthday, or Mother’s Day), many of them come in around $50 including delivery. The best part? There is a price category option on the website, so you can only buy the ‘under $75’ option if you want to keep the cost down.

2. Phloem

Pholeam is one of the biggest names in the flower delivery game right now. The digital service allows you to order flowers, plants and gift baskets from local, independent florists across the country. Just enter your zip code, then search by flower type, occasion and more.

3. The Bouqs Co

It is farm-to-table for the flower industry. Bouqs Co sources their flowers from sustainable, eco-friendly farms throughout North and South America, and best of all, they only harvest what they sell. So nothing goes to waste and the flowers often last longer than what you find in any grocery store. Plus, at $39 – or $28 with flowers if you subscribe – Bouqs Co provides a delightfully affordable option.

4. Teleflora

Instead of packing your delicate posies in a box, Teleflora works with local florists to make every arrangement by hand, meaning you’ll be in trouble when you try to take them out of the packaging. Can avoid the separation of despair. The wide selection of bouquets includes something for every holiday, occasion and recipient, including many that can be delivered on the same day. Can’t decide which bouquet to order? Order Deal of the Day: You just choose a price, and a florist will do the rest.

5. FTD

Founded in 1910, FTD was one of the earliest companies to get into the flower delivery game. Because the company works with more than 30,000 florists in 125 countries, it makes it easy to send bouquets almost anywhere. They’re also really on it with seasonal floral collections, like a curated selection of flowers in beautiful sunset tones for the start of fall.

6. Pro flower

Like many nationwide flower brands, ProFlowers offers flowers for same-day, nationwide delivery. You can find old standbys at surprisingly affordable prices (red roses for under $40), as well as more unique options like juniper bonsai trees, floral peace sign wreaths, and tulip gardens. Plus, it’s easy to add succulents or cheesecake pops to highlight your delivery.

7. You from flowers

Working with a tight budget and short time? Fortunately, Firm U Flowers offers affordable options that can, in some cases, be delivered the same day. Seriously: we’re talking about $30 for some arrangements. While the design may be a bit run-of-the-mill, the convenience factor definitely makes up for it. Besides, it’s the thought that counts, and who doesn’t love a classic bouquet?

8. Florists.com

As the name suggests, this service partners with local shops to deliver the arrangements whenever possible. If they don’t have partnerships with florists in your area, however, they will ship your bouquet in a gift-wrapped box. These aren’t just standard arrangements, either: You can also send live plants from daffodils to mini orchids and fun fruit bouquets like a giant margarita glass filled with chocolate-covered strawberries.

9. 1-800-Flowers.com

Although the name of this flower delivery brand dates back to the pre-internet era, they have since taken their large catalog online. And since 1-800-Flowers.com also owns Harry & David and many other gift brands, it’s a good opportunity to add fruit baskets, chocolate-covered strawberries and other goodies to your order. Basically, it’s the easiest way to organize a cute little gift without spending too much time on it. Why not treat yourself to a group to brighten up your home while you’re at it?

7 Best Flower Delivery Services You Can Order Online

Including affordable bouquets and same-day delivery options that would be perfect for Mother’s Day.

Trying to find the perfect flower arrangement (especially for a holiday like Mother’s Day) isn’t as easy as choosing between roses or hydrangeas. With so many online flower delivery services, it’s important to make sure you find one that is not only reliable but also offers options that are affordable and meet your criteria.

That’s why experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute regularly test the most popular flower delivery services to find the best options for every style and budget. To ensure that everyone who receives your bouquet is 100% satisfied, we put each bouquet through rigorous customer testing in the lab and at home, checking against a list of standards that include delivery time, quick appearance and longevity.

Here, you’ll find our top picks for the best flower delivery services that ship all kinds of flowers and greenery nationwide, from a dozen classic roses to live succulents. And for all of you last-minute shoppers out there, we’ve also included a few top-notch services that offer same-day delivery. Once you find a service that fits your needs, you can browse and customize your arrangements.

Our top picks:

PROS

• High-quality, long-lasting flowers
• Beautiful packaging
• The flowers arrived on time.

CONS

• Bouquets are available for an additional fee.
• The flowers take a few days to bloom.

Our consumer testers were fans of the thoughtful and stylish packaging, while lab analysts appreciated that the bouquet included instructions on how to keep the flowers fresh for as long as possible. But the best part? Even after a week, testers saw no signs of fading. In fact, Bouqs Co. Arrangements last longer than any similar bouquet we’ve tried. “They’re still as bright and cheerful as they were back in the day,” said Jamie Spain, analyst at Parents & Pet Review. Other testers noted how easy the website was to navigate as well.

1-800-FLOWERS

PROS

• Excellent customer service
• High price
• Same day delivery available.

CONS

• What comes out may differ from online photography.

Not only are the 1-800-flower bouquets significantly less expensive than what its competitors offer, but they look fresh and beautiful in our lab reviews.

A customer tester noted that their plant was damaged, but the company quickly fixed the problem after they arrived. They said that the second plant was even more beautiful than the pictures. “I was happy that they were willing to replace the plant with a new one.” Another tester noted that the arrangement didn’t look exactly like the photo online, however, the website notes that color grading may vary based on availability.

Amazon

PROS

• Two-day shipping is available.
• Coupons offer great value.

CONS

• Not much variety in arrangements.

While our analysts disagreed with Amazon’s flower delivery service during our latest testing, there’s no denying Amazon’s popularity and convenience, with Amazon Prime members getting free two-day delivery from dozens of brands. Is. Can get fresh flowers. Delivery. Shipping Amazon reviewers especially love the floral look produced by Country Living Magazine and Color Republic. “Sent as a birthday present [and] arrived in perfect condition. Although not fully opened, once watered they open within two days,” said one.

Teleflora

PROS

• Hand-delivered, high-quality flowers
• The website is easy to use.
• Same day delivery is available.

CONS

• No care instructions included.
• Expect to exchange flowers based on availability.

If shopping local is important to you, Teleflora offers flowers that are 100% arranged and delivered by local florists, so you’re supporting small businesses by shopping through the brand’s website.

We rate the hand-delivered bouquets from Teleflora for the “wow factor”, with beautiful flowers arranged in a beautiful vase. However, one consumer tester noted that while they liked their arrangements, they wished they could pick up the bouquet and that it included care instructions.

Another was surprised to find that the chips in their bouquet had been swapped out for roses, but was still happy with the end result. “The color was spot on, so it wasn’t a big problem,” he said. “And I will say, I went back to the website and saw a disclaimer that says flowers will be substituted based on availability.”

The Sill

PROS

• You can choose between plants or flowers.
• Plants and flowers came fresh.

CONS

• High shipping fees
• A specific delivery date cannot be fixed

Sale is known for its large variety of indoor plants, including those that require little maintenance and are pet safe. Once you’ve chosen your plant, you can choose the style and color of the planter. You can also choose from standard or express shipping (although shipping costs may be higher). Arrangements received high ratings from customers for arriving on time and in excellent condition. “The plants were very easy to pick out, and the care instructions were very helpful,” said Eck. “My plants look great!” Additionally, The Cell offers a 30-day customer happiness guarantee.

FYI: The site also offers DIY flower bouquets delivered by a third-party company. In our labs, we experimented with managing nature walks. While the bouquet that appeared was beautiful and looked exactly like the pictures online, note that you cannot set a specific date for the bouquet to arrive, only a window.

Lola’s Garden

Pros

• Beautiful packaging
• Arrived in great condition
• A water pipette is included.

Cons

• High shipping fees
• Just juicy

Lola’s Garden offers a wide selection of succulents that make great gifts, as you can customize the boxes for a birthday or holiday with a festive cover sleeve and initials on the box. In lab testing, we found the russets were beautifully packaged and in excellent condition upon arrival.

Each arrangement comes with simple care instructions and a small water dropper to make sure you give your succulents just the right amount of water (overwatering can kill russets). One tester liked that the website was “so easy to navigate and order” and liked that the company provided measurements of the boxes “which was nice so I could figure out where I wanted it to go.” “

Venus and Flores

Pros

• Testers were impressed with the high-quality florals.
• The packaging has a great “wow factor”.
• Fragrant

Cons

• Expensive
• A specific delivery date cannot be scheduled

Venus et Fleur is a unique flower delivery service that claims its roses will last up to a year because they are treated with a proprietary solvent and pigment process.

Our lab experts were impressed with how beautiful the arrangements were and the high-quality fragrance of the flowers. Although you can’t choose to have the arrangements arrive on a specific day, during just one window, they did arrive within two days. One tester raved about how easy the website was to navigate, while another lamented that the flowers, while beautiful, were on the small side for the price.

How do we test flower delivery services?

Our lab analysts have overseen the testing of more than 20 flower delivery services over the past decade. In our most recent round of tests conducted in 2022, we evaluated 11 different flower and plant delivery services, collecting data on a total of 33 flower arrangements. In addition to lab testing, we also conducted customer testing for all services to see how flowers arrived in real homes and how long they lasted. To maintain anonymity and test how easy it is to order online, all testers ordered directly from the flower delivery service on their own with the gift card provided. During lab testing, for each service, we ordered a pink rose (if available) in a clear glass vase, paying extra for the bouquet if needed. Testers can order any flower bouquet or plant that appeals to them.

Flower delivery services are often given as gifts and the sender does not necessarily see what actually arrives. If they aren’t as attractive as pictured online, or they wilt or fall off soon after they arrive, it can be a disappointing gift. By reviewing these services and reporting our findings, our goal is to help readers make more educated purchases.

How to keep flowers fresh

Here are some top tips from our experts to make your flowers last longer:

Water: Fill your vase with lukewarm water if it isn’t already. Be sure to change the water every couple of days as this will help keep bacteria at bay.

Food: Most flower deliveries will come with a “food” packet that contains disinfectants. Add it to your water according to the directions on the back.

Trim: If you must trim your flowers, do so at an angle to help them absorb water more efficiently. You should also remove any leaves that are downwards from the stem so they don’t contaminate the fresh water.

Why Trust Good Housekeeping?

The list was compiled with the help of several Good Housekeeping staff, including Good Housekeeping Institute Home and Kitchen Appliances Review Analyst Eva Blair. Eva tests and writes about all things home, kitchenware, food products and beyond.

The best online flower delivery service

UrbanStems flowers are, hands down, the best we’ve received, especially considering their reasonable price. Both of the bouquets we tested — The Macchiato and The Catalina — were under $60 and were more attractive and stayed fresh longer than the bouquets we ordered that were twice the price. (If you get attached to a particular bouquet, keep in mind that certain arrangements come and go as their component flowers go in and out of season. The two we actually tested were are autumn varieties, so they are not currently available but will be restored in autumn). UrbanStems’ ordering service is also easy: the website is very easy to navigate, with filters that make it easy to sort by category like price, color, or occasion. You can choose to add a bouquet (there are usually a few choices that will increase the bouquet price anywhere from $12 to $25) and even candy, chocolates or candles. In addition, each bouquet includes a “recipe” on the site that lists each type of flower included (which is useful if you know your recipient’s favorite flower or you’re just wondering what you like). Interested in learning more). Delivery timelines also vary, depending on where the bouquet is going and how it is being delivered. Same-day delivery is possible in Washington, DC, and parts of New York City. For the rest of the country (except Hawaii and Alaska), FedEx handles delivery, sometimes as soon as the next day.

Costco’s flower arrangements are not as modern or stylish as those offered by Teleflora and UrbanStems. But Costco is traditionally beautiful, and most of them cost less than what these other services offer. Costco ships its flowers through different carriers depending on the location, and it sometimes offers next-day delivery on certain bouquets. Just keep in mind that Costco does not deliver Saturday through Monday, which means it may not be the best service for last-minute or weekend flower needs. And while you don’t need a membership to order flowers from Costco, there is a 5% surcharge for non-members.

Teleflora uses local florists to fulfill its orders. This means that consistency may vary between cities, but it also means that the company can consistently deliver a large selection of flowers on the day of your order. Teleflora is also the only one of our picks that delivers to Hawaii and Alaska. The Blush Life Bookie we ordered was beautiful, and all the flowers and fillers in it smelled and looked great for a week. Ordering from Teleflora is easy, with the option to filter by occasion, color, same-day delivery, or flower type. Still, unlike the pricing at UrbanStems or Costco, Teleflora’s opening price was somewhat misleading: Our $70 bouquet cost $92, after taxes and an $18 service fee (which Teleflora calls its shipping fee). Teleflora’s fees are comparable to UrbanStems’ fees, but you have to click through a few more pages at checkout to see the price breakdown. Still, if you need beautiful flowers sent the same day, we think this is a good option.

Who is this for

If you live in the same city as your flower recipient, you may already have a trusted florist you know to order from. But if not, or if you’re shopping for someone who lives in a place you’re not familiar with, an online flower delivery service can be a great tool to help you get the bouquet you want. Easily search and send, without even picking up the phone. Still, it’s worth noting that many popular online flower services use local florists to fulfill orders: in theory, you could cut out the bachelorette by ordering your flowers directly from the florist. are (and can probably save a little money). Do a Google search for what’s available in that area.

How we picked and tested.

After combing the Internet for flower delivery services, reading dozens of customer reviews, and polling Wirecutter staff on the services they use, we identified 14 of the most popular online services. We were particularly interested in the following criteria:

Beautiful flowers: Since beauty is a matter of taste, we sought out services that offer a large selection of interesting, stylish arrangements. We also tested some brands that felt more traditional and classic. When the flowers arrived, we looked for decent-sized, full blooms. We deducted points from bouquets that had wilted flowers, crushed or damaged flowers, or too much filler.

Easy ordering process: We especially appreciated the services with clean, modern websites that were easy to navigate. Some sites let us filter by price, occasion, or even color to make choosing the right bouquet easier. Others were overwhelming, with flashing pop-ups and incomprehensible menu options.

Faster Arrival: Although there are some occasions we know in advance that we will need flower delivery — Valentine’s Day, birthdays, etc. —

Or the rare but inevitable times we piss off our loved ones and need a great gesture (stat!). With this in mind, we prioritized services that deliver on most days of the week and can accommodate same-day or next-day delivery.

Good packaging: We preferred flowers that were well packaged, without broken vases or crushed flowers. Some services include vases, while others, like UrbanSteam, send flowers in gift boxes. Either way, we gave bonus points if the packaging enhanced the flowers it contained.

Extras: Flowers are a great gesture on their own, but sometimes it’s more: We looked into whether services offered add-ons like chocolates, candles, or balloons for an extra fee. have done, and furthermore whether those add-ons seemed difficult or sweet.

We narrowed our list down to six contenders—Benchmark Bouquets, The Bouqs Co., Farmgirl Flowers, FTD, 1-800-Flowers.com, and UrbanStems—based on their popularity, prices and selection. We ordered a bouquet from each, evaluating the website, delivery times, packaging and style. We also noted how fresh the flowers were when they arrived and watched how they aged over time. We added “flower food” to the bouquets and placed each bouquet in bright, indirect light. In addition, we assessed how

accurate the arrangements were in their online photos. After settling on our top picks, we tested them further by ordering bouquets to be sent to staff in Los Angeles, New York City, Minneapolis, and Rochester, New York, using the same criteria. Examined these bouquets. In 2021, we ordered bouquets from three additional companies—Costco, Teleflora and BloomNation. We also re-ordered from our top pick, UrbanStems, to make sure the quality and service was still up to par.

Choosing the right delivery service was the biggest factor in getting a fresh bouquet, but we also found that the quality of the individual arrangements we ordered varied based on location and season. Although we tested our selection in multiple cities, the process of cutting, arranging and transporting affects each bouquet differently. Although we had one experience with each of these services, your experience may vary.

Our pick: Urban Stems

Ordering flowers from UrbanStems was easier than any other service we tried, and the arrangement we received was fresher than most. Also, UrbanStems’ packaging was better, and often the company doesn’t charge a delivery fee. The macchiato arrangement we got included a bouquet of roses mixed with lavender sprigs and dusty miller, and it looked more classy (and modern) than floral arrangements that cost twice the price. Our flowers stayed fresh for a full seven days after delivery, just like every other flower we receive. UrbanStems doesn’t include a vase with your purchase, but you can (they start at about $12). In 2021 we ordered The Catalina and were equally impressed with the quality and beautiful queen protea blooms.

No other company provided packaging that made it feel like we were getting a beautiful flower arrangement as well as a gift. The boxes that our flowers from UrbanStems arrived in were not only delightfully simple, but also more attractive than the packaging of others we tried. You open them like a gift, revealing the flowers inside.

The company also offered an excellent ordering experience. The website is clean looking and easy to use with sorting options such as price, occasion, or bouquet style. In addition, the bouquet includes a “recipe” that lists each type of flower included (which is useful if you know your recipient’s favorite flower, or you’re just interested in learning how to use it). what do you like). While the service wasn’t the cheapest we’ve tested, the prices were straightforward—the bouquets we ordered were about $55, plus a shipping fee of between $10 and $20 (on depending on where they are going). We also regularly see promotions for free shipping. UrbanStems also offers courier delivery in Washington, DC, and New York City (the only cities where same-day service is available) for between $10 and $20, depending on the order. Outside of NYC and DC, UrbanStems relies on FedEx for the lower 48 states. If you order before 2pm, your bouquet should be available for next day delivery Tuesday to Friday, and some Saturday deliveries may be available to certain locations.

Two of our testers had different experiences when UrbanStems bouquets were shipped to them in Los Angeles and Minneapolis. The bouquet sent to Los Angeles was in good condition when it arrived and the flowers bloomed well after a few days. However, the bouquet we ordered shipped to Minneapolis was delivered to our tester’s stoop in freezing temperatures (26 degrees Fahrenheit) without ringing her doorbell. The flowers also looked weak, but they bloomed after a few days, looking full and lasting more than a week.

Flaws but not deal breakers.

UrbanStems has been the recipient of criticism in the past, as reported by the Washington Post in 2018 and in comments from our own readers (in 2020), for late blooms, flowers not blooming, or flowers that look crushed or wilted. were . These are complaints that every flower delivery service receives, and they are ultimately inevitable, considering that the product is a living thing that will endure various difficulties during transportation, depending on Where does it come from and where does it go? What sets UrbanSteam apart from other companies for this challenge, though, is its customer support: The company responds quickly to emails and calls (with a human on the other line, not a bot) and on Twitter. Most complaints are answered. . With a promise to fix the problem immediately.

Budget pick: Costco

Costco’s flower offerings were recommended to us by several Wirecutter staff who have sent them to loved ones. The page that lists the flower offerings is as stylish as the rest of Costco’s website (which is to say, not at all), but it’s easy enough to navigate: From the main flower page you You can click on categories like roses, bouquets. , bouquet arrangements, occasions, etc. And from there you can filter by price, color, flower type, and delivery preference.

The bouquets and bouquet arrangements from Costco aren’t as modern or stylish as those offered by Teleflora and UrbanStems, but they’re beautiful in a traditional way. And most of them cost much less than what is offered on these other services. If you’re a Costco member, you can avoid the 5% non-member surcharge, and otherwise the only additional fee is tax before checkout.

Costco ships its flowers through different carriers depending on location, and it does not offer weekend delivery Friday through Monday. Regarding the delivery, staff writer Dorie Shevlin was out of her apartment when the flowers were delivered, so they were directed to a nearby UPS holding site. This probably varies by location, but in Dory’s case it was easy because her entry into the building often led to package theft. Opening the cardboard box revealed a glass vase and a vase Add in plastic wrap and zip ties, plus instructions on how to trim stems and plant food to add to water—maybe not a festive gift-opening experience (à la UrbanStems), but satisfying nonetheless.

We ordered both Get Well Wishes Floral Bucky and Sunset Bliss, which were about $50 each and included the vases. A 5% non-member surcharge and tax added about $7 to the order. The bouquet itself was beautiful but looked almost nothing like the picture of it on the site. While this photo has orange roses, yellow lilies, and purple daisies, the bouquet we received had pale pink roses, yellow daisies, small purple flowers, orange lilies, small yellow sprigs, and green leaf fillers. were The bouquet lasted about five days before fading.

The red vase that came with the flowers was decent quality glass, but we wish we had the option to choose a different vase style or color. If you like a particular bouquet but aren’t a fan of the bouquet pictured, you won’t be able to exchange it. Along with the Get Well Wishes Floral Bouquet, the included “Get Well Soon” balloon was shaped like an apple and sat atop a plastic stick that was inserted into the bouquet — it was silly-looking but fun, and we Appreciated the option to add it. You can also add a message at checkout of up to 180 characters.

Also very good: Teleflora

Teleflora uses local florists to fulfill flower orders, but unlike Bloom Nation (another service we’ve worked with local shops), it allows you to select the supplier florist when placing the order. does not allow, and photos of arrangements are provided by Teleflora. . , not individual florists. Still, thanks to this model, Teleflora is able to deliver arrangements the same day you order them, by hand — something not many companies can boast. This is the only one of our picks that delivers to Hawaii and Alaska (granted, this may change depending on the local florist Telaflora is working with).

Teleflora’s site isn’t as streamlined or sophisticated as UrbanStems, but it was still easy to navigate: you can search by occasion, color, or flower type. Many of the arrangements are gorgeous, although their names may make you laugh when ordering (some of our favorites include: the Hey Pretty Bouquet of 24 Lavender Roses and the My Little Chickadee arrangement, a yellow, fluffy-themed comes in a vase).

We ordered a standard-size Blush Life bucket for $70 (now $50) and a standard-size Citrus Kissed bucket for $75, now $65, from the JustBees section of Teleflora, and both arrangements were just as beautiful. were shown in the picture on the site. Still, unlike UrbanStems or Costco, Teleflora had an upfront price that was somewhat misleading: Our $70 bouquet cost $92, after tax and an $18 service fee were added. Every rose, lily, and carnation was blemish-free and in full bloom, and fillers of eucalyptus and lemon leaves offered beautiful contrast and added fragrance. They were hand-delivered by a representative of the local florist who fulfilled the order, and the delivery person signed the receipt for us. (Since the Brooklyn apartment we sent the bouquet to had been the target of a lot of package theft recently, we were appreciating the hand-off in person.) The glass vase that came in the bouquet was quite beautiful. was the one we kept. This. For future flowers.

In the days leading up to Valentine’s Day 2021, a staffer had a one-off experience in which an order was missed without notification from Teleflora. She received prompt customer service and a full refund, and the flowers appeared a day later. Ultimately, we’ve decided that this isn’t a knock on Teleflora, but it’s something to keep in mind for any flower-centric holiday in an era of labor shortages and supply chain uncertainty.

Teleflora offered the option of adding a 180-character message, and it was typed on a small, cute card inserted into a plastic, spike-like spike. The flowers didn’t come with the bagged plant food that others had added, but they still looked vibrant for six days, even drinking just plain old H₂0. The flowers also held their wonderful fragrance. Because Teleflora uses local florists, your experience may vary, depending on the shop that puts your bouquet together, but our experiences were both positive. We will monitor the feedback in different cities as we conduct long-term tests.

How to keep flowers fresh

There is nothing more disappointing than a beautiful bouquet of flowers that begins to wither and wilt after only a few days of enjoyment. For tips on how to protect yourself from such a tragic fate, we consulted Nicole Cavender, director of the Huntington Botanical Gardens in Los Angeles.

Trim the stems: When you first receive the bouquet, trim all stems by at least ½ inch and repeat the trim every two or three days. Doing so “exposes fresh tissue that absorbs water more efficiently,” Cavender said in an email interview. Cutting the stem at a diagonal angle creates even more surface area for absorption.

Change the water: To avoid bacterial growth, Cavander says, you should change the vase water every two or three days—you can do this when you take the flowers out for trimming— Use lukewarm water. (Not only does the bacteria clog the stems and prevent them from absorbing water properly, it can also make the entire bouquet stink.)

Remember that location is everything: Cut flowers last longer at cooler temperatures, so keep them out of direct sunlight and heat. Cavander also cautions that you should keep flowers away from ripening fruit, as this “can potentially release ethylene gas that can reduce flower longevity.”

Feed them: Many bouquets come with a packet of “flower food,” which aids in their longevity and flowering process (most of these packets contain carbohydrates and a disinfectant). If you don’t have a packet in your vase, you can make your own with this Cavander recipe: Mix 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon bleach, and 2 teaspoons lemon or lime juice in a quart of water. Add it to your bouquet, and voila! Freshly fed flowers.

Benchmark buckets

Benchmark Buckets was our previous budget pick. The flower field arrangements we ordered looked beautiful, aIt came with three large, cheeky daisies, plus interesting fillers (including fragrant eucalyptus) and a vase, all for $40.

FTD

The Light of My Life bouquet we received from FTD (who partner with local florists to source flowers) was beautiful, but some of the lilies in our arrangement were a little damaged. The leather leaf fern filler was also not as attractive as the filler in the Urban Stem and Benchmark bouquets.

1-800-Flowers.com

Everything about our art and flirty bouquets from 1-800-Flowers.com felt old and boring. The website was a turn off. And although our arrangement was pretty good, it wasn’t as interesting as any of our choices. Other than that, it barely resembled an online listing. (To the company’s credit, however, the flowers still looked new a week after delivery.)

Bouqs

The Bouqs Co. The bouquet from Extra Credit was far from the picture advertised online. (This particular arrangement no longer appears on The Bouqs Co. site.) Instead of big, sturdy sunflowers, our bouquet came with silver dollar-sized flowers. Although the filler flowers—white hypericum, green ruscus, blue eryngium thistle, and veronica—looked good, they overwhelmed the two smaller sunflowers that were meant to be the center of attention.

Farm Girl Flowers

At $100 at the time (including shipping), Farmgirl Flowers’ Fun Size Burlap Wrapped Bouquet was a disappointment. Not only was it nearly double what we paid for other flowers we tried, but many of the flowers looked tired. The bouquet was delivered on Friday, and the flowers barely survived the weekend — we had to throw them out four days later.

The reason we no longer feature Benchmark as an option is because for several months, you couldn’t reliably buy from it. When we first published this piece, Benchmark offered two-day shipping with Amazon Prime and shipped nationwide. In 2020 we discovered that most arrangements were no longer available through Prime, and even when they were, the listed shipping time was several days. Many arrangements are also not available to ship to the address we entered across the country. At the time, a Benchmark representative told us the company was experiencing issues with both shipping and stock, so we removed it as our pick. As of November 2021, the bouquets are available again, and if you can score it’s a great buy.