I pride myself on being an excellent gift-giver. And I truly believe the uplifting feeling of finding flowers on the doorstep is hard to beat (unless they’re from an ex who “just wants to talk” – never be that guy).
Flowers are such an easy win for the gift-giver, too. There’s a plethora of online flower delivery services with a range of offerings. Some provide next-day delivery; some will deliver flowers monthly via subscription; some will even slip in a box of chocolates, a bottle of fizz or a candle in the delivery.
But which flower delivery services are best? I’m here to answer that for you. I’ve tested dozens of bouquets and done a deep dive into flower freshness and the services’ sustainability, trying my best to find ones that offer British-grown flowers.
Remember: if your recipient has pets, check whether the flowers are toxic before sending them (read more about which are toxic for cats and dogs).
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At a glance
Best flower delivery overall:
Marks & Spencer
Best budget flower delivery:
Scilly Flowers
Best flower subscription service:
Freddie’s Flowers
Best same-day flowers:
Interflora
Best letterbox flowers:
Bloom & Wild
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Why you should trust me
I’ve been in the product-testing game for four years now, and have reviewed more than 1,000 products in that time. I’ve tested everything from heated blankets to high chairs, and all my reviews are firm but fair.
I’m a self-confessed anthophile, and this isn’t my first time testing flower delivery services. Of course, I love luxury flowers as much as the next person – I have a soft spot for a fussy arrangement or silk ribbon – but I also have a lot of time for budget flowers. In spring, I rarely go past a bucket of £1 supermarket daffodils without picking up a bunch. Whatever your budget, I’m determined to hunt down the best bouquet for your buck.
How I tested
During testing, I received many bunches from the main British flower-delivery services. I first tested for Valentine’s Day, then again for Mother’s Day, and most recently I tested more season-agnostic offerings. In total, I’ve tested 31 arrangements over the three testing periods. My regular courier drivers even asked if everything was OK, as they’ve been delivering enough flowers to satisfy even Elton John’s needs. The flowers were counted and cut on arrival to condition them, and then arranged into vases and placed around my house. I followed the directions for each bunch where relevant – arranging them and adding flower food as suggested.
I kept my eye on each bouquet every day, noting when any flowers began to fade. My house is a draughty Victorian number, and I did fire up the central heating and log burner intermittently to see how the flowers coped. I had all the flowers delivered over the course of two days so I could be sure they all underwent the same conditions (yes, I did need to invest in several new vases – charity shops are great hunting grounds for them).
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The best flower delivery services in 2025
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Best flower delivery overall:
Marks & Spencer
From £25 at M&S
Bouquet tested: roses, lisianthus and antirrhinum bright bouquet (£45)
Marks & Spencer has overhauled its flower business and now offers a five-day freshness guarantee on its bouquets. I’ve tested multiple bouquets throughout my process, including an extravagant Valentine’s Day bouquet, a more modest Mother’s Day and these bright flowers, which are more of an “every occasion” bouquet.
Why we love it
M&S flowers are undeniably premium quality. The most recent arrangement I tested was made up of 25 stems of bright pinks, reds and corals, and was lovely and fresh, bursting with colour. It also included plenty of deep-green foliage. Every time I’ve tested M&S flowers, many of the blooms have arrived in bud, slowly revealing themselves. This means they last much longer – this particular bouquet stayed fresh for two weeks, providing much cheer on my kitchen island.
M&S says it sources as many British flowers as it can, depending on what’s in season. It also uses sustainable packaging. The flowers I tested came in a cardboard box, and the bouquet was wrapped in kraft paper with a form of cellophane wrap over the top.
It’s a shame that … there aren’t guaranteed to be more British flowers in the arrangements.
Fastest delivery: next day
Delivery cost: free
B Corp certified: no
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Best budget flower delivery:
Scilly Flowers
From £16.50 at Scilly Flowers
Bouquet tested: five bunches of spray carnations (£28.50)
Before you read “carnations” and scroll on, I implore you to stop and think. Often cast as the “filler” in bouquets, Scilly Flowers makes whatever flowers you pick the star of the show. And these flowers are such incredibly good value that I keep having to check that the price is right.
Why we love it
All Scilly Flowers stems are grown naturally outdoors without artificial light or heat on the Isles of Scilly. This means that the bouquets on offer often change. While I tested carnations, sometimes you might find different flowers available on Scilly Flowers’ website. I’ve tested enough bouquets from Scilly Flowers to know that whatever you get, it won’t be a disappointment.
At Scilly Flowers, the whole farm is making strides in sustainability with low-irrigation initiatives, a solar-powered cold store and postal plane and boat shipping.
The flowers themselves are low-effort, maximum joy in flower form. You don’t need any special skills to arrange them because they’re so gloriously simple. Many of the stems came as buds and gradually opened up over the week, which spread the joy for longer.
It’s a shame that … Scilly’s flowers tend to sell out fast and aren’t available all year round, but this is understandable on both counts.
Fastest delivery: 1st class Royal Mail
Delivery cost: free
B Corp certified: no
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Best flower subscription service:
Freddie’s Flowers
From £28 at Freddie’s Flowers
Bouquet tested: showstopper (£41) – seasonal arrangements change on four-weekly cycles
Freddie’s Flowers started as a subscription-only business, but it has since grown to offer one-off deliveries too, and I’ve tested both. The showstopper flowers arrived in a flat-lay box, bundled in recyclable paper along with instructions on how to create your arrangement.
Why we love it
I love taking the time to arrange the blooms. It’s a chance to get creative, even if only for five minutes. And it’s simple enough to follow the instructions, even if you’re not particularly artistic.
I loved the variety of blooms, too: it was clear that thought had gone into creating something dramatic, with even the filler flowers adding dimension and spectacle. In the box I received there were huge gladioli alongside roses and kangaroo paw.
Some deliveries contain lilies. Although gorgeous, lilies aren’t ideal for everyone, as they’re poisonous to pets; the subscription boxes can be made lily-free for that reason (although you still need to be cautious around other kinds of flowers, as noted at the top of the article).
It’s a shame that … you don’t have much control over your delivery days, and although good value, the one-off arrangement I tested didn’t have as many stems as the showstopper bunch.
Fastest delivery: subscription flowers are variable – delivery days are set depending on your postcode; one-off bunches are available next day
Delivery cost: for subscription flowers, £4; for one-off deliveries, next day £5, standard free
B Corp certified: yes
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Best same-day flowers:
Interflora
From £32.50 at Interflora
Bouquet tested: luxury pink bouquet (£90)
Interflora is effectively a floral matchmaker. You choose from a huge menu of flowers and then it matches you with a florist local to your delivery address. The florist then creates and delivers the arrangement. For testing, I received the luxury pink bouquet – which is exactly what it was. It came in a cardboard vase, hand tied in a cellophane pool of water.
Why we love it
I love the more personal feeling of receiving a bouquet from a local florist – especially because, as luck would have it, mine came from my favourite florist. Interflora guarantees that arrangements are made to order, and my arrangement certainly seemed fresh. Some of the flowers were lightly scented but not overpowering, which is always a joy.
Throughout my tests, Interflora has consistently brought drama and luxury to my front door, and I’m not complaining. The luxury pink bouquet was made up of frilly pink blooms, including roses, lilies and lisianthus. Interflora’s website is somewhat vague on what flowers you’ll receive, probably because it depends on what each florist has available, and my bouquet didn’t include as many roses as the one in the photo on the website. However, the flowers lasted well – perhaps because they hadn’t taken a few days to transport through a courier service; the florist delivered them direct. My arrangement was going strong 10 days after I received it. The lilies, which came in bud, slowly opened and revealed their colour and scent after a few days – a lovely bit of delayed gratification.
It’s a shame that … the price isn’t inclusive of the delivery fee. Generally Interflora does stunning flowers, but they aren’t the most competitively priced.
Fastest delivery: same day (order before 3pm)
Delivery cost: from £10 for same-day delivery, from £7.50 for named-day delivery
B Corp certified: no
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Best letterbox flowers:
Bloom & Wild
From £19 at Bloom & Wild
Bouquet tested: the Maren (£35)
Letterbox flowers are the perfect solution if you’re not sure your recipient will be home. They come bundled up “sleeping” – so most flowers are in bud rather than big, blousy blooms. But this just means they unfurl over time, last longer and bring extended joy as you watch them blossom. I’ve tested various letterbox flower delivery services and rate Bloom & Wild as the best: for range, service and quality. It always offers new trend-led arrangements, too.
Why we love it
I was thoroughly impressed by Bloom & Wild’s the Maren. It arrived perky and bright, full of different textures and colours that had me smiling from ear to ear. For the sake of being thorough, I also quality tested Bloom & Wild’s pre-made bouquet the Adeline (£80), as well as the Scottie (£37) and the Hope (£34) in previous testing periods. All bouquets were absolute knockouts. I wonder what Bloom & Wild has been up to behind the scenes: it’s seriously upped its (already strong) game recently. The bouquets not only looked completely stunning, but lasted about 16 days.
It’s a shame that … there are no instructions on the best way to arrange the flowers.
Fastest delivery: next day
Delivery cost: free, but up to £9 for specific day/morning delivery
B Corp certified: yes
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The best of the rest
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Flowerbx
From £40 at FlowerbxBest for: show-stopping flowers
Bouquet tested: sage blush hydrangeas, five stems (from £75; now out of season)
Flowerbx specialises in single-variety bunches, but does it better than most contenders in the flower market. I’ve tested several Flowerbx samples over the past 12 months, and it’s always these bouquets that my guests comment on consistently. They’re always huge centrepiece-style flowers that are fresh and beautiful. The hydrangeas I received most recently didn’t disappoint: they lasted for weeks and became the focal point of my dining room. I was able to dry them easily afterwards too, which means I can keep enjoying them for months.
It didn’t make the final cut because … they’re so expensive. For five stems, £75 is punchy – and delivery is £5 on top, too. There are cheaper foliage options (from £15) if you’re on a tight budget.
Fastest delivery: same day in London, variable nationwide; delivery cost: from £5; B Corp certified: yes
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Petalon
From £48 at PetalonBest for: commitment to sustainability
Bouquet tested: amethyst (£48; now out of season)
Petalon is unique in this lineup in that it donates 100% of its profit to UK conservation projects. That means you’re not just giving the gift of flowers, but also donating towards the environment. Petalon grows many of its own flowers in Cornwall, and is transparent on the website about which bunches have some, or all, Cornish-grown flowers.
The flowers grown on the company’s land are done so without pesticides or artificial fertilisers. Petalon also uses only renewable energy. If that’s not enough, it leaves more than half of its land as a wild habitat. When you go to pay, the website offers you a breakdown of where your money is going.
I’ve tested the company’s arrangements several times now, and you can rely on it to be different from anything else on the market. The flowers come in hessian wrap, and the arrangements include flowers I haven’t seen in other bouquets – more of a wildflower meadow vibe than a finely manicured luxury bouquet.
You can also subscribe to year-round flowers or just opt for when British flowers are in season. The flowers lasted well, but were definitely more modest than other arrangements in this roundup.
It didn’t make the final cut because … Petalon still imports flowers, although it’s easy to see on its site which arrangements contain imported flowers.
Fastest delivery: next day; delivery cost: £6.95; B Corp certified: yes
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What you need to know
Sustainability
Cut flowers don’t have a great reputation in the sustainability stakes, but many brands are working hard to improve practices. Look for British-grown flowers where you can, and go for those that are seasonal. Peonies in January are just not a good vibe for the planet.
Delivery times
Not all flower-delivery services offer next-day delivery. Check the delivery service offering on the website or underneath each entry above. And some can sneak in the cost on top of the flowers, which ends up making a fairly affordable bunch rather punchy.
How to make your flowers last longer at home
Cut flowers may last only five days at home, even with all the variables being in their favour. Roses and tulips especially don’t last long. However, other flowers, such as hydrangeas and chrysanthemums, can go for a lot longer.
To make your flowers last longer at home, you’ve got to think about care and the environment. Only ever use a clean vase, then trim off a few centimetres from the end of each stem. Cut them at a 45-degree angle to increase the surface area in the water. Remove any foliage on the stem below the water line, and then put them in cool water, mixed with flower food (all decent flowers should come with flower food).
Pick the right spot for your flowers. Spring flowers don’t appreciate being near heat sources. Don’t put them too close to your fruit bowl, either: fruit releases ethylene gas, which makes your flowers wilt more quickly.
Tips for buying seasonal flowers
As well as being more sustainable, seasonal flowers will last longer in your home. Knowing what’s in season is the best place to start. If you’re buying flowers in the depths of winter, this means no sunflowers or dahlias are coming your way.
Buy your flowers from a local florist, or via an online flower delivery service that says it offers British seasonal flowers. It may take a deep dive to find out what that actually looks like. Flower subscriptions, such as Freddie’s Flowers above, are also a great way to get seasonal flowers that have been grown to order.
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Zoë Phillimore is a journalist with 20 years of experience. She’s tested everything from mattresses to makeup, and she’s slightly obsessed with finding small new businesses to spotlight. Aside from this niche interest, Zoë loves travel, being outside – especially on the beach – and adding books to her to-be-read pile
• This article was originally published on 12 February 2025. Reviews published in the Filter may be periodically updated to reflect new products and at the editor’s discretion. The date of an article’s most recent update can be found in the timestamp at the top of the page. This piece was updated on 18 December 2025; reviews were updated to reflect the latest testing, and two more services were added.
• This article was amended on 13 February 2025 to add that if your recipient has pets, you do need to check whether the flowers are toxic before sending them.
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