Sending Flowers to a Hospital: Rules, Tips and What to Choose

Quick answer: Most hospitals accept flowers for patients in general rooms and maternity units, but many ICUs, cardiac care, transplant, oncology and other units with immune-compromised patients do not allow fresh flowers or plants. Before ordering, confirm the patient's full name and room number, check the unit's policy, and choose a compact, low-fragrance design that is easy to display. Hospital rules often cover gifts too: latex balloons, for example, are commonly prohibited.

Flowers can brighten a hospital stay, but hospitals set rules for good reasons: infection control, allergies and space. A little planning ensures your gift actually reaches the patient.

Check the Hospital's Flower Policy First

Policies vary by hospital and even by unit within the same hospital. Before you order:

1. Call the hospital's main line or the patient's unit and ask whether flowers are allowed.
2. Ask the family, who usually know the rules for that floor.
3. Check the hospital website for visitor and gift guidelines.

Units that commonly restrict flowers

• Intensive care units (ICU) and critical care
• Cardiac care and step-down units
• Oncology, bone marrow and transplant units
• Burn units
• Neonatal intensive care (NICU)

Fresh flowers, standing water and soil can carry bacteria and mold, which is a risk for vulnerable patients. If flowers are not allowed, consider sending them to the patient's home for when they return, or to the family.

How to Address a Hospital Flower Delivery

Include as much as you can:

• Patient's full legal name, as registered with the hospital
• Hospital name and full address
• Room number and unit, if known
• Your phone number and, ideally, a family member's number
• A signed card, so the patient knows who sent them

Most hospitals deliver flowers to the room through volunteers or staff, or hold them at the front desk or gift shop. If a patient is discharged or moved before delivery, we will contact you to arrange an alternative.

Best Flowers for a Hospital Room

Hospital rooms are small, shared and busy. Choose arrangements that are easy for staff and kind to everyone in the room.

• Compact size. Bedside tables have little space. A small to medium design is ideal.
• Easy to display. Patients and nurses should not have to hunt for a container or trim stems. A flower box with its own water source, or a small bouquet the family can set in water, keeps it simple.
• Low fragrance. Strong scents can bother patients with nausea and roommates with allergies.
• Long-lasting blooms. Roses, alstroemeria, lisianthus, carnations and orchids hold up well.
• Cheerful colors. Yellows, soft pinks and bright mixes feel uplifting.

Flowers to avoid in hospitals

• Heavily scented lilies, such as stargazers, as well as tuberose, gardenias and hyacinths
• Pollen-heavy flowers, which can trigger allergies
• Very large or tall arrangements
• Potted plants with soil, which many units do not allow

Our get well flowers are chosen with these guidelines in mind.

Florist tip from Anastasiia: "For a hospital room, think small and joyful: a compact design in soft, cheerful color that fits on a bedside table. A bouquet should lift the mood, not crowd the room."

If You Plan to Add a Gift

Hospital rules often cover more than flowers, so check before you bring or send anything else:

• Latex balloons are often banned because of latex allergies; some units allow foil (Mylar) balloons, and some allow none.
• Keep extras small. Avoid food unless you know the patient's dietary restrictions.

A Monalli order includes the flowers, signature wrapping (or a ribbon tie on unwrapped designs), a card with your message, flower food and a care guide. A written card is often the gift a patient keeps longest.

Sending Flowers to Maternity Units

Maternity and postpartum units are often among the most flower-friendly areas of a hospital, but stays can be short. To make sure the flowers arrive while the family is still there:

• Order early in the day, ideally for delivery on the first full day after birth.
• Confirm the room number with the family.
• Consider sending to the home a few days later, when things are calmer.

See our new baby flowers for soft, celebratory designs.

Delivering to Local Hospitals in South Florida

Monalli Floral Studio delivers to hospitals throughout our delivery area, including hospitals in Coral Springs and Boca Raton. Every order goes straight from our studio: you'll get a picture of your flowers by text as they head out the door, and another once they've reached your recipient. As with any hospital, unit policies apply, so we always recommend confirming that flowers are permitted for your recipient's unit before ordering.

For same-day hospital delivery, order by 2:00 PM. Visit our same-day flower delivery page, or see local details for Coral Springs and Boca Raton.

What to Write on a Get Well Card

A few short ideas are below; our guide on what to write on a flower card has many more.

• "Get well soon. We're all rooting for you."
• "Sending you love, rest and brighter days ahead."
• "Here's a little sunshine until you're home again."
• "We miss you at the office. Feel better soon!"

Alternatives When Flowers Aren't Allowed

• Send flowers to the home to welcome the patient back.
• Send to the family at home, who are often under stress too.
• Schedule a later delivery for when recovery is underway.
• Give a flower subscription to brighten recovery week after week. See our flower subscription.

Have questions about a specific hospital delivery? Call us at (954) 393-4920 or contact us.