Sending flowers is a thoughtful gesture that can brighten someone’s day and express love, gratitude, or condolences. However, when sending flowers to Canada, you may face challenges, such as customs regulations, delivery options, and finding a reputable florist. In this article, we’ll provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to send flowers to Canada, covering all the aspects you need to consider to make your gesture a success.
Flowers are a perfect way to celebrate special occasions and honor the lives of those who have passed. Their meaning is universally understood and a great gift to send internationally. It’s relatively easy to send flowers to Canada. Because of its proximity to the U.S. and its common language, most florists in the U.S. are able to handle Canadian floral orders just like a domestic order.
The Challenges of Sending Flowers to Canada
Before we dive into how to send flowers to Canada, let’s address some of the challenges you may encounter.
First, Canada has strict customs regulations prohibiting the importation of certain plants, flowers, and seeds. To avoid any issues with customs, you need to make sure that the flowers you want to send are allowed into Canada.
Second, the vastness of Canada’s geography can pose a challenge when delivering flowers. Depending on the recipient’s location, you may need to use a different delivery service or pay extra fees for remote areas.
Third, finding a reputable florist that can deliver fresh, high-quality flowers to your recipient can be daunting, especially if you don’t have any personal recommendations.
How to Send Flowers to Canada: Step-by-Step Guide
Now that we’ve identified the challenges let’s move on to the step-by-step guide on how to send flowers to Canada.
Step 1
Send flowers via FTD. FTD, or Florists’ Telegraph Delivery as it was originally called, has been sending flowers to remote locations since shortly after the invention of the telegraph. It pioneered overseas deliveries and now delivers approximately 15 million orders worldwide. To choose an arrangement to send to Canada, simply select from any of those offered for the U.S.
Step 2
Select your blooms from 1-800-FLOWERS. 1-800-FLOWERS has a network of 1,500 florists ready to deliver floral delights. 1-800-FLOWERS was an early entry into the online floral business and, as a result of its experience, is able to offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee for products and services. 1-800-FLOWERS has a section of its website dedicated to Canadian orders and can process your order in Canadian dollars if preferred. It can also take your order in French.
Step 3
Have a Teleflora independent florist deliver your gift. Teleflora’s network of florists operates differently than some of its competitors. Teleflora does not ship flowers across great distances. It ships your order to a local florist in your desired area and has that florist personally fulfill the order. With some services, flowers may be shipped unarranged in a box via UPS or FedEx. With Teleflora, flowers are arranged and hand-delivered by a local florist.
Step 4
Contact a Canadian florist directly. If you prefer to work with a florist in Canada, you can find one easily online. A resource for finding the best of the best in Canada is Canadian Florist Magazine’s website. It has an ongoing feature called Top Shops, which spotlights exceptional florists.
Step 5
Order early. Although many florists can ship an order on the same day, it’s always best to get your order in early. Allow time for errors, time zone differences, and local holidays. If possible, orders for major holidays like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Christmas should be placed two weeks in advance. Valentine’s day is the busiest day for florists.
Before choosing the flowers you want to send, ensure they are allowed into Canada. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency provides a list of plants and flowers that are prohibited or restricted from entering Canada. Some restricted flowers include Chrysanthemum, Gladiolus, and Cyclamen, among others. You can check the complete list on their website.
Once you know which flowers are allowed into Canada, you can choose the flowers you want to send. Suppose you’re not sure what to choose. In that case, most florists offer pre-made arrangements for different occasions, such as birthdays, anniversaries, or sympathy. You can customize your bouquet or arrangement based on your preferences and budget.
