Sunflower get-well arrangement for hospital delivery in Brooklyn

What Flowers to Send to Someone in the Hospital: A Brooklyn Guide

Sunflower get-well arrangement for hospital delivery in Brooklyn

Sending flowers to someone in the hospital is one of the kindest ways to show you care. But hospitals have rules, and a few simple choices make the difference between flowers that brighten a room and flowers that get turned away at the front desk. Here's what our Brooklyn florists have learned from years of hospital deliveries.

1. Check the Unit Before You Order

Most hospital rooms allow flowers, but some units usually don't. Intensive care (ICU), cancer and transplant units, and newborn intensive care (NICU) often restrict fresh flowers and plants because of infection risk for patients with weakened immune systems.

If you're not sure, call the hospital's main number and ask the unit directly. It takes two minutes and saves disappointment. If flowers aren't allowed, consider sending them to the patient's home for when they return.

2. Choose the Right Flowers

The best hospital flowers are cheerful, compact and lightly scented. Hospital rooms are small and often shared, and strong fragrances can bother patients who feel unwell.

  • Great choices: roses, gerbera daisies, sunflowers, carnations, alstroemeria and hydrangeas
  • Avoid: strongly scented flowers like lilies and hyacinths, especially in shared rooms
  • Choose an arrangement in a vase. Nurses rarely have time to find a vase, so a ready-to-display arrangement is much easier.
  • Keep it small to medium. Bedside tables and windowsills fill up fast.

Potted orchids and plants last longer, but because they contain soil, some units don't accept them. When in doubt, choose fresh flowers in water.

3. Balloons: Foil, Not Latex

Latex balloons are commonly banned in hospitals because of latex allergies. If you'd like to add a balloon, choose a foil (Mylar) balloon, like the ones in our balloon collection.

4. What to Include When You Order

Hospital deliveries usually go to the main lobby or information desk, and staff bring them to the patient. To make sure your flowers reach the right person, include:

  • The patient's full name (as registered at the hospital)
  • The room number and unit, if you know them
  • The hospital name and address
  • Your phone number, so we can reach you if the patient has been discharged or moved

5. Timing Matters

Hospital stays can be short. If you want flowers to arrive the same day, order by 6 PM for same-day delivery across Brooklyn and NYC. If the patient is going home tomorrow, it's often better to send flowers to their home instead.

Brooklyn Hospitals We Deliver To

Flowers by SweetPetals is based at 832 Washington Ave in Prospect Heights, close to many of Brooklyn's major hospitals. We deliver get-well flowers to:

We also deliver to hospitals in Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. See all NYC hospital flower delivery options.

What to Write on a Get-Well Card

Keep it short, warm and hopeful:

  • "Thinking of you and sending lots of love for a speedy recovery."
  • "Something bright for your room until you're home again."
  • "Rest up, feel better, and know we're all rooting for you."

Need Help Choosing?

Call us at (718) 255-3477 and our florists will help you pick something that fits the hospital's rules and the patient's taste. Or browse our get-well arrangements and order online by 6 PM for same-day delivery.

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