Sending flowers to a Birmingham hospital: what to know first

Hospital deliveries are some of the most meaningful we make, and the ones most likely to go wrong when they’re handled by a call center three states away. A few details make all the difference.

Check whether the unit accepts flowers

Most general floors welcome flowers, but intensive care, oncology, transplant and some neonatal units usually don’t allow fresh flowers or plants because of infection risk. Policies change, so we call the unit before we load the van. If flowers aren’t allowed, we’ll ask you whether to deliver to the patient’s home instead or hold the order until discharge.

Give us the room, not just the hospital

Large campuses like UAB route deliveries through a central desk. Include the patient’s full name as it appears on their admission, the building if you know it, and the room number. Add these in the delivery notes at checkout.

Choose something compact and lightly scented

Bedside tables are small and roommates may be sensitive to strong fragrance. Hand-tied tulips, our Highland Park arrangement or a small plant are easy to fit and easy to take home.

• Hospital deliveries go out between 9 am and 5 pm, inside most visiting hours.
• We don’t deliver balloons to units that prohibit latex.
• For a new baby, we avoid lilies and heavily scented stems.