Last spring, I tried to plant a cut flower garden.
I started seeds on my windowsill, nurtured them into delicate seedlings, and amended a corner of my yard with good soil and compost for them to thrive.
Then, I planted my seedlings lovingly in their new home while dreaming of carrying armfuls of fragrant blooms into my kitchen.
The next day, I looked outside my window to see a family of squirrels using my new flower bed as a landing pad for their acrobatics—clumps of dirt and broken stems everywhere.
I’m determined to try again next year, but for now, I think I’ll stick with bouquet deliveries to get my flower fix, which is where UrbanStems comes into play. They deliver modern arrangements that, let’s face it, look better than anything I could have put together myself anyway.
Before you keep reading…
If you’re looking for a flower delivery service that offers a more contemporary selection than huge sites like 1800 Flowers and Proflowers, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by UrbanStems’ offerings. Their arrangements look like something you’d find at a small boutique floral shop, and their prices are comparable to or better than most of their competition.
What I Think About UrbanStems
UrbanStems delivers an extensive but well-curated selection of flower arrangements, plants, and a handful of add-on gifts across the continental U.S. I think the biggest thing that sets them apart from other similar services (including the major players) is their arrangements themselves. While you can still find classic and elegant bundles of roses on their site, most of their arrangements feel more modern and exciting.
I’m sure your grandma got a kick out of the carnations arranged in the shape of a dog the first time you sent them, but she’s probably ready for something new by now. The shape and texture of the arrangements really contribute to them feeling artistic and elevated—think Pinterest-worthy wedding bouquet rather than the same dated-looking arrangements tied with a colorful satin ribbon.
Some of my favorite arrangements:
“The Flutter”
“The Margot”
“The Parasol”
“The Devastation” (I mean…are you kidding me??)
The Website
Their website is very easy to navigate (especially compared to some of those larger companies) and lets you sort the arrangements by occasion, collection, price, flower color, and more—they even have a list of hypoallergenic flowers.
Their selection is smaller than a lot of other sites, but each bouquet is unique (most come in two or three sizes) and I think the site’s curation makes it feel less overwhelming.
Their selection of plants is on the small side, and their “gift” offerings are really just add-ons to go alongside arrangements, not stand-alone gifts. While I do think they could offer more here, I understand that most people come to a site like this for flower arrangements anyway. Plus, like the bouquets, the add-ons are well-curated. You can upgrade your order with the addition of chocolates, candles, bath products, or hot chocolate. They also have an assortment of pretty vase options.
I really don’t know if I can stress this next part enough:
One of my favorite things about their site was that the images actually show the size of the arrangement you get for that price. I’m not going to name names, but there are a lot of sites out there that pull kind of a bait and switch where they show you the lowest price for that arrangement (the price for the smallest size) alongside the picture of one of the larger sizes that the arrangement is available in. It’s a huge pet peeve of mine.
The listing image for the arrangement I received: “The Zay Bouquet.”
My arrangement. I think it was very true to the listing!
Pricing
Their prices are comparable to other floral delivery sites, though I think you get a little more bang for your buck from UrbanStems, both in size and quality. Their smaller-sized arrangements run about $50 to $90 each, though they’re closer in size to the mid-sized arrangements from larger companies. The largest arrangements they currently have on the site cost $239, though most of the large-sized arrangements seem to hover around $125 to $175.
They also offer a rewards program, so if you’re someone who sends a lot of flowers, you can join for early access to sales and discounts on future purchases. It’s free to sign up.
The plants are priced a little higher than I feel like they should be, but they do all come with cute planters (which makes sense—a bare-root houseplant doesn’t make nearly as nice of a gift). I don’t think the prices are unreasonable—I’d just consider them “boutique prices”—but I do think I’ll probably stick with their flower arrangements for gifts. That being said, it’s nice that they offer a few plants since many people prefer them over the impermanence of cut flowers. That, and their selection is thoughtful. They’re currently offering an adorable pink anthurium for Valentine’s Day.
Shipping
UrbanStems offers rush shipping on most of their products and same-day delivery in some major metro areas. Unfortunately, the rush shipping options weren’t 100% accurate for me. While a lot of arrangements popped up when I selected “tomorrow” under their rush delivery option, a few of them couldn’t actually be delivered for about three days. If you need something rushed, I would check that it will actually make it to your destination on time before getting your heart set on a particular arrangement. Luckily, I was still able to find plenty of options that would make it to my area within 24 to 48 hours.
UrbanStems’ Flower Delivery Subscription
One of my favorite things about UrbanStems is their customizable subscription options. They offer three different subscription tiers:
- Classic: standard-sized bouquets, $60/delivery
- Seasonal: seasonal bouquets, your first order comes with a glass vase, $75/delivery
- Luxe: premium bouquets, each with a custom vase, your first order comes with branded shears, $105/delivery
You can choose between weekly, biweekly, and monthly delivery for each, and can either pay as you go or pre-pay for three to 12 deliveries in advance.
While other sites offer “bouquet of the month” type subscriptions, it’s rare to find one that lets you choose both your subscription type/tier and its delivery frequency. I don’t know about you, but monthly seasonal flowers sound like a dream to me!
My Experience With UrbanStems
Unboxing
For some people, it may be inconsequential, but I think that UrbanStems’ packaging is another thing that sets them apart from other floral delivery services. I have to imagine that most people are sending these flowers as gifts, and in my opinion, thoughtful packaging is one of those things that takes a gift to the next level.
The box that my flowers arrived in was sturdy and protective (not a single dropped leaf or broken stem!). I liked the colorful (and useful!) care instructions on the inside of the lid and the way that the arrangement was held safely while still being on display—since there’s only one way to open the box, it guarantees that your recipient will have a great first impression of their flowers. It’s the little things!
The vase was extra secure with bubble wrap and a zip tie.
The Arrangement
My first impression when I opened the box was how fresh the flowers smelled! I could smell the eucalyptus immediately.
My arrangement was wrapped in kraft paper and cellophane and bundled together with thin rubber bands. It came with a simple glass vase (a $15 add-on item) and a packet of flower food. I trimmed the stems but left the rubber band around the flowers until after I put them in water—that way, I was able to keep the shape of the arrangement intact.
At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, I think it’s definitely one of the prettiest flower arrangements I’ve ever received.
Pros:
- Their bouquets are just prettier than the ones from other sites. There isn’t really any other way to say it.
- Their designs are thoughtful—they use interesting flowers, colors, and textures and don’t rely on too much filler or dated arrangements and color palettes.
Cons:
- Their selection is smaller than some other sites.
- Not everything is available for same-day or next-day shipping.
- Their selection of plants, gift items, and add-ons could be expanded.
- Since they rely heavily on seasonal flowers, not all of their arrangements are available year-round. (While I personally don’t consider this a deal-breaker by any means, I can see how it might frustrate some people).
Update: It’s been three days since I received the arrangement. The white roses are beginning to brown just a bit on the edges of their petals, but other than that, I think the flowers look just as good as the day I got them—maybe even a little bit better since they’re a bit more open. I’m guessing I might have to remove the roses at some point, but I think if I keep an eye on the water and change it out once in a while, I can keep these looking good for quite a while.
There’s just the tiniest bit of brown on the edges of the rose petals after three days.
How UrbanStems Compares to Other Alternatives
If possible, I always like to support small, local businesses. Unfortunately, not everyone has a local florist in their area (much less one that offers flower subscriptions). If you don’t find what you’re looking for at UrbanStems and you can’t find a boutique shop near your recipient, check out these alternatives:
- 1800-Flowers and ProFlowers: These guys are essentially two sides of the same coin. They have massive selections and delivery areas, but a lot of their arrangements feel redundant or dated to me.
- Farmgirl Flowers: This is probably the closest selection I’ve found to UrbanStems. I think their arrangements are lovely (if not a bit unwieldy), but they are considerably more expensive than a lot of other sites. They do have options for recurring deliveries.
Final Thoughts
I’m definitely going to use UrbanStems next time I send flowers to someone. I’m really happy with the arrangement I got from them—it’s gorgeous, arrived safely and quickly, and has held up beautifully so far. Plus, their arrangements are just more my style than those offered by a lot of other sites. You get the quality of a small boutique florist with the convenience of online ordering and fast coast-to-coast shipping.
- UrbanStems Review: Not Your Grandma’s Flower Arrangements - January 24, 2025
- Best STEM Toy Subscription Boxes - February 27, 2024
- Paya Health Review: Is Paya Health Legit? - January 30, 2024