Best Flowers For Hospital

How To Choose The Right Hospital Flowers?

Sending flowers to a friend or loved one in hospital can be a thoughtful way to brighten the day of a loved one during their stay and wish them a speedy recovery. However, hospitals often have specific guidelines regarding flowers that need to be followed carefully. There are certain key considerations when selecting flowers for someone in the hospital. It is important to check on the hospital's policies regarding if flowers are allowed, which units or floors permit flowers, and whether certain flower types are restricted. Additionally, the bouquet and arrangement should be designed appropriately for a hospital room. 

Hospital Policies on Flowers

Before sending any flowers to someone in the hospital, it is crucial to check with the hospital regarding their policies. Call the hospital and speak to an administrator or unit manager to inquire about the following:

• Whether flowers are allowed at all: Some hospitals prohibit flowers completely due to infection control procedures or allergy issues. Generally speaking, for example, flowers are never allowed into ICU's in Australia.

• Which hospital units or floors permit flower deliveries: Intensive care units, surgery floors, and units with immunocompromised patients often do not allow flowers.

• If there are any restrictions on flower types: Hospitals may prohibit flowers with strong fragrances, high pollen counts, or sharp thorns to prevent causing discomfort to patients.

• Limits on flower arrangement sizes: Hospital rooms have limited space, so large floral displays may not be allowed.

Thoroughly checking and understanding the hospital's flower policies first will ensure your floral gift follows all guidelines and makes it to the recipient. Calling ahead ultimately prevents any wasted effort or confusion for hospital staff down the line.

Best Flowers for Hospital in Australia

When selecting the best flowers for someone in hospital in Australia, the flower type and arrangement style require careful consideration.

Flower Types

Focus on choosing flowers that are unlikely to aggravate allergies or sensitivities. Hypoallergenic options like roses, carnations, and orchids are ideal. Avoid highly fragrant flowers, as well as flowers with excessive pollen, sharp thorns, or other features that could cause discomfort. Stick to cheerful, bright colored blooms like yellow or orange flowers to lift the recipient's mood.

Flower Arrangements

Opt for small flower arrangements like below, rather than large, elaborate displays. Make sure the bouquet is easy to move around and will fit conveniently on a bedside hospital table. The hospital room will have limited space, so massive arrangements should be avoided. A petite, thoughtful flower arrangement can be just as meaningful. Consider the recipient's personal tastes as well when designing the arrangement. See all our flower arrangements.

The key is selecting the right flowers and bouquet style to suit the hospital environment, while still brightening the recipient's day. Checking for allergies and designing a tailored, compact arrangement shows care and consideration. 

What Colour Flowers for Hospital Patients

When selecting flowers for someone who is hospitalised, optimistic and cheerful colors are best for lifting the mood and spirits. Pastels like soft pink, purple, yellow, or orange are perfect choices that bring a sense of brightness into an otherwise sterile hospital environment. These lively yet gentle tones convey warmth, hope, and tranquility. Bright red flowers can also impart energising and uplifting feelings. 

Avoid darker or more somber colors like burgundies, browns, or whites, as these could unintentionally remind the recipient of unpleasantness or mortality. Whether arranging a bouquet or choosing a single stem, pick lively, vivid colors that create an atmosphere of optimism and vibrancy around someone who is unwell. The right floral hues can do wonders for promoting healing by boosting morale.

Why do we Even Bring Flowers to a Hospital?

• To brighten the mood. Hospital rooms can be dreary, so a vibrant bouquet brings warmth and color into a bland environment. The recipient feels cared for and comforted.
• To convey sympathy. Flowers let the person know you're thinking of them and wishing them improved health. It's a symbolic gesture showing support.
• To provide distraction. Looking at and smelling beautiful flowers gives the patient a positive sensory experience to focus on instead of pain or discomfort.
• To signify hope. The brightness, fragrance and vitality of fresh flowers hint at renewal and optimism - uplifting emotions to aid healing.
• To express sentiments. Bouquets allow visitors to communicate encouragement and heartfelt emotions more eloquently through botanical symbols and meanings.

Consider the Recipient

When selecting flowers for someone in the hospital, it is important to consider the recipient's personal preferences and health situation.

First, find out if the recipient has any known allergies or sensitivities to specific flowers. For example, they may have asthma that is triggered by strong fragrances. Avoid floral choices that could cause an allergic reaction or breathing difficulties.

Additionally, take the recipient's favorite colors and flower types into account if possible. Think about the styles and arrangements they tend to appreciate when healthy at home. While hospital flower guidelines still need to be followed, incorporating personal preferences shows thoughtfulness.

Finally, match the flower tone to the reason behind the hospitalisation. For a serious illness or injury, pastel colored daisies, as above, may suit the situation better than bright red roses. However, for a routine procedure, a vibrant mixed bouquet could better uplift their spirits. Consider flower meanings, such as wishing luck with iris or encouraging healing with bellflowers.

Putting the recipient first when deciding on hospital flowers demonstrates care and understanding during a challenging health event. Determining flower guidelines and personalizing the choice is key.

Timely Delivery

Carefully scheduling the hospital flower delivery is key to ensuring it reaches the recipient in a timely manner.

1. First, contact the hospital to ask about designated flower delivery hours for the recipient's unit. Many hospitals only allow flower deliveries during visitor hours to prevent disturbing patients' rest. These often fall in the late afternoon or early evening.
2. Then, place the flower order at least one day in advance, specifying the delivery date and preferred window. Avoid busy hospital times like weekends or holidays when flower deliveries may get backed up. Schedule the delivery so the flowers arrive when the recipient can best enjoy them.
3. Finally, provide detailed delivery instructions with the full hospital name, recipient name, room number, and any other specifications from the hospital. Accurate information prevents delivery delays or confusion hunting down the correct room.

Timing the hospital flower delivery right demonstrates care and understanding when your loved one requires a hospital stay. Advance planning ensures the bouquet arrives on time to lift their spirits when they most need it.

Alternative Gift Ideas

If flowers are prohibited by the hospital, there are several alternative gift options to brighten the recipient's day.

Fruit baskets make tasty or hampers, nutritious gifts that are easy for the nursing staff to help the recipient enjoy. Dried fruits, nuts, crackers and other non-perishable snacks are also handy for a hospital stay. Balloons can instantly add cheer to a hospital room. Mylar or foil balloons will last longer than standard latex balloons.

Comfort items help a patient feel more at home, like soft blankets, warm socks, and hygiene products. Entertainment gifts are useful too, such as books, magazines, adult coloring books and card games for passing the time.

For longer hospital stays, consider assembling a care package with handy items for post-discharge recovery. Useful products include non-slip slippers, robe, thermometer, bottled water and nutritious, easy-to-prepare snacks.

Personalised photo blankets, stuffed animals, or inspirational figurines can remind the patient of loved ones rooting for their recovery. A heartfelt card with messages from close family and friends may be the most meaningful gift of all.

With some creative thought, gift-givers can find the perfect hospital gift alternative to flowers that provides comfort, entertainment, and cheer during a difficult health challenge.

Seeds Of Wisdom - summing up

Sending flowers can be a thoughtful gesture during a hospitalisation, but requires careful consideration regarding hospital policies, the recipient's needs, and practical delivery logistics. By thoroughly checking flower guidelines for the specific hospital unit, thoughtfully tailoring your floral choice to the recipient, and properly timing the gift delivery, your bouquet can create a cheerful oasis in the sterile hospital room environment. Alternatively, if flowers are prohibited, small comfort gifts can also brighten the recipient's challenging days.

The key is not just following the hospital rules, but personalising your gift choice to support the recipient's recovery while understanding the realities of an intense hospital care setting. With some advance planning and attention to detail, you can select a hospital gift that works within the restrictions yet still conveys your compassion. Though the process may require some compromise, putting your loved one's needs first when choosing a suitable token of care and support has the power to lift their spirits when they need it most.

* First published in February 2024. Updated and republished on 27.5.24. We included new ideas on what to send, plus new imagery, and other useful information including adding our phone number if you need to contact us. We also added some commonly asked questions and answers that we often get asked on the phone when someone is ordering flowers to a hospital.