UrbanStems Flower Delivery Review: Are These Trendy Bouquets Worth It?

As an avid online shopper and flower lover, friends are always asking me about the best places to send floral gifts nationwide. One name that keeps popping up is UrbanStems – a relatively new brand making a big splash with their beautifully designed arrangements and same day delivery.

I couldn’t resist checking out UrbanStems for myself to see if their flowers live up to the hype. Read on for my honest take after personally testing their service.

Overview of UrbanStems: Who Are They?

First, let’s get to know the brand behind these bouquets taking social media by storm…

UrbanStems was founded in 2014 by two young entrepreneurs – Ajay Kori and Jeff Sheely. After meeting in DC, they dreamed of disrupting the $7 billion flower industry by delivering directly to consumers. This cuts out middlemen and allows higher quality blooms at lower cost.

Their innovative business model and gorgeous Instagram-worthy floral designs quickly made UrbanStems a hit. The company embraced the on-demand economy with convenient online ordering and same day delivery to beat florist timing.

Today they partner with over 100 ethical flower farms in South America and deliver to nearly every address across the lower 48 United States.

UrbanStems believes in sustainable flower sourcing and socially responsible business practices. Here are some of their core promises:

• Responsibly Sourced – 90% of farms Rainforest Alliance certified
• Professionally Arranged – Designed beautifully to last
• Hand Delivered – Shipped direct nationwide
• 100% Satisfaction – Blooms guaranteed fresh

Next let’s dive into what everyone wants to know – are their flowers as jaw-dropping as they look online?

Review of UrbanStems Top-Selling Flowers

As a floral fanatic myself, I took it as a personal challenge to test whether UrbanStems arrangements live up to the visual appeal set by their Instagram feed.

I ordered several of their most popular bouquets over a six month period for every occasion I could come up with – just so you don’t have to wonder!

Here are some of my top picks:

UrbanStems The Peony

Nothing says romance like peonies in full bloom. I was anxious to see if buds shipped in a box could rival my favorite farmers’ market finds.

• First Impressions – I chose the mini size Peony bouquet with 10 stems at an affordable $90. The tight buds arrived nested neatly inside a sleek box resembling a high-end gift. I quickly snipped the ends and moved them to a vase.

• The Verdict – Within 24 hours, those furled buds transformed into a lush bouquet of 6-8 inch blooms in shades of blush, cream and pink. The ruffled petals felt luxuriously soft and smelled intoxicating for over a week in my bedroom.

• Longevity – The bouquet lasted an incredible 12 days before needing to be composted. Trimming the stems every few days extends vase life.

For any special date night or just because, The Peony gets my top recommendation based on beauty factor alone!

UrbanStems The Iris

• Price – $55 single, $88 double
• Best For – Birthdays, Easter, spring vibes!

Calling all purple lovers! The Iris took this color trend to an eye-popping level with rich purple blooms alongside crisp white freesias.

I gifted this energetic bouquet to my BFF for her 30th birthday. She said it looked like something straight out of a magazine…and I don’t disagree!

UrbanStems The Poppy

• Price – $65
• Best For – Bold statements, girl’s night in

Of all the flowers I tested from UrbanStems, The Poppy made the strongest visual impact from across the room.

These fiery red blooms intermixed with playful greenery and lemon leaf brought summer vibes to my patio all week long.

I suggest pairing this spunky bouquet with a bottle of rose to liven up a GNO any night of the year!

Now maybe you don’t want run-of-the-mill roses and carnations. I get it…and I highly recommend exploring UrbanStems one-of-a-kind blends like these:

• The Millie – Vibrant orange roses with hot pink and purple accents
• The Ojai – Peachy coral tones for a tropical look
• The Carmel – Earthy eucalyptus and sage mixed with white blooms
• The Pearl – Named for its elegant white rose centerpiece

And if you really want to treat someone (or yourself), splurge for the orchids!

UrbanStems orchids last months and uplift any space with their stunning speckles and stripes. I was thoroughly impressed by the Blush Orchid Bouquet – definitely an extravagance at $140 but still cheaper than most florists.

How Does UrbanStems Delivery & Packaging Hold Up?

Of course beautifully designed arrangements are only half the battle if the flowers arrive in less than pristine condition.

Many people worry that blooms will get damaged during shipping or show up limp and lackluster.

After my half-year testing marathon, I’m pleased to report that UrbanStems delivers on both quality AND convenience.

Here’s why I can confidently recommend their delivery:

• Flowers ship direct from farms not wholesalers
• Packed snuggly in plant food to prevent bruising
• Travel mostly budded for maximum longevity
• Clear delivery windows so you’re home to unwrap
• Ships nationwide via FedEx priority

I was thoroughly impressed to see fragile orchids and heavy hydrangea heads showing up intact every single time.

The fastest I’ve received UrbanStems? Just 2 hours from order to doorstep thanks to their on-demand arrangements in NYC where I used to live.

Even sending flowers out-of-state to my mom, the shipping time is always less than 24 hours with their next day nationwide delivery.

Simply put – UrbanStems offers better quality blooms that GO farther while staying fresher than any other online florist I’ve found.

Debunking Myths Around Online Flower Delivery Services

Despite the obvious benefits of conveniences, I know many people still feel hesitant to trust sending floral arrangements virtually.

Here I want to debunk some common myths floating around about the online flower industry:

Myth #1: The pictures look better than real life bouquets

Reality: Some brands may exaggerate photos through effects and filters, but I found UrbanStems images true to life. If anything, the flowers exceeded expectations!

Myth #2: Without a florist, the arrangements look sloppy

Reality: Direct shipping allows for more specialization actually as flowers come masterfully packaged from the farms. UrbanStems has an in-house design team crafting lovely, pro-style bouquets.

Myth #3: Online flowers won‘t last as long

Reality: Again, the opposite is true! By shipping buds directly, online flowers typically enjoy maximum longevity. I had UrbanStems bouquets looking fabulous for 7-14 days on average.

Myth #4: It‘s risky or difficult to send flowers virtually

Reality: Ordering online is easier than calling a shop, and brands like UrbanStems make the process seamless. They also guarantee freshness and handle issues promptly if flowers arrive less than perfect.

Don’t let outdated ideas stop you from taking advantage of improved quality and convenience ordering flowers online in 2024. Top services like UrbanStems lead the way into the future!

How Much Do UrbanStems Flowers Cost?

Now for the million dollar question – are these coveted flowers actually affordable or only a luxurious splurge?

The answer in short: UrbanStems brings luxury-quality blooms to the mainstream market with everyday-reasonable pricing.

Their floral arrangements range from $50 on the low end for simple rose bouquets up to $500 for lavish orchid centerpieces.

Here’s an overview of their pricing tiers:

Bouquet Size	Price Range
Petite	$50 – $100
Medium	$60 – $150
Deluxe	$100 – $250
Extravagant	$250 – $500+

To compare, a dozen basic roses at 1-800 Flowers will cost you a similar $60.

But UrbanStems offers exotic orchids, garden roses, and premium blooms for just slightly more than drugstore varieties. This makes them an affordable everyday indulgence for flower lovers.

For budget buyers, I recommend sticking to petite and medium bouquets or trying their seasonal weekly stems under $50. Luxe flowers shouldn’t only be a once a year treat!

To save the most money:

• Take advantage of promotions like 20% off for new recipients
• Refer friends for $20 off each of you
• Subscribe and save 10-25% automatically

UrbanStems cost surpasses grocery stores but delivers sophistication far beyond. Ultimately you get what you pay for – and in my eyes, that premium is worthwhile!

How Does UrbanStems Measure Up to the Competition?

In recent years, flower delivery services have proliferated making it tricky to discern differences in quality and value.

I ordered identical classic rose arrangements from UrbanStems, 1-800 Flowers, and The Bouqs to compare side by side.

Here’s an overview of how UrbanStems held up:

• Freshest Blooms – Lasted over 2 weeks and opened most fully
• Most Luxurious – Large head-turning roses with indulgent texture
• Prettiest Presentation – Sleek white box looked gift-worthy
• Best Value – Higher price but bigger wow-factor bouquets

Beyond the delivery giants, UrbanStems stands out from local florists by leveraging direct supply chains for exotic varieties you can’t find elsewhere.

They beat out disruptor startups like The Bouqs Co. by offering broader selection and faster fulfillment nationwide.

When only the highest quality blooms will do, UrbanStems brings boutique charm through sustainable, cutting-edge supply chains – making luxury logistics look effortless!

Caring for Your Flowers from UrbanStems

UrbanStems arrives masters of flower care with blooms nurtured from seed to front door. But the fun doesn’t stop once your bouquet is unboxed!

Here are my top tips for prolonging the life of your floral arrangements:

• Immediately trim 1-2 inches off stem bottoms at an angle before the initial watering – this prevents clogging and allows maximum water uptake
• Use the included flower food packets OR make your own mix of lemon-lime soda + bleach pen cap as plant nutrients
• Display flowers away from direct sunlight or heating/AC vents which can cause premature wilting
• Every 2 days, refresh the water + give the stems another angled trim to expose “fresh” plant tissue
• For greens like fern or eucalyptus, mist with water daily to prevent crispiness

Follow these steps religiously and I’ve enjoyed UrbanStems blooms looking lively for 2 entire weeks!

When plants show signs of distress like wilting or dropping petals/leaves, it’s safest to remove and compost them to prevent decaying the rest of the bouquet.

Overall though, UrbanStems arrival process minimizes stress on the blooms so they revive easily into gorgeous arrangements.

Final Verdict: Are UrbanStems Flowers Worth The Price?

If you couldn’t already tell by my glowing review – yes, UrbanStems is 100% worth it!

They more than deliver on the expectation set by gorgeous website photography and solidify their reputation for stunning stems.

What impresses me most about UrbanStems is how they leverage technology to actually improve purity and shelf-life compared to your average florist.

Direct shipping coaxes plants into lasting longer by transporting buds at peak freshness. And they eliminate middlemen handling to prevent damage.

Simply put – UrbanStems succeeds where traditional retailers fail by innovating floral supply chains BEYOND what’s possible from the local flower shop.

For anyone seeking show-stopping arrangements that elevate special moments, I wholehearted recommend UrbanStems as a reliable delivery partner.

Their flowers bring joy long after the initial “wow", whether its seeing peonies open from tight buds or watching orchids re-bloom months later.

UrbanStems offers luxury-quality blooms at everyday pricing by focusing on next gen experience. Compared to the competition, no one can match their combo of sustainable farms, custom arrangements, and smart logistics.

Still not convinced? Take advantage of their 100% freshness guarantee to try it yourself risk-free.

I’m confident your recipient will be thrilled at the stunning stems that await inside those iconic white boxes. And you might even become a regular like myself!