How to Send Flowers to Dominican-Republic from United States — 2026 Guide

Sending flowers to the Dominican Republic from the United States works best through a service that partners with a local Dominican florist — same-day delivery is available in Santo Domingo, Santiago, Punta Cana, La Romana, Puerto Plata and most major cities if you order before 13:00 Atlantic Standard Time. Expect to pay $50–$240 including the flat $14.95 service fee, and remember that Mother's Day in the Dominican Republic falls on the last Sunday of May, not the second Sunday as in the US, and that Dominican addresses require both a street name and a sector or neighborhood name for reliable delivery.

The Dominican Republic is one of the top five cross-border flower-delivery destinations from the United States. More than 2.4 million people of Dominican origin live in the US — concentrated in New York City, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Florida — and every year there are millions of moments when someone wants to send flowers back home: a mother's birthday in Santo Domingo, a wedding in Santiago, a funeral in San Francisco de Macorís, a graduation in La Vega. But sending flowers to the Dominican Republic is not the same as sending them domestically. Customs are not an issue because fresh-cut flowers arranged and delivered in-country never cross a border, but address formats without numbered streets, phone prefixes that differ for mobile versus landline, peso dominicano pricing, and the Día de las Madres calendar all catch first-time senders off guard. This guide walks through every step with specific facts for the US–Dominican Republic corridor.

Is sending flowers to the Dominican Republic from the US considered international?

Yes — the Dominican Republic is a sovereign country with its own currency (DOP peso dominicano), its own postal and courier infrastructure (INPOSDOM and private carriers), and its own phone code (+1-809, +1-829, +1-849). But in practice, flower delivery does not touch customs. Fresh-cut flowers arranged and delivered in the Dominican Republic by a local florist never cross a border. You place the order online in USD from the US, the order is transmitted electronically to a partner florist in Santo Domingo or Santiago or Punta Cana, that florist sources flowers from local wholesalers or importers (roses, lilies, orchids), arranges the bouquet, and delivers it the same day or next day. No package crosses customs, no import duty applies, and no phytosanitary certificate is needed. The only cross-border element is the payment instruction.

For the sender, this means the experience is simple: you pay in USD, you provide a Dominican address and a +1-809/829/849 phone number, and the recipient receives a fresh arrangement from a local florist who speaks Spanish and knows the neighborhood. The transaction is international in the technical sense, but the flowers themselves are domestic.

What is the best way to send flowers to the Dominican Republic from the US?

The best way is to use a cross-border flower-delivery platform like abcFlora that partners with vetted local florists across the Dominican Republic. This model beats the three common alternatives. First, wire services like FTD and Teleflora do have some Dominican affiliates, but their affiliate networks in the country are thin (often just one or two florists in Santo Domingo), delivery reliability is inconsistent, and the total cost after relay fees and conversion markups often exceeds $200 for a mid-range arrangement. Second, calling a florist in the Dominican Republic directly works if you speak Spanish and have a Dominican credit card or can coordinate a wire transfer, but many local florists do not accept US credit cards online, phone support for English speakers is limited, and pricing is in pesos with unclear conversion. Third, shipping a boxed arrangement via FedEx or DHL from the US to the Dominican Republic is possible in theory, but customs delays, high shipping costs ($80–$150 for express), and the risk of wilting make it impractical for a time-sensitive gift.

A platform like abcFlora solves all of these problems: you browse arrangements in USD, you pay once with no hidden fees, the order is routed to a local florist in the recipient's city (Santo Domingo, Santiago, Punta Cana, etc.), and that florist delivers the same day if you order before 13:00 Atlantic Standard Time. The recipient gets a fresh arrangement that was assembled locally within hours of delivery, not a box that sat in transit for three days. You get order tracking, photo proof of delivery in most cases, and English-language customer support. The total cost is transparent upfront: the arrangement price ($35–$225 depending on size and flowers) plus a flat $14.95 service fee, no FX markup, no relay fee, no surprise charges.

How do I send flowers to the Dominican Republic from the US, step by step?

Here is the exact seven-step process for sending flowers to the Dominican Republic from the United States using abcFlora:

1. Go to the Dominican Republic collection page. Navigate to abcFlora.com/collections/dominican-republic to see all available arrangements for Dominican delivery. Each product shows the final USD price including local delivery within the recipient's city (Santo Domingo, Santiago, Punta Cana, etc.), the earliest delivery date, and the source photos from the partner florist.
2. Select an arrangement and delivery date. Click into the arrangement you want. On the product page, choose a delivery date from the calendar. For same-day delivery, order before 13:00 AST (Atlantic Standard Time, which is the same as Eastern Daylight Time during US daylight saving months, but one hour ahead of EST during winter months — the Dominican Republic does not observe daylight saving). Next-day and future-date delivery are always available.
3. Enter the recipient's full Dominican address. In the address fields, provide the recipient's street name, house or building number, sector or neighborhood name, city, and province. Dominican addresses typically follow the format: Calle [street name], No. [number], Sector [neighborhood], [City], [Province]. For example: Calle El Vergel, No. 45, Sector Los Prados, Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional. Many Dominican streets do not have numeric names; instead they have names like Calle Proyecto or Avenida Abraham Lincoln. The sector or neighborhood name is critical because multiple streets can share the same name in different parts of the city. If you are unsure, ask the recipient for their full address including the sector.
4. Provide a valid Dominican phone number. Enter the recipient's phone number in the format +1-809-XXX-XXXX, +1-829-XXX-XXXX, or +1-849-XXX-XXXX. The Dominican Republic uses three area codes, all under the +1 North American Numbering Plan: 809 (original), 829 (overlay), and 849 (overlay). Mobile and landline numbers share these codes, so you cannot distinguish by prefix alone. Always include the full 10 digits after +1. The florist will call this number if there is a delivery issue (recipient not home, address unclear, gate code needed).
5. Write your card message in English or Spanish. In the card-message field, type your message. You can write in English or Spanish; most Dominican florists are bilingual and will transcribe your message onto the card exactly as written. Keep it under 200 characters. Common phrases: Feliz cumpleaños (happy birthday), Feliz Día de las Madres (happy Mother's Day), Con cariño (with love), Te extraño (I miss you).
6. Check out and pay in USD. Proceed to checkout. The total will show the arrangement price plus $14.95 flat service fee. Pay with Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, or PayPal. There is no foreign-transaction fee on abcFlora's side (your own bank may charge one, typically 1–3%, but that is separate). Payment is processed in USD. You will receive an order confirmation email immediately with a tracking link.
7. Track delivery and receive photo proof. The order is transmitted to the local partner florist within minutes. The florist prepares the arrangement and delivers it on the date you selected. You receive an SMS or email when the delivery is out for delivery and when it is completed. Most deliveries include photo proof (a photo of the arrangement at the recipient's door or in the recipient's hands) sent to your email within hours of delivery.

How much does it cost to send flowers to the Dominican Republic from the US?

The total cost to send flowers to the Dominican Republic from the United States through abcFlora breaks down as follows:

• Arrangement price: $35–$225. This depends on the size and type of flowers. A small mixed bouquet of local seasonal flowers starts around $35–$50. A dozen imported roses runs $60–$90. A large premium arrangement with lilies, orchids, and tropical greens can reach $150–$225. All prices are in USD and include local delivery within the recipient's city (Santo Domingo, Santiago, Punta Cana, La Romana, Puerto Plata, etc.).
• Flat service fee: $14.95. This is abcFlora's fee for order processing, florist network coordination, customer support, and delivery tracking. It is the same regardless of arrangement size or destination city. There is no percentage markup, no relay fee, and no hidden charges.
• Card message: free. A handwritten or printed card with your message is included at no extra cost.
• No foreign-exchange markup. You pay in USD. The florist is paid in DOP pesos at the real mid-market exchange rate with no spread. Some wire services add 3–5% FX markup on top of their relay fees; abcFlora does not.

So a typical mid-range order — say, a $75 mixed bouquet of roses and lilies delivered to an address in Santo Domingo — costs exactly $89.95 total. That is the final price. Compare this to FTD or 1-800-Flowers, where a similar arrangement often shows as $70–$80 base price, then adds a $15–$20 service fee, a $10–$15 relay fee, and sometimes a delivery surcharge, bringing the total to $110–$125. The abcFlora model is transparent and typically 15–25% less expensive for the same quality.

Which cities in the Dominican Republic can I send flowers to?

abcFlora partners with local florists in all major Dominican cities and many smaller towns. Same-day delivery is available in the following cities if you order before 13:00 AST:

• Santo Domingo — the capital and largest city, home to 3+ million people in the greater metro area (Distrito Nacional and Santo Domingo province); same-day delivery covers all major sectors including Piantini, Naco, Bella Vista, Gazcue, Los Prados, Arroyo Hondo, and the Zona Colonial; address must include the sector name because many streets share names across different neighborhoods.
• Santiago de los Caballeros — the second-largest city in the Cibao Valley, population ~1 million in the metro area; same-day delivery available to central sectors including Centro, Gurabo, Los Jardines, and Cienfuegos; Santiago is a major commercial hub and florists here have access to fresh imports from the Cibao agricultural region.
• Punta Cana / Bávaro — the resort area on the eastern coast; same-day delivery to hotels, villas, and residential addresses in Punta Cana, Bávaro, Cap Cana, and Uvero Alto; this is a popular corridor for US senders celebrating anniversaries, honeymoons, or sending flowers to resort staff; specify the resort or villa name in the address field.
• La Romana — a city on the southeast coast known for the Casa de Campo resort and nearby Altos de Chavón; same-day delivery available to the city center and Casa de Campo properties; La Romana is also a center for sugar and tourism, and local florists often use tropical flowers like heliconias and gingers in arrangements.
• Puerto Plata — a historic port city on the northern coast, gateway to the Playa Dorada resort strip and Sosúa; same-day delivery covers the city center, Playa Dorada, Sosúa, and Cabarete; this area has a mix of Dominican residents and expatriate communities, and florists serve both local and resort clients.
• San Pedro de Macorís — an industrial and port city east of Santo Domingo, known for sugar and baseball heritage; same-day delivery available to central and residential neighborhoods; many US–Dominican families have roots here.
• La Vega — a city in the central Cibao region, famous for its Carnival and agriculture; same-day delivery to the city center and nearby Jarabacoa (mountain town popular for eco-tourism and weddings); florists in La Vega have strong access to local farm flowers.
• San Francisco de Macorís — a city in the northeastern Cibao, known for cacao and agriculture; same-day delivery to central sectors; this is a common origin city for Dominican diaspora families in New York and Boston.
• Higüey — the capital of La Altagracia province, home to the Basílica of Our Lady of Altagracia; same-day delivery available; Higüey is a pilgrimage site and florists here often prepare arrangements for religious occasions.
• Barahona — a coastal city in the southwest, gateway to the Sierra de Bahoruco mountains and Bahía de las Águilas; next-day delivery is standard (same-day possible if ordered very early); Barahona is more remote but florists serve local and eco-tourism clients.
• Samaná — a peninsula town on the northeast coast known for whale watching and beaches; next-day delivery is typical due to logistics; florists in Samaná specialize in tropical and beach-wedding arrangements.
• Boca Chica — a beach town near the Las Américas International Airport, east of Santo Domingo; same-day delivery available; popular for last-minute airport-area deliveries or beach celebrations.

For smaller towns or rural areas not listed above, next-day or two-day delivery is available. Contact abcFlora support to confirm coverage for a specific address.

Can I pay with Bitcoin, USDC or Ethereum?

Yes. abcFlora accepts Bitcoin (BTC), USD Coin (USDC on Ethereum or Polygon), Ethereum (ETH), and Lightning Network payments in addition to credit cards and PayPal. If you are sending money to the Dominican Republic regularly — supporting family, paying for services, or gifting — you may already use crypto to avoid the 3–8% foreign-transaction and wire-transfer fees charged by banks and traditional remittance services. Flower delivery is no different. When you pay with USDC or Bitcoin, abcFlora converts the crypto to USD at the mid-market rate (via Coinbase Commerce or a similar processor) with zero markup, meaning you get the same final price as a card user but you save your own bank's 3% foreign-transaction fee.

The advantage for US senders is particularly strong if you already hold crypto. For example, if you are sending $100 worth of flowers to Santo Domingo and you pay with a US credit card, your bank may charge a 3% FX fee even though the transaction is in USD, simply because the merchant category code flags it as international. That is an extra $3. If you pay with USDC stablecoin from a wallet like MetaMask or Coinbase Wallet, you pay exactly $100 equivalent in USDC, no fee. The same logic applies to Bitcoin or Lightning: you lock in the BTC/USD rate at checkout, the order is guaranteed for 15 minutes, and once the payment confirms, the florist receives the order immediately. Crypto payments settle in 10 minutes to 1 hour depending on network congestion, which is fast enough for same-day flower orders if you order before the 13:00 cutoff.

One cultural note: cryptocurrency adoption in the Dominican Republic is growing, especially in Santo Domingo and Santiago, but it is not yet mainstream for everyday transactions. Your recipient will receive flowers arranged and delivered by a local florist who is paid in pesos via the abcFlora network; they will not know or need to know that you paid with Bitcoin. The crypto option is purely for your convenience as the sender.

What flowers are most popular in the Dominican Republic?

The Dominican Republic has a tropical climate year-round, which means local florists have access to both imported temperate flowers (roses, lilies, carnations from Ecuador or Colombia) and native tropical flowers and foliage. The most popular flowers for gifting in the Dominican Republic are:

• Roses — red roses are the classic choice for romantic occasions (Valentine's Day, anniversaries, proposals), and mixed-color rose bouquets are common for birthdays and celebrations; most roses sold in the Dominican Republic are imported from Ecuador or Colombia, not grown locally, but they are fresh and high-quality due to short air-freight times.
• Lilies — white lilies (azucenas in Spanish) are traditional for religious occasions, funerals, and Mother's Day in the Dominican Republic; they symbolize purity and are often used in church arrangements and sympathy tributes; Asiatic and Oriental lilies are popular for celebrations and graduations.
• Orchids — orchids are considered exotic and elegant, and they are frequently given as gifts for new homes, business openings, and high-end celebrations; the Dominican Republic does have native orchid species, but most florist orchids are Phalaenopsis (moth orchids) imported from farms in the region.
• Heliconias and gingers — these are tropical flowers native to the Caribbean and Central America; heliconias have bright red, orange, or yellow bracts and are used in large statement arrangements; florists in Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, and La Romana use them frequently in resort and destination-wedding work.
• Anthuriums — another tropical flower with glossy, heart-shaped spathes in red, pink, or white; anthuriums symbolize hospitality and are popular for welcome arrangements and corporate gifts in the Dominican Republic.
• Sunflowers — (girasoles) are cheerful and popular for birthdays and congratulations; they are not native to the island but are grown locally and imported, and they are widely available in urban florist shops.
• Tropical foliage — monstera leaves, palm fronds, and ti leaves are used as greenery in many Dominican arrangements to give a lush, island feel; these are abundant and inexpensive locally.

One cultural note: in the Dominican Republic, as in much of Latin America, flowers are gender-neutral gifts. It is completely normal to send flowers to a man for a birthday, Father's Day, or a professional achievement. Mixed arrangements with bright colors and tropical foliage are common for male recipients. Also, the tradition of giving flowers on Día de las Madres (Mother's Day) is extremely strong in the Dominican Republic — the last Sunday of May is one of the busiest days of the year for florists, and many families attend church and then gather for a meal, bringing flowers for mothers and grandmothers. If you are sending flowers for Mother's Day from the US, order at least two days in advance because demand is very high and same-day slots fill up quickly.

What mistakes should I avoid when sending flowers to the Dominican Republic?

Here are the most common mistakes first-time senders make when sending flowers to the Dominican Republic from the United States, and how to avoid them:

• Assuming US Mother's Day applies. Mother's Day in the Dominican Republic is the last Sunday of May, not the second Sunday as in the US. In 2026, that is May 31 in the Dominican Republic versus May 10 in the US. If you order flowers for the second Sunday in May thinking it is Mother's Day, your gift will arrive three weeks early. Always confirm the date: último domingo de mayo.
• Providing an incomplete address without the sector. Dominican addresses are not based on a numbered grid system like in the US. Streets have names, not numbers, and the same street name can appear in multiple neighborhoods across a city. The sector or neighborhood name is essential. An address like "Calle 10, Santo Domingo" is ambiguous; "Calle 10, Sector Los Prados, Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional" is precise. If you are unsure, ask the recipient for their full address including the sector and nearby landmarks.
• Entering the phone number without the area code. Dominican phone numbers require one of three area codes: 809, 829, or 849. All are part of the +1 North American Numbering Plan. The full format is +1-809-XXX-XXXX (or 829/849). If you only provide seven digits, the florist cannot call to confirm delivery. Also, some US phones auto-format +1-809 numbers as domestic US calls, which can cause confusion; make sure the recipient can receive calls from a +1-809/829/849 number.
• Ordering at 14:00 US Eastern Time and expecting same-day delivery. The cutoff for same-day delivery is 13:00 AST (Atlantic Standard Time), which is the time zone in the Dominican Republic. AST is the same as US EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) from March to November, but it is one hour ahead of US EST from November to March because the Dominican Republic does not observe daylight saving time. In winter months, 13:00 AST is 12:00 noon EST. If you order at 14:00 EST in January, you have missed the cutoff by two hours. Always check the local time in the Dominican Republic before placing a same-day order.
• Choosing funeral flowers with bright colors. In the Dominican Republic, funeral and sympathy arrangements are typically white or pastel — white lilies, white roses, white chrysanthemums, soft pink or lavender accents. Bright red or orange arrangements are for celebrations, not mourning. If you are sending flowers for a funeral or a novenario (nine-day mourning period), specify "sympathy" or "funeral" in the order notes and choose an arrangement with white or muted tones.
• Using PayPal without confirming the recipient address is deliverable. PayPal sometimes auto-fills a billing address that is not the same as the delivery address. Double-check that the address in the abcFlora order form is the recipient's physical address in the Dominican Republic, not your own US billing address. This sounds obvious, but it is a common error when users click through checkout quickly.
• Expecting USPS-style tracking with GPS. Flower delivery in the Dominican Republic is handled by local florists and independent couriers, not by USPS or FedEx. You will receive delivery confirmation and often photo proof, but you will not get live GPS tracking as the driver moves through Santo Domingo. This is normal for fresh-flower delivery worldwide (even in the US, FTD and local florists do not provide GPS tracking). Trust the confirmation email and photo proof.

Frequently asked questions

Can I send flowers to a hotel or resort in Punta Cana?

Yes. Provide the full resort name (e.g., "Barceló Bávaro Palace, Punta Cana"), the recipient's name, and their room number if known. The florist will coordinate with the resort concierge to deliver the flowers to the room or front desk. If the recipient is checking in on the delivery date, note the expected check-in time in the order notes so the florist can time the delivery appropriately. Resort deliveries in Punta Cana, Cap Cana, and Bávaro are common and reliable.

What if the recipient is not home when the flowers are delivered?

The florist will attempt delivery at the address you provided. If no one is home, the florist will call the recipient's phone number (the one you entered) to arrange a redelivery time or leave the flowers with a neighbor or building security if the recipient gives permission by phone. In gated communities in Santo Domingo or Santiago, the florist will often leave the flowers with the guard at the gate if they cannot reach the resident. You can also add delivery instructions in the order notes, such as "leave with neighbor in apartment 3B" or "call recipient 30 minutes before delivery."

Do I need to know Spanish to send flowers to the Dominican Republic?

No. The abcFlora website and checkout process are in English. You can write your card message in English or Spanish; the florist will transcribe it exactly as you write it. If there is a delivery issue, abcFlora's customer support team (English-speaking) will coordinate with the local florist (Spanish-speaking) on your behalf. The recipient does not need to speak English; the florist who delivers the flowers will communicate with them in Spanish.

Can I send flowers for Día de los Padres (Father's Day) in the Dominican Republic?

Yes. Father's Day in the Dominican Republic is the last Sunday of July, not the third Sunday of June as in the US. In 2026, that is July 26 in the Dominican Republic versus June 21 in the US. Flower arrangements for Father's Day typically include bold colors (yellow, orange, red), sunflowers, or mixed tropical arrangements, sometimes paired with a bottle of rum or a gift basket (which abcFlora can coordinate as an add-on).

Are there any flowers I should avoid sending to the Dominican Republic?

There are no strong cultural taboos around specific flowers in the Dominican Republic, but context matters. White lilies are associated with funerals and religious solemnity, so avoid them for birthdays or romantic occasions unless paired with bright accent flowers. Yellow flowers in general have no negative connotation in the Dominican Republic (unlike in some other Latin cultures), so yellow roses or sunflowers are fine for celebrations. Avoid overly somber or monochromatic arrangements for happy occasions, and avoid bright festive arrangements for sympathy or funeral contexts.

How do I calculate the delivery date if I am in California and the recipient is in Santo Domingo?

The Dominican Republic is in the Atlantic Standard Time zone year-round (no daylight saving). From November to mid-March, AST is 3 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time (PST). From mid-March to November, AST is 4 hours ahead of Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) because the US changes clocks but the DR does not. For example, if it is 10:00 AM PDT in Los Angeles in June, it is 2:00 PM AST in Santo Domingo, so you have missed the 1:00 PM same-day cutoff. If you order at 8:00 AM PDT, it is 12:00 PM AST, and same-day delivery is available. Use a world-clock converter or check the current time in Santo Domingo before placing your order.

Can I send flowers to someone in the countryside or a small town outside the major cities?

Yes, but delivery time may be next-day or two-day rather than same-day. abcFlora's network covers major cities and many smaller towns, but remote rural areas may require a regional florist to travel from the nearest hub. Contact abcFlora support with the specific town or address, and they will confirm coverage and delivery timeline. Common smaller towns with reliable coverage include Bonao, Moca, Nagua, and Azua.

Sending flowers to the Dominican Republic from the United States is straightforward when you use a service designed for cross-border delivery. Order from abcFlora's Dominican Republic collection before 13:00 Atlantic Standard Time for same-day delivery in Santo Domingo, Santiago, Punta Cana, La Romana, Puerto Plata and most major cities. Remember to include the sector name in the address, provide a full +1-809/829/849 phone number, and confirm the local date for holidays like Mother's Day on the last Sunday of May.