How to Send Flowers to Philippines from United States — 2026 Guide

Sending flowers to the Philippines from the United States works best through a service that partners with a local Filipino florist — same-day delivery is available in Metro Manila, Cebu City, Davao, and other major urban centers if you order before 13:00 Philippine Standard Time (PST, UTC+8). Expect to pay $50–$200 including the flat service fee, and remember that Mother's Day in the Philippines falls on the second Sunday of May (same as the US), but local addresses require barangay detail and mobile numbers must include the +63 prefix with no leading zero.

The Philippines ranks among the top five cross-border flower-delivery destinations from the United States. Approximately four million Filipino Americans live in the US, and remittances back home exceed $37 billion annually — many of those remittances are accompanied by flowers for birthdays, Mother's Day, graduations, Araw ng mga Patay (All Saints' Day on November 1), Christmas, weddings, and funerals. But sending flowers to the Philippines is not the same as sending them domestically in the US. Philippine addresses require street name, house number, barangay, city, and postal code in a specific order; florists in provincial areas may only accept advance orders; the peso exchange rate fluctuates daily; and the 12–16 hour time difference (depending on whether the US is observing daylight saving) means timing an order for same-day delivery requires planning. This guide walks through every detail.

Is sending flowers to the Philippines from the US considered international?

Yes — the Philippines is a sovereign nation with its own currency (PHP peso), its own postal system (PHLPost), and its own country code (+63). But in practice, flower delivery does not involve customs clearance. Fresh-cut flowers arranged and delivered in-country by a local florist never cross a physical border, so there are no import duties, no phytosanitary certificates, and no paperwork to file. What you are paying for is a US-based service that forwards your order to a partner florist in the Philippines, who sources flowers locally (often from Baguio, the summer capital and flower-growing hub), arranges the bouquet, and delivers it the same day or next day. The florist earns the wholesale margin, the service earns a flat fee, and you get the peace of mind that comes from paying in dollars, seeing photos of the arrangement options upfront, and tracking delivery in real time. The entire transaction is denominated in USD, so you never need to convert pesos yourself or worry about exchange-rate surprises on your credit card statement.

What is the best way to send flowers to the Philippines from the US?

The best way is to use a cross-border flower-delivery platform like abcFlora that maintains partnerships with vetted local florists in Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, and other population centers. These platforms give you three advantages. First, you see the actual arrangement photos — not stock images — and you pay a fixed price in dollars that includes the service fee, the bouquet cost, and delivery, with no hidden forex markups. Second, you can include a personalized card message in English or Tagalog, and the florist will handwrite or print it on quality cardstock. Third, you get same-day delivery if you order before the local cutoff (typically 13:00 PST), which is 9:00 PM Pacific Time the day before if you are on the US West Coast, or midnight Eastern Time if you are on the East Coast during standard time. Compare this to trying to order directly from a Manila flower shop's website: most Philippine florist websites are outdated, require payment via bank transfer or GCash (which US banks do not support natively), do not show arrangement previews, and do not offer English-language customer support. A cross-border platform handles all the operational friction — currency conversion, payment processing, florist vetting, delivery tracking — so you can focus on choosing the right flowers.

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

1. Choose the destination city and browse arrangements. Go to abcFlora's Philippines collection and filter by city (Metro Manila, Cebu City, Davao, etc). You will see 15–30 arrangements per city, ranging from compact hand-tied bouquets ($50–$75) to premium cascading designs with imported roses and anthurium ($150–$200). Each listing shows the florist's photo of the actual design, the dimensions, and the flower varieties included. If the occasion is a funeral or Undas (All Saints' Day), look for white and cream arrangements with lilies, chrysanthemums, and gladioli; for birthdays and graduations, bright tropical mixes with gumamela (hibiscus) and birds of paradise work well.
2. Select delivery date and add to cart. Click the arrangement, choose "Same-Day" if you are ordering before 13:00 PST or "Next-Day" if after, and add it to your cart. abcFlora's system will display the cutoff time in your local US time zone, so you know exactly how much time you have. Same-day delivery costs the same as next-day; there is no rush fee.
3. Enter the recipient's full Philippine address. Philippine addresses follow this format: House/Unit Number, Street Name, Barangay, City/Municipality, Province (if applicable), Postal Code. For example: "23 Mabini Street, Barangay San Isidro, Makati City, Metro Manila 1234". The barangay is mandatory — it is the smallest administrative division, and delivery riders use it to navigate. If you do not know the barangay, ask the recipient or look it up on Google Maps. The four-digit postal code is also required; Metro Manila codes start with 0, 1, or 2, Cebu City is 6000, Davao City is 8000. Do not use a US-style address with apartment number after the street; Philippine florists expect the unit or house number first.
4. Add the recipient's mobile number in international format. Philippine mobile numbers are ten digits starting with 9 (e.g., 917-123-4567 or 905-987-6543). When entering the number, use the format +63 9XX XXX XXXX — do not include a leading zero. For example, if the local number is 0917-123-4567, you enter +63 917 123 4567. The +63 prefix is the country code. Many Philippine florists will call or text the recipient 30–60 minutes before delivery to confirm they are home, so an accurate mobile number is critical. Landlines are rare outside offices; if you only have a landline, include it in the delivery instructions but understand that the florist may not be able to reach the recipient in advance.
5. Write your card message. You have 150–200 characters. You can write in English (universally understood in the Philippines) or in Tagalog if you are fluent. Keep in mind that older Filipinos may prefer formal phrasing: "Maligayang Kaarawan, Lola" (Happy Birthday, Grandma) or "Pakikiramay namin sa inyong pamilya" (Our condolences to your family). Avoid slang or text-speak unless the recipient is young and you know they will appreciate it. The florist will handwrite the message on a card unless you request printed; handwritten is standard.
6. Proceed to checkout and pay in USD. abcFlora accepts all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover), PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. The total price you see — let's say $89.95 for the bouquet plus $14.95 flat service fee = $104.90 — is the final amount in US dollars. There are no foreign-transaction fees, no currency-conversion markups, and no surprise charges. Your credit card statement will show a single USD charge. Payment is processed instantly, and you receive an order confirmation email within one minute.
7. Track delivery and receive photo confirmation. On the delivery day, you will receive an SMS and email when the florist is en route (typically between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM PST). After delivery, the florist uploads a photo of the handed-over bouquet, and you get a "Delivered" notification with the timestamp and the recipient's signature or name. If no one is home, the florist will call the recipient and attempt redelivery within two hours or leave the flowers with a trusted neighbor (common practice in the Philippines, especially in gated subdivisions). If delivery fails entirely, you get a full refund — but this is rare, because the florist calls ahead.

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

Total cost breaks down into three parts:

• Bouquet price: $45–$200 depending on size and flower variety. A compact mixed bouquet with local blooms (roses, gerberas, carnations, sampaguita filler) costs $45–$70. A medium arrangement with a dozen imported Ecuadorian roses and greenery costs $80–$110. A large cascading design with lilies, orchids, anthuriums, and premium foliage costs $120–$200. Funeral wreaths and standing sprays range from $100 to $250.
• Service fee: $14.95 flat in most cases (abcFlora's standard), regardless of bouquet size or destination within the Philippines. This fee covers order relay, payment processing, customer support, and florist vetting. There is no per-mile delivery charge and no same-day premium.
• Card and add-ons: A handwritten card is free. If you want to add a small plush toy ($8–$15), a box of Ferrero Rocher chocolates ($12), or a Mylar balloon ($6), those are optional extras. Most senders skip add-ons for funerals and include them for birthdays or anniversaries.

One critical point: abcFlora and similar platforms charge in USD and do not pass through foreign-transaction fees. If you tried to pay a Manila florist directly via their website, you would likely pay in PHP (pesos), and your US credit card would apply a 2–3% forex fee on top of the Visa/Mastercard exchange rate, which is often 1–2% worse than the mid-market rate. With a USD-denominated platform, the price you see is the price you pay, period. For a typical Mother's Day order (medium rose bouquet + card + service fee), budget $95–$120.

Which cities in the Philippines can I send flowers to?

• Metro Manila — the National Capital Region, comprising 16 cities and one municipality, is the largest market. Same-day delivery is available to Makati, Quezon City, Manila (the city proper), Pasig, Taguig (BGC), Mandaluyong, San Juan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Marikina, and Pateros. Florists are concentrated in Divisoria, Dangwa (the main flower market), and along EDSA.
• Quezon City — the most populous city in Metro Manila. Same-day delivery to all barangays, including Commonwealth, Fairview, Cubao, Diliman (UP campus), and Novaliches. Order before 13:00 PST.
• Cebu City — the "Queen City of the South" and the second-largest urban area. Same-day delivery to downtown, Lahug, Banilad, Talamban, and Mandaue City (adjacent). Florists source roses and carnations from Cebu's upland farms.
• Davao City — the largest city by land area. Same-day delivery to Poblacion, Matina, Buhangin, and Toril. Davao florists often include local orchids and heliconias in tropical arrangements.
• Iloilo City — the capital of Iloilo Province on Panay Island. Next-day delivery is standard; same-day is possible if you order by 11:00 AM PST. Known for classic rose and carnation designs.
• Bacolod City — the "City of Smiles" in Negros Occidental. Next-day delivery; florists are clustered near the public plaza and Lacson Street. Popular for MassKara Festival arrangements in October.
• Cagayan de Oro — the "Gateway to Northern Mindanao." Next-day delivery; same-day possible for urgent orders placed before 10:00 AM PST. Florists deliver to Carmen, Kauswagan, and Lumbia.
• Baguio City — the "Summer Capital" at 1,500 meters elevation, famous for growing 80% of the Philippines' cut flowers (roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, asters). Same-day delivery within the city proper. Bouquets sent to other Philippine cities often include Baguio-grown blooms.
• Angeles City and Clark Freeport Zone — in Pampanga, 80 km north of Manila. Same-day delivery if ordered before noon PST. Many expat recipients live in gated subdivisions near Clark.
• Dumaguete City — in Negros Oriental, a university town and expat retirement hub. Next-day delivery; same-day not guaranteed. Florists deliver to Silliman University area and Rizal Boulevard.
• Tagaytay City — the ridge-top city south of Manila, popular for weekend getaways. Same-day delivery if ordered early; florists are near the Tagaytay Rotonda and People's Park in the Sky road.
• Provincial towns — abcFlora delivers to municipalities outside major cities (Lipa, Batangas; San Fernando, Pampanga; Naga, Camarines Sur; General Santos, etc), but lead time is 1–2 days and same-day is rarely available. Always check the city dropdown at checkout.

Can I pay with Bitcoin, USDC or Ethereum?

Yes — abcFlora accepts Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), USD Coin (USDC on Ethereum and Polygon), and Lightning Network payments for Philippine flower deliveries. Crypto payments are especially popular among Filipino-American senders who want to avoid the 2–3% foreign-transaction fees that traditional credit cards impose on peso-denominated purchases, and among remittance senders who already hold stablecoins on exchanges like Coinbase or Kraken. When you choose crypto at checkout, abcFlora quotes a fixed amount in BTC, ETH, or USDC (using real-time Coinbase rates) and locks that rate for 15 minutes. You scan a QR code with your wallet (MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet, Trust Wallet, BlueWallet for Lightning), send the exact amount, and the system confirms payment within 30–60 seconds for USDC and Lightning, or 5–15 minutes for on-chain Bitcoin and Ethereum. Once confirmed, your order goes to the Philippine florist immediately. The recipient never knows you paid with crypto; they simply receive flowers and a card as usual. Because the transaction is denominated in USD (you pay the USD equivalent in crypto), there is no peso conversion and no forex slippage. This is a meaningful saving: if you were to send a traditional remittance of $100 via Western Union or a bank wire and then have the recipient order flowers in pesos, you would lose 3–5% to fees and exchange-rate markups. With abcFlora's crypto checkout, you lose only the blockchain network fee (currently around $0.50 for USDC on Polygon, $1–5 for Ethereum depending on gas, $0.01 for Lightning, $2–8 for Bitcoin depending on mempool congestion). The service fee ($14.95) is the same whether you pay with crypto or a credit card, so the total cost is identical — but you avoid giving your card details to yet another merchant, and you can pay from any wallet anywhere in the world with no geofencing.

What flowers are most popular in the Philippines?

Roses dominate — red roses for love and romance, pink for admiration, white for funerals and sympathy, yellow for friendship. Most roses in Philippine bouquets are grown in Baguio, though high-end Metro Manila florists import Ecuadorian and Colombian stems for weddings and luxury arrangements. After roses, the most common flowers are:

• Carnations — white, pink, and red carnations are staples in mixed bouquets and funeral wreaths. They last 7–10 days in the tropical heat if kept in water and out of direct sun.
• Gerbera daisies — bright orange, yellow, and magenta gerberas are popular for birthdays and congratulations. They signal cheerfulness and are widely available year-round.
• Lilies — Asiatic and Oriental lilies (white, pink, yellow) are used in sympathy arrangements and church altar displays. White Casa Blanca lilies are the premium choice for funerals.
• Chrysanthemums — white and yellow chrysanthemums are traditional for Undas (All Saints' Day) when families visit cemeteries and place flowers on graves. Millions of chrysanthemum stems are sold in the days before November 1.
• Sampaguita — the national flower, a small white jasmine with intense fragrance. Sampaguita is woven into garlands (leis) for graduations, sold by street vendors near churches, and included as filler in romantic bouquets. It wilts quickly, so it is best for same-day delivery.
• Anthurium — the glossy heart-shaped flower (actually a spathe) native to the Americas but grown commercially in Mindanao. Red and pink anthuriums symbolize hospitality and are popular in corporate and hotel lobby arrangements.
• Orchids — Waling-waling (Vanda sanderiana), the "Queen of Philippine Orchids," is rare and expensive, but dendrobium and phalaenopsis orchids are common in premium bouquets. Purple and white orchids are elegant for anniversaries.
• Birds of paradise — tropical and dramatic, used in large arrangements and hotel lobbies. Not suitable for funerals.
• Sunflowers — yellow sunflowers are cheerful and popular for get-well and thinking-of-you bouquets. They are associated with optimism and resilience.

One cultural note: avoid giving yellow flowers (except sunflowers) for romantic occasions, as yellow can imply jealousy or waning affection in older Filipino traditions. White is acceptable for all occasions, though it is the primary funeral color. Red roses are universally understood as romantic. For Mother's Day, pink roses or mixed pastel arrangements are safe and popular choices.

What mistakes should I avoid when sending flowers to the Philippines from the US?

• Forgetting the barangay. Philippine addresses are incomplete without the barangay name. If you omit it, the florist may have to call the recipient to ask, which delays delivery. Always include it: "Barangay Guadalupe Viejo" or "Brgy. Pinyahan" — it is part of the standard format.
• Using 0 instead of +63 for mobile numbers. Philippine mobile numbers are written locally as 09XX-XXX-XXXX, but for international orders you must replace the leading 0 with +63: +63 9XX XXX XXXX. If you enter 09171234567, the florist's system will not recognize it as a valid Philippine number.
• Assuming same-day delivery works like Amazon. Same-day flower delivery in the Philippines has a hard cutoff — typically 13:00 PST (1:00 PM Manila time). If you are in California and it is 10:00 PM Tuesday night, it is 2:00 PM Wednesday afternoon in Manila, so you have already missed the cutoff. Plan one day ahead if you are not sure.
• Ordering for November 1 (Undas) at the last minute. Araw ng mga Patay (All Saints' Day) is the biggest flower day in the Philippines after Mother's Day. Florists are swamped, and same-day delivery on November 1 is often impossible. Order by October 28 for November 1 cemetery deliveries.
• Not accounting for the time zone gap. The Philippines is UTC+8 year-round (no daylight saving). When it is noon Eastern Time, it is midnight in Manila (12 hours ahead). When it is noon Pacific Time, it is 3:00 AM the next day in Manila (15 hours ahead during PST, 16 hours during PDT). If you want flowers delivered "today" in the Philippines, you need to order "today" by 13:00 PST in Manila, which may already be yesterday evening or this morning in the US.
• Choosing tropical flowers for a funeral. Bright birds of paradise, anthuriums, and gerberas are inappropriate for Filipino Catholic funerals. Stick to white lilies, white roses, white carnations, and white chrysanthemums. If you are not sure, ask the florist or choose a pre-designed sympathy arrangement.
• Sending flowers to a condo without a unit number. Metro Manila has thousands of high-rise condominiums, and delivery riders cannot access the lobby without the tower name, floor, and unit number. "Makati City" is not enough — you need "Unit 12B, Tower 2, One Roxas Triangle, Makati City."

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to pay Philippine customs duties on flower deliveries?

No. When you send flowers to the Philippines through abcFlora, the flowers are sourced and arranged locally by a Philippine florist — they never cross an international border. There are no customs forms, no import duties, and no involvement from the Bureau of Customs. The transaction is purely domestic Philippine commerce facilitated by a US-based order platform.

What is the best time to send flowers for Mother's Day in the Philippines?

Mother's Day in the Philippines falls on the second Sunday of May, the same as in the United States. Florists are extremely busy that week. For guaranteed delivery on Mother's Day Sunday, order by the Thursday before (three days ahead). Same-day Sunday orders are often unavailable or limited to early-morning slots (9:00–11:00 AM delivery). If the recipient is your mother or grandmother, consider sending flowers on Saturday instead — it is less congested, and she will enjoy them for the full weekend.

Can I send flowers to a hospital in Manila or Cebu?

Yes, but with restrictions. Most Philippine hospitals allow flower deliveries to private rooms but not to ICU, emergency, or isolation wards. The florist will deliver to the nurse's station or front desk, and the staff will take the bouquet to the patient's room during visiting hours. You must provide the patient's full name, room number, and hospital name. Some hospitals (St. Luke's BGC, Makati Medical Center) have strict biosecurity rules and may reject flowers for immunocompromised patients — call the hospital first if you are unsure.

How long do flowers last in the Philippine tropical heat?

Cut flowers in the Philippines last 3–7 days depending on the variety and care. Roses, carnations, and chrysanthemums last longest (5–7 days) if kept in a vase with clean water, out of direct sunlight, and in an air-conditioned room. Lilies last 4–6 days. Gerberas and sunflowers last 3–5 days. Tropical blooms like anthuriums and orchids can last 1–2 weeks because they are adapted to heat. Sampaguita garlands wilt within 24 hours. Always include a care card with the bouquet: "Change water daily, trim stems at an angle, keep in a cool place."

Can I request a specific delivery time, like morning or afternoon?

Most Philippine florists deliver between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM PST. You can request a morning delivery (before 12:00 noon) or an afternoon delivery (after 1:00 PM) in the order notes, and the florist will do their best to accommodate, but exact timing is not guaranteed because delivery routes depend on traffic, distance, and the number of orders that day. If timing is critical — for example, you want flowers delivered before a birthday lunch at 1:00 PM — note that in the instructions, and the florist will prioritize it.

What if the recipient is not home when the flowers arrive?

The florist will call the recipient's mobile number (which is why you must provide a working +63 number) and attempt redelivery within 1–2 hours. If the recipient still cannot be reached, the florist will leave the flowers with a neighbor, a building concierge, or a family member if someone is present at the address. In gated subdivisions and condo buildings, this is standard practice. If no one is available and the address is inaccessible, the florist will contact you (via the platform) and offer to redeliver the next day or issue a refund. Failed deliveries are rare — less than 2% of orders — because the florist always calls ahead.

Can I include a gift with the flowers, like chocolates or a stuffed toy?

Yes. Most abcFlora arrangements offer optional add-ons: a small teddy bear ($10–$15), a box of Ferrero Rocher or Toblerone ($12–$18), a Mylar "Happy Birthday" or "Get Well Soon" balloon ($6–$8), or a greeting card upgrade (embossed cardstock, $3). Add-ons are listed on the product page. For funerals, skip the stuffed toy and balloon — they are considered inappropriate. Chocolates are fine for birthdays, anniversaries, and congratulations.

Ready to send flowers to the Philippines? Browse abcFlora's Philippines collection and choose from dozens of arrangements delivered by trusted local florists in Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, and beyond. Order before 13:00 PST for same-day delivery.