How to ship flowers and plants
How to ship flowers and plants
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Shipping flowers and plants
Whether you’re shipping bouquets and begonias or swapping seedlings with other greenhouse gurus, use the info and tips below to help pack and protect your blooms and shoots.
Prep to ship flowers and plants: Here’s what you’ll need
To ship flowers:
Cable ties or bands
Corrugated divider, if also shipping a vase
Packing paper, newspaper, or foam cushioning
Outer corrugated box
Telescoping box (ideal for
businesses that ship in bulk)
Lateral cleats or bands (to be used in telescoping box, shipping in bulk)
To ship live plants:
Paper to wrap leaves and blooms
Plastic bag
Corrugated dividers
Paper or foam cushioning (optional)
Outer corrugated box
To ship seedlings and plugs:
Plastic tray
Corrugated tray with pad
Plastic mesh (encouraged)
Outer corrugated box
NOTICE: This packaging information is provided to FedEx customers to help reduce loss or damage due to improper packaging. It is NOT intended to be a comprehensive guide for packaging items we accept for transit. We make no warranties, expressed or implied, regarding this information. Proper packaging is the sole responsibility of the shipper. Refer to the current FedEx Service Guide for terms, conditions, and limitations applicable to FedEx® delivery services.
How to ship flowers
Use the steps below to pack and protect your flowers.
Secure the flowers inside the corrugated box.
- Use cable ties, cleats, or bands to attach the flower stems to the box or to an insert inside the box. Make sure the ties or bands are tight enough to keep the flowers from moving around while in transit.
- Fill the extra space around the flowers with packing paper, newspaper, or other cushioning material.
Secure any other items, such as a vase, inside the box.
- Use a corrugated divider to separate the vase from the flowers. And if the vase is fragile, use additional packing materials to cushion it and help protect it from damage.
Properly seal and label the box.
- Use the H taping method to apply at least three strips of adhesive tape (at least 2" wide). Do this to the top and bottom of the box. Then tape all seams and flaps.
- Place your shipping label on top of the box.
Never ship a vase or container with water inside. It may leak and damage packaging materials. Marking your box with “This End Up” doesn’t ensure that the it will remain in that orientation while in transit. You can increase the chances that the box will be shipped in the preferred orientation by placing your shipping label on top of it.
If you’re a business shipping flowers in bulk, use a corrugated telescoping box.
- Choose boxes with moisture-resistant adhesive. It’s less likely to weaken with changes in temperature and humidity.
- Select boxes that are the right size for your flowers (ideally less than 38" length, 24" height, and 26" width).
- Use lateral cleats or bands to prevent shifting.
- Use plastic strips or packing tape to seal the top and bottom trays. If using plastic strips, make sure they aren’t applied so tightly that they bend the box. If using packing tape, apply it parallel to the seams, creating a square around the bottom of the box.
How to ship live plants
Use the steps below to protect plants, seedlings, and plugs.
To ship potted plants:
Make sure the soil is contained.
- Place the pot inside a plastic bag.
- Secure the top opening of the bag around the stem of the plant so that soil can’t escape from the pot or bag.
Secure the pot inside the corrugated box.
- Use a corrugated divider to keep the pot from shifting in the box and damaging stems and leaves.
- If the plant doesn’t have a single main stem, place paper between the leaves and over the soil and secure it to the pot.
Properly seal and label the box.
- Use the H taping method to apply at least three strips of adhesive tape (at least 2" wide). Do this to the top and bottom of the box. Then tape all seams and flaps.
- Place your shipping label on top of the box.
Nip damaged shipments in the bud
Make sure your customers’ flowers or plants arrive alive and ready to thrive. The FedEx Packaging Lab will evaluate your packaging materials for free and help you identify any needed improvements. You just need a FedEx business account.
To ship plant seedlings and plugs:
Check the moisture content of your soil.
- Once your seedlings or plugs are in a plastic tray, make sure the soil isn’t too dry or too wet. If too dry, seedlings and plugs can spill out of the plastic tray. If too wet, it might weaken corrugated packaging.
Secure the plastic tray of seedlings or plugs in a corrugated tray.
- Use a corrugated tray with a top pad designed to push lightly against seedlings or plugs and secure them in their plastic tray during transit. This method works best with leafy seedlings and plugs, not tall and spindly plant material. Plant plugs can't be individually secured inside the plastic tray, so expect some to become dislodged during transit and some soil to sift out of the tray. Plan accordingly when you prepare your shipment.
- Tip: Plant seedlings and plugs are fragile and difficult to secure. Place plastic mesh over them to provide added security.
Properly seal the box.
- Use the H taping method to apply at least three strips of adhesive tape (at least 2" wide). Do this to the top and bottom of the box. Then tape all seams and flaps.
- Place your shipping label on top of the box.
Packaging pointers:
Tips to keep plants and blooms beautiful
Wrap blooms and leaves in paper to provide extra cushioning when shipping.
When shipping to cold climates, make sure your packaging is designed to withstand temperature variations. This is especially true for tropical flowers like orchids.
If you’re shipping multiple blooming flowers or plants inside the same box, make sure there’s plenty of space between them.
To prevent leaks and spills, never ship vases or containers with water inside, and cover soil in pots and plant containers.
Place your shipping label on the top of the box to increase the chance of shipment in the preferred orientation.
Check applicable local, state, and federal laws governing the shipment of flowers and plants to make sure you’re in compliance.
FedEx Express service options: Send flowers fast
Shipments containing flowers and plants must be packaged for a minimum transit time of at least 12 hours greater than our delivery commitment time for the shipment. Flowers and plants coming from Hawaii to the continental U.S. must be packaged for additional transit time. Read our terms and conditions to learn more.
You may ship flowers and plants via FedEx First Overnight®, FedEx Priority Overnight®, FedEx Standard Overnight®, or FedEx 1Day® Freight.
- The maximum gross weight allowed per package for most FedEx Express® overnight services is 150 lbs. That weight includes packaging and refrigerant.
- For overnight shipment of packages with a gross weight of 151–2,200 lbs. each, use FedEx 1Day Freight.
We don’t recommend shipping flowers and plants via FedEx 2Day®, FedEx 2Day® Freight, or FedEx Express Saver®. If you choose one of those services, make sure your packaging will protect your products for at least 12 hours longer than the delivery commitment time.
- Don’t ship flowers or plants via FedEx Ground® service.
- Avoid shipping flowers or plants on days that will require transit on a weekend or over a holiday.
Ready to ship?
Use your FedEx account or log in as a guest. Have your shipping info ready and your credit card handy.
Save time by having one of our couriers pick up your shipment from your home, office, or other location.
Drop off your shipment at a FedEx® Drop Box, FedEx Office location, or other participating retailer.
Helpful resources
With the FedEx Delivery Manager® app, you can get tracking
details, alerts, and notifications for your shipments. It’s easy to
use and free to sign up.
With the FedEx Delivery Manager® app, you can get tracking details, alerts, and notifications for your shipments. It’s easy to use and free to sign up.
Shipping meats, seafood, or other cold or frozen perishables?
Want to learn more? Get how-tos and tutorials and stay up to
speed with our latest articles and small-business insights.
Want to learn more? Get how-tos and tutorials and stay up to speed with our latest articles and small-business insights.
FAQs about shipping flowers and plants
Are special boxes required for shipping flowers?
We don’t have a special flower delivery box. You just need a sturdy outer corrugated box that will fit and protect them. If you’re shipping a vase along with your flowers, we recommend using a corrugated divider to keep them separated. Follow our packing steps for preparing flowers to be shipped.
What is the cheapest way to ship flowers?
It depends on the size and weight of the flowers and accompanying items, and how fast you need them delivered. Get rates and delivery options.
Are gel packs or ice needed to send flowers to someone?
You don’t need dry ice or frozen gel packs when shipping cut flowers. They can shift in transit and damage the blossoms and leaves.
Can I mail a plant without a pot?
Yes, but you’ll need to protect the roots of the plant. To prepare a plant to be shipped without a pot, remove the plant from the soil, shake off excess dirt, place the roots in a plastic bag, and secure the top opening around the stem of the plant. Then follow our instructions for shipping potted plants.
Should I water plants before shipping them?
You want the soil to be semi-dry when you ship a plant, so water it a few days before.
Are there special instructions for shipping cacti or succulents?
No, just make sure the soil is semi-dry and follow the steps provided for shipping potted plants.
What is the best way to ship live plants when moving to another state?
Every state has different restrictions and regulations for shipping plants. To find out whether your plants can be shipped to your new address, contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) office within that state. Once you confirm your plants can be shipped to your new state, find the FedEx service that best meets your delivery needs.
Do I need to label my package to note that plants are inside?
You can mark your box with “Perishables,” “This End Up,” or other markings, but we can’t guarantee that your shipment will remain in a particular orientation. It’s a good idea to place your shipping label on top of the box. Doing so will increase the chances that your shipment will be transported in the preferred orientation.
Does FedEx offer plastic or cardboard trays and dividers for shipping plant seedlings?
We don’t sell packing materials made specifically for plants, but we do offer a variety of boxes and other shipping supplies, such as corrugated dividers, that are ideal for shipping flowers and plants. You can purchase them in-store and online.