Best last-minute Christmas flowers and plants

We’ve officially hit the final stretch in the run-up to Christmas, which is usually when the last-minute panic starts to creep in — especially if you’ve still got a few names left to tick off your gift list. It can feel even more stressful if you’ve forgotten to post something to a friend or loved one you won’t see before December 25. But that’s where letterbox gifts and flowers really come into their own, particularly from delivery services that are still delivering right up until Christmas Eve.

Whether you’re shopping for flowers or plants, they’re a pretty versatile gift. They can instantly brighten someone’s day and, on Christmas Day itself, can even double up as a festive centrepiece for the dinner table.

The sheer number of online flower delivery services also makes it much easier to find the perfect bouquet for your recipient, with expertly curated arrangements and pristine packaging. And thanks to speedy delivery options, they’ll be delivered straight to their doorstep, with the likes of Freddie’s Flowers even offering free next-day delivery for a limited time.

You can also opt for letterbox-size bouquets, which arrive straight through the door and don’t require anyone to be home to accept the delivery.

Of course, with time running out until the big day, not every brand can guarantee delivery before Christmas. But, I’ve rounded up a few of my favourite festive flowers and plants (because not everyone is a bouquet person) that should make it in time for December 25, including Bloom & Wild, Marks and Spencer and Flying Flowers. 

Arguably, there’s no plant more festive than a Christmas tree, and this year Bloom & Wild is offering the option to send a miniature one straight to someone’s door for £36. Cleverly packaged to fit through a letterbox, there’s no need for anyone to be home, which is ideal at this time of year when people are constantly between parties and family visits.

The 44cm bushy-rooted pine tree comes with a 12cm red velvet pop-up pot, along with a selection of decorations to add a bit of sparkle. These include a 3D metal star topper, bell-shaped garland, bell decorations, honeycomb baubles and battery-operated lights.

Better still, it’s available for next-day delivery, meaning you can order right up until December 23 and still have it arrive in time for Christmas.

Previous shoppers say they love the tree for its longevity compared to flowers. In one review, a customer said: “Fab gift especially for my friends who have limited mobility. The gift is interactive and could be long-lasting for those with green fingers.”

Another shopper praised the delivery, adding: “It was so easy to send…through the post.”

In fact, the tree is one of the top-rated Christmas plant deliveries on the Bloom & Wild website, with an impressive 4.9-star rating.

If you’re after a more traditional floral arrangement, Bloom & Wild also has a range of seasonal bouquets in festive shades of red and green. The Festive Fairtrade Pick is available for next-day delivery and, as it’s a letterbox gift, can be popped straight through your loved one’s door.

Inside the box, you’ll find helpful tips on how to arrange the flowers and keep them fresh for longer. The bouquet includes 18 stems made up of roses, stocks, kangaroo paw and alstroemeria in shades of purple, red and pink. The flowers arrive in bud and bloom over the following 48 hours.

One happy shopper said: “Bloom & Wild is my favourite place to get flowers. They always come so beautifully packaged, and the flowers are always fresh and so so pretty! The delivery is amazing too, they’ve never been late and always arrived on the day of my choice!”

That said, one customer was left disappointed after their message card wasn’t filled out. They explained: “I am very disappointed that I paid extra for a gift card to add a personal message, and it was not printed.”

All flowers currently come with free next-day delivery via Royal Mail, available Monday to Saturday (orders must be placed before 10pm for tracked next-day delivery). Guaranteed delivery is also available from £5 with DPD and runs Monday to Sunday between 8am and 7pm.

Marks & Spencer is one of my go-tos for last-minute letterbox gifts and flowers, mainly because the service has always been reliable in my experience, which is essential when I’m rushing around. They have a huge range of flowers available for delivery right up until December 23, but one of the top sellers in their festive floral line-up is the red rose and pine cone bouquet (£30).

The bouquet includes 18 stems made up of red roses, hemlock sprayed with a shimmering gold coating, laurel and sparkling gold-painted pine cones. It’s the kind of arrangement that would instantly add a bit of festive glitz to a Christmas table centrepiece. The flowers are delivered in a box and arrive in bud, ready to be arranged in a vase, before opening fully in the days after arrival.

In a review, one shopper described it as a “lovely seasonal bunch”, adding: “Beautiful bouquet, colourful and seasonal. Recipient very happy.”

Another customer said theirs “were amazing and kept wonderfully for weeks”.

That said, not every review was glowing. One shopper noted that the “roses looked a little bit tired”, adding: “They did just about last a week, [but] looked nice and Christmassy”.

M&S is offering free nominated delivery on all flowers to mainland UK, with Tuesday, December 23, the last day to order to ensure delivery before Christmas. All flowers also come with the option to add a free message with delivery. 

Freddie’s Flowers specialises in fresh, seasonal picks throughout the year and for Christmas they have an assortment of bouquets to suit all manner of festive themes. And, the great thing is you can place orders right up until December 23 for next day delivery.

The Silk Pyjamas bouquet is a lovely red and green hued bouquet made up of lilies, frilly carnations and berried hypericum. There are two options depending on how you want the flowers to be delivered (and what your budget is).

The letterbox flowers arrive in bud and, according to Freddie’s Flowers, will bloom over the course of two weeks. They are the slightly cheaper option, coming in under £30 at £27.50. They’re also a great option if you’re not sure if the recipient will be home.

Alternatively, Freddie’s Flowers offer a traditional bunch delivered in a bouquet put together by their florists. This retails for £36.

If you want to take things one step further than a bouquet and help a loved one create the ultimate Instagram-worthy dinner table, Freddie’s Flowers also offers a range of tablescapes sets. Each one is packed with everything you need to create a beautiful table setting, including vases, candles, candle holders, place cards and decorative pieces like ribbons and bows.

There’s the option to order a tablescape set on its own (which you then add your own flowers to), or you can order one that comes with flowers in complementary hues. It helps take one step out of Christmas preparation – all you need to do is arrange the flowers, and you’re ready to go.

The sets range from £70 (or a tablescape set without flowers to £110 for a tablescape set with flowers. One of my absolute favourites has to be The Cobalt and Cognac Tablescape Set With Flowers, all in shades of blue, red and amber.

You get an assortment of glass vases with matching candleholders, plus velvet ribbon and place cards. Cobalt blue candles make an eye-catching statement, while the flowers are more traditional: an assortment of red roses, white alstroemeria and green pistache make up the bouquet, which can be dispersed between the vases. Granted, it is one of the more expensive options, at £110, but it would make an extra special gift.

Freddie’s Flowers has free next-day delivery on all Christmas flowers for a limited time (you must order by 8pm), and ideally, you want to order by December 23 to ensure delivery before the big day.

If you’re looking to gift a loved one a plant with a little more longevity, something that will last throughout the festive season and into the new year, a potted plant is a great choice. Flying Flowers has plenty of pretty floral arrangements, but as part of their Christmas range, they also offer a selection of lovely houseplants. There’s the classic poinsettia, of course, but if you’re after something a bit more versatile, the Very Merry Rose is a brilliant shout.

This lovely plant comes in a green and white striped pot, making it ideal for use as part of your Christmas decor, while still looking perfectly at home once the decorations are taken down in the new year.

According to Flying Flowers, the rose should grow between 22 and 32cm tall, and the pot measures 12cm across and 11.5cm high – just right for a side table or windowsill.

When it arrives, the recipient will need to water it and then place it in a cool, bright room away from direct sunlight. If you forget to pass on these tips, don’t worry, the plant also comes with a care guide, so they know exactly how to keep it looking its best.

Usually priced at £29, Flying Flowers is currently offering customers 25% off their Christmas gifting range with the code GIFTX25, meaning you can pick up the plant for just £21.74. Do bear in mind that delivery is an additional £4.

And, with the code FREECHOCS, you can also add a box of free Lindor Mini Milk Chocolates to the gift for a limited time.

The last chance for guaranteed Christmas Eve delivery is 6pm on December 23.