I am someone who generally always has fresh flowers in my home. Most of them don’t come from my husband (though he does treat me every so often!) but are flowers I purchase myself just for the joy that fresh blooms bring. It's my little way of treating myself and giving my space a little added luxury. I like to purchase my flowers at the local farmer’s market that runs during the summer months. Buying local is always a great option, but I find myself in a flower rut during the colder months of the year.
I decided to try out BloomsyBox and Urban Stems to see if these online options would become alternatives to get my flower fix through this fall and winter. Here’s how these two flower subscriptions compare:
The Most Stunning Arrangement...Bloomsybox.
I received a bright and tropical “Bloom with a View” assortment from BloomsyBox. I generally never gravitate towards tropicals and I can’t say I have ever chosen them for myself. But when I opened both packages and compared the two arrangements, BloomsyBox was the clear winner. The creativity with the flower selection, the creative use of gorgeous foliage, and the quality of the flowers themselves made it the obvious choice. And, frankly, seeing the two next to each other makes it an even clearer winner.
The Freshest on Arrival...Bloomsybox.
I don’t know if it has to do with the fact that my BloomsyBox flowers came earlier in the day (and were in a delivery truck for significantly fewer hours) but the freshness, when compared to my Urban Stems flowers, was jarring. My BloomsyBox bouquet might just as well have been cut that morning. The colors were vibrant, the leaves were crisp, and everything just looked so bright and special. My Urban Stems flowers were lovely, but the greenery looked a little limp and some of the outer edges of my rose petals were visibly damaged.
I also felt that the BloomsyBox flowers arrived pre-arranged for my vase. All I had to do was drop them into my vase and it was a perfect arrangement. The Urban Stems bunch arrived in my more of what I would consider a “grocery-store” sort of look.
The Best Packaging...It's a tie.
Both my BloomsyBox and Urban Stems flowers arrived in very similar boxes. It was exciting to see a large bouquet-shaped box on my porch! Both boxes were your typical brown kraft material and had adequate cushion to protect the flowers. I did notice that my BloomsyBox delivery came first thing in the morning while my Urban Stems arrives around 7 pm. This of course is likely to differ depending on where you live but worth noting.
The More Affordable Option...BloomsyBox
As someone who frequently buys flowers, I love that BloomsyBox has so many different subscription options. They start at $44.99 a month (22-24 stems) and you can select monthly or weekly options. There are also special unique boxes such as roses only, pet-safe, and even an assortment curated by the New York Botanical Gardens. Urban Stems subscriptions start at $55 a month and there are three sizing options.
The Longest-lasting...BloomsyBox
Flowers aren’t exactly an inexpensive treat. Sure, they are something I believe in gifting to myself regularly, but I also want that little splurge to last for quite a while on my coffee table or mantle. My BloomsyBox flowers outlasted my Urban Stems bouquet by a long shot. And, sure, roses can be a little finicky and have a reputation for lasting a little less time than some other flowers can, but so does greenery. And the greenery and blooms in my tropical curation stayed crisp and vibrant a lot longer than my roses did.
My Overall Winner...BloomsyBox
BloomsyBox really, really impressed me. I thought the delivery, blooms, and quality of my delivery were honestly shocking for the cost of my arrangement. I have been delighted by these bright tropical blooms every day they have graced my entryway. I plan on continuing my monthly delivery throughout the colder months ahead and might even just skip the local shops in the spring. Or maybe I will just double up. Never too many flowers, right?
