Bloom and Wild review: Stylish and convenient flower delivery
Bloom & Wild's letterbox flowers are a clever way to fit modern bouquets into busy lives, but are they right for you?
Sending flowers never goes out of fashion, but British company Bloom & Wild has made bouquets cooler than ever. Bloom & Wild pioneered the idea of “letterbox flowers”, an expertly designed arrangement of long-stemmed blooms, buds and foliage, carefully wrapped in a gift box that fits through letterboxes. So now you can send flowers through the post, without needing anyone to be at home.
This thoroughly modern florist does offer hand-tied blooms, plants and gifts as well, but in this review we’ll focus on its letterbox flowers. Read on to discover why Bloom & Wild is a great choice for sending blooms or adding style to your own home.
What do you get for the money?
All Bloom & Wild’s letterbox arrangements include a dozen or more carefully arranged flowers, with the option of added stems for around £5 extra. The flowers are expertly selected then wrapped while still in bud, so they bloom in your vase and stay fresh for as long as possible.
Arrangements are packed by hand, with individual netting for extra protection, plus a ribbon and personalised card. Even the aerated box is a thing of beauty, with a colour scheme to match the arrangement. Next-day delivery is included in the price, too.
What type of flowers does Bloom & Wild sell?
Bloom & Wild specialises in meadowy wildflowers, with freesias, lisianthus, snapdragons and seasonal foliage to be found in most letterbox arrangements this spring. The range is updated every week, though.
Bloom & Wild’s website makes it fairly easy to browse the range, although we’d have liked the option to search by flower name. We do welcome the “Pet Friendly” toggle, which blocks arrangements containing lilies, which are toxic to cats and dogs. More florists need to be clear about this.
Many of Bloom & Wild’s flowers are grown in the UK and Europe but most are sourced from Kenya – which means oodles of air miles. However, it also means fewer chemicals and hot-houses are needed to nurture the blooms. So there are pros and cons if you’re conscious of your carbon footprint.
How good do the flowers look – in the box and out of it?
Surprisingly great, given their journey through the post in a box! Our chosen bunch (the Spring Meadow, £36) arrived beautifully protected, and out tumbled a spray of rich green stems and budding freesias and snapdragons.
With letterbox flowers you have to do the arranging yourself, of course. And our arrangement was less voluminous than similarly priced bouquets from other florists, partly because the flowers were still in bud. They recovered well after a drink, and were fresh after more than a week in the vase.
Some of Bloom & Wild’s letterbox arrangements can be delivered hand-tied instead, for those who’d prefer it. For example “the Spring Pick” (£34) had a hand-tied option for an extra £4.
How quickly can Bloom & Wild deliver?
Next day, in most cases, as long as you order by 10pm Monday to Friday. Bloom & Wild uses Royal Mail tracking, so can’t guarantee next-day delivery, but says it’s “94% assured”. That’s not a bad deal considering it’s included in the price of your blooms. There is a £5 courier option if you want guaranteed delivery on a certain day, but no same-day option unless you live in certain areas of London.
Can I save money with a subscription?
Yes, this is another of Bloom & Wild’s strong points. Not just to save money, but also as an ongoing gift. Sending Mum a box of long-lasting flowers every week for a year is a truly delightful pressie.
There are 20 letterbox flowers subscription plans to choose from, ranging from £60 for three months or £20/mth ongoing, up to £940 for a year of weekly flowers or £1,275 for weekly luxe flowers.
The subscription ordering process is quick and easy, but detailed enough to help you get just the arrangements you want. For example, you can tick “lily free” to omit pet-toxic plants, and set a custom card design. There’s no contract, either – cancel at any time.
Should I order flowers from Bloom & Wild?
Yes, if you want contemporary, characterful flowers that you’re happy to arrange yourself and wait to come into full bloom. It’s good value for money, too. For £30 you can buy an arrangement of 22 stems, including roses. A similar selection costs more than £40 from Interflora.
Letterbox flowers aren’t really suitable as immediate gifts, for example to send to Granny in hospital. But as an ongoing present, or to lend your home a gorgeous finishing touch, then a Bloom & Wild subscription is ideal. While writing this review we discovered that our neighbour has been treated to a three-month subscription by a grateful workmate, and she is utterly delighted by it.