Grief does not come with an instruction manual. When someone you love is hospitalized, or a New York family loses someone, choosing the right flowers can feel surprisingly difficult. You want to get it right — but you're not sure what's appropriate for a hospital room versus a funeral home, what arrangement styles make sense for a shiva or a Catholic wake, or whether flowers are even allowed in certain medical settings.
After nearly a century of helping New Yorkers through some of their hardest moments, we've answered these questions thousands of times. This guide collects what we know.
Hospital Flowers in NYC: What's Actually Allowed
The most common question we hear: "Can I send flowers to someone in the hospital?"
The short answer is usually yes — but it depends on the hospital and the unit.
General rules across NYC's major hospitals:
- Most general wards (medical, surgical, orthopedic) accept fresh flowers.
- ICU and cardiac units typically do not allow fresh flowers. The concern is both hygiene and the distraction of nursing staff during emergencies. Potted plants in sealed containers are sometimes permitted.
- Oncology and immunocompromised units (such as those at Memorial Sloan Kettering and NewYork-Presbyterian) often prohibit fresh-cut flowers entirely, as the standing water in vases can harbor bacteria. Silk or dried arrangements, or potted succulents in closed soil, are usually acceptable.
- NICU (neonatal intensive care) units at hospitals like Lenox Hill generally do not permit flowers near infants.
At Lenox Hill Hospital (77th Street, a few blocks from our shop), the general wards accept fresh arrangements but ask that vases be spill-proof. Our lower, compact arrangements — including orchid cubes with sealed moss bases — work well here.
At Mount Sinai (Fifth Avenue at 98th Street), policies vary by floor. When in doubt, call the patient's unit directly and ask before ordering.
At NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell (York Avenue, Upper East Side), most surgical and medical floors accept flowers. The ICU does not.
What to send to a hospital patient:
- Orchids: Phalaenopsis orchids in sealed containers live for weeks, require no water changes, and are visually calming. They're our most recommended hospital gift.
- Small, low arrangements: Avoid tall, wide arrangements that will overload a bedside table. A compact cube arrangement is practical.
- Potted plants for longer stays: If someone is in rehabilitation or recovering over several weeks, a small potted plant outlasts cut flowers.
- Avoid strongly scented blooms (lilies, tuberose, gardenias) in enclosed hospital rooms — many patients and staff find strong fragrances overwhelming, and some medications heighten scent sensitivity.
Sympathy Flowers for NYC Funeral Homes and Memorial Services
Funeral home protocols in New York are more permissive than hospital policies — almost all arrangements are welcome, though type and scale vary by service format.
Standing sprays and large tributes are appropriate for funeral home services at venues like Frank E. Campbell on Madison Avenue, one of Manhattan's most storied funeral homes, and for funeral masses at churches across the Upper East Side and Upper West Side. These large arrangements are placed near the casket or at the altar.
Smaller arrangements — baskets, wreaths, or simple bouquets — are more suitable for smaller chapel services, graveside ceremonies, or memorial gatherings at private homes.
Flower choices for sympathy:
- White flowers remain the traditional sympathy standard: white roses, white lilies, white chrysanthemums, white orchids. They communicate purity, peace, and respect across most religious and cultural traditions.
- Soft pastels — blush, lavender, pale yellow — are appropriate for celebrating a long life or for services with a more celebratory ("life well-lived") tone.
- Bright, bold colors are sometimes requested by families who want a service that reflects the personality of the deceased. We've done everything from sunflower tributes to arrangements in a favorite sports team's colors.
For Catholic services (common in many UES parishes including St. Ignatius Loyola on Park Avenue), white flowers near the altar are traditional. Lilies are strongly associated with Easter and resurrection symbolism and are appropriate for Catholic masses.
For Jewish services and shiva, see the section below.
Flowers for Shiva: Navigating Jewish Mourning in NYC
Shiva observance varies across Jewish communities — and flower etiquette has evolved considerably.
Traditional practice in Orthodox communities often did not include flowers at shiva houses, as the mourning period is meant to be solemn and practical, not decorative. Some families still prefer that guests bring food rather than flowers.
In Conservative and Reform communities across the Upper East Side — including those affiliated with Park East Synagogue, Congregation Habonim, or Central Synagogue — flowers at shiva houses are widely accepted and appreciated.
What works well for shiva:
- Low, table-height arrangements that don't dominate the space or obstruct conversation
- Long-lasting options: orchids, potted plants, or succulents that will remain fresh throughout the full shiva period (up to seven days)
- Neutral or white-toned arrangements rather than very bright, celebratory colors
What to avoid:
- Large standing funeral sprays — these are for the funeral home, not the home
- Very strongly scented arrangements (lilies, in particular, can feel overwhelming in an enclosed sitting room)
- Arrangements that require significant care or water changes — the bereaved family should not be managing flower maintenance
Timing: Shiva typically begins the day after burial. Flowers sent the morning of or the evening of the first day are most meaningful. If you're uncertain about family preferences, a phone call to ask is always appropriate — and always appreciated.
What to Write on the Card
The flowers are the easier part. The card is harder.
A few principles that hold up after 96 years:
Keep it simple. "Thinking of you" or "With love, [your name]" is always right. You do not need to say more than this.
Acknowledge the person lost, not just the loss. "We loved [name] and are so glad to have known her" is more meaningful than "So sorry for your loss."
Do not say "everything happens for a reason." In grief, this lands badly, almost universally.
If you knew the person well, one specific memory is the most powerful thing you can put on a card: "I will always remember the way she laughed during our weekly walks in the Park."
Ordering Sympathy Flowers in NYC: What to Know
For same-day delivery in Manhattan, Jerome Florists requires orders by 3:00 PM. We deliver across the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Midtown, and beyond. For hospital deliveries, let us know the hospital, floor/unit, and patient name at checkout — we can advise on what arrangements will be permitted.
For funeral home deliveries, orders placed by 10:00 AM typically allow for morning or afternoon service delivery. We recommend calling us directly for funeral tributes to confirm timing and scale: (212) 289-1677.
For out-of-town senders dispatching arrangements to a Manhattan address: we are a local florist, not a wire service relay. What you order is what we make. There are no substitutions, no middlemen, and no automated fulfillment — just our team at 96th and Madison, making your arrangement fresh the morning it's delivered.
Jerome Florists Has Been Here for Moments Like This Since 1929
We opened this shop as Greek immigrants navigating a new city. We've been at 96th Street and Madison Avenue long enough to have helped the grandchildren of our original customers. We've delivered flowers to Lenox Hill Hospital, to Frank E. Campbell, to synagogues and churches and sitting rooms across the Upper East Side.
We don't take that lightly.
If you're not sure what to send, or when, or how — call us. We'll help you get it right.
Jerome Florists | 96th Street & Madison Avenue | New York, NY
Order online at jeromeflorists.com or call (212) 289-1677 for same-day delivery.