Sending Flowers to Mount Sinai Hospital: An NYC Florist's Guide
TJ Flowers & Events
By the TJ Flowers & Events design team — Manhattan florist since 1988.
Why Hospital Flower Delivery Is Different
Sending flowers to a hospital is not the same as sending flowers to a home. Many of the things that make a great gift bouquet — height, fragrance, abundance, exotic varieties — make a hospital arrangement either inappropriate or actively unwelcome. Some Mount Sinai units don't allow flowers at all. Some flowers trigger reactions in immunocompromised patients. Lily pollen stains hospital linens. Tall arrangements don't fit on standard hospital nightstands.
For 38 years, our Manhattan studio has delivered flowers to Mount Sinai's main campus on the Upper East Side, plus its Brooklyn and West campuses. This guide covers what we've learned about sending flowers to Mount Sinai patients without making things harder for the family or the nursing staff.
Related: Upper east side funeral home directory.
Mount Sinai's Floral Policy at a Glance
Mount Sinai Hospital generally permits floral arrangements in patient rooms with the following important exceptions:
- ICU, NICU, and PICU — fresh flowers and live plants are typically NOT allowed due to infection control. Silk arrangements and balloons are sometimes permitted.
- Bone marrow transplant unit — strict no-flower policy. Patients are profoundly immunocompromised.
- Oncology / cancer floors — varies by floor and by patient. Many oncology patients can receive flowers, but always check with the nurse station first.
- Maternity / labor & delivery — typically allowed and welcomed.
- General surgery and medical floors — typically allowed.
Always confirm with the nursing station before sending — call (212) 241-6500 (Mount Sinai main switchboard) and ask to be transferred to the unit. A two-minute call avoids a returned arrangement and a bigger headache for the family.
What Flowers Are Best for a Mount Sinai Patient
The hospital-friendly bouquet
For 38 years we've narrowed hospital bouquets to a specific recipe:
- Low and compact — under 12 inches tall and 10 inches wide. Fits a hospital nightstand without crowding the call button or water pitcher.
- Low or no fragrance — heavy fragrance triggers nausea in chemo patients and bothers shared rooms.
- Pollen-free or pollen-removed — we remove the pollen-bearing anthers from any lily before delivery.
- Contained in a non-glass vessel — ceramic or melamine. Glass breaks; broken glass on a hospital floor is a hazard.
- Spill-proof — no top-heavy designs.
Flowers that work well
- White roses, blush roses — durable, low fragrance
- Spray roses — abundant in form, gentle
- Ranunculus — full and bright, low fragrance
- Lisianthus — durable, romantic, low fragrance
- Alstroemeria — long-lasting, no fragrance
- Carnations — durable, gentle
- Dendrobium orchids — exotic without fragrance, lasts 2+ weeks
Flowers to avoid
- Stargazer or Oriental lilies — overpowering fragrance
- Hyacinths — strong sweet scent
- Gardenia, jasmine — too fragrant
- Sunflowers — high pollen
- Daffodils — sap is toxic if ingested
- Tulips — keep growing in vase, become messy
- Anything with thorns left on — we strip every thorn from hospital arrangements
The Allergy-Free Alternative: Plants and Succulents
For patients on units where fresh flowers are restricted, or for anyone with significant allergies, the right gift is often a small living plant rather than cut flowers:
- Phalaenopsis orchid plant — elegant, lasts 2-3 months in bloom, then re-blooms with care
- Succulent garden in a low ceramic dish — low maintenance, fits any windowsill, lasts indefinitely
- Small bonsai — meaningful, lasting, conversation piece
- Jade plant — symbol of healing in some traditions, robust
Plants work especially well for longer hospital stays. The patient takes them home when discharged.
Delivery to Mount Sinai's Main Campus (1468 Madison Ave, Upper East Side)
Mount Sinai's main hospital is on Madison Avenue between East 100th and East 101st Streets, in our home neighborhood. Same-day delivery is available for orders placed by 3 PM Monday through Friday and by 12 PM on Saturday.
What you need to provide
- Patient's full name (for nursing station handoff)
- Floor and room number (if known) — call the unit if not
- The unit name (e.g., "Klingenstein Pavilion 7E")
- Patient's recipient phone (we don't call them, but the driver may need to coordinate with the floor)
- Card message — concise, warm, honest
Delivery logistics
Our driver checks in at the lobby information desk and delivers to the appropriate nursing station. The nurse signs for the arrangement and walks it to the patient's room. We do not enter patient rooms.
If the patient has been discharged or moved, the arrangement is left at the nursing station — they'll either call the family for direction or send it home with a discharged patient. If you're worried about timing, send a same-day delivery in the morning rather than late afternoon.
Card message etiquette
Keep it short and personal. Examples that land:
- "Thinking of you. We're here when you're ready. — Steve and the kids"
- "Sending love and a small reminder you're not alone. — Aunt Marguerite"
- "Get well soon. The grandkids drew you cards too — coming next week. — Grandma"
Avoid: "Hope you feel better!" (cheery in a way that grates when seriously ill), inside jokes that require explanation, anything that mentions specific outcomes ("Can't wait until you're back at the office!").
Mount Sinai Brooklyn and West Campuses
Mount Sinai Brooklyn (3201 Kings Highway, Brooklyn): same-day delivery available Brooklyn-wide; allow extra 60-90 minutes for traffic during peak hours.
Mount Sinai West (1000 10th Avenue at 59th Street): same-day delivery, our driver typically arrives within 90 minutes of order.
Mount Sinai Beth Israel (281 First Avenue) and Mount Sinai Morningside (419 West 114th Street): same-day delivery available throughout business hours.
Pricing for Mount Sinai Hospital Deliveries
Hospital arrangements typically run smaller than home gift bouquets — appropriate to the setting and easier for the patient to manage. Realistic price ranges:
- Compact get-well bouquet (small): $85–$125
- Mid-size hospital arrangement: $125–$200
- Premium arrangement (for major occasions): $200–$350
- Phalaenopsis orchid plant in ceramic pot: $125–$250
- Succulent garden in ceramic dish: $85–$150
- Small bonsai: $250–$500
Manhattan delivery: $25 standard. Same-day rush after 1 PM: $10 surcharge. Saturday delivery: included in same-day fee.
What Not to Send to a Hospital
- Mass-market wire-service "Get Well" arrangements — often subcontracted to whichever florist quoted lowest, with no consideration for hospital appropriateness
- Helium balloons — banned in many hospital units due to interference with sensitive medical equipment
- Glass vessels — broken glass risk
- Edible arrangements — many patients are on restricted diets; bring a small treat the family can take home instead
- Anything from the gift shop on the way out — exhausted, unconsidered, doesn't help
- Strong fragrances — perfumes, scented candles, anything that travels through hospital ventilation
For Difficult Diagnoses: What to Send
If the patient is facing a serious or terminal diagnosis, the right gift often isn't flowers at all — or it's a small, intentional gesture rather than a large arrangement.
What we recommend in our 38 years:
- A single phalaenopsis orchid in a beautiful pot — quiet, elegant, lasts months, doesn't demand attention
- A small bonsai — symbolic of patience, time, life
- A care package — small floral arrangement plus a soft cashmere throw, a hardcover book, and a handwritten card
- A donation to a meaningful charity in the patient's name (with a small floral arrangement to acknowledge the gesture)
For very serious situations, ask a close family member what would actually help. Sometimes the answer is a meal delivered to the family caregiver's home rather than another arrangement at the hospital.
Working With TJ Flowers for Mount Sinai Deliveries
Our studio is on the Upper East Side. Mount Sinai's main campus is a 7-minute drive from our shop. We deliver here daily and know the load-in protocols, the nursing station handoffs, and the unit-specific restrictions for each pavilion.
For Mount Sinai delivery — same-day or scheduled — please contact our design team or call (212) 628-1214 directly. We'll confirm the unit's flower policy before designing the arrangement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are flowers allowed at Mount Sinai Hospital?
Yes, with exceptions. Most general medical and surgical floors permit flowers and plants. ICU, NICU, PICU, and bone marrow transplant units typically do not. Oncology floors vary — always confirm with the nursing station at (212) 241-6500 before sending.
Can you deliver same-day to Mount Sinai?
Yes. Our Manhattan studio is a 7-minute drive from Mount Sinai's main campus. Same-day delivery is available for orders placed by 3 PM Monday-Friday and by 12 PM Saturday.
What flowers are best for a hospital patient?
Low-fragrance, pollen-free, durable, and compact (under 12 inches). Roses, ranunculus, lisianthus, alstroemeria, dendrobium orchids work well. Avoid lilies (high fragrance, pollen), hyacinths, and sunflowers. For immunocompromised patients, a phalaenopsis orchid plant or succulent garden is often more appropriate than cut flowers.
How much should I spend on hospital flowers?
Hospital arrangements are usually smaller than home gift bouquets. $85-$200 for cut flowers, $125-$250 for plants, $250-$500 for premium bonsai or specialty arrangements. Modest is rarely wrong; ostentatious can feel inappropriate.
Can I send flowers to the ICU?
Generally no. Most ICU units (medical, surgical, neuro, cardiac) at Mount Sinai prohibit fresh flowers and plants due to infection-control protocols. Send to the family at home instead, or wait until the patient is moved to a step-down unit.
What should I write in a get-well card?
Short, warm, honest. "Thinking of you," "Sending love," or "We're here when you're ready" are appropriate for serious illness. Avoid forced cheerfulness or specific outcome predictions. For minor stays, "Get well soon" is fine.
Can I send flowers to a Mount Sinai patient I don't know the room number for?
Yes. Provide the patient's full name and the unit name (or general floor). Our driver checks in at the lobby and the nursing station can confirm the room or hold the arrangement. Mount Sinai's main number (212) 241-6500 can also help locate a patient before you order.
Do you deliver to Mount Sinai Brooklyn?
Yes — Mount Sinai Brooklyn (3201 Kings Highway) and all other Mount Sinai campuses (West, Beth Israel, Morningside, Queens) are within our same-day delivery range. Allow extra time for outer-borough drives.
One Final Note
Hospital flowers are not about impressing the patient. They're about communicating: I am thinking of you. Your day is hard. You are not forgotten. A small, considered arrangement does this far better than a large, generic one.
If we can help you choose the right arrangement for a specific Mount Sinai patient — including allergy considerations and unit-specific restrictions — please reach our design team or call (212) 628-1214. We answer the phone, day or night, for hospital and sympathy work.
