Hospital Flower Delivery in Ottawa
Hospital Flower Delivery in Ottawa: What’s Allowed, What to Avoid, and Our Go-To Picks
Sending flowers to someone in the hospital is one of the sweetest ways to say “I’m thinking of you.”
But—this is a hospital we’re talking about. Tiny rooms, monitors everywhere, strict rules, and a lot of very tired people.
People send flowers to hospitals for all kinds of reasons:
- after planned or emergency surgery
- during long recoveries or illnesses
- to brighten someone’s stay after an accident or injury
- to support loved ones going through cancer treatments or rehab
- to celebrate a new baby (with an important asterisk we’ll talk about later)
- or simply to say “you’re not alone in this” when words feel difficult.
As a local Ottawa florist, we deliver to hospitals often and we’ve learned exactly what works, what doesn’t, and how to make sure your flowers actually reach your person.
This guide walks you through:
- The main hospitals in Ottawa and their addresses
- General notes about which departments commonly restrict flowers
- Our Nectar-approved tips for the best kinds of hospital arrangements
- Super important etiquette around new baby deliveries
1. Major Ottawa Hospitals & Where They Are
💡 Important: Hospital policies can change, and certain departments (like ICU, oncology, respiratory or mental health units) may restrict or completely ban flowers at any time. Please call the hospital or unit directly to confirm that flowers are allowed before placing your order.
The Ottawa Hospital (3 campuses)
The Ottawa Hospital – Civic Campus
📍 1053 Carling Ave, Ottawa, ON K1Y 4E9
☎ 613-722-7000
The Ottawa Hospital – General Campus
📍 501 Smyth Rd, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6
☎ 613-722-7000 (same central number)
The Ottawa Hospital – Riverside Campus
📍 1967 Riverside Dr, Ottawa, ON K1H 7W9
☎ 613-722-7000 (same central number)
Flower notes (general):
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Many standard in-patient units do accept flowers, but:
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ICUs, some oncology, respiratory and transplant units often do not allow them for infection control/allergy reasons.
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Mental health units tend to be more restricted about what can be dropped off.
Before you order:
👉 Call the specific campus or unit, mention that you’d like to send flowers, and ask if they’re allowed for that patient.
Queensway Carleton Hospital (QCH)
📍 Queensway Carleton Hospital
3045 Baseline Rd, Ottawa, ON K2H 8P4
☎ 613-721-2000 (24 hours)
Queensway Carleton has its own gift shop with floral arrangements, which is a good sign that flowers are welcome on many units, with the usual exceptions for ICU or high-risk areas. Still, policies differ by unit, so a quick phone call to confirm is always the safest move.
Hôpital Montfort
📍 Hôpital Montfort
713 Montreal Rd, Ottawa, ON K1K 0T2
☎ 613-746-4621
Toll-free: 1-866-670-4621
Local florists regularly deliver to Montfort and standard rooms usually accept flowers, though ICU and certain specialized units may have restrictions. Again: call the unit or the main information desk to double-check flower rules for your recipient.
CHEO – Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario
📍 CHEO (Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario)
401 Smyth Rd, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1
☎ 613-737-7600 (main switchboard)
CHEO is a pediatric hospital, so staff are extra careful with allergies and infection control. Some units accept flowers; others may not. Before sending anything, please verify with CHEO whether flowers are allowed on your child’s specific unit.
University of Ottawa Heart Institute
📍 University of Ottawa Heart Institute
40 Ruskin St, Ottawa, ON K1Y 4W7
☎ 613-696-7000
Located at the Civic Campus, the Heart Institute often has more fragile patients (cardiology, post-surgery, etc.), so:
- Strong fragrances are usually a bad idea
- Compact, low, non-intrusive arrangements are best
Always ask the Heart Institute (or the specific unit) if flowers are acceptable for your loved one before you order.
Bruyère Continuing Care
Saint-Vincent Hospital (Bruyère)
📍 60 Cambridge St N, Ottawa, ON K1R 7A5
Élisabeth-Bruyère Hospital (Bruyère)
📍 43 Bruyère St, Ottawa, ON K1N 5C8
Élisabeth-Bruyère Long-Term Care
📍 75 Bruyère St, Ottawa, ON K1N 5C8
Main number for Bruyère sites:
☎ 613-562-6262
These are rehab, complex care, and long-term care environments, so:
- Rooms can be quite full of equipment and personal belongings
- Flowers are usually welcome, but smaller, tidy designs are much easier to live with
It’s still smart to check the particular care home or unit for any allergy or scent restrictions.
Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre
📍 Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre (“The Royal”)
1145 Carling Ave, Ottawa, ON K1Z 7K4
☎ 613-722-6521
As a mental health facility, The Royal has stricter safety rules. Some units may allow flowers in communal spaces; many may not allow them in rooms at all.
If you want to send something here, please call The Royal directly and ask what is (and isn’t) permitted for the specific unit.
2. What Kind of Flowers Work Best for Hospitals?
Now to the fun part: what to actually send.
At Nectar Flowers Ottawa, we approach hospital arrangements with one big rule: Make it beautiful – but make it easy for the patient. They’re already dealing with enough. Your gift should feel like a gentle hug, not a project.
2.1. Choose vase arrangements or ready-to-go centerpieces
For hospital deliveries, we always recommend vase arrangements or centerpieces rather than hand-tied bouquets.
In a hospital room, the patient usually:
- doesn’t have a vase
- doesn’t have scissors to trim stems
- doesn’t want to figure out how to arrange flowers while attached to an IV
So at Nectar, we design ready-to-enjoy pieces that:
- arrive already in water
- are secure and stable on a small surface
- can be enjoyed instantly, with zero effort from the recipient or nurses
If you’re ever unsure what to choose on our website, look for our arrangements in vases, mugs, or decorative containers—they’re all perfect for hospital settings.
2.2. Keep it compact (hospital rooms are tiny)
Hospital rooms are small and often crowded with:
- monitors, wires, IV poles
- a narrow bedside table
- personal items and snacks
- visitors trying to squeeze in around the bed
Because of this, the best hospital flowers are:
- compact rather than huge and sprawling
- low to medium height, so they don’t block the patient’s view, TV, or conversations
- not too wide, so they fit on a bedside table, windowsill, or small shelf
Think of it as a little pocket garden that tucks into their space without taking it over.
Those big dramatic, extra-tall, super-wide designs? Gorgeous for events—not ideal in a hospital room.
2.3. Go easy on fragrance
We all love a beautifully scented flower… just maybe not in a small, shared hospital room.
Strongly scented blooms can:
- trigger headaches, nausea, or migraines
- bother patients with breathing issues or sensitivities
- affect roommates, visitors, and even staff
For hospital deliveries, we recommend:
- softly scented or unscented flowers
- fresh, uplifting colour palettes (soft neutrals, gentle pastels, or cheerful pops of colour)
- avoiding super-fragrant varieties like very perfumed lilies or heavily scented spring bulbs
When you order from Nectar Flowers Ottawa, you’re welcome to note “for hospital – please keep fragrance light” in the comments, and we’ll design with that in mind.
Explore Our Get Well Flower Collection
If you’re looking for the perfect hospital-friendly arrangement, our Get Well Collection is a wonderful place to start.
Each design in this collection is thoughtfully created with hospital settings in mind—compact, uplifting, low-fragrance, and ready to enjoy right away.
You’ll find:
- soothing neutral arrangements for calmer environments
- cheerful and colorful designs to brighten someone’s day
- elegant vase pieces that fit beautifully on a bedside table
- options for every budget and every type of recovery
You can browse it here:
👉 https://nectarflowersottawa.ca/collections/get-well
Ordering from Nectar Flowers Ottawa is also incredibly easy.
Simply choose your favorite arrangement, add your card message, and include the hospital + patient details at checkout. The entire process can be done online in just a couple of minutes, and once your order is placed, our team handles the rest—from creating a hospital-friendly design to delivering it with care.
A little beauty can make a big difference during a hospital stay, and we’re here to help you send that moment of comfort and warmth. 🌸
3. How to Fill Out the Delivery Details (So Your Flowers Actually Arrive)
Hospital deliveries can be a little tricky, simply because patients often move between units, floors, or rooms. The more accurate the information you provide, the smoother and faster the delivery.
At Nectar Flowers Ottawa, we strongly recommend including the following details at checkout:
✅ Full First & Last Name
Hospitals will not release patient information without a full legal name.
Avoid nicknames if possible.
✅ Patient’s Phone Number (or a close family member’s)
This helps the hospital staff confirm the patient’s location if they’ve recently been moved.
✅ Hospital Name + Campus
Many Ottawa hospitals have multiple buildings or wings.
Example: The Ottawa Hospital has Civic, General, and Riverside campuses.
✅ Unit, Department, Floor, and Room/Bed
Anything helps:
- “Cardiology – 5th floor”
- “Oncology – C Wing”
- “Rehab – Room 217, Bed B”
If you don’t have all this information, don’t worry. Just include whatever you do know—but always provide a full name. The hospital’s front desk can guide our driver to the correct area upon arrival.
Small Tip: Double-Check Visiting Rules
Some hospitals have special guidelines during construction, outbreaks, or winter months.
A quick phone call to the unit ensures there are no surprises with scent-sensitive areas or restricted zones.
Once you’ve filled in your details, placing an order with us is simple. Choose your arrangement, enter the delivery info, write your message, and check out—all online, any time of day. We’ll take care of the rest, creating a piece that’s thoughtful, practical, and perfect for a hospital setting.
4. New Baby Delivery Etiquette (Please Read Before Sending)
Welcoming a new baby is one of life’s biggest joys, and flowers are such a meaningful way to celebrate a growing family. But when it comes to hospital deliveries, timing truly matters.
In most cases, we strongly recommend sending flowers to the family’s home rather than the hospital.
Those first hours after birth are incredibly overwhelming, hospital rooms are tiny, and many families leave within the same day. Sending flowers home ensures the parents can fully enjoy your gift without stress or clutter.
That said—there are circumstances where sending flowers directly to the hospital is appropriate, appreciated, and perfectly okay.
🌸 When It Is Appropriate to Send Flowers to the Hospital
Here are a few situations where hospital delivery makes sense and can bring a lot of comfort:
1. Planned C-Sections
For scheduled or planned C-sections, parents usually know their timeline and typically stay in hospital for 2–4 days.
In this case, sending flowers to the hospital after the baby is born (day 2 or 3) can be lovely because:
- they’re settled into their room
- they’ll be there long enough to enjoy the flowers
- the experience is generally less chaotic than an unexpected labour
Just avoid sending them on day 0, when recovery from surgery is fresh and overwhelming.
2. Longer Hospital Stays
If you know the parent(s) will be staying longer due to:
- medical monitoring
- postpartum complications
- baby needing additional observation
…then flowers can be a very comforting presence.
A compact, low-fragrance arrangement can brighten a room during a longer recovery period. Just be sure to confirm with the unit whether flowers are permitted.
3. When the Baby Is in the NICU or Born Preterm
For preterm babies or NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) stays, things are more delicate.
In these cases:
- Don’t send flowers directly to the NICU.
- If you wish to send something to the parents, only send to their hospital room, and choose a very light, calming design.
Even better:
Send the flowers to the family’s home and accompany it with a heartfelt message. NICU stays can be emotionally heavy, and parents often come and go from the hospital multiple times a day—home flowers give them a moment of comfort when they return to rest.
4. When the Parents Tell You It’s Okay
Some families genuinely want hospital flowers—they may tell you:
- “We’d love something in the room.”
- “We’ll be here several days.”
- “Please send something cheerful today.”
If you have clear confirmation, then sending to the hospital is absolutely fine.
Just remember to choose something compact, low-scent, and easy.
🌼 When You Should Not Send Flowers to the Hospital
- Same-day births (too overwhelming)
- Unplanned births without communication (parents may be discharged within hours)
- Uncertain situations where you don’t know what’s happening
- If you’re unsure whether the unit allows flowers
In these moments, a home delivery is always the kinder, more thoughtful option.
Explore Our New Baby Collection
Our New Baby Collection is curated specifically for celebrating new parents—featuring joyful colours, soft pastels, gender-neutral palettes, and modern arrangements that feel warm, fresh, and welcoming.
Browse it here:
👉 https://nectarflowersottawa.ca/collections/new-baby-collection
These designs are perfect for sending to the family’s home, especially during those first few days of bonding. Ordering online is simple: pick your favourite arrangement, write your message, choose the delivery date, and we take care of the rest.
Sending Flowers to Ottawa Hospitals — A Thoughtful Gesture Made Simple
Whether you’re celebrating good news, offering comfort, or reminding someone they’re not alone, flowers have a way of speaking straight to the heart. And when delivered thoughtfully, with hospital guidelines and the patient’s comfort in mind, they can make an enormous difference in someone’s day.
At Nectar Flowers Ottawa, our goal is to help you send something that feels personal, uplifting, and genuinely supportive—without adding any stress to the family or the medical staff caring for them.
With our hospital-safe arrangements, clear order form, and easy online checkout, sending flowers across Ottawa truly only takes a few minutes. You choose the design, share the details, and we’ll create something beautiful that fits perfectly in a hospital room or greets your loved ones at home.
If you’re ready to brighten someone’s stay or welcome a new little one into the world, explore our curated collections below:
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💛 Get Well Collection: Uplifting, compact, hospital-friendly designs
https://nectarflowersottawa.ca/collections/get-well -
🍼 New Baby Collection: Sweet, modern blooms to celebrate the newest arrival
https://nectarflowersottawa.ca/collections/new-baby-collection
Sending flowers is more than a gesture—it’s comfort, joy, encouragement, and love delivered right where it’s needed most.
Whenever you’re ready, we’re here to help you send that moment of beauty. 🌸
FAQ: Sending Flowers to Ottawa Hospitals
1. Can I send flowers to any hospital in Ottawa?
In most cases, yes — but not to every unit. ICU, oncology, respiratory, transplant, and some mental health units often do not allow flowers. Always call the hospital or unit first to confirm.
2. What’s the most important detail I need to provide when placing a hospital flower order?
The patient’s full first and last name. Hospitals cannot locate a patient without this.
3. Do I need the room number?
It helps, but it’s not mandatory. If you provide the full name + hospital + campus, the front desk can usually guide our driver to the correct area.
4. Should I call the hospital before ordering?
Yes! Policies change often. A quick call ensures your flowers won’t be turned away because of unit restrictions or scent sensitivities.
5. Can I send flowers to ICU patients?
Generally, no. ICUs do not allow flowers due to infection control and allergy concerns.
6. Are flowers allowed in mental health facilities?
Many mental health units do not allow flowers in patient rooms. When sending to The Royal or mental health wings, call the unit first.
7. What types of flowers are safest for hospitals?
- Unscented or lightly scented flowers
- Compact, low arrangements
- Designs that come already in a vase
- These are easiest for the patient and staff to manage.
8. Are lilies too fragrant for hospital rooms?
Highly scented lilies can be overwhelming. We avoid strongly perfumed varieties for hospital deliveries.
9. Should I choose a bouquet or a vase arrangement?
Always choose a vase arrangement or a centerpiece (e.g. basket, box arrangement etc.). Patients don’t have vases, scissors, or space to arrange flowers themselves.
10. How big should a hospital arrangement be?
Small to medium. Hospital rooms are tight, so compact and low designs fit perfectly on bedside tables or windowsills.
11. Can I send potted plants to hospitals?
Some hospitals allow them, many do not because soil can carry bacteria. Always confirm with the unit first.
12. Is it okay to send flowers the same day a baby is born?
We do not recommend it. New parents are overwhelmed, and many leave within 24 hours. Send flowers to their home instead, or wait until day 2 or 3 if you know they’re staying longer.
13. When is it appropriate to send flowers to the hospital for new parents?
- Planned C-sections
- Longer postpartum stays
- When parents explicitly tell you it’s okay
- When baby is full-term and the stay is stable
- When in doubt, home delivery is best.
14. Can I send flowers if the baby is in the NICU?
Not to the NICU directly. NICU units don’t allow flowers. You may send to the parents’ room, or better yet, send flowers to their home as comfort during a difficult time.
15. Can I include a personal message?
Absolutely — and it’s highly encouraged. Short, warm, supportive notes mean the world during recovery.
16. What if the patient has been discharged before delivery?
If the hospital notifies us that the patient is gone, the arrangement is rerouted to the home address you provide. That’s why adding a backup address is helpful.
17. How quickly can Nectar Flowers Ottawa deliver to hospitals?
We offer same-day delivery for orders placed before our daily cutoff time. Check our website for today’s availability.
18. Can I choose a specific color palette?
Yes! You can leave a note at checkout with preferences like:
“Soft neutrals”
“Cheerful colours”
“Low fragrance please”
We’ll design accordingly.
19. What should I avoid sending to hospitals?
- Highly perfumed flowers
- Very large or tall arrangements
- Live plants (unless confirmed)
- Loose bouquets requiring a vase
20. What’s the easiest way to order flowers for someone in the hospital?
Right from our website.
Choose your arrangement, enter the patient and hospital details, add your message, and check out — all online in just a few minutes.
Browse our hospital-friendly designs here:
💛 Get Well Collection → https://nectarflowersottawa.ca/collections/get-well
