Best Flowers for Get Well Soon: Lakeridge Health Rules

You order a gorgeous bouquet of stargazer lilies for a friend at Lakeridge Health Oshawa. Then you find out the hospital is scent-free and those lilies are the most fragrant flower in the shop. Oops.

It happens more than you'd think. Hospitals have rules about flowers, balloons and even plants, and those rules aren't printed on the order form. We deliver to Durham's hospitals almost every day from our shop in Orono, so we've learned the practical way.

Here's what's actually allowed, which units say no, and the best flowers for get well soon wishes that will make it to the bedside (and stay there).

Short on time? Browse our get well soon flowers 

It's a hospital delivery, so we keep it low-scent. Order by 11:00 AM for same-day delivery.

Can You Send Flowers For Get Well Soon to a Hospital in Durham Region?

Yes, with two conditions. Lakeridge Health, which runs Durham's five hospitals, says all of its sites are latex-free and scent-free. Its visitor guidance asks people to bring non-scented flowers only and to choose Mylar balloons instead of latex ones.

In practice, that means picking low-fragrance flowers like tulips, chrysanthemums, carnations, gerberas and snapdragons, out of consideration for other patients who may react to strong scents. And choose a vase over a basket with floral foam. A vase arrangement lasts longer and needs less fuss, which matters when nurses are busy and the bedside table is crowded.

That applies at every Lakeridge site:

Why Scent Matters So Much

A hospital room isn't private air. Strong fragrance can trigger asthma, migraines and nausea in patients and staff, and people on chemotherapy or recovering from surgery can be especially sensitive to smell. Your friend might love freesia. The person in the next bed might not.

What Counts As "Scented"?

Lakeridge doesn't publish a list, but other Ontario hospitals do. Peterborough Regional Health Centre names lilies, lilacs, peonies, roses, gardenias, lavender and hyacinth as highly fragrant, and Kingston Health Sciences Centre adds freesias. Use that as your no-go list for any hospital delivery.

Heading east? Northumberland Hills Hospital in Cobourg also describes itself as scent-free, so the same rules are a safe bet there.

The practical upshot: tell your florist the flowers are going to a hospital. Add a note that it's a hospital delivery and we'll design around low-scent flowers. That's part of how we handle hospital flower delivery across Durham.

Which Hospital Units Don't Allow Flowers?

Even in a hospital that welcomes low-scent flowers, some units say no to all of them.

Intensive care and critical care

Lakeridge's own Critical Care Unit brochure for the Oshawa site asks visitors not to bring flowers into the unit. ICUs have been flower-free zones in most hospitals for decades.

Units with immune-compromised patients

Oncology, transplant and some surgical recovery areas often ban fresh flowers and potted plants. Standing water and potting soil can harbour bacteria and mould, which is a real concern when someone's immune system is low.

Newborn Nurseries And Recovery Rooms

are commonly restricted too. In fairness, infection-control experts have said the hard evidence linking flowers to hospital infections is thin. Hospitals simply choose caution when patients are this vulnerable, and that's hard to argue with.

So what happens if you send flowers to a unit that doesn't allow them? It may be sent home with a family member, or simply never make it to the bedside. Neither is what you had in mind. If you're not sure where your person is, call the hospital's main line (Lakeridge Health: 905-576-8711) or ask a family member before you order.

Are Plants Allowed in Hospital Rooms?

On regular wards, often yes. In ICU, oncology and transplant units, generally no, for the soil-and-mould reason above. A plant makes a better gift once they're home, where it can keep growing long after the cards come down.

Shop from our Get Well Soon Flowers Collection

The Best Flowers for Get Well Soon Wishes

The best hospital bouquet is bright, low-scent, compact and steady in its vase. Hospital bedside tables are tiny, and they're shared with water jugs, phones and a box of tissues. Here's what we reach for:

Skip for hospital delivery: lilies, lilacs, peonies, gardenias, hyacinths, freesia, lavender and heavily scented roses. Save those for when they're home.

Colour? Go bright. Yellows, oranges and warm pinks read as sunshine on a grey day, and a hospital room has plenty of grey. Everything in our get well soon flowers collection is designed with that in mind.

Get Well Arrangements for a Woman

There's no rule, but a few ideas tend to land well: soft pink gerberas with white snapdragons, a pastel tulip arrangement, or a single orchid she can take home and keep. If you know her favourite colour, use it. That detail says more than the flower type ever will.

Get Better Soon Flowers for Someone Recovering at Home

Once they're home, the rules relax. Scented flowers are fine (unless they're sensitive), plants are welcome, and you can go bigger. A potted orchid, peace lily or planter basket gives them something living to look after during recovery. Lilies and lavender come back on the menu too, with one exception: skip lilies if there's a cat in the house, since they're highly toxic to cats.

Get Well Teddy Bears and Balloons: What's OK?

Balloons

Mylar (foil) only. Lakeridge Health is latex-free at every site, because latex allergies can be severe, and that includes balloons. A foil "Get Well Soon" balloon tied to a bouquet is fine on regular wards.

Teddy bears

Generally welcome on regular wards, and a lovely pick for kids or anyone who'd smile at a plush companion. Isolation rooms and critical care are the exception, since soft toys are hard to clean.

A low-scent bouquet with a foil balloon and a small bear is a classic hospital combo. You'll find the add-ons in our get well teddy bear and balloons section.

What Are Good Alternatives to Flowers for a Hospital Patient?

If they're in ICU, or you're simply not sure, these always get through:

• A free Healing Words message. Lakeridge Health lets you send a message online, and volunteers hand-deliver it to the patient, Monday to Friday. It's free.
• Non-slip socks. Lakeridge actually recommends them to prevent falls. Practical and cozy.
• Unscented comforts: lip balm, hand cream (fragrance-free), an eye mask, earplugs.
• Something to pass the time: puzzle books, a magazine, a long phone-charging cable (outlets are never near the bed).
• A gift basket for later. Something they can open at home once they're discharged. Our flower and gift basket ideas post has combinations at every budget.

One caution on food: check with family first. Many patients are on restricted diets after surgery or for medical reasons.

How to Send Flowers to a Hospital (Without the Guesswork)

Get these details before you order and the delivery goes smoothly:

• The patient's full name, as they were admitted. Nicknames slow things down.
• The hospital and site. "Lakeridge" isn't enough; there are five sites.
• The unit and room number, if you know them. Not essential, but helpful.
• Confirmation they're still admitted. Hospitals don't forward flowers after discharge, so if they're going home tomorrow, send them to the house instead.
• Your name and phone number in case we need to check anything.

Then add a note that it's a hospital delivery so we keep the scent low and the size compact.

Timing and Weekend Delivery

Order by 11:00 AM for same-day delivery on most routes. We deliver Monday to Saturday (our shop is closed Sundays), so a Saturday morning order is your last chance before the weekend ends. Lakeridge's free Healing Words messages only go out on weekdays, so for a Sunday surprise, plan ahead.

We run the route to Hospital Court almost daily, and our hospital flower delivery in Oshawa page covers the neighbourhoods and other spots we deliver to across the city.

Send Something That Actually Reaches the Bedside

The right flowers are the ones that make it into the room: bright, low-scent, compact, with a foil balloon if you want one. Tell us it's a hospital delivery, and we'll handle the rest, from flower choice to finding the right unit.

Ready to send? Shop our get well soon flowers for same-day hand delivery to Lakeridge Health and homes across Durham.

Hospital Flower Frequently Asked Questions

Can you send flowers to a hospital in Durham Region?

Yes. Lakeridge Health's sites in Oshawa, Ajax, Bowmanville, Port Perry and Whitby accept flowers on most units, as long as they're non-scented and any balloons are Mylar, not latex.

Are flowers allowed in the ICU?

No. Lakeridge's Critical Care Unit in Oshawa asks visitors not to bring flowers, and that's standard at most hospitals. Send a card, a Healing Words message, or flowers to the home once they're out.

Which hospital units don't allow flowers?

Intensive and critical care almost always, and often oncology, transplant, newborn nursery and surgical recovery areas. When in doubt, call the hospital before you order.

What are good alternatives to flowers for a hospital patient?

A free Lakeridge Healing Words message, non-slip socks, fragrance-free lip balm or hand cream, puzzle books, a long charging cable, or a gift basket to open at home.

Are scented flowers okay for patients?

Not at Lakeridge Health, which is scent-free. Skip lilies, lilacs, peonies, gardenias, hyacinths, freesia and lavender, and choose gerberas, sunflowers, tulips or alstroemeria instead.

What information do I need to send flowers to a patient?

Their full name as admitted, the hospital and site, the unit and room number if you know them, and confirmation they haven't been discharged.

Can flowers be delivered on weekends to hospitals?

We deliver on Saturdays, but not Sundays. For weekend delivery, order by Saturday morning (by 11:00 AM for the same day).

Are plants allowed in hospital rooms?

Often on regular wards, but generally not in ICU, oncology or transplant units, because potting soil can harbour mould. Plants make a better gift once they're home.

What flowers are best for someone recovering at home?

Almost anything. At home, fragrant flowers and plants are fine. Orchids, peace lilies and planter baskets last for weeks, which suits a long recovery.

Do you deliver to Lakeridge Health Oshawa?

Yes, regularly. Include the patient's full name and their unit or room number if you have it.