To find out, Consumer Reports ordered two-dozen, mostly do-it-yourself bouquets from three national websites, ProFlowers, 1-800-Flowers, and FTD.
The flowers, including delivery, cost $57 to $87.
Judges compared photos of what Consumer Reports received to the pictures on the companies' websites.
"This was the orchid pictured on the website. This is the orchid we received," said Bernie Deitrick from Consumer Reports.
Some bouquets proved a good match, but others, not really.
The mixed flowers on FTD's website look a lot different than the flowers they sent.
FTD says, "While we make every effort to deliver each arrangement as shown on the website, there are times when seasonal or regional limitations, or other conditions, make substitution of flowers a necessity. FTD's policy has always been that substitutions be of equal or greater value. If, however, a customer is not satisfied, our customer care department can facilitate a redelivery or refund."
Still, Consumer Reports says overall the mixed bouquets were the most disappointing.
"There were more substitutions of flowers, different colors, different sizes," explained Bernie Deitrick.
Bottom line, 1-800-Flowers was best at sending what was ordered, and its tulip bouquet was the best match of all. The picture of the flowers received looked a lot like the flowers advertised online.
If you're planning on buying flowers from a local florist, we've got the 4-1-1 on that, too.
Checkbook Magazine just rated 92 of them in the Delaware Valley to make sure you get the best of the bunch and the best price.
The first thing you should know is prices and the level of service vary tremendously.
For a Peace Lily, Checkbook found prices ranging from $25 to $90. A dozen carnations ranged in price from $6.00 to $42.
The good news is there appears to be little relationship between what you pay and what you get.
In fact, Checkbook's research found that highly rated florists were more likely to have low prices than poorly rated florists.
Here are four Delaware Valley florists that got super ratings of 100% for overall quality, and are also top-rated for price.
Flowers by Elizabeth in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, Brinton's Flowers in Wilmington, Delaware, Eventricity Flowers in Glenside, Pa., and Avanda Flower Shop in Center City Philadelphia, where they owner says this is the best time of the year to let her creative juices flow.
"Makes work much easier with the varieties and colors that are available," says Timm Jamavan from Avanda Flower Shop.
RELATED LINKS:
Delaware Valley Consumers' CHECKBOOK is a subscriber-based, nonprofit rating service. Through special arrangement with CHECKBOOK, 6ABC viewers can access CHECKBOOK's ratings of Delaware Valley florists without a subscription until Wednesday May 11, 2011, and can view CHECKBOOK's florists article indefinitely via this link: http://www.checkbook.org/wpvi/florists
http://www.avandaflowers.com/contact_page.htm
http://www.flowers-by-elizabeth.com/
http://www.brintonsflowershop.com/
http://www.eventricity.net/