Flowers for Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

Planning to send flowers to someone at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre? Please read this first. Some units at the hospital do not allow fresh flowers or plants, because of the risk of infection for patients being treated for cancer. In many cases, the kindest choice is to send your flowers to the patient's home, or to a family member who could use the support. Mystic Flowers can help with both.

About the hospital

Princess Margaret Cancer Centre stands at 610 University Avenue in downtown Toronto, south of College Street, and is part of University Health Network. It is a major cancer centre, with more than 200 inpatient beds and over 400,000 patient visits each year. Many people come only for clinic visits or treatment and go home the same day, so please check with the family that your patient is staying in the hospital before you send anything.

Check before you send

University Health Network's guide for patients on Unit 14B, its blood and marrow transplant unit, says that fresh flowers and potted plants are not allowed because they can spread bacterial infections. It asks patients to tell visitors not to bring them. Other units may have their own rules, and the hospital also has a scent-free policy. Rules can change, so please ask the family first, or call the hospital at 416-946-2000.

If you hear that flowers are welcome, we can deliver to the hospital. Our studio is in Mississauga, and Toronto is in both of our delivery zones, so we deliver from Monday to Saturday and on Sundays too.

What to include if flowers are allowed

• the patient's full name, as the hospital has it on record
• Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, M5G 2M9
• the unit or floor and the room number, if the family has shared them
• your own phone number, in case we have a question
• your card message, signed with your name

A better idea: send to the home

Treatment can go on for months, and a patient's immune system may be weak at some stages, even at home. Before you send anything to a patient's home, it is worth a quick word with the family about whether flowers are safe right now. If they are not, a bouquet for a spouse or a parent who is carrying a lot, or a gift basket of treats for the household, is a thoughtful way to help. Gift baskets are made to order and need at least one day's notice.

What to write

A card can matter more than the flowers. Every order includes a free handwritten card, and a few plain words are enough: "Thinking of you," or "We are here whenever you need us." There is no need to ask about treatment or offer advice. Our guide to get well flowers has more wording ideas.

Choosing flowers for home

When flowers are fine, soft colours and a gentle scent are usually the most welcome, since strong scents can be hard during treatment. Browse our get well flowers and our flowers and gifts under $60. Delivery is free on orders of $50 or more, and orders under $50 have a $15 delivery fee. For other downtown hospitals, see our Toronto General Hospital and Mount Sinai Hospital pages, or call our studio at 905-677-9999 if you are not sure what to send.