Walmart.com gets into the flowers business

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is getting into the online flowers business. Walmart.com today launched a flowers section with FTD.com. Wal-Mart is promising same day delivery of flowers on orders placed before 12:30 p.m. on Weekdays and 10:30 a.m. on weekends.

Floral orders are fulfilled by FTD florists, of which there are about 20,000 nationwide.

The arrangement places Walmart.com in direct competition with such well known online retailers of flowers as 1-800-Flowers.com and Proflowers.com. FTD.com itself operates a direct-to-consumer web site.