Thanks to the popularity of online shopping, many gardeners find themselves browsing for plant seeds and houseplants online. Online shopping is a great way to have your favorite plant varieties delivered right to your doorstep but is it worth it?
Due to the competition that comes with online shopping, there's no one-stop shop for all your houseplant needs. You’ll need to turn to different stores to cater to different gardening needs. To narrow down your list, here are some of the best online places to buy your favorite houseplants.
7 Best Places To Buy Houseplants Online
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Buying Houseplants Online
Each of the below online stores has its perks, quirks, and flaws, but they're some of the best places to get all your seeds, houseplants, and gardening supplies. For all sites except Amazon and The Home Depot, the pros below are collected from their website, and the cons are from Google Reviews and Better Business Bureau (BBB).
1. Nature Hills
Boasting a wide range of houseplants, succulents, trees, and ground covers, Nature Hills has been in business since 2001. Housing over 10,000 items for your home and garden, you'll find everything from different fruit trees and bulbs to home and garden essentials.
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Pros |
Cons |
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Wide variety of plants that you can choose from by USDA zones. |
Many customers on BBB and Google have complained about unreliable shipping periods. |
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Their website is easy to navigate and user-friendly for first-time gardeners. |
Nature Hills Nursery doesn't provide free shipping or store pick-up, which would have eliminated shipping costs. |
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You’re likely to find rare and hard-to-find plants on their site. |
Some customers on BBB have complained about slow customer service. |
2. Fast Growing Trees
Launched in 2005, Fast Growing Trees is home to several trees, shrubs, unique plants, and essential packs and kits, among other things. In addition, they provide a 30-day Alive & Thrive Guarantee™, which means if you're not satisfied with your delivery within the first five days, you can call them, and they'll make it right.
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Pros |
Cons |
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Their Alive & Thrive Guarantee™ helps you sort out plant problems within five days of delivery. |
A few customers on Google and BBB state that some plants can be pricier than other online retailers on this list. |
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Provide one-time replacement within 30 days, but this is a case-by-case. |
Some customers on BBB have complained about unreliable shipping periods. |
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Their website is easy to navigate and user-friendly for first-time gardeners. |
Many customers on BBB and Google have stated that their shipping cost is on the higher side. |
3. Amazon
Founded in July 1994, Amazon went public in 1997, and its popularity has skyrocketed. Home to various departments, Amazon is a favorite for many people, especially avid gardeners looking for a steal deal. Amazon gift cards make perfect gifts for new and expert gardeners, allowing them to buy a gift that suits their desires.
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Pros |
Cons |
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Amazon provides refunds and replacements on certain orders. Check before placing your order. |
Since Amazon delivers close to 1.6 million packages daily, some packages are delayed, and some plants are damaged during delivery. |
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A wide variety of garden essentials, including pots and soil. |
Depending on the stores you select on Amazon, generic plant sellers can deliver unhealthy plants with root rot. |
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Responsible customer service to help you track your order and solve other order-related queries. |
Although Amazon is against the sale of counterfeit or fake products, you'll find some sellers marketing fake products as authentic ones. |
4. The Home Depot
Founded in 1978, The Home Depot is one of the world's largest retailers of home improvement. Housing everything from décor to furniture and appliances to lighting, The Home Depot has you covered. You'll find a variety of plants, including bushes, succulents, flowers, and other gardening supplies for indoor and outdoor use.
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Pros |
Cons |
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It provides a variety of plants you can even pick up from the store. |
Physically check the plants you buy from here, if possible, because of frequent fungus gnats and rootbound complaints. |
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They provide a one-year guarantee on perennials, shrubs, and trees. |
The CustomerServiceScoreBoard rates The Home Depot's issue resolution 3.7 and reachability 4.2 out of 10 (as of December 2022). |
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Their website is easy to navigate and user-friendly for first-time gardeners. |
The CustomerServiceScoreBoard rates The Home Depot's product knowledge 5.2, so you probably won't get specific plant advice from them. |
5. Bloomscape
Launched in 2018, Bloomscape comes from five generations of gardeners specializing in greenhouse growing. Home to various gardening supplies, including gifting options and pet-friendly plants, Bloomscape also provides care and growing instructions. From giant plants to low-maintenance ones, you'll find a decent collection here.
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Pros |
Cons |
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The plants come with a 30-day guarantee, and you’ll get a free replacement if your plant arrives damaged. |
The 30-day guarantee is void if you repot the plant in a new container after delivery. |
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They have a Grow-How® team to help you understand your plant better. |
You only have 30 days to claim a refund, provided you send them photos to prove the damage. |
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They provide four interest-free installment payment options for your order. |
Some customers on Google have complained about unreliable shipping periods. |
6. Terrain
Founded in 2008, Terrain deals with various houseplants, unique planters, all-weather furniture, and lighting, among other things. While their online shop has catalogs of what they offer, in-store shopping is a different experience, featuring an on-site nursery, garden café, and private event space.
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Pros |
Cons |
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A free replacement is available for plants that arrive damaged on delivery, but only for online orders and with photo proof. |
You have only 48 hours to apply for a free replacement if your plant arrives damaged. This is only for online shopping. |
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You’ll likely find rare and hard-to-find plants on their site and store. |
Customers have complained about unreliable shipping and slow customer service on Google and BBB. |
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Gifting options include gift cards you can send loved ones for online, in-store, or café shopping. |
Some customers on Google say that plants are pricier but worth the quality. |
7. Prairie Moon Nursery
One of the oldest stores for gardeners, Prairie Moon Nursery was founded in 1982 to provide expert and amateur gardeners with everything they need for their yards and landscapes. From seeds and houseplants to seed mixes and rare finds, they offer a learning center to help you learn more about your plants.
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Prosa |
Cons |
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You have 60 days from the emergence period to claim for replacement. For example, spring plants emerge in spring/summer; hence spring or summer would be the emergence period. |
Their free shipping is only limited to seeds. However, shipping for plants is reasonable. |
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Specialize in native plants and provide all the care info you need for healthy plant growth. |
They don’t have defined shipping periods for plants. |
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They provide a handful of garden kits that are designed for different purposes. For example, a Pollinating Garden Kit comes with 38 plants that can cover 75 to 100 square feet. |
Their 60-day guarantee is void if you transplant plants into other pots and containers immediately after delivery. |
Tips to Remember Before Buying Houseplants Online
Image credits: Ivan Samkov via Pexels
Buying houseplants online is a boon for many gardeners, but before you start filling your virtual shopping cart, keep these tips in mind, so your plants blow your mind when they arrive home.
- Read customer reviews and buy only after you're satisfied because this will help you set realistic expectations.
- Read the site's fine print to understand what you're getting into and what happens when your plants don't arrive as expected.
- Consider your USDA plant hardiness zone before buying your plants. Don't buy plants that won't grow in your USDA Zone.
- Before purchasing, visualize how your plant will look and how much available space you have in your indoor or outdoor garden.
- Check the seller's return and refund policy if your plant gets damaged during shipping.
Botany Plants Lately?
Online shopping for houseplants provides comfort, variety, and doorstep delivery, among other things. But you need to read reviews and fine print to understand what you're getting into.
Each of the sites you've reviewed above specializes in different types of gardening supplies. While some house rare plants, others prefer native ones. You can mix things up and see what works for your garden.
Leave your experiences, thoughts, and questions in the comment section! And share with friends and family who might find this helpful.
Happy gardening!