The Best Plant Delivery Services
Dotdash Meredith and Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.
sanjeri / Getty Images
Plants can easily make a house feel like a home, but having to carry a collection of greenery back from a local nursery can be a major struggle. If you find yourself in this predicament, plant delivery services offer a far more convenient way to get plants to your doorstep. While the possibility of a live plant getting damaged in-transit is an understandable concern, most plant delivery companies take additional measures to ensure your shipment arrives safely. But it isn't just protective packaging you'll want to consider when shopping for plants online.
The best plant delivery companies have a wide variety of plant types suited for any home or garden, and some even ship them for free. Additionally, available plants may change according to your zip code and season, allowing you to get the freshest plants. Some companies also offer monthly plant subscriptions that are perfect for avid green thumbs, while other companies promise same-day plant delivery or specialize in specific plant types. No matter your preference, expect to be sent a quality plant when you order from one of these plant delivery companies.
Best Plant Delivery Services of 2022
Best Overall: Lively Root
Best for Succulents: Mountain Crest Gardens
Best for Plant Subscriptions: The House Plant Box
Best for Outdoor Plants: The Home Depot
Best for Cheap Plant Delivery: Leaf & Clay
Best for Plant Pots: Urban Stems
Best for Same-Day Plant Delivery: Floom
Best for Free Shipping: The Sill
Best for Plant Seeds: Urban Organic Gardener
Best Variety: House Plant Shop
Best Overall: Lively Root
Average Price: $40
Free Shipping? Yes (only for orders over $59)
Nationwide Delivery? Yes (except Alaska and Hawaii)
Pros & Cons
Pros
Delivers succulents and seeds in addition to regular houseplants
Plant bundles allow you to order more at a discounted rate
Plants are delivered in sustainable, eco-friendly packaging
Offers quarterly plant subscriptions
Cons
During the winter, only plants labeled as hardy are covered by a 30-day guarantee
Why We Chose It
Lively Root's diverse selection of plants, and its deals on bundles and subscriptions, makes it our pick for best overall plant delivery service. Not only does Lively Root grow its own plants at its San Diego nursery, the service also partners with growers across the US to give customers access to a wider variety of plants. Plants from Lively Root cost between $12 to $210 each, and plant bundles are offered at a discounted rate. In addition to its price deals, any orders over $59 qualify for free shipping. You can also sign up for one of Lively Root's three plant subscriptions which offer four or six-inch plants every three months for 15 to 20 percent off.
Lively Root's collection is also easy to browse due to its filters which allow customers to sort plants by growing conditions like bright light and low water, or by physical features such as size or ability to flower. If you're more interested in outdoor plants and gardening, Lively Root delivers plants that thrive in certain hardiness zones and humidity levels, and offers seed packs for harder-to-find plant types like bonsai trees. While all plants can be shipped year round, during colder months, only hardy varieties are eligible for replacement if damaged. Despite this policy, Lively Roots plants are always well-packaged. Plants ship securely in specially designed eco-friendly boxes, and each one is covered in compostable coco fabric to protect its soil.
Best for Succulents: Mountain Crest Gardens
Average Price: $12
Free Shipping? Yes (only for orders over $45; Alaska and Hawaii do not qualify for free shipping)
Nationwide Delivery? Yes
Pros & Cons
Pros
Over 700 unique succulents to choose from
Succulents are delivered directly after harvest
Most succulents come potted
Offers next-day shipping
Cons
Expediting shipping only available if order is placed by a certain day and time
Why We Chose It
If you're shopping specifically for succulents, Mountain Crest Gardens is a family-owned succulent nursery with more than 700 different varieties of succulents to choose from. Categorized by genus, physical features, and growing conditions, all succulents are delivered soon after they're harvested to ensure maximum freshness. With the exception of succulents from the "Bare Root and Cuttings" collections—which are shipped without soil—all other succulents are delivered in plastic nursery pots. Along with sale items, succulents from the aforementioned selection are budget-friendly, whereas pricier succulents such as String of Needles and purple haze aloe are found in the "Wedding and Rare & Unique collections."
Succulents from Mountain Crest Gardens start as low as $3 and can go as high as $117. The nursery's mini succulents or "plugs" are all in the $3 range, while arrangements with multiple echeveria cost around $100. Delivery is free with orders over $45, but additional charges apply if you want your succulents expedited for next-day shipping. You'll need to plan ahead for this option, since orders only qualify for overnight or two-day shipping if they're placed by Monday or Tuesday at 9:00AM PT. Mountain Crest Gardens typically makes its deliveries at the end of the week (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday), but allows you to request a specific ship date if you have a special event or occasion. If you want succulents on a frequent basis, Mountain Crest Gardens also offers a subscription service starting at $18 that gives you free shipping with every delivery.
Best for Plant Subscriptions: The House Plant Box
Average Price: $32 per month
Free Shipping? Yes
Nationwide Delivery? Yes (except Alaska and Hawaii)
Pros & Cons
Pros
14 different subscriptions to choose from
Subscriptions come with free delivery
Pet-friendly and houseplant plans can be upgraded
Deliveries can be paused for any amount of time for any reason
Cons
Subscribers can't pick which plants they get every month
Why We Chose It
If you're hooked on the thrill of getting plants delivered straight to your door, you won't be disappointed with a recurring subscription from The House Plant Box. This service allows you to pick from 14 different boxes, each specializing in a specific plant type. For those who want to fill their home with more cacti, there's a dedicated cactus subscription. But if cacti are too dangerous for your pets, you can sign up for a pet-friendly subscription instead. The House Plant Box even offers subscriptions for seeds and terracotta-potted plants. Premium box options do come at a higher price ($45), but you get two plants per month instead of one. Regardless of which box you choose, you can expect to receive at least one plant per month (or two seed packets with the seed box) along with a care card.
With so many subscription options and plants to choose from, committing to a specific box might be a little daunting. However, The House Plant Box gives you the option to switch to another plan upon email request. The monthly rates of each subscription ranges from $16 to $99, so you'll have to pay the difference when you switch to a pricier subscription. The only cost that won't change is shipping, which is always free regardless of which subscription you choose. It's also free to pause your subscription at any point as long as you do it before it ships out, which is usually around the second half of the month.
Best for Outdoor Plants: The Home Depot
Average Price: Will vary depending on selection available
Free Shipping? Yes
Nationwide Delivery? Yes
Pros & Cons
Pros
Plants are locally sourced
Shrubs and tree plants are already matured for easier maintenance
Delivers both plants and garden supplies
Local delivery option is free
Cons
Availability of specific plants depends on season and location
Why We Chose It
The Home Depot is a great place to shop for anything home-related, and plants are no exception. At the store's Garden Center, you'll find a solid selection of outdoor plants, including flowering shrubs, matured tree plants, vegetables and herbs, plus any tools and supplies you may need to start a garden or spruce up your landscape. Getting plants delivered from a huge chain may not be the first option to cross your mind, but The Home Depot's plants are actually sourced from 150 small growers, not commercial wholesalers. That means The Home Depot's plants will be the same quality as the ones you might find at your local nursery, but curated specifically for the chain's outdoor collection to make shopping convenient.
Since the plants are locally sourced and change depending on the season, every Home Depot Garden Center will have a slightly different collection depending on your location. Before diving into this selection, make sure to enter your zip code first to see which plants are available in your area. The cost of Home Depot's outdoor plants will vary depending on your location and available options, but free local delivery is offered on all plant orders. For certain plants, there's also an option to schedule the delivery date and time in advance. But even if you don't plan ahead, you can expect your plants to arrive in a timely manner if you live in close proximity to a Home Depot.
Best for Cheap Plant Delivery: Leaf & Clay
Average Price: $20
Free Shipping? Yes (only on orders over $59)
Nationwide Delivery? Yes
Pros & Cons
Pros
Buy three houseplants get one free deal
Plants cost as little as $5
Subscription includes four succulents for $25 a month
Pots are free with houseplants and succulent subscription
Cons
Houseplants and succulents ship from different locations, so your order will be split into two deliveries
Why We Chose It
If you're on budget, Leaf & Clay delivers quality plants to your doorstep for a low price point. Leaf & Clay's Southern California greenhouses are home to hundreds of houseplants and succulents that range from $5 to $62. While succulents are on the lower end of the cost spectrum, houseplants are all buy three, get one free. Additionally, succulents can be ordered in bulk for as low as $36. Shipping is free for orders over $59, but you can get away with buying several houseplants and succulents if you want to hit that minimum due to budget-friendly prices.
For the most bang for your buck, you can also sign up for Leaf & Clay's The Plant Club subscription. For $25 per month, you'll receive a set of four exclusive succulents that are hand-selected by staff to ensure you don't get any repeats. While Plant Club succulents are delivered in pots, succulents that are purchased through the general store are shipped bare roots. However, as long as you stick to houseplants or a subscription, you won't have to fork over extra money for pots. It's important to note that Leaf & Clay's houseplants and succulents ship from different locations, so your order may arrive at different times.
Best for Plant Pots: Urban Stems
Average Price: $60
Free Shipping? Yes (only on orders over $120)
Nationwide Delivery? Yes (except Alaska and Hawaii)
Pros & Cons
Pros
Every plant is delivered in a unique pot
All plants are sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms
Next-day delivery available nationwide
Local same-day delivery in Washington, D.C. and New York City
Cons
Order minimum to qualify for free shipping is $120
Why We Chose It
The quality of a plant matters, but the aesthetic of the container it's potted in is arguably just as important. If you want to seamlessly integrate your new plants into your home decor, or send them to someone as a beautiful gift, we recommend getting them delivered from Urban Stems. Urban Stems has a collection of about 40 different potted plants, including jade succulents in ceramic elephants and xerographica air plants made to look like hair in head-shaped pots. Whether your aesthetic is quirky or elegant, it's likely that Urban Stems will have a suitable potted plant to match.
To go along with its fancy pots, Urban Stems sources its plants exclusively from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. Farms only get this prestigious certification upon official recognition for being socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable, which means any plant you order from Urban Stems was grown and harvested responsibly. For both your Rainforest Alliance Certified plant and its decorative pot, expect it to cost anywhere from $30 to $149. Though you're already paying for a higher quality product, delivery isn't free until your order is at least $120. But if you live in New York City or Washington DC, your order will get hand delivered the same day you order it. Even if your order isn't eligible for local delivery, Urban Stems does offer next-day plant delivery through its FedEx partners.
Best for Same-Day Plant Delivery: Floom
Average Price: Varies by zip code
Free Shipping? Yes (only for orders over $75)
Nationwide Delivery? Yes (except Alaska and Hawaii)
Pros & Cons
Pros
Can sort plants by same or next-day delivery
Delivery from local shops ensures fresh plants
Option to add extras like chocolate and champagne for last-minute gifting
Supports local, independent artisans
Cons
Selection varies by zip code
Why We Chose It
When you order plants from Floom, you're technically ordering from a florist in your community. Floom works with local independent artisans to ensure that any plants you order can get to their destination either the same or next-day. Although your selection will vary depending on your zip code, the convenience of getting a plant so quickly—in addition to free shipping for orders over $75—makes this company hard to beat when it comes to plant delivery speed.
However, it isn't just houseplants that ship fast from Floom. The online delivery service also sells live wreaths, flower arrangements, and floral gift baskets which are all eligible for speedy delivery. The collection can be browsed by occasion, but if you already have a specific plant in mind, any order can be supplemented with candles, chocolate, or champagne for an additional cost. Though a plant from Floom doesn't necessarily have to be a gift, the availability of extras along with the fast delivery makes it great for last-minute presents.
Best for Free Shipping: The Sill
Average Price: $60
Free Shipping? Yes
Nationwide Delivery? Yes (except Alaska and Hawaii)
Pros & Cons
Pros
No order minimum to qualify for free shipping
Plants delivered during the winter are protected by heat packs
Plants are delivered via UPS carbon-neutral shipping
Deliveries are covered by 30-day guarantee
Cons
Plants sometimes ship from different locations and arrive at different times
Why We Chose It
If you get your plants delivered from The Sill, you'll never have to worry about the delivery price being more than the plant. Instead, everything from The Sill's diverse selection of houseplants—including ferns, orchids, and fig trees—ships for free, and there's no order minimum. Even if you order only one tiny succulent or a large assortment of full-grown monstera deliciosas, you'll pay nothing for the delivery. Non-plant purchases such as potting mix, however, do require a purchase of at least $35.
Orders average about $60, but if the free delivery gives you more room to splurge, you can also upgrade your plant's pot style and color. With or without a decorative pot, all plants are delivered via UPS carbon-neutral shipping. The way this environmentally friendly shipping option works is UPS calculates the amount of carbon emissions that will be expelled during delivery (like vehicle emissions and distance traveled), and invests the equivalent amount in environmental projects such as reforestation and wastewater treatment. This process is very streamlined and automatically occurs whenever something ships via UPS carbon-neutral shipping, so it doesn't cause delays—you'll still get your plants within one to four business days. During winter months, plants are shipped with heat packs to prevent damage from the cold, so even though it's free, you can still count on your plants being safe during transit. Furthermore, The Sill has a 30-day guarantee policy that gives customers a replacement if their shipment arrives damaged.
Best for Plant Seeds: Urban Organic Gardener
Average Price: $10-$20 monthly
Free Shipping? Yes
Nationwide Delivery? Yes
Pros & Cons
Pros
Seeds come from non-GMO heirloom plants
Seed selection is customized to your plant setup and experience level
Care details and instructions included in every delivery
Shipping is free every month
Cons
Seed delivery only available through subscription purchase
Why We Chose It
If you want your plants to be 100 percent organic, or don't want to deal with transport shock, consider getting seeds delivered from Urban Organic Gardener and planting them yourself. Urban Organic Gardener offers two monthly subscriptions for non-GMO heirloom plant seeds, each customized according to your planter or garden setup, location, sunlight, and experience. After completing a questionnaire, Urban Organic Gardener determines which seeds are best for you, and delivers a new batch every month—free shipping included.
Urban Organic Gardener's Seed Club Monthly Mystery costs $10 monthly—or $120 yearly—and comes with two seed packs. If you have a green thumb, you can upgrade to the Pro Membership to get five seed packs delivered every month for $20 a month, or $240 per year. In every delivery for both the pro and standard subscriptions, you'll also get seed starting soil pods, plant labels, and cultivation instructions specific to each plant type.
Best Variety: House Plant Shop
Average Price: $35
Free Shipping? Yes
Nationwide Delivery? Yes (except Alaska and Hawaii)
Pros & Cons
Pros
Over 700 different plant varieties to choose from
A new plant is discounted for a limited time every other week
Packaging is environmentally friendly
Pre-orders are available for extremely rare plants
Cons
Processing takes up to five days and expedited delivery is an additional $5
Why We Chose It
With over 700 plant types on its site, The House Plant Shop is likely to help you amass a diverse collection of houseplants without leaving your house. If you already have a type of plant in mind, you can search by genus and light condition, or just browse categories like zodiac sign and pre-potted. One-time orders from the service average at around $35—including free shipping—and every plant is delivered with a care guide to ensure it thrives.
Free shipping is a perk in itself, but The House Plant Shop also ships its plants in sustainable packaging. Not only are the shipping materials entirely paper-based, the company's entire supply chain refrains from using single-use plastic. However since a lot goes into ensuring the plant packaging is both eco-friendly and protective, processing your order can take up to five days, and that's not even including delivery time. You can opt to have it rush delivered for an additional $5, which will allow you to get your package within three days. But if you're willing to wait, you opt for The House Plant Shop's standard shipping option.
Final Verdict
Whether you're decorating your home, maintaining a garden, or sending a gift to someone who loves plants, Lively Root's outperforms other plant delivery services on our list. Though you can find a large selection of plants from any online plant shop, Lively Root's is particularly diverse. Because it sources its plants from nurseries all over the US (including its own in San Diego), you can order unique varieties for as little as $12.
Lively Root's free shipping minimum may be $59, but discount bundles for multiple plants let you get more bang for your buck. Plant enthusiasts can also sign up for one of Lively Root's quarterly subscription services which specialize in easy-care, pet-friendly, and rare plants. In addition to houseplants and subscriptions, the service also offers seeds, decorative pots, and outdoor plants, making it a one-stop shop for all your plant delivery needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Is Plant Delivery?
The price you pay when ordering plants online depends primarily on the type and size of the plant. Succulents from Mountain Crest Gardens, for example, start around $12, while The Home Depot's outdoor trees can cost up to $200. Generally, the bigger or rarer the plant, the more it's going to cost. Shipping is sometimes included with total cost, but some plant delivery services may require a minimum order amount to qualify for it. However, if you sign up for a subscription to receive plants on a recurring basis, you'll instead pay a flat rate every time you get a delivery.
When Should You Water Your Plant After Delivery?
No matter what plant delivery service you order from, it's likely you won't receive a freshly watered plant. While you might assume extra wet soil would ensure your plants arrive in the healthiest condition, in rare cases it can lead to root rotting. When your plant arrives, the soil will likely be dry, so you'll need to water it as soon as you take it out of the box.
After a post-delivery watering, potted plants can be watered according to whatever watering schedule suits their species. In the case of bare-root plants like those received from Mountain Crest Gardens and Leaf & Clay, they'll need a week of moistening and a good two-hour soak before they're ready to be permanently planted.
What's Included With a Delivered Plant?
Unless you're getting a bare-root plant, a plastic nursery pot is usually included with a delivered plant. Some companies like The Sill offer upgrades like terracotta or ceramic pots at an additional cost, while some services like The House Plant Shop include a care guide with one-time orders.
Methodology
We researched nearly 30 plant delivery companies, comparing factors like prices, delivery policies, plant variety, and customer service. Services that had low prices and multiple customer service communication lines were awarded extra points during our scoring phase. In addition to this, services that offered free shipping, same- and/or next-day delivery, and nationwide availability received higher marks. Any services that specialized in a particular category such as seeds, outdoor plants, and planters received their respective superlatives on this list.
