Save Yourself a Trip to the Nursery With These Plant Delivery Services
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Lively Root is our top choice due to its huge selection and accessible prices.
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Decorating your home with houseplants is an inexpensive and easy way to brighten up a room and your mood. While taking a trip to your local plant shop or nursery might be your initial method of gathering plants, one of the most convenient ways to fill your house full of lush, mood-elevating greenery is through a plant delivery service. The best plant delivery services help take the guesswork out of picking the right plant for you thanks to categories like “easy care,” “hardy plants,” “rare and exotic finds,” and “pet friendly,” among others. And the best part is you don’t even have to get off the couch to find the perfect plant.
In addition to large plant variety and easy accessibility, plant delivery services offer a few extra bonuses to sweeten the deal. For those on a budget, there are services that offer cheap plant options and free shipping, saving you plenty of bucks. If you’re in need of plants ASAP and can’t wait for standard shipping times, there are also a handful of plant delivery companies that offer same and/or next-day delivery. There’s a lot to take into consideration when choosing a plant delivery service, and to make the decision process a little easier, we researched and gathered the best plant delivery companies based on a variety of factors like shipping, cost, sustainability, and more. Get ready to live out your wildest plant fantasies when you order a new piece of greenery from one of these plant delivery services.
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 Premium Plants: Léon & George
Best for Indoor Plants: Rooted
Best for Cheap Plant Delivery: Leaf & Clay
Best for Same-Day Plant Delivery: 1-800 Flowers
Best for Free Shipping: The Sill
Best for Plant Seeds: Terrain
Best Overall: Lively Root
Lively Root
Key Specs
Average price: $40
Free Shipping: Yes (only for orders over $59)
Nationwide Delivery? Yes (except Alaska and Hawaii)
Pros & Cons
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Why We Chose It
Lively Root is our choice for best plant delivery service due to its vast selection of healthy, budget-friendly plants, VIP plant club perks, and quarterly plant subscriptions for low-maintenance, pet-friendly, and rare plants. The online store has its plant inventory categorized so that you can easily find what you are looking for, whether that be indoor or outdoor plants, low-light, pet-friendly, or extra-large potted trees, to name a few. Most plants start around $30 for small four- to six-inch plants, and go up to $200 for larger plants. For those craving more than just a one-time purchase, Lively Root also offers three quarterly plant box subscriptions that start at $38.
In addition to its plant collection and subscription services, Lively Root has a VIP Club Membership that offers free rewards and discounts throughout the year, including $10 off every month, 15 percent off every order, access to new plants, and more. The major downside is that a yearly membership costs $129, and it’s only really beneficial for those who plan to use this service frequently. Shipping is free for VIP members no matter how much they’re spending, whereas regular customers have to hit a $59 minimum to qualify for this perk. No matter if you’re a VIP member or a one-time purchaser, all deliveries are backed by Lively Root's “30-Day Happiness Guarantee,” which promises a replacement plant if your original plant arrives dead, damaged, or does not “meet your satisfaction.”
Best for Succulents: Mountain Crest Gardens
Mountain Crest Gardens
Key Specs
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
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Why We Chose It
Mountain Crest Gardens has an expansive selection of over 700 different succulents, making it our best pick for anyone who wants to get their hands on these adorable plants. With hundreds of sweet little succulents to choose from, finding the right succulent for you may be daunting. However, the service allows customers to purchase preselected trays containing up to 30 succulents in growers’ pots. Even if you are a complete succulent newbie, Mountain Crest Gardens categorizes plants by zone hardiness to help ensure that you’re picking a succulent that works for your climate. Once you’ve decided on a succulent, you can expect to spend around $12 on average, with some plants even starting at $3.
If you want to build your succulent collection a few at a time, you can opt for the monthly subscription box ($18 per month) that ships two to five succulents to your door, along with a bonus mystery plant. Speaking of bonuses, your first subscription box comes with a succulent care kit that includes mini versions of a spray bottle, rake, shovel, brush, snippers, and a few other gardener must-haves. Even though Mountain Crest Gardens does offer free shipping and a 14-day money-back guarantee for damaged plants, orders placed after noon Pacific time on Monday will not ship until the following Monday. It’s important to note that the plants are shipped in growers' containers, so you will need to purchase planters separately.
Best for Plant Subscriptions: The House Plant Box
The House Plant Box
Key Specs
Average Price: $32 per month
Free Shipping? Yes
Nationwide Delivery? Yes (except Alaska and Hawaii)
Pros & Cons
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Why We Chose It
The House Plant Box offers a variety of plant subscription boxes based on plant type, pots, and more. From its 12 different monthly options, a couple of highlights include the Seed Box Subscription ($16) which comes with two seed packets, planters, and soil, and the Premium Pet-Friendly box ($45) which comes with two potted greens that are safe for furry friends. No matter what box you choose, every option comes with care instructions and a QR code for even more tips to keep your plant thriving.
For those who really want to splurge, there's also an extra large monthly plant box that includes a two-foot-tall tree ($100 per month). If you prefer to ease into your houseplant obsession, there are two quarterly box options (Premium House Plant and Premium Pet-Friendly) that arrive every three months and include two six-inch plants for $45. Subscriptions are shipped during the second week of the month and are protected by a 30-day guarantee that offers a replacement plant if your original purchase arrives damaged. If you can’t decide which subscription you want, you can opt for a month-to-month plan, which allows subscribers to try out different boxes for a year.
Best for Premium Plants: Léon & George
Léon & George
Key Specs
Average Price: $130
Free Shipping? No
Nationwide Delivery? Yes
Pros & Cons
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Why We Chose It
Léon & George is a high-end online plant nursery that has a collection of lavish plants like towering snake plants to five-foot-tall fiddle leaf fig trees in massive ceramic pots. If you need help deciding what to buy, a quick 45-second plant quiz helps you find your perfect plant match. All plants are delivered in your choice of either a mid-century or Scandinavian-style pot in various colors. Alternatively, some of the larger plants can be purchased in nursery pots, saving you a few dollars.
Plant prices at Léon and George start around $44 for a pink rubber plant or a braided money tree, and go up to $600 for a five-foot-tall ficus in a lovely ceramic planter. Even though these plants are expensive, they do come in premium planters included in the price. Despite its high price point, and lack of free shipping, all plants come with a refund policy, ensuring that if your plant dies within a 45-day period, Léon & George will replace it for free. To help prevent your expensive plant from dying, customers can take advantage of on-staff master gardeners and trained horticulturists for any additional plant care help and tips.
Best for Indoor Plants: Rooted
Key Specs
Average Price: $30
Free Shipping? Yes (only for orders over $100)
Nationwide Delivery? Yes (except Alaska and Hawaii)
Pros & Cons
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Why We Chose It
With over 150 indoor plants to choose from, Rooted is our top choice when it comes to ordering indoor plants online. If you don't know where to start or what you want, Rooted offers a quiz to help you find the perfect plant for you based on your environment and plant experience. Plant prices start around $12 for baby ferns, lemon lime dracaena, Xanadu philodendron, oyster plants, and more. Extra-large plants cost around $50 and go up to $100 for a three-foot (or taller) tree. Most of the plant options can be purchased as either a small (four-inch pot and around eight inches tall) or medium (Six-inch pot and about 18-inches tall).
If you’re in your plant era for the long haul, you can opt for one of the two monthly indoor plant subscription boxes: the Mystery Jungle Box for easy-care houseplants or the Furry Friends Box complete with pet-friendly plants. Both plans cost $20 a month and include a four-inch plant and a care card to keep your new plant happy. While the service doesn’t offer free shipping on orders less than $100, Rooted does have a 14-day replacement guarantee in the event your plant arrives or becomes sick.
Best for Cheap Plant Delivery: Leaf & Clay
Leaf & Clay
Key Specs
Average Price: $20
Free Shipping? Yes (only for orders over $59+)
Nationwide Delivery? Yes
Pros & Cons
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Why We Chose It
If you’re on a budget, Leaf & Clay offers beautiful potted plants starting around $20. The service has over 560 plants to choose from, including nearly 100 different indoor plants like rare species of philodendron ($25) to crowd favorites like ferns and succulents starting around $5 each. To help you find your next plant, Leaf & Clay has a robust category system that allows you to choose plants that are pet-friendly, low-light, low-maintenance, air-purifying, and more. Once you’ve decided on your purchases, you can also take advantage of the service’s buy three, get one free deal for plants to help you save even more money.
In addition to its affordable plant library, Leaf & Clay offers a monthly succulent subscription starting around $25 that includes four succulent plants per box. Unfortunately, free shipping doesn’t apply to orders under $59, and there isn’t a clear refund/replacement policy if your plant arrives damaged. But, with so many affordable plants to choose from, you could be living in a lush jungle in no time—all without breaking the bank.
Best for Same-Day Plant Delivery: 1-800-Flowers
Key Specs
Average Price: $48
Free Shipping? Yes (members only)
Nationwide Delivery? Yes
Pros & Cons
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Why We Chose It
While 1-800 Flowers is well-known for their extensive collection of flowers, this service also contains a solid array of houseplants, succulents, orchids, and more. The company’s gifting and speedy delivery services also apply to its plants, making it our best pick for same-day plant delivery. Since this company is geared more toward gifting, the decorative pots your selected plants come in are beyond adorable—think hedgehog planters, holiday-themed baskets, painted buckets, and intricately designed ceramic pots.
If you decide to treat yourself (or someone else) to something from 1-800-Flowers, you can add on extras like chocolate-covered strawberries, balloons, cake, popcorn, and gourmet baskets with your plant. Despite its quick delivery and gift offers, 1-800 Flowers only offers free shipping to members ($20 for one year), tacking on some extra fees. If you sign up to become a 1-800 Flowers member, you can turn off auto-renew immediately so you don’t accidentally forget to cancel it a year later. While 1-800 Flowers does offer speedy delivery, bear in mind that same-day plant options will vary depending on your location.
Best for Free Shipping: The Sill
The Sill
Key Specs
Average Price: $60
Free Shipping? Yes
Nationwide Delivery? Yes (except Alaska and Hawaii)
Pros & Cons
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Why We Chose It
The Sill is a dependable potted plant delivery service that offers no-minimum free-shipping on all orders. Plants from The Sill do cost a little more ($60 on average), but this can be attributed to the fact that they always arrive in customizable ceramic pots. Pots aside, The Sill’s plant collection contains about 50 different plants to choose from, including everything from potted money trees and orchids in full bloom, to lush ferns and stunning calatheas. Prices start around $40 for small- to medium-sized plants that measure about 12–24 inches tall from the soil line, while large plants start around $80 and are as large as 28 inches.
Every plant is protected by a 30-day replacement policy if your plant arrives damaged. While The Sill has an excellent free shipping deal that’s hard to beat, there are exceptions. Small accessories and potting mixes require a minimum purchase of $35 in order to qualify for free shipping. Despite this arguably minor special clause, all plants from The Sill that are shipped during winter come with heat packs to ensure their safe arrival—no additional cost necessary.
Best for Plant Seeds: Terrain
Key Specs
Average Price: $80
Free Shipping? No
Nationwide Delivery? Yes (Alaska and Hawaii have limited options)
Pros & Cons
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Why We Chose It
If you or someone you know has a green thumb and loves birthing plants from seed, Terrain is our best pick for seed delivery. Instead of your basic seed packs like cucumbers, corn, and peppers, Terrain has completely upped the seed-selling game with kits that grow exotic plants like rare mushrooms and butterfly gardens in butterfly-shaped planters. Terrain’s DIY seed projects provide everything you need to design a thriving terrarium, grow a vertical succulent garden, harvest impossible-to-find edible mushrooms, or build your own herb garden. There are also kid-friendly microgreens kits to help elevate your salads, live herbs, and butterfly garden.
While the company’s seeds are a standout, prices for these kits vary greatly. Cheaper options like the Microgreens Garden Kit and Seed Collections packets are available for around $18 to $20, but prices only go up from there. Mushroom kits are priced at $38, and edible flower kits cost $58, which are arguably high prices to pay for seed kits—even if they come with everything you need. Additionally, standard flat shipping rates start at $8 for orders under $50, while orders that cost $50-$99 have a flat fee of $11 which increases as you rack up your total cost. Needless to say, prepare to open your wallet if you plan on ordering from Terrain.
Final Verdict
Due to its huge variety of plants, accessible prices, monthly subscription options, and free shipping, Lively Root is our top pick for best plant delivery. The service offers everything from low-maintenance houseplants to potted trees, making it great for any green thumb who’s looking to add some light greenery to their home, or start a small outdoor garden. The added perk of also having quarterly subscription options also makes this service all the more appealing for plant enthusiasts who want to start small. Lively Root’s VIP Club Membership is also worth noting due to the discounts and rewards that come with it, we just wish there wasn’t a $129 price tag. Despite this, all plants ordered from this service are backed by a 30-day replacement policy to ensure that you get the best plants possible when you make any purchases.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Is Plant Delivery?
Plant delivery costs vary widely depending on which service you use. Some companies like Lively Root may have very inexpensive plants and offer free shipping, while other companies like Léon & George have larger and rarer plants that naturally cost more. Plant prices aside, you’ll want to always weigh shipping costs
Should You Water Plants After Delivery?
When to water depends on the soil and type of plant. Some houseplants need moist soil at all times, while succulents require minimal watering and are happiest when the soil is dry. It’s best to always make sure you read your plant's care information (that’s either shipped with the plant or online), so you can help it thrive.
Do Delivered Plants Come With a Pot and Soil?
Whether or not your plant comes with a pot and/or soil is dependent on the plant type, and which plant delivery service you’re ordering from. Many of the online nurseries featured in this list deliver in plastic growers' pots that will eventually require repotting. On the other hand, other services like The Sill deliver plants in customizable ceramic pots at an additional cost.
Unless you’re expecting an air plant, which comes “bare roots” without soil, most other plants arrive potted in soil. Be sure to double-check product descriptions before committing to a plant order so you aren’t caught off-guard by a new plant that arrives without a pot.
Methodology
We researched nearly 30 plant delivery companies to determine which services offered the best prices, delivery policies, plant variety, and customer service. Companies that had accessible prices, multiple customer service lines, free shipping, and same- and/or next-day delivery rose above other plant services. Any plant delivery companies that excelled in particular categories were awarded their respective superlatives on this list.
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