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
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.” 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
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.
