Where to Shop for Garden Plants – Our Favorite Online Retailers for High-Quality Trees, Shrubs, and Perennials
Discover 7 reliable places to shop for varieties you can't find at the garden center
While there are few joys greater than leisurely strolling through the garden center and picking up some beauties you didn't expect to stumble upon, sometimes it can be hard to find specific varieties you've long had on your wish list. That's where online shopping saves the day.
We're spoiled for choice when it comes to online plant retailers, making it possible to create our dream garden idea with a click of a button. You can even find some starter plants on Amazon at great prices. And while you may feel a little nervous about getting live plants delivered, as someone who has purchased many, I can assure you that the most reputable retailers package them with care.
So, to help you find reliable online plant retailers with a wide range to explore, I've compiled Homes & Gardens' top seven picks of places to buy plants.
Fast Growing Trees
- Best for: Shrubs and trees
Whether you're looking for the easiest evergreen shrubs, fastest-growing flowering trees, or fruit trees, Fast Growing Trees has a huge range to explore.
It's my go-to when looking for more unique species and tropical plants, like this Jacaranda Tree from Fast Growing Trees.
But, the secret hidden gem of Fast Growing Trees is the fact it also sells perennials, indoor plants, and garden supplies.
Tip: Search by your growing zone to find plants that will thrive in your local area.
This gorgeous tree blooms with deep purple flowers from summer until fall. It tolerates drought and is best grown across USDA zones 7-9.
This hydrangea produces large, round white blooms from summer to fall. It's a reliable bloomer in cooler climes, doing best across zones 4-9.
This spruce is a great choice for privacy planting. It has a beautiful blue color, which adds to the winter landscape. Best suited to zones 2-7.
Burpee
- Best for: Seeds and starter plants
If you're a gardener who loves the challenge of growing things from seed, then you need to have Burpee on your radar.
Here, you can find the easiest vegetable, fruit, and fast-growing flower seeds. I particularly love that multiple varieties of each plant are stocked, like these Burpee 'Sungold' tomato seeds and these Burpee 'Steakhouse' tomato seeds.
Better yet, Burpee offers a wide range of seed packet sizes, so you can order just as much as you need and not worry about having to store and keep seeds viable.
There are also so many starter plants on offer at Burpee, including some varieties that may be more tricky to find in-person, like this Burpee night-blooming jasmine.
Tip: Don't forget to check out their range of durable and beautiful garden tools, too, like this Burpee garden hod.
This small tomato is known to ripen by Independence Day. You get 30 seeds in this pack, but can also choose up to 1000.
These hollyhocks produce a range of colors, perfect for a cottage garden border. You get four plants in this pack.
These gorgeous zinnias produce peachy-yellow blooms through summer. You get 30 seeds in this pack.
Jackson & Perkins
- Best for: Roses
Jackson & Perkins is where I head to check out any new rose cultivars, as they're known to be at the forefront of rose breeding and acquisition.
As well as classic rose varieties, like the America Climbing Rose (see here at Jackson & Perkins), you can find some really special, lesser-known roses.
If you head to the New Roses tab on Jackson & Perkins, you'll find cultivars that have just hit the market. I have my eye on this yellow Jackson & Perkins Connell Shrub Rose.
I particularly like the fact you can search by growing habit and color, too, so you can find the perfect rose for your space and garden aesthetic.
Tip: If you're new to rose care, Jackson & Perkins also have a range of rose growing essentials, like these Jackson & Perkins rose gloves.
This beautiful hybrid tea rose has red and white-splashed petals. You get a grafted bareroot, and it's best suited to zones 5-10.
'Don Juan' has rich red flowers with a sweet fragrance and climbing habit. You get a grafted bareroot, and it's best suited to zones 6-10.
This yellow shrub rose eventually lightens to creamy white. It's super hardy, down to zones 2-9.
Amazon
Best for: Bulk buying
It may not be the first place you think to look, but there are so many plant retailers available on Amazon.
It's a good place to consider for bulk plants at good deals, for example this four pack of Bonnie Plants rosemary for just $25.75.
Likewise, if you're struggling to find rarer plants, there are some specialist nurseries available through Amazon. Take a look at this Temple of Bloom Seven-Sons Flower from Hirt's Garden Store on Amazon, for example (this is a great pick for attracting hummingbirds).
The one thing to be aware of is the fact it is a marketplace. I find it's always worth doing some quick research into the seller, looking for signs they're a reputable grower or nursery and checking the reviews for more insight to packaging and delivery.
Tip: When you start searching for plants, there's a filter on the sidebar to search by USDA zone and specific sellers.
These petunias are a creamy shade of pink, blooming through summer. You get two in this pack.
Lemon balm is a delicious citrusy perennial herb. You get four in this pack.
This deciduous shrub produces violet blooms from mid-summer to fall. It reaches a mature height of 60-96".
Perfect Plants
- Best for: Resilient plants
Perfect Plants is a family-owned nursery that ships out of Florida.
They have a wide range of landscaping trees and shrubs, as well as perennials and indoor plants. For me, though, the key selling point is the fact they have so many drought-tolerant plants.
This includes evergreens like the Italian Cypress Tree (see here at Perfect Plants), but also rarer, striking plants like this Pink Muhly Grass at Perfect Plants.
They likewise have a native planting section, full of North American plants to support biodiversity and wildlife.
I like the fact you can shop different sizes and in packs, so you can order exactly to your garden's needs.
Tip: If you're feeling overwhelmed by choice, look for the Best Seller stickers. This will let you know what other shoppers have been loving recently.
This compact, hardy shrub can tolerate cold and drought. Best suited to ones 5-9, it would work well in formal-style gardens.
This butterfly bush produces long, panicle shaped blooms from early summer to fall. It does best across zones 5-9.
This unique ornamental grass has a beautiful pink hue that deepens in fall. It's drought-tolerant and best suited to zones 6-9.
Nature Hills
- Best for: Established fruit plants
Nature Hills is one of the US' largest online nurseries, with a huge selection of ornamental and edible plants.
One of its highlights is its selection of fruiting plants. From the classic Nature Hills heritage raspberry bush to the more unusual Nature Hills jewel raspberry bush, you can likely find the fruit you've been yearning to grow.
These fruiting plants are all sold at good, established sizes, so you can kickstart your fruit patch in no time.
The thing I find most convenient when browsing on Nature Hills is its Collections feature. You can scroll through all of Nature Hills' apple trees in one place, for example.
Tip: Scroll down on a plant listing and you'll find information growing requirements and growing zone in a neat table, to easily see if it's the right fit for your yard.
This blueberry bush produces snowy white spring blooms and sweet, juicy fruit in summer. It's best suited to zones 3-8.
With this raspberry bush, you get classic raspberries with a sweet and mildly tart flavor. It's best suited to zones 4-8.
This fig tree is hardy to zones 5-10, producing an intense, sweet fig. It does best in direct sun.
QVC
- Best for: Container plants
If you're looking to spruce up your container garden, then QVC is worth a look. They have a large selection of bright blooms suited to pots, so you can quickly pick up what you need to create a colorful display.
The best part is many of the container plants come in packs, like this three-piece Sundial Hybrid Mix Portulaca on QVC, which means its easy to get a uniform look in your pots.
Among the container plants section, you'll also find vegetables for pots, like these snacking pepper plants from QVC, ideal for an edible container garden.
Tip: You can find vessels for your new plants in QVC's large planter selection.
This pack of colorful calla lilies has five different plants, perfect for group planting. It includes fertilizer to support plant growth.
Hens & chicks are hardy succulents that can be used outdoors in zones 4-10. They're heat and drought tolerant.
This patio vegetable pack includes tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers, ideal for container gardens.
As well as buying outdoor plants online, there are so many options for where to shop for houseplants. Just take care to read up on indoor plant mistakes to provide your new houseplants with the best care.
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