The Best Plant Delivery Services to Save You a Trip to the Nursery

Lively Root has a wide selection of plants at affordable prices.

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Woman Spraying Ficus Pumila Houseplant, Using Sprayer, Moisturizes Air Surround Leaves At Home
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Dmitry Marchenko / EyeEm / Getty Images

If you’re a plant lover, nurseries are likely your happy place, and you probably have a knack for all things plants. While you’d probably love nothing more than to breathe new life into your home with freshly potted greenery, there aren’t enough hours in the day (or space in your car trunk) to thoroughly browse every plant store in town. So many plant types exist, from tabletop houseplants to outdoor varieties, and trying to get them all at once is a challenge. However, plant delivery services offer a convenient way to bring a variety of green into your life without ever having to leave your home. 

Plants differ by care needs, and plant delivery services allow you to narrow down your plant search based on factors like light level, water needs, and more. While some services may ask for your level of expertise, others may focus on your home life, like whether you have a pet or live in a dry or moist environment. Not to mention, pricing, delivery speed, quality, sustainability, and assortment will likely play a significant role in your plant buying process. Throw on your gardening gloves and plant to your green heart’s content when you choose one of these noteworthy plant delivery services.

Best Plant Delivery Services of 2023

Best Overall: Lively Root

Lively Root

Lively Root

Key Specs

  • Average Price: $40
  • Free Shipping? Yes (only for orders over $69)
  • Nationwide Delivery? Yes (except Alaska and Hawaii)

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Over 100 plants to choose from

  • Can filter search by care level, room, or collection

  • Offers curated plant bundles featuring succulents, pet-friendly greens, and more 

  • Has an online blog with plant buying and sustainability tips 

Cons
  • Decorative pots cost extra

Why We Chose It

Whether you’re looking to place a one-plant order or shop plants in bulk, Lively Root is our top choice for all of your plant delivery needs. The service offers a wide collection of plants, ranging from ferns and ficus trees to live ivy plants and snake plants. To help make your shopping experience easier, plants are categorized by type (tropical, blooms, pet-friendly, etc.), room (bedroom, kitchen, office, etc.), and care level. 

Customers can narrow their plant search even further by size, light levels, water needs, humidity levels, and hardiness zone. In addition to single plant options, Lively Root offers plant bundle options such as Favorite Floor Plants and New Plant Parents that come with more than one plant. If you’re unsure of what plant best suits your lifestyle, every product page lists a detailed care manual you can read prior to purchase. 

Lively Root is our best overall not only for its plant variety, but for its reasonable pricing and fast shipping options. Customers can shop tabletop plants for under $40, or splurge on tropical plants and trees ranging from $50 to $210. No matter your pick, the service ships all orders within four to seven business days, and offers free shipping when you spend $69 or more. Those on a time crunch can opt for expedited delivery (two to three days) or rush delivery (one to two days) for an additional cost calculated during checkout. For those who want plants on a recurring basis, Lively Root also offers quarterly subscription boxes starting at $38.

Best for Quick Plant Delivery: 1-800-Flowers

1-800-Flowers

1-800-Flowers

Key Specs

  • Average Price: $48
  • Free Shipping? Only with membership
  • Nationwide Delivery? Yes

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Select plants eligible for same- and next-day delivery

  • Plant offerings start as low as $20

  • Online plant care and handling guide available

  • 160 plant options and varieties 

Cons
  • Must pay a $30 yearly fee to be a Celebrations Passport member to get free shipping

  • Same- and next-day delivery collection is limited to a select number of plants

Why We Chose It

For quick and easy plant delivery, 1-800-Flowers can’t be beat. The service is one of the few plant delivery companies that delivers nationwide, including to Alaska and Hawaii, and provides same- and next-day delivery, no matter the season. Those shopping on a tight turnaround can specifically order from 1-800-Flowers’ same- and next-day delivery product page, which lists all eligible plants in one place. While this special collection has limited inventory compared to its general store, it does offer crowd favorites like orchids and peace lilies, along with seasonal plants like poinsettias.

1-800-Flowers’ general plant selection has over 160 plants, featuring bonsais, orchids, succulents, and more. Plants cost between $20 and $160, and shipping is free for Celebration Passport members (a $20 yearly membership). Unlike some retailers, 1-800-Flowers ships nearly all its plants in a decorative pot or basket at no additional cost, easily making them gift-ready. However, keep in mind that shipping costs will be added at checkout for non-Celebration Passport members.

Best for Plant Seeds: Terrain

Terrain

Terrain

Key Specs

  • Average Price: $80
  • Free Shipping? No
  • Nationwide Delivery? Yes (except for Alaska and Hawaii)

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Every seed-growing kit comes with detailed instructions

  • Offers express and overnight orders

  • Products include story cards that tell you where seeds are sourced

Cons
  • Shipping isn’t included with purchase

Why We Chose It

With several seed varieties and growing kits under its belt—including edible flowers, garden vegetables, culinary herbs, and mushrooms—Terrain won’t disappoint if you want to grow your own greenery. Every growing kit and seed collection is curated and provided by experts from across the U.S., who ensure you’re well taken care of in your seed growing journey with all the necessary materials and instructions. Budget-friendly options like the Anellabees Pollinator Seed Packets for outdoor planting start at $18, while more expensive kits such as the Self-Watering Microgreens Growing Kit cost $128. 

After selecting which seeds you’d like to order, you can get them delivered via express two- or three-day shipping or overnight shipping for an additional cost. However, standard shipping isn’t free, and it doesn't shipi to Alaska and Hawaii. In addition to seeds, Terrain offers terrarium and succulent starter kits, paper pot-making kits, and handcrafted seed storage boxes. If you’re looking for more than just seeds, Terrain also has houseplants, succulents, and fresh wreaths available for purchase.

Best on a Budget: Horti

Horti

Horti

Key Specs

  • Average Price: $28
  • Free Shipping? No
  • Nationwide Delivery? Yes (except for Alaska and Hawaii)

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Plant selection prices start at $16

  • Pet-friendly offerings fall in line with ASPCA's library of nontoxic plants

  • Larger plants come in a hand-painted terracotta pot and saucer

  • Can shop plants in bulk

Cons
  • During winter, plants only ship Monday to Wednesday

  • Customer service can only be reached via email

Why We Chose It

Horti’s accessible price range on one-time orders allows customers to shop big on a budget. The service’s indoor plant selection includes jade plants, aloe plants, and palm, fern, and succulent varieties starting at $16. If you have a little more wiggle room in your budget, you can shop for rare plants. For those looking to order a large quantity of plants at once, Horti offers plant jungles which offer up to 20 plants per box starting at $70. 

It should be noted that the amount of money you pay for a plant will vary depending on its container. The service allows customers to choose from plastic planters to hand-painted terracotta pots, but the latter will cost extra. Shipping also isn’t free, but the service will take extra packaging measures to ensure your plant arrives healthy, like including heat packs during winter at no additional cost. Consequently, if there's bad weather in your area, Horti will delay your shipment so it doesn’t get caught in a storm. 

Best Assortment: House Plant Shop

House Plant Shop

House Plant Shop

Key Specs

  • Average Price: $35
  • Free Shipping? Yes
  • Nationwide Delivery? Yes (except Alaska and Hawaii)

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • 700+ plants to choose from

  • Over 10 different categories of plants including flowering plants, trailing plants, and cacti

  • Orders are protected by a 30-day refund or replacement policy

  • Plants are shipped in eco-friendly packaging 

Cons
  • Order process 2-5 days after being placed

Why We Chose It

Whether you’re looking for a centerpiece or a decorative plant for your desk, House Plant Shop’s assortment of 700-plus plants probably has a fit. While a collection of plants in the hundreds can seem overwhelming, the online plant store organizes its inventory by genus, type (faux, flowering, trailing, etc.), size, and rarity to help you find what you’re looking for. From aquatic plants and pet-friendly options to succulents and tropical indoor plants, all delivered plants include basic care instructions, but if you want more information about your new greenery, you can find extra details on House Plant Shop’s homepage under the “Plant Care.”

With most one-time orders costing around $35, House Plant Shop’s plant selection is both robust and affordable. Those shopping on a budget can get small air plants for as low as $6 or spend $13 for basic succulents and trailing plants. If your home garden is in the market for an upgrade, you can buy rare plants like a Philodendron 'Gold Violin' for $90 or a ZZ plant for $150. No matter what plant you purchase, shipping is free and the House Plant Shop delivers nationwide. To help cut-down on single use plastic, all plants are wrapped and delivered in paper-based, eco-friendly packaging. 

Best for Succulents: Mountain Crest Gardens

Mountain Crest Gardens

Mountain Crest Gardens

Key Specs

  • Average Price: $12
  • Free Shipping? Yes (only for orders over $45)
  • Nationwide Delivery? Yes

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Over 600 succulents varieties available

  • Most plants are under $20

  • Offers next-day shipping

  • Customer service reachable by email, phone, and online chat

Cons
  • Delivers only on Thursdays and Fridays

Why We Chose It

With over 600 succulents to choose from, no plant delivery service offers a more diverse succulent catalog than Mountain Crest Gardens. Whether you're looking for an indoor succulent or a hanging variety, you can narrow your search using Mountain Crest Gardens' filters that organize succulents based on sun, water, soil needs, and color. Single succulents fall between $3 and $17, though most are priced below $20. If you’re building a garden from scratch or prefer to shop for succulents in bulk, you can get a succulent bundle. 

While Mountain Crest Gardens has an accessible price point, there is a $45 minimum to qualify for free shipping. The service sells 35 plant varieties, pots, and soil starting at $15, so you can potentially order a bulk amount of succulents to hit that minimum, but prepare to have a lot of plants. Additionally, the service only delivers Thursday and Friday, forcing customers to plan accordingly. If you want to avoid weird delivery schedules and shipping minimums, you can also sign up for The Ultimate Succulent Club, a monthly subscription box that offers a set of up to five potted succulents every month. 

Best for Plant Subscriptions: The House Plant Box

The House Plant Box

The House Plant Box

Key Specs

  • Average Price: $32 per month
  • Free Shipping? Yes
  • Nationwide Delivery? Yes

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Offers a dozen subscription options

  • Care instructions included with every box

  • Penalty-free skips and cancellations 

  • Allows subscribers to jump between different subscription boxes

Cons
  • Subscription boxes feature preselected plants

Why We Chose It

For those craving a monthly rotation of plants, The House Plant Box offers a range of plant subscriptions at a reasonable rate. The service offers 12 different monthly subscription boxes (starting at $16), each focusing on a unique plant type like cacti, succulents, air plants, and more. If monthly boxes are too overwhelming, there are quarterly subscriptions that specialize in premium house plants and pet-friendly options for $45 per box. While quarterly boxes arrive less frequently, they come with two plants whereas monthly subscriptions only come with one plant. 

Should you ever need to pause or cancel your subscription, you can do so via your dashboard at no penalty. If another subscription box piques your interest, you can easily switch subscription plans by sending an email to The House Plant Box. Another unique aspect of this service is the ability to gift plant subscriptions. For $47 per delivery, you can choose either the indoor plant or pet-friendly gift subscription boxes. While you can select from quarterly, biannually, or annually deliveries, gift subscriptions can’t be paused or canceled. 

Best for Local Plant Delivery: Floom

Floom

Floom

Key Specs

  • Average Price: Varies by zip code
  • Free Shipping? No
  • Nationwide Delivery? Yes (except for Alaska and Hawaii)

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Offers same- and next-day delivery

  • Plants are independently, locally sourced

  • Customers can send a personalized note to the recipient

  • Can add extras like chocolate and champagne to orders

Cons
  • Prices and availability differ by city

Why We Chose It

When you get plants delivered from Floom, you’re helping support your local horticulturalists. Once you enter a zip code (either for yourself or your recipient), the service will show plant shops in the area, and curate a digital plant shopping list based on availability, delivery time, and occasion if applicable. In addition to your plant, you can include extras like candles, a vase, or chocolates in your search. If you’re unsure about how much care a specific plant needs, you can find detailed guides on every product page with watering, repotting, and fertilizing tips. 

Since Floom partners with local businesses, prices and plant options will vary depending on your location. If you’re racing against the clock to get a plant delivered by a certain date, same- and next-day delivery is available for an additional fee. While Floom is great for last-minute gifts or celebratory occasions, bear in mind you can’t request a drop-off time, but you can specify a delivery date.

Best for Free Shipping: The Sill

The Sill

The Sill

Key Specs 

  • Average Price: $60
  • Free Shipping? Yes
  • Nationwide Delivery? Yes (except Alaska and Hawaii)

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • All plants ship free

  • Utilizes UPS carbon-neutral shipping to offset emissions 

  • Offers a variety of plant shapes and sizes to fit a range of spaces

  • Can speak to an expert on live chat

Cons
  • Doesn’t deliver small accessories unless you hit a $35 minimum

  • $10 surcharge on select soil mixes

Why We Chose It

With an “all plants ship free” guarantee, it’s clear why The Sill was our top plant delivery service for free shipping. Plants cost anywhere between $34 to $375, however a majority of purchases fall in the $60 range. Whether you’re on the lookout for small, space-friendly spider plants or larger greenery like fiddle leaf figs, The Sill has a robust online garden to satisfy all your needs. If you’re unsure whether you and a plant are a good match, every product page has an in-depth care guide with information about watering, repotting, light, fertilizing, and more. 

While free shipping is a major pro to shopping at The Sill, there is a $35 minimum on small accessories like moisture meters and fertilizer shakers, and some soil mixes are subject to a $10 surcharge. However, The Sill is actively taking steps to be a more sustainable, eco-friendly company. In an effort to reduce its carbon footprint, all deliveries are shipped via UPS’ carbon-neutral shipping. Through this shipping method, UPS calculates its total distance traveled during delivery, and in turn supports environmental projects such as reforestation and wastewater treatment to offset the total amount of emissions during shipment. 

Best for Outdoor Plants: The Home Depot

The Home Depot

The Home Depot

Key Specs

  • Average Price: Will vary depending on selection available
  • Free Shipping? Yes (only for local deliveries)
  • Nationwide Delivery? Yes

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Offers unique categories like air-purifying, disease-resistant, and drought-tolerant plants

  • DIY and edible gardening guides available on company site

  • Online page dedicated to troubleshooting weed and pest problems

  • Has an extensive collection of gardening accessories 

Cons
  • Selection will vary depending on location

Why We Chose It

From gardening tools and plant food, to fertilizer and plant hangers, The Home Depot’s Garden Center has a wide range of products to help start your own little nursery. In addition to its gardening accessories, the company also sources plants from more than 150 local nurseries. Since plant selection will vary depending on what’s offered at your local Home Depot, shipping costs and delivery time are subject to change. The company offers free two-day local delivery and, for an additional cost, next-day delivery on select plants and gardening tools and accessories.

Shipping aside, the retailer also has handy guides to help you battle any plant, weed, or pest problems that may come your way. Additionally, if you’re interested in growing a fruit or herb garden, Home Depot’s edible garden guide can point you in the right direction. Those with lawns in need of a remodel can find project ideas and helpful tips under the service’s online lawn care guide.

Final Verdict

With most plants priced under $40, and a collection of plants ranging from dragon trees to snake plants, Lively Root simply can’t be beat. No matter what plant you decide on, every product page has a comprehensive care guide with instructions for watering, fertilizing, and more. Compared to other plant delivery services, Lively Root’s speedy processing and range of shipping options also set it apart. All orders that are $59 and up qualify for free shipping, and the service offers expedited and rush delivery options. While decorative containers may cost extra, these are optional, and don’t take away from the great value this plant delivery service offers.  

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can Plants Get Damaged During Shipping?

    While we all want our plants to arrive in healthy shape, a little turbulence can send soil flying, and plants with fragile, delicate leaves may be more susceptible to damage during travel. As a preventive measure, plant services like Mountain Crest Gardens rely on crinkle paper, packing peanuts, recyclable paper bags and small cardboard boxes to keep plants safe and secure en-route. Similarly, harsh weather could jeopardize your plant’s health, which is why companies like Horti and The Sill pack plants with shipper liners and heating insulation during the colder months.

  • How Long Should You Wait to Repot a Plant?

    Unless specified otherwise by the seller, plants shouldn’t be repotted immediately after getting them. As you can imagine, your new, leafy friend underwent a big journey from the nursery to your doorstep, and uprooting the plant out of its growing pot can send it into shock. Most plants come with care instructions, so you should follow any specifics regarding re-potting accordingly. In the event your plant didn’t come with instructions, or you’re not sure when you should repot your plant, you should ask a customer service rep from the company you ordered from.

  • Does Someone Have to Be Home to Receive a Plant Delivery?

    Traditionally, no one needs to be present for a plant delivery. Many companies take measures (i.e. heat packs or liner) to make sure delivered plants are secure and comfortable in their temporary box homes. However, there is a possibility that the courier service may require a signature upon delivery, which could very well happen with same/next-day deliveries or gifted plants. Make sure to double check the company’s delivery policy to see if you need to be home to sign for your package.

Methodology

We researched nearly 30 plant delivery companies to find the best of the best. We compared factors that matter most to customers such as free shipping, delivery policies, plant variety, and nationwide availability. Companies that excelled in these categories were given higher precedence over other competitors. Additionally, plant delivery services that offered budget-friendly prices and multiple methods of contacting customer service were given extra points during our scoring phase.

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