Where to Buy the Healthiest Plants Online (Even if You're a Beginner)

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When your space lacks a certain je ne sais quoi, easy-care houseplants and indoor trees are a great fix. They add life to any room, purify the air and boost your mood. When shopping for a greenery upgrade, there's a lot to consider like light conditions, care level and pot size — plus, ordering online brings the added stress that your plant won't arrive well-packaged or healthy. To help you narrow down your options, we've done the research to find the best places to buy plants online.

To find out which suppliers have truly honed the art of growing, packing and shipping plants, we ordered houseplants from some of the most popular places you can buy plants online, including superstores like Amazon, florists such as UrbanStems and houseplant-focused companies like The Sill and Bloomscape. To make our top picks, we considered how easy it is to navigate the site, the variety of plants and price points available, how plants are packaged and the appearance of each plant when it arrived (for those that were personally tested).

Of course, we found pros and cons for each site. While some retailers offer free shipping, helpful plant care instructions and cheap prices, others sell rare specimens and trendy planters. All in all, these online plant delivery services make it easy to order live plants — with some being best for houseplants, outdoor greenery, succulents, air plants, growing kits and garden herbs. Find your favorite and get ready to flex your green thumb.

The Sill

If you're a houseplant beginner who is just dipping your toe in the gardening waters for the first time, check out The Sill. This site exclusively sells houseplants with the mission of promoting "plant parenthood." Each new friend comes not only with simple care instructions, but also a one-year guarantee on certain varieties. (Yep, if you kill it, The Sill will send you another one.) It's simple to sort for plants that are easy-care, low light or pet-friendly to find the right fit for your space.

Prices range from $38 for a small plant in grow pots to $60 and above for larger specimens in chic pots (most plants offer a few pot options). If you're not sure where to start, The Sill has a "Find Your Plant Match" quiz to help beginners make the right choice.

Wayfair

With over 2,000 products to shop, Wayfair has an impressive offering of live plants — from succulents and bamboo to large houseplants and indoor trees. The retailer sells a mix of inexpensive houseplants (starting around $11) from well-rated brands like American Plant Exchange, Costa Farms, House Plant Shop and Thorsen's Greenhouse. You can sort for a new plant by care level, size or whether it'll do best outdoors or indoors.

While some of the cheaper plants arrive in nursery pots, others come with stylish pots for way less than you may expect — like this Costa Farms peace lily plant in a wood planter, which is only $41. Most plants arrive within fives to seven days.

easyplant

If you have a history of overwatering or under-watering your houseplants, easyplant provides a solution: every plant arrives potted in a colorful ceramic pot with a self-watering system. Simply fill the water reservoir and check it once a month. The website makes it easy to sort by small, medium, large or huge houseplants, plus you can shop curated plant collections and choose from a number of pretty pot colors.

Not only did our houseplants arrive quickly, but this anthurium black arrived well-packaged and was easy to unbox (tear the sides and pull off the top of the box, and your plant is instantly on display). We loved that the plant was already potted in a simple yet trendy ceramic pot, so no additional effort was required. Just note, everything comes pre-potted so prices are slightly higher.

Bloomscape

No plant in our road test was packed more securely than Bloomscape's. In addition to cardboard inserts that kept the pot and matching tray in place, a coco fiber mat and a layer of Spanish moss held soil in its container. Our prayer plant arrived already thriving and came with helpful care tips too, so you can feel good about sending these gifts to friends with or without a green thumb.

Small plants in pots start at just $35, and shipping is free on orders over $150. For most plants, you'll have the option to choose between three or more pot colors (most commonly charcoal, stone and clay). Added bonus: Bloomscape's pots are made from 80 percent recycled plastics.

RELATED: Best Bathroom Plants for a Spa-Like Experience

Horti

We've tested Horti for ourselves, and our Peperomia Green — which only costs $34 with a terracotta pot — arrived healthy and beautiful. The pet-friendly houseplant arrived well-packaged with a heating pad (to keep it warm during transit) and a dehydrated soil wafer (which quickly transformed into enough dirt to fill the entire pot.

Horti's starter kits and curated plant collection give you a head start on building your own indoor nursery without losing confidence. Plus, Horti offers plant insurance plans that extends support for 3 to 6 months if you have trouble reviving your dead houseplants. The brand also offers a monthly plant subscription box service that caters to inexperienced owners and plant enthusiasts.

Amazon

Yes, you can order plants on Amazon. You can find specimens priced as low as $2 on the online superstore, but you'll get what you pay for. Our pothos arrived in messy packaging and with almost no soil in its plastic pot. But if you're okay nurturing a stressed plant back to health, Amazon's garden center is the most cost-effective way to go.

Keep in mind that packaging and whether or not you receive care instructions with your plant will vary from seller to seller. When shopping for plants on Amazon, we suggest reading reviews. For example, Costa Farms makes up a lot of Amazon's bestsellers like this snake plant that's earned over 9,500 five-star ratings.

UrbanStems

These florists will deliver plants — such as this bird's nest fern — in as little as two hours in select cities, but UrbanStems also offers free, next-day shipping nationwide. The plants fall on the pricier side ($32 and up), but the display-worthy containers come included in the cost and you'll ultimately save on delivery. You'll also receive a personalized notecard from the sender along with a care card for your new plant.

As much as we love that these plants come pre-potted, it's important to note that you can't save money by buying plants in growing pots — and most plants do not come with pot options.

Plants.com

With a wide selection of potted houseplants, trees and flowers, Plants.com is a popular pick for plant lovers. Choose from succulents, hanging plants, tropical plants, herbs and farm fresh flowers — as well as a number of seasonal offerings and occasion gifts. We ordered a succulent garden, and the small plants arrived healthy — and have stayed healthy since.

You'll receive care instructions with every purchase, and you can scroll through their extensive plant care guide. You can start your search by type, or find your future houseplant by lifestyle: for beginners, air purifying, pet-friendly, Zodiac or Feng Shui plants. All orders over $100 ship free.

PlantVine

If you're hunting for a rare, collectible or exotic houseplant, PlantVine has you covered. For example, there's a Monstera Peru, Sansevieria masoniana ‘Whale Fin’ and Alocasia ‘Hilo Beauty’, Elephant Ear that are sure to impress your guests. Although we haven't personally tested this brand, their plant selection is unique and online reviewers seem generally pleased with their purchase — noting the plant arrived quickly (between three and seven days), well-packaged and healthy.

The brand also has a large selection of common houseplants, outdoor plants and trees, including a number that will arrive in tw0 days. Not to mention, free shipping on orders over $25 and a 45-day guarantee. Our least favorite thing is the website itself, which makes it a little difficult to sort, shop and choose an included pot.

Leaf & Clay

While Leaf & Clay offers a number of beautiful houseplants and accessories, its focus is succulents and cacti. You'll find a ton of colorful succulents for $5-6, like the Crassula 'Springtime' or the Crassula Ovata 'Gollum' — or pick up a curated succulent set which are playfully named things like "spikey," "weirdo" and "pastel party" packs. Because the brand believes that "plant mail is the best mail," it offers a succulent club — which costs $24.95 per month for four 2" succulents.

The houseplant offering is limited, but Leaf & Clay has a collection of rare specimens and you can sort by all of the usual criteria: easy care, pet friendly, low light, bright light, air purifying. A big pro: Enjoy free shipping on orders over $59, plus receive your fourth houseplant free.

Etsy

It's not just for crafts. Nurseries across the country sell plants via Etsy, meaning you'll find unique varieties and colors not available on other sites. While the quality can depend on the vendor, our prayer plant from Etsy came in secure packaging with still-damp soil — and at $15, a total bargain. When shopping on Etsy, keep your eye out for Star Sellers to give yourself the best shot at a high-quality purchase.

Lively Root

From succulents and mini plants (hint: mini spider plants) to hanging houseplants and indoor trees, Lively Root offers a vast selection of healthy plants. Most are available in different sizes (like small, medium, large and extra large), and you can choose whether you'd like it to arrive with a growing pot, eco pot, basket or ceramic planter.

Most of their bestsellers are low-maintenance, including money trees, snake plants and peace lilies. Lively Root makes it easy to sort by room or care level — so you're sure to find a houseplant fit for your space and lifestyle. Depending on your skill level, choose from easy care, medium care or green thumb, or search by low light, bright light or low water.

The Bouqs Co.

Our Bouqs plant arrived looking healthy and happy with its upright green and yellow leaves. While Bouqs is more popular for its flower deliveries, it has a curated collection of houseplants — like money trees, orchids, aloe and ZZ plants.

Bouqs allows you to choose your delivery date when shipping houseplants, which makes it a great option for gifting. Just note most plants will take about a week to deliver, so plan in advance if you're sending a birthday or holiday gift. You can also sort for flowers and plants by occasion like Sympathy, Anniversary, Thank You and Get Well — so you can narrow down your gift.

The Home Depot

Your indoor and outdoor space will thrive with The Home Depot's impressive selection of indoor and outdoor plants. Shop flowery pops of color or traditional greenery for as low as $4 – plus free delivery. The Home Depot's massive online garden center offers everything you need and more to up your plant game, like garden tools and online plant support. Plus, it has a variety of succulents, cacti, Bonsai trees, orchids and other plants that flourish indoors.

While we haven't formally tested HD's offerings yet, an analysis of its online reviews reveal satisfied customers and healthy arriving orders.

Terrain

Earth fired clay, teak root, fluted iron and braid woven basket planters are a few great options among the vast selection of on-trend planters at Terrain. While some picks (like this olive tree) come with planters, others come in growing pots so you'll have to choose your own.

The fashion-forward brand doesn't specialize in houseplants specifically, but its offerings are still large — plus you can shop garden accessories, outdoor living, furniture and decor. The downside, in our opinion, is that Terrain makes it difficult to find a houseplant based on important criteria like care requirements, light conditions and room.

Lowe's

Perennials, shrubs, trees, fruit and vegetable seeds, houseplants and succulents are all available at Lowe's Garden Center (which you're welcome to visit in-store or online). Whether you're shopping for indoor or outdoor plants, you can sort online by light requirements, maintenance level and pet-friendly picks.

Prices are low, and you can find popular houseplants for less than $20 (like devil's ivy, snake plants or calatheas). Since most of its houseplants come in growing pots, you'll have to buy a planter separately — luckily, Lowe's has a decent selection of pots, planters and plant stands online. For all of your gardening needs, it also sells garden tools, gloves, hoses, mulch and more.

Modern Sprout

You won't find a large selection of houseplants at Modern Sprout, but you can shop smart grow houses, grow lights, planters and growing kits that any plant enthusiast will rave over. There's a self-watering herb kit in mason jars that even black thumbs can use, as well as terracotta grow kits that will help you cultivate a houseplant indoors. Just add water and wait for your plant to sprout. Note, these growing kits can take up to 20 days to show results, so there's no instant gratification with this purchase — but with a little patience and TLC, the final product will be so worth it.

Houseplant Shop

Although we haven't personally tried Houseplant Shop, we love the online houseplant selection — and the fact that it sells succulents, cacti, vegetable and herb plants, outdoor plants and a ton of easy-care air plants. Not to mention its rare plant offerings are truly impressive. Prices start low, and most plants are available in different sizes and with various pots.

There's also a unique feature if you're into astrology: Houseplants Shop will match you with a houseplant based on your sign. Find your sign, and see the reasons behind your pairing. A few suggestions: pothos for Aries, snake plants for Capricorns and air plants for Aquarius.

Léon & George

If you're looking for a statement piece, look no further than Léon & George. It offers a large selection of extra-large houseplants (considered 3 to 7 feet tall) and indoors trees (including olive trees). We won't lie: Léon & George is probably the most expensive retailer on this list, but it's most likely to provide you with a houseplant that lasts a lifetime.

Plus, every purchase includes a 45-day guarantee and lifetime access to plant doctors — so you can get advice from certified horticulturists and master gardeners at any time.

Is it worth buying plants online?

While you can always go to your local nursery for recommendations, there are a number of reasons to shop for plants online.

✔️ More variety. Online retailers often sell rare and exotic specimens that aren't typically found in store.

✔️ It might be equally or less expensive than shopping in store. Many retailers are selling houseplants for nearly the same price as plant shops, plus many offer free shipping!

✔️ Convenience. Most brands deliver houseplants within a few days right to your doorstep (no lugging a heavy plant into the car and risking it toppling over during the drive home).

✔️ You always know what species you're ordering. As lovely as it is to shop at a plant store, sometimes plants aren't properly labeled and you may not understand the care instructions until after you arrive home. Most online plant retailers share care instructions online, plus will often send you guidelines in the mail.

Will my plant arrive healthy?

The hope is that your houseplant will arrive fully grown and healthy, but it's important to check for warranties before shopping for plants online. If your plant does arrive damaged, will the brand refund you or send you another? All of our top retailers package their plants with care, although some better than others.

Can I buy plants online year-round?

For houseplants, the short answer: Yes, you can order plants online year-round without worry. When shipping plants in the winter, most brands will include a heating pad of some sort to keep them warm during transit. Just make sure the brand provides tracking info and you're home to bring the package inside, as it could get damaged sitting outside for too long.

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