The Best Online Nurseries for Buying Perennials

Perennials are a gardener’s best friend. These hardy plants come back year after year filling your garden with color and texture. Though you can find perennials at most nurseries and garden centers, tracking down specific varieties or large quantities can be difficult. That’s where mail order and online nurseries come in handy!

I’ve ordered perennials from many different online sources over the years. Through trial and error I’ve discovered the best online nurseries for finding a great selection of quality perennials.

What to Look for in an Online Perennial Nursery

When choosing an online nursery to buy perennials from. keep these factors in mind

• Selection – The best online nurseries have a wide variety of perennials. Look for ones that offer at least a couple hundred different perennials to choose from.

• Prices – Prices can vary widely between online nurseries. Make sure to comparison shop to find the best deals.

• Quality – Reputable online nurseries ship healthy, thriving plants. Read reviews to learn about others’ experiences.

• Shipping – Many online nurseries ship perennials bare root or in pots. Bare root plants are cheaper but need more TLC.

• Guarantee – The best nurseries stand behind their products and offer guarantees. This protects you if plants arrive damaged.

The Best Mail Order Nurseries for Perennials

After years of experience, these are my top picks for purchasing perennials online:

1. Bluestone Perennials

Bluestone Perennials is my go-to for buying perennials online. They have a massive selection of over 1,000 perennial varieties. I especially love their wide range of hostas, daylilies, coral bells, coneflowers, and more.

The plants always arrive healthy and well-packaged. They have great prices for the large 4 inch potted plants they sell. Their website also makes it easy to shop for deer and rabbit resistant perennials.

Key Features:

• Over 1,000 perennial varieties
• Plants ship in 4 inch pots
• Specializes in hostas, daylilies, heucheras
• Filters for deer/rabbit resistant plants

2. American Meadows

American Meadows has been selling perennials since 1981. They grow and ship their plants from Vermont and are known for cold-hardy varieties. With over 500 perennials to select from, you can fill your garden with beautiful blooms all season long.

I appreciate that their website helps you shop for perennials by bloom time so you can plan the perfect succession of flowers. American Meadows has excellent prices on perennial plants and they ship quickly too.

Key Features:

• Hardy varieties grown in Vermont
• Over 500 different perennials
• Shop by bloom time
• Affordable prices & fast shipping

3. High Country Gardens

High Country Gardens offers a unique selection of perennials, with an emphasis on waterwise and deer resistant plants. Though they’re located in New Mexico, their plants thrive across the country.

If you need help selecting perennials for challenging conditions like drought, poor soil, or critter invasions, their plant guides make it easy. I also love their specialty collections like the Butterfly & Hummingbird Garden and the Fragrant Garden.

Key Features:

• Specializes in plants for tough conditions
• Waterwise and deer resistant plants
• Plant collections for pollinators and fragrance
• Helpful plant guides

4. Joy Creek Nursery

Those who love ornamental grasses, ferns, vines, and shrubs as well as perennials will adore Joy Creek Nursery. Located in Oregon, they have cool, moist growing conditions ideal for lush, healthy plants.

While their selection is smaller than some others on this list, the variety and quality are top-notch. Another bonus is that in addition to perennials, they also sell fascinating ground covers, vines, trees, and shrubs.

Key Features:

• Specializes in grasses, ferns, vines
• Cool weather varieties
• Smaller selection of very unique plants
• Also offers shrubs, trees, and ground covers

5. DutchGrown Perennials

For perennial lovers on the east coast, DutchGrown Perennials is a great option located in New York. Their plants are grown locally to be cold hardy and acclimated for Northeast gardens.

DutchGrown has an impressive selection of varieties bred specifically for disease resistance. I also appreciate their specialty collections chosen for pollinators, butterflies, or deer and rabbit resistance.

Key Features:

• Locally grown, cold hardy plants
• Great selection of disease resistant varieties
• Specialty collections for pollinators & critter resistance
• Perfect for Northeast gardens

How to Have Success Ordering Perennials Online

Here are my tips for getting the best results when ordering perennials online:

• Pick the right time to plant – Spring and fall are ideal times to plant perennials. Avoid summer heat.

• Prepare the soil – Amend soil with compost before planting perennials for healthy root growth.

• Water thoroughly – Water perennials daily the first week, then taper off gradually.

• Mulch well – Replenish mulch around perennials to retain moisture and deter weeds.

• Provide support – Use stakes and cages as needed so perennials grow upright.