Where to Find the Best Prices for Plants
Last updated May 2024
Our undercover shoppers checked prices for 20 different plants at hundreds of garden centers located in seven major metro areas, such as a lavender in a #1-size container and a knockout rose in a #3 container.
For the limited selection of plants they sell, big chains Home Depot, Fred Meyer, Lowe’s, and Menards did very well on costs. Each had prices that averaged at least 20 percent lower than the all-store average in their region. But, unfortunately, all four of these chains received low ratings on our survey question “quality of products.”
The table below reveals tremendous store-to-store price variation—possibly more than for any other type of business we cover. For all of the 20 different plants we checked, the highest price was more than twice the lowest price.
When using the price comparison scores, keep in mind that we could not compare prices on identical products; although two stores might sell the same type of azalea with similar spreads, for example, the plants’ health or fullness of foliage may be distinctly different.
It is important to note that in this field—unlike most we cover—there is a correlation between price and quality. A store with high ratings on our customer survey for “quality of products” is more likely than not to have a higher-than-average price comparison score. Fortunately, however, some stores that rated high on our quality measures also had below-average prices.
But this price-quality tradeoff leads many plant-buying consumers to shop at more than one spot. Many of our members rate more than one garden center, reporting that they buy inexpensive annuals and other items that only last for a short time from Home Depot, Lowe’s, grocery stores, etc., but purchase expensive perennials at nurseries that have high standards for quality.