Tips Our Master Gardener Wants You To Know When Shopping For Plants At Costco

Sometimes you can get a great deal on plants at big stores like Costco, which don't have a devoted garden center. These bulk shopping companies purchase in large quantities and pass the savings from those big buys on to you. Of course, this means their stock frequently changes. This is not only true for things like electronics and clothing, but it also applies to plants. In order for those plants to actually be a good deal, though, they must be healthy and affordable.

As House Digest's Garden Editor and in-house Master Gardener, I've got some tips to help ensure you choose the best plants. When you're shopping in-store, you'll need to look for things like excessively wet or dry soil, pests, and wilted leaves. Shopping for plants online at Costco is similar to buying other items — check reviews from buyers and compare pricing to other sites and local stores. Don't have a Costco membership? Don't stop reading yet! These tips can be applied to shopping for plants at the grocery store, the supermarket, or your local farm supply store.

Great deals on exotic plants can be found at Costco. You may find exceptional prices on common greenery, like ferns or pothos, but you may also be able to snag that houseplant you've been eyeing at other stores for a bargain price. This 'Pink Princess' plant is a high-demand philodendron — like other trending houseplants in 2025 — for its gorgeous green and pink variegated leaves. At $29.99, it's a good deal for a hard-to-find plant.

When you're shopping in-store for this or any other plants, check the soil first. If it's soggy or it smells sour, there's a very good chance the plant could succumb to root-rot as soon as you get it home. This is a big issue for plants sold in containers that don't have drainage holes. If the plant looks healthy, but the soil is dry, that's usually fine. Just take it home and water it thoroughly.

While you're inspecting your potential purchase, take a good look at the leaves. If the tips are dry, the plant may be consistently underwatered, while wilted yellow leaves indicate overwatering. Checking the undersides of leaves and the crevices between the leaf and the stem is particularly important. This is where small common houseplant pests, like aphids, spider mites, and scale insects, hide. Bringing home an infested plant can cause the problem to spread to your current collection, creating a massive issue for you to deal with.

Right now, Costco has a 3-pack of Longfield Gardens 'Annabelle' Hydrangea for $99.99. You can order online and have this set shipped straight to your home. But, before you do that, check pricing and availability from local sellers. The listing states they are two years old, and sold as bare-root plants, so keep that in mind when comparing prices. They should grow and bloom quickly once planted, but you'll need to be ready to get them in the ground as soon as they arrive to ensure the roots don't dry out.

When shopping for plants online, reviews are extremely helpful. In the case of the 'Annabelle' hydrangea, buyers seem very happy with their purchase. That's a big green light! However, not all plants sold online at Costco have such high ratings, so just keep that in mind as you shop. Because you cannot inspect the plants yourself, those reviewers are your metaphorical eyes and hands for verifying the plants' quality.

Something you might not think about when buying plants online is the delivery date. Costco delivers outdoor plants to different regions at different times according to the ideal planting schedule. So, you may make a purchase, but the plant(s) may not arrive for a few weeks.

There are some general rules for buying plants from places that don't have a traditional garden center. In the spring, you're likely to see hanging baskets and even some vegetable seedlings anywhere from Aldi (along with other garden items you can get for a bargain price), to your local farm-supply store, and anywhere in between. Sometimes, you can get a great deal on these plants. The same rules apply to these plants as to those sold in-store at Costco: Check the soil and leaves for signs of disease, pests, or improper care. Personally, I skip the garden centers and big-name sellers by purchasing my vegetable seedlings at our local grocery store. They source from a producer in the state, and rather than paying upwards of $5 for one tomato plant, I can usually get a 6-pack for a few bucks.

If you're buying online, the same rules apply. Check reviews, not only for the product but also for the seller when they're available. And regardless of whether you're shopping in person or online, understand the return policy before paying. Costco has a generous return policy for plants if they turn out to be duds, and many other stores will refund or replace dead greenery without asking any questions. Other locations and websites may not be so cooperative.