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Yes, You Can Buy Great Plants on Amazon — If You Know What to Look For

Buying plants online can be hit or miss — but choosing a reputable grower makes all the difference.

An assortment of plants available on Amazon.
(Image credit: Future)

If you’ve ever searched for plants on Amazon, you’ve probably hesitated before clicking “add to cart.” Will they arrive healthy? Will they look anything like the photos? Will they survive shipping at all? Buying plants online can feel like a gamble — especially on a large marketplace where it’s not always clear who’s actually behind the listing.

The truth is, the risk isn’t Amazon itself. It’s the grower. Plants are living things that need to be handled with care, and the difference between a thriving new addition and a disappointing delivery often comes down to how they were grown, packaged, and shipped. On a platform like Amazon, sellers can range from highly experienced nurseries to unknown resellers — which is where that uncertainty creeps in.

But here’s the good news: when you buy from a reputable, established grower with proper packaging and quality control, ordering plants on Amazon can be surprisingly convenient and reliable. The key isn’t avoiding Amazon altogether — it’s knowing what to look for and choosing the right growers.

Growers We Trust on Amazon

I was pleasantly surprised to find several of my favorite go-to growers selling directly on Amazon. These are growers our Gardening Know How experts know, trust, and regularly recommend.

1. Costa Farms

Costa Farms is one of the most recognizable houseplant brands in the industry — for a good reason. With decades of growing experience and large-scale greenhouse operations based in Florida, they’ve built a reputation for consistently healthy, well-rooted plants that are properly acclimated before shipping. They also tend to include detailed care instructions with their shipments, taking the guesswork out of houseplant care. If you’re dipping your toes into buying houseplants on Amazon, Costa Farms is one of the safest places to start.

2. Proven Winners

Proven Winners is practically synonymous with high-performance plants, so it's no wonder it's a Gardening Know How favorite. Their varieties are trial-tested, bred for vigor and disease resistance, and designed to truly thrive in real-world gardens. When you buy from Proven Winners, you’re getting genetics backed by serious research, along with clear growing information tailored to different zones, which makes them an easy choice for gardeners who want dependable results season after season.

Altman Plants

Altman Plants has been growing succulents and specialty plants for over 40 years, making them one of the most experienced growers in the industry. Succulents can be especially hit-or-miss when ordered online, but Altman’s decades of commercial growing expertise show in their quality control and shipping standards. If you’re browsing Amazon for succulents, look no further than Altman.

How to Spot a Reputable Grower on Amazon

Buying plants on Amazon can feel risky — and sometimes it is. Not every seller has the experience or infrastructure to ship living plants safely, and without clear branding, you may not even know where your plant is coming from. Before clicking “add to cart,” here’s what to look for:

  • Clear grower branding & industry reputation: Look for a recognizable nursery name and click through to their Amazon brand page. Reputable growers typically have a dedicated storefront, consistent branding, and a full catalog of plants. If the brand page feels sparse or disconnected, that’s worth a pause.
  • Detailed plant information: Trustworthy listings include specifics: pot size, plant height, light needs, hardiness zones, and care guidance. Vague descriptions are a red flag.
  • Strong ratings with customer photos: Scroll beyond the star rating. Consistent customer images showing healthy plants and thoughtful packaging are far more telling than generic reviews.
  • Shipping transparency: Established growers explain how plants are secured and protected in transit. If there’s no mention of packaging at all, proceed cautiously.
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Allie Kerkhoff
Senior Manager, Revenue Strategy & Insights

Allie Kerkhoff has been with Gardening Know How since 2020, working across direct sales, project management, and e-commerce. With a Master’s in Economics from the University of British Columbia and a background in strategic planning and revenue optimization, she helps support the business side of the site so our editorial team can keep writing and publishing great content. Though she's relatively new to gardening, she loves learning from our community – and she's slowly but surely turning her outdoor space into her own personal oasis!