How to Find the Best Shrubs to Buy

Making sure you buy high-quality, healthy shrubs is the first step to growing them successfully. But choosing the best ones to buy can be daunting when you’re standing among dozens of the same plant at the store or nursery.

Choosing Between Bare-root and Container-grown Specimen Shrubs

The first decision to make is whether you buy bare-root or container-grown specimens.

  • Bare-root shrubs come with nothing on the roots except a bag to help keep the roots from breaking during transport.
  • Container-grown shrubs are planted into a plastic nursery pot with growing media.

There are pros and cons to both options. Unfortunately, some shrubs—including evergreens—are only available in pots, so you don’t even have the option of buying bare-root specimens.

  • Bare root shrubs can be cheaper than container-grown, which is helpful if you purchase numerous plants.
  • Larger shrubs are typically only available in containers. Bare root specimens tend to be smaller in size.
  • Container-grown shrubs are available year-round. Bare root shrubs are only available when deciduous plants are dormant between November and March.
Physical Characteristics to Look for

When buying shrubs, you want to look for signs of good health, so it comes through planting with minimal problems and grows to be a mature, healthy plant.

Make sure to check for the following.

  • Strong new growth from the branch tips (if the plant isn’t dormant).
  • Flower buds should be plump and healthy, not brown or rotted.
  • Leaves should be pliable yet firm.
  • Leaf size should be uniform and comparable to neighboring plants.
  • Branches should be well spaced and evenly distributed around the plant.
  • Branches should be flexible, not brittle.
  • If plants are dormant, use your fingernail to scrape at the bark, looking for green tissue underneath.
  • Grab the base of the plant and try to move it back and forth in the soil. You want it to be well-rooted and holding firm.
  • Roots are firm and lighter in color (white or tan).
Physical Characteristics to Avoid

If shrubs show any of these signs, do not buy them.

  • Wilted or off-color foliage.
  • Visible insect pests, especially aphids, spider mites, scale, etc.
  • Symptoms of disease.
  • Shrubs that look too big for their container because they are likely root-bound.
  • Gaping holes from unevenly spaced branches or flat sides on a round shrub.
  • Offensive odor or mushy roots.
  • Sunscald on the leaves.
  • Shrubs that move back and forth in the container when you grab the base. For one reason or another, this plant has been recently repotted.
  • Mechanical injury to stems or the bark on branches. Open wounds invite insect pests and fungi into the shrub’s vascular system.
  • Roots growing out of the bottom of the container.
  • Weeds are growing in the container.