How do we use your location?
Knowing your location helps us recommend plants that will thrive in your climate, based on your Growing Zone.
How Our Plants Ship
How Our Plants Are Grown
At High Country Gardens, we’re committed to growing outstanding plants for your waterwise garden. At our Utah nursery, we grow a wide range of plants and trial exciting new varieties.
For over 25 years, we’ve built our reputation by offering the best plants and gardening products available. When you order from us, we guarantee you’ll receive hardy plants, bulbs, and seeds packed with care and ready to thrive. Read on to learn how our plants are grown, packed, and shipped.
Packing Plants With Care
Our team carefully packs your plants using specially designed packaging to cradle each pot in transit.
We schedule shipments based on USDA Zones, so your plants arrive at the right time to plant in your area. (Weather varies—if it’s spring, wait until after your last hard freeze to plant.)
Some plants may be shipped in a dormant state to minimize stress. Once planted, they’ll wake from dormancy and take off in your garden.
Perennial Plant Pot Sizes
Our potted plants are grown and delivered in four sizes:
- Premium Pot (3.5" wide × 5" deep; 1.5 pints)
- Standard Pot (2.5" wide × 3.5" deep)
- Cactus Pot (2.5" wide × 2.5" deep)
- One‑Gallon Pot (6.75" wide × 7" deep)
Gallon Pots
These containers are a trade gallon, often labeled #1. They average ~3 quarts (≈2.8 liters).
Due to their size, gallon‑pot plants ship separately.
About Potted Plants
Depending on the plant and time of year, your plants may arrive in different growth stages.
Most perennials arrive with fresh top growth. We may trim foliage before shipping to reduce stress and encourage root growth after transplanting.
Don’t worry—these vigorous plants have healthy root systems and will regrow quickly once planted. In fall, expect limited top growth while roots establish for next season.
Dormant Plants
Some plants ship dormant—the plant version of sleeping. These slower‑to‑wake varieties have robust roots and crowns; as soils warm, new shoots emerge from the crown. Take care not to damage tiny emerging shoots.
Plant dormant plants right away. Don’t hold them until they break dormancy or up‑pot them. They perform best when planted directly in your garden to wake naturally.
Shipping Shrubs & Small Trees
Early in the season, shrubs and small trees often ship dormant (leafless). Scratch the bark lightly—fresh green tissue indicates vitality. You may see swelling buds. Plant as soon as possible.
Flower Bulbs, Tubers, & Corms
Bulbs contain buds surrounded by stored energy that fuels early growth. With proper care, small bulbs become lush, healthy plants. Follow package instructions for best results.
- Some "bulbs" are technically tubers or corms.
- Healthy bulbs are firm—not mushy. A little surface mold is generally harmless.
- Many bulbs have papery tunics that may flake off—don’t peel them.
- Only soak bulbs if planting instructions specify soaking.
- Bulbs may show buds/shoots; most won’t until planted. Avoid damaging any visible shoots.
Bareroot Plants
Most perennials establish best when grown in pots, with a few exceptions: our Daylilies are sold as bareroot plants. Bareroots have strong roots with the soil removed and arrive wrapped in moist peat moss. Keep peat moist (not soaking) and roots loosely wrapped until planting.
Bareroots may look unimpressive at first, but they spring to life once planted. Look for small buds at the crown or along roots. A light nick with a fingernail should reveal moist tissue.
Tips For Establishing Your Plants
Even waterwise plants need supplemental water to establish.
- For leafy, actively growing perennials: water 1–3× per week for the first 1–3 months, adjusted for rainfall and plant response.
- Dormant plants need little to no water until new growth emerges.
- In low‑desert regions, watering every 2 weeks may be needed if days are consistently above 80°F. See our Gardening Videos for details.
Learn more in our comprehensive Planting Guide and Gardening Videos.
