Bare root plants are dormant - not actively growing. Plants are dug up and stored without any soil around their roots. Buying plants "bare root" is the most affordable way to order plants. They enable customers to buy at a fraction of the expense of containerized plants, mainly due to the cost of shipping.
We ship bare root stock in the "dormant" season when plants do not have leaves, foliage, or blooms. All our bare root stock is dug fresh to order. See how we package our plants here.
If you haven't worked with bare root plants, dormant plants might look dead. But there are ways to tell it's alive and healthy. The most effective is a scratch test.
How to Do a Scratch Test
Bare-Root Plants: Before and After
The left side of the images are how your plants will look when you recieve them. They will be dormant, without foliage. On the right is how your plant should look the following spring if properly planted and cared for.
