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Whether you’ve got a proven green thumb or want to take your first steps toward becoming a home gardener, subscribing to a gardening box delivery service is handy and motivating, regularly delivering new seeds, plants, and inspiration.
Subscriptions are available for a variety of special interest areas and across a range of different price points. Which is great. But the options can also be overwhelming. For help deciding on the best gardening subscription box for your budget and ambitions, keep reading to learn more about how these services compare—and don’t miss our roundup of top-favorite picks.
- BEST OVERALL: Bloomin’ Bin
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Urban Organic Gardener
- BEST ORGANIC: Seed Bank Box
- BEST FOR URBAN GARDENERS: Cratejoy Garden Outside The Box
- BEST FOR BEGINNERS: My Garden Box
- BEST FOR ORNAMENTALS: Harry & David Bulb-of-the-Month Club
- BEST FOR HERBS: Leaf’d Box Seasonal Herb Garden
- BEST FOR SUCCULENTS: Succulent Studios
How to Choose the Best Gardening Subscription Box
Keep these tips in mind when navigating and selecting among the different gardening subscriptions available.
- First, be honest about your experience level. Some boxes are geared toward beginners, while others require a bit more gardening know-how.
- Depending on the subscription plan, the contents of each box will vary. Choose from seeds, potted plants, or varieties to plant outdoors. Other options include herbs, vegetables, and ornamental flowers.
- While most gardening boxes arrive monthly, some are delivered quarterly.
- Whether gardening indoors or outdoors, pet owners must be mindful that many popular plant varieties are toxic to cats and dogs. Look for a gardening subscription with a pet-friendly option.
Our Top Picks
We awarded the best gardening subscription boxes on the quality of their plants, subscription plan flexibility, and customization options. Whether you’re interested in receiving bare seeds or live plants, you’re sure to find a subscription that suits what you’re looking for.
Best Overall
Bloomin’ Bin
Plans from Bloomin’ Bin cater to all different skill levels and interests. You can opt to receive a selection of seeds, live plants, or bulbs on a monthly basis. But what really sets Bloomin’ Bin apart is the customization offered. A number of options exist for each plan. Gardeners can choose the type and number of seeds or plants they wish to receive with each delivery, and you can opt for regular or laminated instructions. Note that their plans are more affordable with a 3- or 6-month commitment, but it’s also possible to pay month to month.
Product Specs
- Price per box: Starting at $4.50 plus shipping
- Delivery intervals: Monthly
- Type: Seeds and live plants
Pros
- Multiple boxes available
- Plans are fully customizable
- No commitment required
Cons
- Shipping not included
Best Bang for the Buck
Urban Organic Gardener
Urban Organic Gardener’s seed club offers affordable monthly plans for receiving receive organic, non-GMO seeds that are completely heirloom and non-hybridized.
The two subscription options are the Seed Club Mystery and Seed Club Pro: • The ‘Mystery’ box includes, with each delivery, two seed packs, expanding seed-starting soil pods, planting instructions, and labels for the new plants. • The ‘Pro’ box is curated for a gardening profile that you create and submit to the company. Deliveries include five seed packs, fertilizer, and everything else that comes with the more affordable mystery subscription.
Product Specs
- Price per box: Starting at $5 plus shipping
- Delivery intervals: Monthly
- Type: Seeds
Pros
- Users can cancel at any time
- Two subscription options available
- All seeds are heirloom, organic, and non-GMO
Cons
- Shipping not included
Best Organic
Seed Bank Box
Seed Bank Box sends eight to 10 seed varieties every month, so users can grow unique fruits, vegetables, and edible flowers not available at the grocery store. Not only are their seeds organic and non-GMO, but they are also typically rare or heirloom varieties.
Like with other gardening subscription services, a commitment of at least 6 months provides the biggest discount, but no-commitment monthly payment is also an option.
Product Specs
- Price per box: $21.95
- Delivery intervals: Monthly
- Type: Seeds
Pros
- Seeds are organic and non-GMO
- Includes rare and heirloom varieties
- Users can pay month to month
Cons
- Only one type of box available
Best for Urban Gardeners
Cratejoy Garden Outside The Box
City gardeners have different needs than gardeners who live on several acres of land. Garden Outside The Box, which focuses on herbs, is specifically designed for urban gardeners with limited outdoor space. Each month, subscribers receive six seed varieties, guaranteed to be organic, non-GMO, and untreated.The box also includes detailed instructions and growing tips as well as plant labels, organic fertilizer, and soil. The first box includes either a fabric growing setup or a tabletop greenhouse; you choose, depending on whether you plan to garden outdoors or inside.
Product Specs
- Price per box: $45
- Delivery intervals: Monthly
- Type: Seeds and growing kit
Pros
- Users can cancel any time
- Beginner-friendly box
- Includes greenhouse or outdoor growing setup
Cons
- High price point
Best for Beginners
My Garden Box
Growing plants from seed can be tricky. Beginning gardeners often have more success with live plants. That’s where My Garden Box comes in. This service welcomes newcomers to gardening with deliveries of nearly everything needed to get start on an indoor or outdoor garden.
The contents of each box vary widely, ranging from terrarium and bonsai kits to more traditional supplies. Additionally, the plants included are seasonal. Spring and summer boxes deliver varieties that can survive outdoors, while fall and winter boxes come with indoor houseplants.
No matter the time of year, visually illustrated instructions are always included to make planting and care easier.
Product Specs
- Price per box: Starting at $35.50 plus shipping
- Delivery intervals: Monthly
- Type: Live plants
Pros
- Users can pay month to month
- Each box varies widely
- Catered to beginners
- Includes live plants
Cons
- Only one type of box available
- Shipping not included
Best for Ornamentals
Harry & David Bulb-of-the-Month Club
While a monthly delivery of fresh flowers is a lovely gift, Harry & David’s Bulb-of-the-Month Club provides flowers that endure from year to year. Each box contains a set of preplanted seasonal bulbs, and the first delivery also includes a decorative planter. Subscribers may receive amaryllis in the fall and tulips in the spring.
With other services, the contents of your next box is always a surprise. This one is unique in that it lets you know what’s coming ahead of time. box will contain. The only downside is that this subscription requires a minimum commitment of 3 months.
Product Specs
- Price per box: Starting at $31.60 plus shipping
- Delivery intervals: Monthly
- Type: Bulbs
Pros
- First delivery includes a decorative planter
- Excellent for gifting
- Includes seasonal flowers
Cons
- Requires minimum 3-month commitment
- Shipping not included
Best for Herbs
Leaf’d Box Seasonal Herb Garden
Leaf’d Box’s herb subscription includes organic and non-GMO plants delivered in eco-friendly packaging. Deliveries arrive quarterly, and each one includes 10 seasonal, fast-growing herbs. For example, in the fall kit, subscribers receive dill, cilantro, parsley, fennel, and spearmint.
These herbs are suitable for indoor or outdoor gardening, depending on where you live and the time of year. It’s your choice whether to plant the herbs directly in the ground, in raised beds, or in pots.
Note that if herbs aren’t your thing, Leaf’d Box also has a veggie subscription plan, which is a standout offering, though not the cheapest.
Product Specs
- Price per box: $44.99 plus shipping
- Delivery intervals: Quarterly
- Type: Live plants
Pros
- Organic and non-GMO
- Shipped in eco-friendly packaging
- Includes seasonal herbs
Cons
- Shipping not included
Best for Succulents
Succulent Studios
Succulent Studios prizes eco-friendliness. Deliveries arrive in plastic-free packaging, with each containing two 8-week-old organic succulents (and care instructions).
The subscription terms are admirably flexible—you can skip a month whenever you want—and plans generally quite affordable.
Product Specs
- Price per box: $10 plus shipping
- Delivery intervals: Monthly
- Type: Live succulents
Pros
- Ships in plastic-free packaging
- Biodegradable containers
- Flexible terms
Cons
- Shipping not included
Our Verdict
We recommend our top pick, Bloomin’ Bin, for its affordable pricing and multiple customization options. Those on a budget may appreciate Urban Organic Gardener for its high quality and affordable prices.
How We Chose the Best Gardening Subscription Boxes
Extensive research and years of experience in the garden went into this guide. We explored more than 25 gardening subscription options and weighed a number of practical considerations before making our recommendations.
- Variety: We included subscriptions that offer unique seeds or plants every month with no repetition for at least a year.
- Flexibility: Gardening subscriptions vary widely in flexibility. We prioritized options that allow subscribers to pay month to month without requiring a long-term commitment, as well as brands that offer the option to pause or cancel without a penalty.
- Value: Since gardening subscription boxes are available at a wide range of price points, we recommended those that offer excellent value based on the contents of each box.
FAQs
Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about gardening subscription boxes.
Q. What is a gardening subscription box?
Plant subscription companies send seeds, plants, or gardening supplies to the subscriber’s door at regular intervals.
Q. What is included in a gardening subscription box?
Some gardening subscriptions come with seeds or a plant in either a plastic container or a simple clay pot, while others contain additional tools and accessories.
Q. How much do gardening subscription boxes cost?
Plant subscription boxes vary in price depending on their contents. Costing as little as around $5 per box, seed subscriptions are the most affordable, while subscriptions containing live plants typically are pricier and can reach $50 or more per delivery.