Most of our lilacs are grown in a 2/3 gallon pot, which is 6 inches across and 6 inches high. Some cultivars may be smaller and some larger at time of shipping. Please keep in mind that this is not a huge corporate operation and we do not grow in a controlled greenhouse environment. Cultivars vary as to their growth rate, so plants that are the same ages might be different heights.
You can now select the Monday you'd like us to ship. However, please note that we try to pull orders during the week and are bagging and packing on Saturday and Sunday. If you order on Saturday or Sunday and select the upcoming Monday for your shipping date, it's unlikely that we will be able to honor your choice. In these cases, we will ship a week later on the next Monday.
We generally ship via US Postal Service, using Priority Mail. Delivery usually is 1-3 days depending on your location.
Your tracking number will be emailed to you, and of course you can email me if you have any questions or concerns. If you wish to use a different carrier, please email us and we will try to accommodate. PLEASE NOTE THAT WE DO NOT SHIP OUTSIDE OF THE U.S. OR TO CALIFORNIA.
We are open most Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm in Spring and Fall only. We may be available certain evenings in spring and fall by appointment. Please email for an appointment.
Bare root is when the plant is removed from its growing container and the potting mix is shaken off the roots for shipping.
Shipping bare root reduces your shipping charges. Shipping plants in their pots with pots and potting mix would require a larger box, and the box would be much heavier.
Bare root shipping is common, and we have been shipping bare root for several years with no problems. However, you the buyer must be prepared to either hold the lilac in a temporary location, like a large pot, or a pile of mulch, and to keep the roots covered with potting mix or topsoil (or mulch in a pinch) so they don’t dry out, or to plant the lilac immediately in its permanent location shortly after arrival. It is critical that the roots not dry out; that will kill the lilac. It’s also not a good idea to let it sit in the shipping bag for any length of time after arrival. Please plan accordingly when ordering! Planting and care instructions are available below.
First, we "bare root" the plant by removing the potting mix and rinsing the roots. The root ball is wrapped in damp newsprint and bagged individually so the roots don't dry out. Each plant will have a label with the lilac name inside the bag. We will select a box that's the right size for each order.
I know some people won’t like this answer, but please email me. I have a full-time job and do not conduct nursery activity during weekday business hours. On weekends, I am outside working in the nursery and assisting customers. I generally will respond the same evening or the following morning. Thank you for your understanding in this regard.
You can download a PDF of our planting and care instructions here.
Yes, we may have larger sizes in a few of the cultivars from time to time, but they must be picked up in person. They are too hard to pack and too expensive to ship. Use the contact form or email us to get in touch if you're looking for something specific.
Our plants are all on their own roots. No grafts.
We do our best to sell lilacs that are true to name. However, some of our sources over the years have turned out to be mislabeled or not true to name. We can also have mix-ups once in a while here at the nursery. If a lilac you purchase turns out not to be true to name, take a picture and let me know. We will issue a refund or send a replacement if we have that cultivar available.
Our business is primarily retail sales to individuals. We may be able to satisfy wholesale orders on occasion. The minimum wholesale order is 100 plants, in multiples of 5 per cultivar. Our wholesale discount is 20%. Please note that due to limited quantities, we may not always be able to offer every cultivar for wholesale orders. Please contact us via email if you are considering a wholesale order.
