We researched dozens of options for places to shop for flower bulbs online and selected the best based on the types of bulbs offered, delivery time, return policy, and customer service. Our best overall pick is Eden Brothers, which has a wide bulb variety, user-friendly filters, and several growing guidelines. Here are the best places to buy flower bulbs online.
It may seem like a negative to have bulbs sold out or “out for the season,” especially if it’s your favorite variety. But this means Eden Brothers takes care to only sell bulbs in advance of that plant’s growing season. The bulbs are categorized by season, so in summer you can pre-order your fall planting bulbs and not have to worry about purchasing them in the wrong season. The shipping schedules match the growing seasons, and in-season bulbs ship instantly after you order, so you don’t miss the planting season. The website is easy to use and well-categorized. Select your bulb type and choose from a variety within that type. If you don’t know the names of your favorite plants, they have pictures, and you can even filter by color to find exactly what suits your garden. The site includes a table of fast facts for each plant variety, telling you exactly how to plant and care for the bulbs. The descriptions are easy to read and informative, making them an excellent resource, especially for beginning gardeners. If bulbs arrive damaged, mislabeled, or within 15 days and you’ve changed your mind, you can return them for a full refund. Home Depot is a great option if you already know what flower bulbs you’re looking for and when, so you can get them for budget-friendly prices with free shipping. If you’re new to gardening, you may end up with the wrong flower for your growing zone or for the season. You have to do some extra research before ordering online from here, but once you do, you can apply filters to sort through their available items. This site provides a detailed product description and planting guide with each flower bulb, so you don’t have to look in different spots to get the information you need. Unless you specify the desired week, the orders are shipped based on your growing zone in time for proper planting. You can get replacements for damaged items if you report them within days 10 of receiving them. We like that you can track your order, so you know when to expect it, and that they offer a few methods for reaching out to customer service, including phone, form, and email. If you mess up your order or change your mind, you can simply return them to your nearest store, so this is a good online option for indecisive gardeners who don’t want to pay for returns. The fact that you have a whole year to return items is also great if you tend to be forgetful about your household return pile. They categorize their bulbs into types such as “full sun” or “deer resistant,” so you can customize your order to the needs of your garden. We like that they also sell gardening tools, like their budget-friendly bulb planter that ensures your bulb is placed at the right depth into the soil. Bulbs ship out according to your growing zone in time for planting season. If your bulb doesn’t grow correctly, there is a one-year guarantee from the time of purchase, so you can return or replace it at no cost. Brent & Becky’s does not guarantee the growth of your bulbs, as they say many variables can affect your blooms. However, if your order arrives damaged or in poor quality, just reach out to them within seven days for replacements. While this website does offer a ton of gardening information under the learning section, we wish each bulb’s growth requirements were listed directly on their product pages for easier and faster access. This website offers a quick turnaround on shipping, and items generally arrive within one to eight days, depending on your preference. If the bulbs arrive damaged or dead, you can contact customer service for a return within 48 hours. Otherwise, though, bulbs are not refundable, so make careful note of the type you choose. You’ll need to do some research on growing zones and seasons before putting through your order to ensure that you select the right bulbs at the right times. Most of the bulbs are imported from the Netherlands, so American Meadows can hand-select only the finest quality bulbs to sell. They went so far as to sell their farm and gift shop to focus on creating the best possible online resource for gardeners, with an easy-to-navigate website and thorough how-to guidelines. They’ve even created videos to help you learn how to plant your bulbs. This company follows a shipping schedule with an order cutoff ahead of each season, based on the USDA zone you live in. So you need to plan and order your bulbs during the correct window. Breck’s waits to ship your bulbs until the beginning of the planting season, so you don’t have to worry about storing them upon arrival. We like that this website has gardening guides, planting information, and a live-help customer service line to answer any questions. Though you have to pay for shipping, Breck’s offers a lifetime guarantee for all its products. Regardless of when you purchased the bulb, if you are dissatisfied with the growth of your flowers down the line, they replace them at no cost. If you’re a beginner gardener or have little experience working with flower bulbs, there are a few species to look out for from online retailers. “Spring-flowering bulbs are extremely easy to grow and care for by any level of gardener because the embryo for next year’s blooms is already located inside the bulb,” LaGattuta says. “If you plant the bulbs at the proper depth and water them at planting time, blooms are almost guaranteed. Daffodils require no special care except for deadheading the spent blooms and letting the foliage die down completely before removing it. Another benefit to growing daffodils is that they are deer-resistant.”
Delivery time
Shopping for bulbs isn’t like shopping for new furniture or clothing. The bulbs need to arrive in time to be planted in the right temperature and season, and often aren’t stocked year-round. Since you might need to purchase bulbs well in advance of when you need them, choose a retailer that makes all that information clear to you when you shop.
Return policy
Like anything else, you might change your mind about the bulbs you purchased, be unimpressed by their size and health, or just have too many for your garden. Check in advance if you can return unused or unwanted items and if the retailer offers store credit or a full refund.
Customer service options
With certain sites, you might be able to connect with a customer service representative who can give you more information about the bulbs you are looking to purchase. It helps to have the option to speak to a knowledgeable expert who can walk you through the purchase and answer any questions that arise. You can also check the website for helpful how-to information and bulb gardening tips specific to the bulbs you are buying. Keep in mind that shopping online for flower bulbs does offer limitations in the way of actually seeing the size of the bulbs and knowing local selections. “When purchasing bulbs from local garden centers, the benefit is that you can see and feel the quality of the bulbs before purchasing,” LaGattuta says.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Spruce contributor Deanna McCormack is an experienced commerce writer with several years of experience covering outdoors and home products. She’s spent countless hours researching the nuances of flower bulbs and what to look for when shopping for them. She scoured each website for its delivery schedules, bulb specialties, and helpful content. Emma Phelps provided additional support to this article by reaching out to Debra LaGattuta, a master gardener and member of The Spruce Gardening and Plant Care Review Board, who provided additional insight on when to purchase bulbs and the differences between in-person and online selections.
