Whilst the majority of perennials are sold container-grown, you will also see bare-root plants available for sale during autumn to early spring, whilst the plants are dormant.

Buying Tips

Always make sure that the plants look healthy and vigorous, with no abnormally coloured leaves that may indicate a lack of nutrients. If you are buying at the beginning of the growing season, look for a plant with a number of strong emerging shoots; in this case, quality is better than quantity, and a plant with a few fat, healthy buds is always a better choice than one with many weaker ones.

If you are buying a bare-root plant, make sure that the roots are strong and have not dried out. Plant this type of perennial as soon as possible, wrapping it in plastic or wet newspaper before planting to prevent moisture loss.

If possible, remove the plant from its pot and inspect its roots. Plants with well established root systems will retain all or most of the compost from the pot. However, avoid any that are pot bound, with tightly wound, congested roots or those with roots that protrude from the container, as these rarely tend to establish well.

Check that the compost does not contain any weeds; whilst one or two annual weeds may be removed fairly easily, avoid buying any plants with moss, perennial weeds or liverworts.