Understanding Plant Container Sizes | Nature Hills Guide
We get a lot of questions about what the different container sizes really mean for your landscape. On every product page at Nature Hills Nursery, you'll see a tabbed navigation under the photos. This navigation gives you a lot more detail about the plants for sale online that you are considering.
You'll also see a Plant Sizes tab with a helpful comparison video. Now, read on for a behind-the-scenes look at the trade secrets of the nursery container industry.
Too long, didn't read? Just know that in general, container size is relative to the age of the plant, with a few exceptions such as miniaturized Bonsai trees or the galloping growth of Willow Hybrid trees.
The older the plant, the more developed the root system. That's what makes a BIG difference in your landscape. Buy the biggest plant you can for immediate impact in your yard or garden.
- Selecting The Best Container To Support Root Production
- Market Evolution Of Nursery Container Production
- NCWM Weights and Measures Law
- Containers: So, How Big Is The Plant In The Pot
- Perennials Life Cycle Of A Container-Grown Perennial
- Containers-Pot Size Equals Plant Age
- Best Growth In Right-Sized Containers
- Compliance
- Wrap Up The Root Of The Matter
Selecting The Best Container To Support Root Production
Our nursery production has changed over the years. Every industry is pushing innovation, and the nursery trade is no different. As more plants are being grown in pots, production innovations are being trialed.
At Nature Hills, making healthy new roots and branching well is our goal!
Nurseries and growers are always looking for new products that will make the best roots for their plants right from the start.
New container options were offered with improved designs with slits or ridges to assist plants in producing better root systems. The shape and size of pots we use have changed due to ongoing research.
In addition, our nursery plant containers must be strong, flexible, label-compatible, and cost-effective. We protect our plants very well for shipping.
Market Evolution Of Nursery Container Production
Keep in mind that most container-grown plants used to be sold in quart pots, 1-gallon, 2-gallon, 3-gallon, 5-gallon, and 7-gallon sizes.
However, with competition came changes. More container sizes and styles began to be offered by manufacturers, which were soon patented.
Now, companies produce pots that span a range of volumes and have moved away from true gallon sizes to better suit the root production needs of specific plant genus and species.
Most nurseries began labeling them by broad ranges - #1, #2, #3, #5, #7 - to help buyers visualize plant size across this range of volumes by class.
NCWM Weights and Measures Law
With that change, consumers began to question the sizes of the containers. Plants might be listed as a 3-gallon plant, but the actual soil volume wasn't consistent.
The NCWM Uniform Weights and Measures Law was enacted to help eliminate these inconsistencies across the nursery industry.
This law helps consumers by requiring uniform packaging and labeling, including:
- Volume listed in U.S. and metric measures
- Contents clearly labeled
- Common or botanical plant names
This change affected the entire supply chain - from container producers and growers to label manufacturers, plant branding firms, and retailers.
Now, within compliant industry players, every potted plant for sale will have the soil volume listed or available from the grower.
Containers: So, How Big Is The Plant In The Pot
So now you know about containers. But you still don't know the actual size of the plant growing in the pot! That's harder to answer.
Perennials Life Cycle Of A Container-Grown Perennial
As a nursery and grower, we know many things affect the physical size of a perennial or shrub in a given container. Differences are based on:
- Season or time of year
- Pruning method and timing
- Grower location or region
For example, a Bleeding Heart perennial in a #1 container looks like:
- In March - dormant, only roots in soil
- In May - 18 inches tall and flowering
- In October - dormant again, appearing to be only soil and roots
The pot size and soil volume stay the same, but the visible size of the plant varies throughout the year. See more about what Perennials look like when they're dormant.
Pot Size Equals Plant Age
The pot size dictates the root system development and plant age.
When producing new plants in containers, growers match the root system size and plant maturity to the container.
In other words, container size reflects plant age more than plant height.
Best Growth In Right-Sized Containers
If a small plant is placed in a pot that's too large, growth may suffer. Too much soil holds excess water, leading to root rot.
In pots that are too small, roots overcrowd, soil dries too quickly, and plants may stress from a lack of moisture.
At our nurseries, we match plant size and age to the right container size for healthy growth. Plants are shifted into larger pots as needed.
Compliance
Nature Hills Nursery leads the way in supplying healthy plants online across the country. Our compliance with state and local regulations sets us apart.
- Only legal-sized plants are shipped
- Plants are grown in healthy conditions
- Containers are labeled correctly under the Weights and Measures Law
This means you always receive exactly what you paid for.
We've even prepared a video explaining how plant age relates to container sizes to help you shop smarter at NatureHills.com.
Wrap Up The Root Of The Matter
Understanding container sizes for perennials, shrubs, and trees can be confusing - but now you know it's really about the plant's age, root system, and seasonal timing.
When shopping at Nature Hills, you can feel confident knowing you're getting plants grown in the right containers for healthy roots, long-term growth, and successful shipping.
Happy Planting!
