Nature Hills Nursery: Your Complete Guide to Buying Plants Online

If you love plants but struggle to find healthy, well-rooted stock at local garden centers, an online nursery might be the answer. Nature Hills Nursery has grown into one of the most recognized names in online plant retail across the United States. Whether you are looking for shade trees, flowering shrubs, fruit plants, or hardy perennials, this guide covers everything you need to know. From what they offer to how shipping works and how to pick the right plant for your space, you will find it all here.

What Is Nature Hills Nursery?

Nature Hills Nursery is a large online plant nursery based in Omaha, Nebraska. It ships trees, shrubs, perennials, grasses, roses, fruit plants, and more directly to customers across the continental United States. The nursery sources plants from growers across the country and focuses on providing garden-ready stock in a range of sizes.

Unlike a local garden center where your choices depend on shelf space, an online nursery like this one gives you access to hundreds of plant varieties regardless of where you live. That matters a lot if you are gardening in a region where specialty trees or shrubs rarely appear in stores.

Nature Hills also provides planting guides, care tips, and hardiness zone information for every product, making it a useful resource even before you place an order. You can learn more about how plant hardiness zones work via the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, which is a helpful reference when shopping for outdoor plants.

What Nature Hills Nursery Offers

The catalog at Nature Hills covers a wide range of plant types. Here is a general breakdown of what you can expect to find:

• Shade and ornamental trees: Maples, oaks, elms, dogwoods, and more
• Evergreen trees and shrubs: Arborvitae, boxwood, holly, junipers
• Flowering shrubs: Hydrangeas, lilacs, viburnums, spirea
• Fruit trees and plants: Apples, pears, blueberries, raspberries
• Perennials: Coneflowers, hostas, daylilies, ornamental grasses
• Roses: Climbing, shrub, miniature, and landscape rose varieties
• Ground covers and vines: Creeping phlox, wisteria, clematis

Plant sizes vary by product. Many listings offer multiple size options, which affects both the price and how established the plant will be at the time of delivery. Larger sizes typically mean a more mature root system and faster establishment in your garden.

How Nature Hills Nursery Shipping Works

Shipping is one of the most common questions people have when ordering plants online, and for good reason. Plants are living things that can be stressed during transit.

Nature Hills ships plants in containers or bare root form depending on the season and plant type. Bare root plants are shipped during dormancy, which is typically in late winter or early spring, while container plants are shipped throughout the growing season.

A few things to keep in mind about shipping:

• Orders are shipped based on the best planting window for your region.
• Some plants may be held and shipped at the right time of year rather than immediately.
• Packaging is designed to protect roots and foliage during transit.
• A plant health guarantee is offered on most products, covering issues with plant condition on arrival.

When your order arrives, unpacking and watering promptly is important. If a plant arrives in poor condition, contacting customer service with photos is the recommended first step. Learning the basics of plant care after shipping from a trusted gardening authority can help you get newly arrived plants off to a strong start.

How to Choose the Right Plant from Nature Hills Nursery

Picking the wrong plant for your space is one of the most common gardening mistakes. Nature Hills makes it easier by including detailed information on each product page, but a few key steps will help you shop with confidence.

Check Your Hardiness Zone First

Your USDA hardiness zone determines which plants can survive your winters. Every plant listing at Nature Hills includes a zone range. Buying outside your zone is the fastest way to lose a plant to cold damage in the first winter.

Match the Plant to Your Space

Consider the mature size of any tree or shrub before buying. A plant that looks manageable at two feet can reach thirty feet in a decade. Pay attention to:

• Expected height and spread at maturity
• Sun requirements (full sun, part shade, full shade)
• Soil drainage preferences
• Watering needs once established

Think About Purpose and Season

Are you planting for privacy, shade, color, or wildlife habitat? Knowing your goal narrows down the choices quickly. Also consider whether you want something that provides interest across multiple seasons, such as a flowering cherry tree that blooms in spring and colors up in fall.

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Tips for Planting Success After Your Order Arrives

Getting the plant in the ground correctly is just as important as choosing the right one.

For container plants: Dig a hole two to three times wider than the root ball but no deeper. Loosen the roots before placing the plant in the hole. Backfill with the original soil, water deeply, and apply mulch around the base without touching the stem.

For bare root plants: Soak the roots in water for a few hours before planting. Dig a wide, shallow hole, spread the roots naturally, and plant at the correct depth. Water well and keep the soil consistently moist through the first growing season.

Newly planted trees and shrubs need consistent moisture for the first one to two growing seasons while their root systems establish. This is not the time to rely on rainfall alone.

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Nature Hills Nursery vs. Local Garden Centers

Both options have their place, but they serve different needs.

A local garden center lets you see the plant before you buy, ask staff questions in person, and bring it home the same day. That hands-on experience is valuable, especially for new gardeners.

Nature Hills gives you a much larger selection, the ability to find rare or specialty varieties, and the convenience of home delivery. It is especially useful when you are looking for specific cultivars, native species, or plants that your region’s nurseries do not stock.

For large garden projects or finding that one exact variety you have been searching for, an online nursery often wins on selection. For a quick impulse buy or something you need this weekend, local is usually simpler.

FAQ

Does Nature Hills Nursery ship to all US states?

Nature Hills ships to most of the continental United States, though some states have plant import restrictions that may affect certain products. Checking the product page before ordering is the best way to confirm availability for your state.

Are Nature Hills plants guaranteed to arrive healthy?

Yes, Nature Hills offers a plant guarantee covering the health and condition of plants on arrival. If a plant arrives in poor condition, contacting their customer service team with documentation is the standard process for getting a resolution.

What is the best time to order plants from Nature Hills Nursery?

The best time depends on what you are buying. Bare root trees and shrubs are typically ordered in late winter for spring planting. Container plants can be ordered through most of the growing season. The website indicates the shipping window for each product.

How do I know which size to order?

Larger sizes mean a more established plant that will fill in your garden faster, but they cost more. For long-lived trees, starting with a one or two gallon size is often fine since the plant will grow quickly once established. For instant impact in a garden bed, a larger container size may be worth the extra cost.

Can I find native plants at Nature Hills Nursery?

Yes, Nature Hills carries a selection of native trees, shrubs, and perennials. Using the search and filter tools on the site to look for regional natives is a good approach. Planting natives supports local wildlife and typically requires less maintenance once established.

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Conclusion

Nature Hills Nursery takes the guesswork out of finding quality plants for your outdoor space. With a broad catalog, detailed plant information, and reliable delivery, it is a practical choice for gardeners at every level. Whether you are planting your first tree or redesigning an entire backyard, starting with the right stock makes all the difference.