How to Ship Live Plants: Packaging & State Rules

Shipping live plants is a balancing act — too slow and they die, too cold and they freeze, too wet and they rot. USPS Priority Mail (2-3 day) is the standard. Ship early in the week to avoid weekend transit delays, add a heat pack in winter, and use breathable packaging. Here's how to ship plants — bare-root, potted, or cuttings — and actually have them arrive alive.

Best Carrier

USPS Priority Mail

Package Type

box

Typical Weight

1-5 lbs

Shipping Tips for Plants

Ship Monday-Wednesday only — weekend transit can kill plants from heat or cold
Wrap roots in damp paper towels, then plastic wrap — creates a humid micro-environment
Add a 72-hour heat pack in winter shipments to below-freezing destinations
Use insulated mailers or thermal bubble wrap in extreme temperatures
Ship bare-root when possible — lighter, less shock risk than potted plants with soil
Check USDA restrictions — some plants can't cross state lines (CA, HI, AZ, AK have strict rules)
Label the box 'LIVE PLANTS' + 'THIS SIDE UP' — influences how carriers handle it

Create Your Shipping Label

From (Sender)

To (Recipient)

Package Details

Weight (lbs)

Weight (oz)

Package Type

Length (in)

Width (in)

Height (in)

Label Options

Label Size

Carrier Format

Service Type

Reference Number

Scannable Code (from Reference Number)ⓘ

Encodes the Reference Number above as a real, scannable code. Not a carrier tracking barcode — use for your own order IDs, SKUs, or RMA numbers.

FRAGILETHIS SIDE UP

Label Preview

SHIPPING LABEL

From:

Sender address

Ship To:

Recipient address

Enter reference # to generate barcode

REF-000000

shippinglabel.co

5 fields needed to generate

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How it works: We format the label with your barcode/QR. Buy postage from your carrier (USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL) — they add the tracking barcode at drop-off.

Shipping Plants FAQ

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