If you purchase plants wholesale (or even at a garden centre), the tag can seem to be in a language all of its own. There to assist you in ordering correctly but only if you know their meanings: Pot sizes, litre sizes and height ranges.
The easiest way to do that is not only compare like-for-like but be able to decipher plant labels so you know what it should look like when the stock arrives, and here’s a plain-English guide for how to read them.
Pot Size Versus Litre Size: What Is The Difference?
Most commonly you will find one of two sizing systems:
Simply pot size (cm)
Litre (L) size – This is how big the pot/container is and gives us an idea of root space and also indicative maturity.
A general rule is that the larger the pot/litre size, then this would indicate a more mature plant – however different nurseries grow plants in their own way so the same plant found at another nursery will have been grown differently hence very large pots are always for clarification and not exact measurements of how big your plant may be.
What Does Height Spec Mean?
Commonly displayed as a range of height.
The plant height is an estimate for how tall it will be above the pot (including the planter height). This tends to be at the point of grading and therefore plants may look slightly different depending on time of year, or how recently they have been pruned. For Plants for Trade, contact palmstead.co.uk/wholesale-plants-for-trade-in-kent
Height ranges for shrubs and hedging help you to plan your coverage and instant impact. When it comes to perennials, specifications for height may not be as relevant if the plant is dormant.
Some other common label details you might see
Labels may also include, depending on the supplier:
Typically grown as (e.g., Bush, Standard, Multi-Stem or Feathery)
Type of root (e.g pot grown, bare rooted and rooted ball)
Package size (e.g. x10 liners or tray of 24)
Hardiness and sun/shade icons
Tips for ordering accurately.
When you are comparing quotes, identify the matching sizing system.
Check if height is measured in a pot (it usually isn’t, but better to ask).
The takeaway
Plant labels are a way to control expectations: pot/litre size show you the container and root space, while height specs offer an idea of maturity and impact. Reading the cards speeds up ordering and makes it a much easier process.
