The search “buy plants online” peaked in March 2020 during the first COVID wave. Online sales only increased when retail and greenhouses worldwide had to close their doors. But even now, online purchases continue to be on the rise after the global pandemic. Customers have grown used to online shopping methods and therefore make fewer trips to the store and have higher expectations regarding online availability.

As a result of the above, Katie Dubow, who delivered the 2023 Garden Trends Report, predicts that in 2023 customers will crave a one-stop shop where they can purchase everything in one go. But as we all know, not all varieties are suited for online sales and the shipping accompanying these sales. Online sales require not just strong varieties, but easy-to-sell options as well. Varieties that fulfil the desire for a one-stop shop offer the customer everything they didn’t know they were dreaming of and more.

What series could be better for this than Sempervivum Chick Charms®? These super-strong, colourful, easy-care succulents come in various shapes and colours. They are not only great collectables for the next generation of gardeners, but also very easy to combine in mixed bowls. The intense colours and beautiful combinations make for a stunning landing page display for any online shop.

Online presence also means that you can rapidly jump into growing online trends by sharing suitable varieties on social media with the coordinating hashtag. Jumping in on the #urbanjungle trend is the Mad about Mangave® series. These increasingly popular indoor-outdoor succulents come in a wide range of shapes, colours and patterns and provide all sorts of options to combine them and create breathtaking displays. The best thing is that the Mangave offers instant satisfaction due to their size and looks and the fact that they hardly need any water or looking-after.

Important to keep in mind is that the varieties sold online need to go through an intensive shipping procedure: and arrive at their final destination unharmed. Just imagine the package you send out will be in a full-on rugby match before it arrives at your customer. You wouldn’t want delicate varieties to arrive in pieces and lose a customer. The varieties you offer online should be as strong as they are stunning.

Thankfully, there are plenty of varieties that tick all those boxes. Lomandra White Sands is famous across the continent as an unkillable plant and will have no issues arriving at its final destination unharmed. And even the more delicate varieties, such as Hydrangea Bonfire or Perovskia Prime Time have such strong stems and firm flowers that they’ll surprise you with their ability to cope with the shipping process!

Lastly, there’s the need for convenience - a trend that won’t likely pass with new generations (millennials and Gen Z) that are used to nothing less but instant satisfaction. Varieties such as Rubus BonBonBerry® Yummy and Pyracantha Red Star flower/fruit during their first year. Fulfilling the need for instant satisfaction and assuring the person who bought them will return for more.

Have you had any remarkable successes with specific varieties for online sales? We’d love to hear about your experiences!