Plant Information

What size are your plants? We grow trees and shrubs in containers ranging from Container Seedlings up to #7 containers. We believe container-grown plants offer the best opportunity for establishment and long-term survival in the landscape.

• Container Seedlings – 3″ square x 9″ deep pots sold in trays of 25
• Shrubs – #1, #2 and #3 containers in the 2-4’ height range
• Trees – #2, #3, #5 and #7 containers range from 12”-24” up to 6’+

Pennsylvania state regulations require us to use the word “container” to describe our pots versus the traditional use of “gallon” as this term is not a true measure of volume.  The chart provides the technical specifications for our containers, but essentially  for our customers “container” = “gallon.”

Container Size	Gallon Size	Diameter	Height	Cubic Inches	Metric Vol.	US Vol.
Container Seedling / SP5	2 quart	2 7/8” square	9” deep	58.6 cu. in.	0.95 liters	0.251 gallon
#1 container	#1 gallon	6 1/2”	7“	173 cu. in	2.84 liters	0.734 gallon
#2 container	#2 gallon	8 3/4”	8 ½”	370 cu. in.	6.31 liters	1.66 gallon
#3 container	#3 gallon	11”	9 5/8”	693 cu. in.	11.35 liters	3.00 gallon
#5 container	#5 gallon	10 3/4”	11”	887.73 cu. in.	14.55 liters	3.843 gallon
#7 container	#7 gallon	14”	11 ½”	1,405.64 cu. in.	23.03 liters	6.085 gallon

What’s the best time of year to plant? Container grown plants can be planted year round. They do not have the limitations of bare root and ball and burlaped plants that can only be dug at certain times of year. Fall is an excellent time to plant trees and shrubs generally from mid-September until the end of November. Before bud break in early Spring is also a preferred time of year to plant.

Do I need to fertilize my plants after planting? No. We carefully apply fertilizer to our plants throughout the year so they do not arrive at your site in a state of excess growth. Growing plants on a lean fertilization program equips them with resiliency to survive in the landscape without additional inputs.

Do you offer any guarantees on your plants? Because we have no involvement with the planting project (design, installation or maintenance) we cannot offer any guarantees of plant survival.

Ordering & Sales Policies

What are your order minimums?  

• $750 for pickup 
• $1500 for delivery (does not include freight fees)
• 5 plants of #1, #2, #3, #5, #7 
• 25 plants non-mixed flat of Container Seedlings

Do you sell “retail” to individuals? No. We are a wholesale nursery. Our customers include landscape contractors, non-profit organizations, golf courses, government agencies and municipalities, transportation departments, academic institutions, and retail garden centers. A business license is not required to be a customer. We will sell plants to individuals who can meet our order minimums. Can’t reach our minimums? You can find our plants at the retail outfits listed under our resources tab.

How do I place an order? Existing customers can place orders through our web shop. New customers can sign up for an account to gain access to our web shop for placing orders. If you are interested in a quick view of our inventory, you can download a snap shot of it on our home page. Please note, our inventory is live and constantly changing. If you have a project for future planting season, please email claire@octoraro.com to discuss placing a pre-order.

Can you custom grow plants for our project? Yes! Provided we have sufficient notification and time to grow the plants, we can “contract grow” your order. We generally plan our production schedule 12-18 months in advance of the current sales year. If contract growing is not an option, we recommend ordering as early as possible. It also helps to have a list of substitutes in the event availability is limited.

What if I have to delay or cancel my order? A 20% holding fee may be charged for orders carried over to the following growing season (i.e. Fall to Spring). Restocking fees of 20% of the total order will be assessed for any order that is already pulled for pick up or delivery and subsequently canceled.

How do I pay for my order? Payment is due upon receipt of plant material including Pennsylvania sales tax of 6% if the plants are picked up or delivered in PA. We require form PA REV-1220 Pennsylvania Exemption Certificate to waive Pennsylvania sales tax. Customers with established credit may be extended terms of Net 30 days. We accept company checks and credit cards (VISA, Master Card and American Express).

What are the conditions of sale? All plants are guaranteed to be true to name and healthy upon receipt. All orders are subject to natural disasters, crop failures or conditions beyond our control. It is mutually agreed ONPN’s total liability is limited to replacement or credit. Further, any disputed claims will be solved in the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the County of Lancaster.

Delivery & Pick-Up

Can I stop by, place an order and get my plants the same day? No. Orders must be placed by Wednesday the week before the intended date of pick up or delivery. We have multiple growing locations that may require us to collect and assemble your order at our main location in Kirkwood, PA. 

Can I pick up my plants? Yes. Pick up orders must meet a minimum of $750. A pick up date must be confirmed within 72 hours of the intended pick up. We have multiple growing locations that may require us to collect and assemble your order at our main location in Kirkwood, PA. Pick up hours are Tuesday through Friday, 8 am to 3 pm. 

Do you deliver and how much will it cost? Yes. A $1,500 minimum plant order is required for delivery (freight charges not included). Freight costs are based on the size of the order, fuel prices, mileage to the destination and whether we can combine with other orders on a truck. Freight costs are calculated prior to the actual ship date. General freight estimates can be provided upon request. We deliver in PA, DE, MD, NJ, NY and VA in our own trucks. Deliveries are scheduled 7-10 days in advance. Large orders (tractor trailers) and areas outside our normal shipping areas can be arranged via a contracted national carrier.

What information do you need for delivery? We need the following information:

• Site contact person
• Contact person’s cell phone and email
• Physical street address (directions or coordinates if no address available)
• The site must be accessible to large box trucks
• Assistance with unloading and accepting of plants – Our drivers get plants to the tailgate. The customer is responsible for providing labor to assist with unloading of plants.
• Products – if your order contains heavy products such as stakes, it is helpful to have equipment with forks available on site to unload pallets.

Can you ship plants via UPS? No,we can only ship our plants by truck.