Shipping policy

Shipping Policy — Hortus Arcana

Last updated: July 6,2026

We ship live plants across the continental United States from our greenhouse in Baltimore, Maryland. Because plants are living, perishable cargo, our shipping process is built around minimizing transit stress — here's exactly how it works.

When We Ship

  • Ship days: Monday–Wednesday only. This ensures your plant doesn't sit in a warehouse or on a truck over the weekend, when it has no climate control. We do not ship Thursday–Sunday.
  • Order processing time: 3-5 business days before your order ships, to allow for careful packing and health inspection.
  • We do not ship the week of major holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas/New Year's) due to carrier network delays.

Weather Holds

Plant survival depends heavily on staying within a safe temperature range in transit — generally 40°F–70°F. Outside that range, we may place your order on a weather hold:

  • Heat hold: if either Baltimore or your delivery location is forecast above ~90°F during the transit window.
  • Cold hold: if either location is forecast below ~35°F during the transit window.

If your order is placed on hold, we'll email you with the expected ship date once conditions improve. This protects your plant — it is not a cancellation, and you're welcome to request store credit or a refund instead of waiting, if you prefer.

Packaging

Every plant is:

  • Watered appropriately before shipping (not right before — slightly drier soil travels better and resists rot)
  • Secured in its container to prevent shifting, with stakes for taller specimens
  • Wrapped to protect foliage from the box and from tape
  • Shipped with a heat or cold pack when the season calls for it, insulated away from direct leaf contact
  • Labeled "Live Plants" and "This Side Up"

Curated Specimens and By Private Inquiry tier plants receive additional protective packaging appropriate to their value and fragility.

Carriers & Transit Time

We primarily ship via USPS Priority, selecting the fastest reasonable service for the plant's size and value. Typical transit time is 1–3 business days. For higher-value specimens (Curated Specimens and By Private Inquiry tiers), we use expedited or signature-required service to minimize time in transit and porch exposure.

Where We Ship

  • We currently ship within the continental United States only.
  • Some states restrict or prohibit certain plant genera from entering (notably California, Florida, Arizona, and Hawaii, among others with their own agricultural import rules). It's your responsibility to confirm your state allows the plant you're ordering — we're happy to answer questions before you buy. If a restriction is discovered after your order is placed, we'll cancel and refund that item.
  • Where required, we include appropriate phytosanitary documentation with the shipment.

Signature & Delivery

  • Standard orders do not require a signature; we recommend choosing a delivery location where the package won't sit outside in extreme temperatures.
  • Curated Specimens and By Private Inquiry tier orders ship with signature required, given their value.
  • We are not responsible for packages left in unsafe conditions per the carrier's own delivery practices, but we're glad to help with a claim if that happens — see our Return & Refund Policy for our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Tracking

You'll receive a tracking number by email as soon as your order ships. We recommend bringing your package inside promptly upon delivery, especially in extreme weather.

Questions Before You Order

If you're unsure whether your state allows a specific plant, or want to time your order around weather, reach out to us at curator@hortusarcana.com before purchasing — we're happy to help you plan it.