Sizing Formats
These are general pot sizing standards, and specific nurseries may have variations or additional categories based on their practices and the types of plants they offer.
| Format | Description | Sizing |
|---|---|---|
| Bare Root | Plants sold with soil removed from roots | Specified by height or caliper (e.g., 2-3 ft or 0.5 inch) |
| Container | Plants grown and sold in containers | Specified by container size (e.g., 1 gallon, 5 gallon) |
| Balled and Burlapped | Plants with root balls wrapped in burlap | Specified by height or caliper, with root ball diameter (e.g., 2-3 ft with 18-inch root ball) |
| Pot-in-Pot | Plants grown in containers placed within larger pots | Specified by container size and plant size (e.g., 5 gallon with 3 ft plant) |
4 inch pot (4 in)
- Dimensions: Approximately 4 inches in diameter and 3-4 inches in height
- Capacity: Holds approximately 4 fluid ounces (120 milliliters) of growing medium
- Suitable Plants: Ideal for small seedlings, annuals, herbs, and starter plants
- Typical Height Range: Varies by species and age, but plants typically range from a few inches to 1 foot tall when potted in a 4-inch container
1 Gallon (1 Gal)
- Dimensions: Varies, but typically around 6-8 inches in diameter and 6-8 inches in height
- Capacity: Holds approximately 1 gallon (3.8 liters) of growing medium
- Suitable Plants: small shrubs, perennials, annuals, herbs, and ornamental plants
- Typical Height Range: Varies by species and age, but plants typically range from a few inches to 2 feet tall when potted in a 1-gallon container
2 Gallon (2 Gal)
- Dimensions: Varies, but typically around 10-12 inches in diameter and 10-12 inches in height
- Capacity: Holds approximately 5 gallons (18.9 liters) of growing medium
- Suitable Plants: wide range of shrubs, small trees, perennials, and ornamental plants
- Typical Height Range: Varies by species and age, but plants typically range from 1 to 5 feet tall when potted in a 5-gallon container
5 Gallon (5 Gal)
- Dimensions: Varies, but typically around 10-12 inches in diameter and 10-12 inches in height
- Capacity: Holds approximately 5 gallons (18.9 liters) of growing medium
- Suitable Plants: wide range of shrubs, small trees, perennials, and ornamental plants
- Typical Height Range: Varies by species and age, but plants typically range from 1 to 5 feet tall when potted in a 5-gallon container
7 Gallon (7 Gal)
- Dimensions: Varies, but typically around 12-14 inches in diameter and 12-14 inches in height
- Capacity: Holds approximately 7 gallons (26.5 liters) of growing medium
- Suitable Plants: Wide range of shrubs, small trees, perennials, and ornamental plants
- Typical Height Range: Varies by species and age, but plants typically range from 2 to 6 feet tall when potted in a 7-gallon container