The ones I've seen here this year have been a little on the small side. A friend also observed that they were not that good of a deal this time. You surely can get bigger plants, perhaps for fairly similar prices from independent retailers.

Don't get me wrong, I love Costco as much as the next guy. But I absolutely refuse to purchase plants from them as they don't take care of them. If you get there a few days after they have been delivered, they are probably OK. But how long do you think high-light-loving plants like Geraniums last in the low-light environment with no water? Not very long. After a few days they look like ****. Also, except in the case of large shrubs and bulbs, most of what I have seen can be purchased cheaper elsewhere.

Support your local (as in really local) retailer. Not only will you be doing a good thing, but you'll likely get bigger plants that are actually planted in - gasp! - real soil! If you want to go the mail order route, try Raintree.

Cathy in Olympia

I bought two blueberries last year from Costco. The roots were small also. I planted them and only one survived the summer heat spell. I purchased two blueberries from Molbaks's three years earlier, and both are thriving.

One thing to consider is that blueberries grow to different heights, you might want dwarf shrubs or you might want full sized. A local garden center is going to have a better selection.

I also will not buy plants from Costco after having packaged bulbs be incorrectly labeled the one time I did. I got inexpensive Asiatic lilies when I bought Orientals. Their live plants are always is such horrid shape, I'm not wasting my money.

Once again the comments point out the difference between a retailer that sells plants as a sideline and a real nursery or garden center that sells only plants or plant-related items.

Bargain prices at box stores or discounters like Costco also come with no particular thought to selections offered nor to aftercare. Plants are purchased by the truckload, often from questionable vendors, and then left completely to their own devices unless sold or dumped. If your timing is just right and budget is an issue, you can find some deals but I'd still prefer to pay more for larger sizes, better quality, wider selection and a plant that has been properly (one hopes) looked after.

Many local nurseries carry a wide selection of blueberries and of varying ages - one year old plants all the way upto field dug, semi-mature specimens. I like to pick early, mid and late season plants so you can harvest over the longest possible period and reap the increased yeild benefit of cross pollination.

last spring lowes had an incredible blueberry selection. about 10 different varieties.

however, no one working there could explain the differences. you had to go by the tags alone (didn't mention stuff like, early/mid/late).

$5.99 a gallon.

but as garden gal points out, later i saw places like this:
http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/grd/1591447689.html
with field dug blueberries for $25 or so. that would have been a much much wiser choice.

Fruit trees at CostCo mostly or entirely locally adapted varieties.

I bought two gallon sized blueberries at the Yard Garden and Patio show yesterday for five bucks each. :)

I bought this year (2021) 6 bushes of blueberries in Costco in very reasonable price. In the past I bought from different places but those are the best than I have ever bought. I hope they have them next year so I will buy many more.

There is nothing wrong in buying from Costco. I bought great priced blueberries that were shipped to me and were almost dead by the time they arrived.

However what matters is how 'you' take care of them, going forward. All 6 of the blue berry needed to be gradually introduced to light and water and acidity. Once you maintain this for a week, you will see new growth. After 3 weeks they have now so many new shoots popping up, and look just like a $35 blueberry Bush you'd buy from a reputable nursery.

Same goes with any shrubs, as long as you take care of it, give what it needs just like a baby, it will grow just as fine as any other bush in the same family. What matters is how you plant, and under what conditions.

If the plant is in very low sunlight at Costco, then it's your stupidity to put it in the 'best spot' in the garden as you previously planned. It may be the best spot, but not now!

If I am sleeping, you can't just force me to get up and play my favorite game. I will but eventually after I get settled.

Settle your plants and they will be on your side.

Remember, it's a living organism that changes every second. Don't judge based on its current condition.

U can even buy a twig and turn it into a tree.