I think they are dead. Bare roots from big box stores tend to be a bit of a gamble since they are so tiny that they don't have much in the way of reserves, and then they are so poorly cared for that any survival is iffy.

green leaves convert sunlight.. to energy.. to grow the roots below ground ...

no leave.. usually means no energy produced... which usually means dead ...

could it happen your way ... sure ... anything is possible .... but i wouldnt bet my shiny nickle on it ...

ken

Bare root perennials generally don't do that. I've heard a few bare root trees do but never had it happen. Generally if it doesn't sprout leaves in the first growing season it is dead.

I've found trillium often don't take.

I'm surprised you had trouble with astilbe...they are effectively a bulb, so usually bullet proof.

Thanks all. I was afraid of that. Well, learned my lesson. I can almost always get the cheap 75% off fall bulbs to grow even planting them in December but I'll resist the dried out bagged roots. Other than astilbe, any others that you guys have had luck starting even late in the season?

I'm more a tree and shrub person. I have planted bargain bin daffodils and liatris at my Mom's on Thanksgiving in Zone 6 and had a bit more then 50% survive. Also had good luck with Lowes Bargain bin shrubs...particularly ninebark. I've even had more luck with bargain bin Baptista Australis and Mountain Laurel then more expensive ones. Have a far lower success rate with bargain bin conifers.
Had good luck with potted American Persimmon, beach plum, and Pitch Pine planted in the Fall.

Can you all define what you mean by "first growing season" because reading the above I'm confused.

I bought a number of bare root plants last fall (oct?) from prairie moon online and got them in the ground... A few sprouted a little green puff on top but many didn't... Even though we didn't have serious freezing temps until early jan...

are my plants dead or could they have just stayed dormant that whole time?

thanks

I probably have good success because I buy the one that you can see they are growing in the bag. Look at the plant through the bag you will see either thick white roots and/or small leaves. If they have them in a bag that is not a clear bag just open a little side of the bag and peak inside. If you feel bad about opening a crack of the bag buy it and when you get home and you see there is no growth take it back. Lowes and HD both have a one year no questions asked refund on plants.

My biggest problem if you want correct named plants is the problem. I especially had missed marked clematis. Because I have so much land to cover a few clematis that are not what they sold me is not a big deal.

bulbs are a bit different because they store dry ... think of any onion.... you could probably plant it if its not rotted ...

but roots in some saw dust.. can simply just dry out too much ... and it doesnt help ... they are in a plastic bag.. in a paper box .... in a warm store ...

had they been held ... is storage.. akin to your vegetable crisper drawer .... you might be surprised how long they could be held ...

and that how the mass producers usually do it.. harvest in fall once dormant .... then divide and refrigerate ... until spring packing for sale ...

ed.. i once worked at a nursery one spring.. all their stock came in bare root ... and i potted them up ... for a few weeks in the greenhouse.. and then outdoors ... it simply wouldnt be cost efficient to transport tons of potting media ...

ken

I agree with ken, the problem is that the stores are so warm the plants begin to grow in the bags, and without proper moisture and light many perish.

Some, like the peony, should be planted bare root in the fall. They form their best feeder roots in the cool soil conditions which are not available in the small bags filled with sawdust.

Bare root from a reputable nursery who has stored them properly is just fine, I stay away from big box store specimens.