Shipping policy

At Variegated Greens, every plant is a living specimen. Considerable care is taken in preparing, packaging and shipping each plant with its condition and journey in mind.

Shipping Area

Variegated Greens currently ships within Canada only.

Orders are dispatched from Markham, Ontario, Canada.

Local pickup in Markham, Ontario may also be available where offered or arranged for an eligible order.

Shipping Quotes and Payment

Because live-plant shipments vary in destination, package size and weight, number of plants, packaging requirements, weather conditions and available carrier services, shipping costs are determined individually.

Where shipping is required, a shipping quote is prepared based on the order and destination.

The applicable shipping charge is communicated to the customer before payment is collected.

Payment is held until the shipping quote has been prepared and the applicable shipping cost has been disclosed. The customer then makes one payment covering the plant order and the accepted shipping charge, together with any applicable taxes or other charges disclosed as part of the transaction.

Variegated Greens does not intentionally add undisclosed mandatory shipping charges after payment.

When multiple plants are purchased together, we make reasonable efforts to combine them safely into one shipment where practical. The shipping quote will reflect the combined shipment rather than automatically treating each plant as a separate shipment.

Shipping Service and Cost

Shipping services and costs vary according to the destination, package size and weight, expected transit time, available carrier services and other circumstances relevant to safely transporting a living plant.

Variegated Greens does not promise that the fastest available shipping service will always be selected. When preparing a shipping quote, we consider an appropriate balance between transit time, plant safety and shipping cost.

Where available, the applicable carrier or shipping service, shipping charge and estimated transit time will be communicated as part of the shipping quote before payment is collected.

Dispatch and Handling

Live-plant shipments are normally dispatched on Mondays or Tuesdays, where practical, to reduce the likelihood of plants remaining in carrier facilities over a weekend.

Actual dispatch timing may vary because of weather, holidays, carrier availability, order preparation, destination or other circumstances affecting the safe transportation of a living plant.

A weather-related hold or other necessary pre-shipment delay occurs while the plant remains in the care of Variegated Greens and is separate from carrier transit time.

Transit Times

Transit time begins after the shipment has been transferred to the carrier.

Transit times vary according to destination, carrier, service level, remote-location considerations and carrier-network conditions. Canada is geographically large, and delivery times may therefore differ considerably by destination.

Where available, the carrier's estimated transit time for the applicable shipping option will be communicated with the shipping quote.

Carrier delivery and transit estimates are estimates only and are not guaranteed by Variegated Greens. Weather, routing changes, service interruptions, remote destinations, holidays, carrier delays and other circumstances outside our reasonable control may extend actual delivery time.

Weather and Temperature

Because plants are living and sensitive to environmental conditions, Variegated Greens considers weather and temperature when determining whether an order can reasonably be shipped.

This assessment may include forecast conditions at the shipping origin, destination and anticipated transit route, as well as expected transit time, plant sensitivity and the possibility of weekend or holiday delays.

There is no single temperature that is appropriate for every plant, destination or journey. Extreme heat, freezing temperatures or other adverse conditions may make shipment inadvisable even where carrier service remains available.

When forecast conditions present an unreasonable risk to the plant, Variegated Greens may recommend or apply a weather hold and postpone dispatch until conditions become reasonably suitable.

Where a shipment is being held because of weather, we will make reasonable efforts to communicate with the customer regarding the delay.

A weather hold is intended to protect the living plant and is not considered carrier transit time because the plant has not yet been transferred to the carrier.

Seasonal Packaging

Every plant is prepared and packaged according to its size, condition, expected journey and seasonal circumstances.

Packaging methods may include appropriate protective or insulating materials where reasonably necessary. Seasonal packaging decisions are made according to the expected conditions of the shipment and do not constitute a guarantee of any particular temperature during transportation or delivery.

Customer Shipping Information

Customers are responsible for providing a complete and accurate shipping address and other information reasonably required for delivery.

Customers should review their shipping information carefully before payment and notify Variegated Greens promptly if a correction is required before dispatch.

Once tracking information becomes available, customers are encouraged to monitor the shipment and make reasonable arrangements to receive the package promptly upon delivery, particularly during periods of hot or cold weather.

Carrier Delays and Transit Conditions

Once a shipment has been transferred to the carrier, delays, routing changes, handling, temperature exposure, weather events, service interruptions and other circumstances occurring within the carrier network may be outside the reasonable control of Variegated Greens.

Variegated Greens cannot guarantee the environmental conditions a shipment will encounter while in carrier possession or after delivery.

Nothing in this Shipping Policy limits any right or remedy that cannot legally be excluded under applicable consumer-protection law.

Shipping Stress and Acclimation

Plants may experience some degree of stress during transportation and adjustment to a new environment.

Minor cosmetic damage, temporary yellowing, leaf loss, changes in leaf orientation or other temporary or cosmetic signs of shipping and acclimation stress can occur and do not necessarily indicate that a plant is unhealthy or that there is a qualifying problem with an order.

Please review our Return & Refund Policy for information about final sales and the procedure for reporting a significant order problem.

A significant order problem must be reported within the timeframe and with the information specified in that policy.

Local Pickup

Local pickup is available in Markham, Ontario, where offered or arranged for an eligible order.

Customers choosing local pickup are encouraged to inspect their plant upon receipt. Additional conditions concerning local pickup and final sales are provided in our Return & Refund Policy.

Questions About Shipping

Our Commitment

Variegated Greens aims to make thoughtful shipping decisions that balance plant welfare, reasonable transit time, shipping cost and the realities of transporting living plants across Canada.

Shipping information is provided as clearly as reasonably possible before payment so that customers can make an informed purchasing decision.