Q2 2023 Plant Pricing Trends to Boost Landscaping Profit Margins
One thing is certain about maintaining landscaping profit margins in 2023 – the need to stay on top of unpredictable plant material prices! As we mentioned in our June post about Q1 prices, fluctuations in the prices of landscaping plants and trees can negatively impact profit margins. If you have an upcoming installation contract, it’s always a good idea to double-check pricing to avoid any surprises. The good news for Q2, however, is that plant shortages seem to be leveling out, reducing the prices of multiple plant categories such as shrubs and trees in Canada and all plant and tree categories in the Southeast USA. As such, the key to ensuring healthy landscaping profit margins is always in the details!
Check out our analysis below to make better estimates for the next quarter. You can click on the links below to jump between countries and categories.
Canada Trends
Southeast USA Trends
Canada Plant Cost Trends and Impact on Landscaping Profit Margin
In our Q1 review, we explained how the slowdown in landscaping activity meant lower order volumes and slightly lower prices for most categories in Canada. This trend has remained steady going into Q2 apart from conifers reporting a marginal increase of 4% driven mostly by the demand for larger sizes in the category. While the negative trend in pricing can be disappointing for nurseries, it’s a great opportunity to boost landscaping profit margins. Check out our analysis for each category to learn more.
Landscaping Perennials Q2 2023 Pricing Trends
Q1 2023 was a turning point for the top-selling perennials in Canada, with a significant drop in prices. In Q2, we see this trend consolidating with even more significant price drops as plant inventory recovers and the housing sector cools down. While the overall category pricing may be up by 1% compared to 2022, the rise is largely driven by the pricier units of Achillea Millefolium that were not quoted in the previous year.
Have you found it difficult to source any particular varieties of Achillea Millefolium this year? Let us know on social media. As a reminder, you can always reach out to your friendly plant sourcing crew at GoMaterials for the best prices for perennials. 😎
| Best-Selling Perennials | Price Change Q1 (%) | Price Change Q2 (%) |
| Achillea Millefolium | -6% | 21% |
| Anemone Canadensis (1L pot) | -13% | -42% |
| Perovskia Atriplicifolia | -3% | -4% |
**Note: All pricing changes tracked YoY for each quarter. (Q1 2022 vs. Q1 2023, and Q2 2022 vs. Q2 2023)
For a more detailed breakdown, see below for pricing changes by most popular sizes in Q2 2023 vs Q2 2022:
| Best Selling Perennials | Price Change Q2 (%) |
| Achillea Millefolium | |
| 1L Pot | -6% |
| 1 Gallon Pot | -27% |
| Anemone Canadensis | |
| 1L Pot | -32% |
| 1 Gallon Pot | -42% |
| Perovskia Atriplicifolia | |
| 1L Pot | -14% |
| 1 Gallon Pot | 2% |
Landscaping Conifers Q2 2023 Pricing Trends
The top-selling conifers for Q2 are nearly identical to our Q1 list, with the new addition of Thuja Occidentalis. Interestingly, Thujas are selling at less than half the price compared to 2022 – a result of inventory rebounding post the massive shortages exacerbated by COVID. For other top-selling conifers, the prices have dropped marginally, perhaps driven by substitution with smaller sizes to retain positive landscaping profit margin. For most of the larger sizes, ranging between 150 to 250 centimeters, the prices remain higher compared to 2022.
| Best-Selling Conifers | Price Change Q1 (%) | Price Change Q2 (%) |
| New for Q2!
Thuja Occidentalis |
N/A | -52% |
| Larix Laricina | 6% | 17% |
| Picea Glauca | 14% | -2% |
| Pinus Strobus | 6% | -3% |
**Note: All pricing changes tracked YoY for each quarter. (Q1 2022 vs. Q1 2023, and Q2 2022 vs. Q2 2023)
For a more detailed breakdown, see below for pricing changes by most popular sizes in Q2 2023 vs Q2 2022:
| Best-Selling Conifers | Price Change % (Q2) |
| Thuja Occidentalis | |
| 150cm Height | -41% |
| 180cm Height | -77% |
| Larix Laricina | |
| 150cm Height | 12% |
| 175cm Height | 16% |
| 200cm Height | 8% |
| Picea Glauca | |
| 150cm Height | 4% |
| 200cm Height | 14% |
| Pinus Strobus | |
| 150cm Height | 7% |
| 200cm Height | 6% |
| 250cm Height | 3% |
Landscaping Trees Q2 2023 Pricing Trends
As we enter the second half of the year, tree prices continue to fall compared to 2022, a reversal of the trend in recent years. The only exception is Amelanchier Canadensis with a 5% YoY increase in overall pricing, which is hardly surprising given their severe shortage this year. On closer inspection, the drop in prices for the rest of the top-selling trees seems to be stabilizing in Q2 compared to the last quarter. It can be beneficial for your landscaping profit margins to move up some of your tree plantations to an earlier date or to put down deposits to secure your pricing to benefit from this drop.
| Best-Selling Trees | Price Change Q1 (%) | Price Change Q2 (%) |
| New for Q2!
Amelanchier Canadensis |
N/A | 5% |
| Celtis Occidentalis | -17% | -11% |
| Ulmus Davidiana Var. Japonica ‘Morton’ | -24% | -18% |
| Acer X Freemanii ‘Autumn Blaze’ | -31% | -10% |
**Note: All pricing changes tracked YoY for each quarter. (Q1 2022 vs. Q1 2023, and Q2 2022 vs. Q2 2023)
For a more detailed breakdown, see below for pricing changes by most popular sizes in Q2 2023 vs Q2 2022:
| Best-Selling Trees | Price Change % (Q2) |
| Amelanchier Canadensis (Tree) | |
| 50mm Caliper | 12% |
| 60mm Caliper | 15% |
| 70mm Caliper | 3% |
| Celtis Occidentalis | |
| 40mm Caliper | -7% |
| 50mm Caliper | -9% |
| 60mm Caliper | -8% |
| 70mm Caliper | -16% |
| Ulmus Davidiana Var. Japonica ‘Morton’ | |
| 40mm Caliper | -15% |
| 50mm Caliper | -10% |
| 60mm Caliper | -20% |
| 70mm Caliper | -26% |
| Acer X Freemanii ‘Autumn Blaze’ | |
| 50mm Caliper | -10% |
| 60mm Caliper | -8% |
| 70mm Caliper | -20% |
Landscaping Shrubs Q2 2023 Pricing Trends
Shrub prices continue to experience a maintained and moderated drop of 14% overall. Stay tuned for our end-of-year analysis for a deep dive into this trend! For now, reduced prices and order volumes can be a great opportunity to maximize landscaping profit margins for shrub installations.
| Best-Selling Shrubs in 2 Gallon Sizes | Price Change Q1 (%) | Price Change Q2 (%) |
| New for Q2!
Symphoricarpos Albus (2G) |
N/A | -11% |
| New for Q2!
Cornus Stolonifera ‘Farrow’ (2G) |
N/A | -21% |
| Diervilla Lonicera (2G) | -16% | -11% |
| Cornus Stolonifera (2G) | -48% | -34% |
**Note: All pricing changes tracked YoY for each quarter. (Q1 2022 vs. Q1 2023, and Q2 2022 vs. Q2 2023)
Southeast USA Plant Cost Trends and Impact on Landscaping Profit Margin
Consistent with our results from Q1, all plant material categories in the Southeast USA continue to see a decline in their prices. Interestingly, shrubs have also seen a drop in pricing of 28% across the category as a whole. Read on for our detailed analysis for each category and to learn more about what it means for landscaping profit margins.
Landscaping Palms Q2 2023 Pricing Trends
When compared to other categories, the decline in prices is less pronounced in Q2 for top-selling palms. In fact, prices of Sabal Palmetto – the leading contributor to the drop in the prices for palms in Q1 – seem to have rebounded with a 9% YoY increase in Q2. Another caveat in this analysis are the inflated overall prices of Serenoa Repens, led by their expensive, rare varieties.
Have you noticed a recent uptick in the demand for palms? Let us know on social media! As always, you know where to get the best prices. 😊
| Best-Selling Palms | Price Change Q1 (%) | Price Change Q2 (%) |
| New for Q2!
Sabal Minor |
N/A | 0% |
| New for Q2!
Serenoa Repens |
N/A | 47% |
| Sabal Palmetto | -28% | 9% |
**Note: All pricing changes tracked YoY for each quarter. (Q1 2022 vs. Q1 2023, and Q2 2022 vs. Q2 2023)
Important to note is that the pricing for the most popular sizes of the palms listed above have all decreased! This indicates that there are likely certain sizes still in shortage that are skewing the overall price trend:
| Best-Selling Palms | Price Change % (Q2) |
| Sabal Minor | |
| 3 Gallon Pot | -10% |
| 7 Gallon Pot | -25% |
| Serenoa Repens | |
| 7 Gallon Pot | -38% |
| 15 Gallon Pot | -29% |
| Sabal Palmetto | |
| 10′ Clear Trunk | -3% |
| 12′ Clear Trunk | -15% |
| 14′ Clear Trunk | -11% |
| 16′ Clear Trunk | -35% |
Landscaping Perennials Q2 2023 Pricing Trends
The noticeable change in the prices of top-selling perennials in the Southeast USA is the correction in prices of Dianella Tasmanica ‘Variegata’. The perennial was selling at 18% higher prices compared to 2022 in Q1 but has seen a significant drop in pricing as inventory improved and finding them became easier throughout the year. Overall, the prices are down by 6% for the top-selling perennials in 2023, opening opportunities to boost landscaping profit margins for perennial installations.
| Best-Selling Perennials | Price Change Q1 (%) | Price Change Q2 (%) |
| Liriope Muscari ‘Big Blue’ | -2% | -10% |
| Liriope Muscari ‘Super Blue’ | -1% | 7% |
| Dianella Tasmanica ‘Variegata’ | 0% | -27% |
**Note: All pricing changes tracked YoY for each quarter. (Q1 2022 vs. Q1 2023, and Q2 2022 vs. Q2 2023)
For a more detailed breakdown, see below for pricing changes by most popular sizes in Q2 2023 vs Q2 2022:
| Best-Selling Perennials | Price Change % (Q2) |
| Liriope Muscari ‘Big Blue’ | |
| 1 Gallon Pot | -29% |
| 4″ Pot | -20% |
| Liriope Muscari ‘Super Blue’ | |
| 1 Gallon Pot | -6% |
| 3 Gallon Pot | 10% |
| Dianella Tasmanica ‘Variegata’ | |
| 1 Gallon Pot | -58% |
| 3 Gallon Pot | -13% |
Landscaping Shrubs Q2 2023 Pricing Trends
While the last quarter saw a 15% YoY increase in the prices of top-selling shrubs, our data for Q2 highlights a significant correction; the cost of 3- and 7-gallon shrubs has increased for all top-selling varieties but the prices for the category have fallen by 28% in Q2. The only notable exception of Myrica Cerifera with YoY increase can be attributed to the increase in demand and prices for the shrub in Texas.
| Best-Selling Shrubs | Price Change Q1 (%) | Price Change Q2 (%) |
| New for Q2!
Myrica Cerifera |
N/A | 11% |
| Ficus Microcarpa ‘Green Island’ | -17% | -59% |
| Chrysobalanus Icaco ‘Red Tip’ | 30% | -16% |
| Clusia Guttifera | -39% | -5% |
**Note: All pricing changes tracked YoY for each quarter. (Q1 2022 vs. Q1 2023, and Q2 2022 vs. Q2 2023)
For a more detailed breakdown, see below for pricing changes by most popular sizes in Q2 2023 vs Q2 2022:
| Best-Selling Shrubs | Price Change % (Q2) |
| Myrica Cerifera | |
| 3 Gallon Pot | -23% |
| 7 Gallon Pot | -10% |
| Ficus Microcarpa ‘Green Island’ | |
| 3 Gallon Pot | 2% |
| Chrysobalanus Icaco ‘Red Tip’ | |
| 3 Gallon Pot | 11% |
| 7 Gallon Pot | 9% |
| Clusia Guttifera | |
| 3 Gallon Pot | 9% |
| 7 Gallon Pot | 4% |
| 15 Gallon Pot | 6% |
Landscaping Trees Q2 2023 Pricing Trends
The big comeback of Acer Rubrum as a top-selling tree is the highlight for Q2 pricing trends. While the Acer Rubrum remains hard to source, its distinct appeal makes it irresistible. Quercus Shumardii is another new entry in our 2023 top-selling tree lists that seems to be popular despite being hard to find. On the other hand, rest of the top-selling trees have seen a drop in their prices as tree selection trends keep fluctuating. Have you experienced any challenges in maintaining your landscaping profit margins due to ever-changing tree prices? Let us know on social media!
| Best-Selling Trees | Price Change Q1 (%) | Price Change Q2 (%) |
| New for Q2!
Quercus Shumardii |
N/A | 6% |
| New for Q2!
Acer Rubrum |
N/A | 38% |
| Myrcianthes Fragrans | -6% | -32% |
| Quercus Virginiana | 11% | -13% |
| Elaeocarpus Decipiens | 17% | -29% |
**Note: All pricing changes tracked YoY for each quarter. (Q1 2022 vs. Q1 2023, and Q2 2022 vs. Q2 2023)
For a more detailed breakdown, see below for pricing changes by most popular sizes in Q2 2023 vs Q2 2022:
| Best-Selling Trees | Price Change % (Q2) |
| Quercus Shumardii | |
| 2″ Caliper | -3% |
| 2.5″ Caliper | -3% |
| 3″ Caliper | 7% |
| Acer Rubrum | |
| 2″ Caliper | 13% |
| 2.5″ Caliper | 13% |
| 3″ Caliper | 33% |
| Myrcianthes Fragrans | |
| 3 Gallon Pot | -4% |
| 7 Gallon Pot | 6% |
| Quercus Virginiana | |
| 100 Gallon Pot | -55% |
| 2″ Caliper | -5% |
| 2.5″ Caliper | 7% |
| 3″ Caliper | -12% |
| 4″ Caliper | -17% |
| 6″ Caliper | -33% |
| Elaeocarpus Decipiens | |
| 25 Gallon Pot | 13% |
| 30 Gallon Pot | 15% |
| 45 Gallon Pot | 10% |
Making the Most of the Decline in Plant Prices
While the macroeconomic factors may seem a bit gloomy at the moment due to high inflation, they also bring growth opportunities for the industry. For instance, as homeowners or homeowners’ associations spruce up their properties in a buyer’s market, the demand for landscaping installations may rise in the months to come. The recent fall in prices can also be a great advantage to start outreach programs for your old customers with discounts. And if you’re worried about a change in the tides and your landscaping profit margins, you can always rely on your GoMaterials sourcing crew to get you the best rates!
***
Are you trying to fill your plant list for an upcoming job? Get end-to-end support on estimation, delivery coordination, quality inspection, and more!
