Terms of Sale, Shipping Info, and Guarantees

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The following sections provide detailed policies and information:

• Terms of Sale & Guarantees
• Return policy
• Local Nursery Pricing Rules
• Online Order Pickup Policy
• FedEx hold locations
• Planting instructions
• Order status & shipping confirmation
• Shipping cost
• PayPal orders over $750: signature confirmation
• Shipping destinations & regulations
• Shipping days, carriers, and time in transit
• Delays and notifications
• Shipping and handling process
• What to expect in a box?
• What to do upon receiving plants
• Ethnomedical plants disclosure
• Common Questions
• Freight Forwarders
• Shipping to Canada
• International orders

TERMS OF SALE & GUARANTEES

By placing an order with Top Tropicals, you agree to the terms below.

• Plant Health at Shipping: We guarantee that all plants are healthy and correctly identified (to the best of our knowledge) at the time they leave our nursery. This guarantee applies only at the time of shipment; we do not guarantee future growth, survival, or hardiness under your conditions. Your care is crucial.
• No Post-Delivery Growth Guarantee: Except for shipping damage reported under our Claims & Damages policy below, we are not responsible if a plant fails due to incorrect planting, poor care, or extreme weather once it's in your hands (see Plant Health at Shipping, above). Proper care is essential and is your responsibility. If you’re unsure how to care for a plant, please ask us before ordering.
• Claims & Damages: If a plant arrives damaged, report it to us in writing within 3 days of delivery and include photos. Claims submitted after this window may be denied, since it becomes difficult to determine whether an issue is due to shipping or to care after arrival. Depending on the circumstances, we will offer a refund, replacement, or store credit at our discretion.
• Return policy: Please read our return policy
• Holding Orders Due to Weather: Extreme temperatures can harm plants. If it’s too hot or cold in your area, notify us to delay shipping. Consider adding a Heat Pack in winter.
• Limited Hold Time: We cannot hold orders for more than 2 weeks.
• Shipping Schedule: We generally ship Monday through Thursday. See Shipping Days, Carriers and Time in Transit for more.
• Out of Stock Items: If a plant becomes unavailable at the time of shipping, we will contact you with your options: a substitution, waiting until it's back in stock (since these are living plants, we can't guarantee when that will be), or a refund.
• Refusal of Sale: We reserve the right to refuse or cancel any order or refuse future sales to any customer, at our sole discretion, for any lawful reason, including but not limited to prior order history, suspected fraud, abusive conduct, excessive claims, or other business considerations.
• State Restrictions: Some states have restrictions on certain plants due to import rules. See Shipping Destinations & Regulations for details.
• Seeds. Seeds are a live product that require proper planting, soil, irrigation, fertilizers, and weather conditions. Germination is influenced by factors like temperature, moisture, light, and soil contamination, all of which are beyond our control. Therefore, we cannot guarantee seed performance due to these variables or any potential mistakes.
• Scientific names and cultivars. We guarantee the plant is true to name to the best of our knowledge.
• Photos Are Representative: Photos on our site represent a typical example of a plant or species and may not depict the exact specimen you receive. Size, shape, and appearance can vary naturally from plant to plant.
• Pricing Errors: If a plant or item is listed at an incorrect price due to a typographical, technical, or pricing error, we reserve the right to cancel the order and issue a full refund, even if the order has already been confirmed and payment processed.
• Force Majeure: We are not responsible for delays or failure to ship caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to hurricanes, severe weather, natural disasters, strikes, or government action.
• Limitation of Liability: To the fullest extent permitted by law, Top Tropicals is not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your order. This applies to everything we sell, not just live plants, including fertilizers, soil, pots, hardware, and gift items. Our maximum liability for any order is limited to the purchase price of the item(s) in question, and no other damages.
• Governing Law: These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Florida. Any disputes will be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Lee County, Florida.

Local Nursery Pricing Rules

Plants picked up from our Florida nursery locations may qualify for discounted local nursery pricing due to reduced handling and shipping preparation costs.

• Available only for plants ordered online for local pickup at our Garden Center in Fort Myers, Florida , or B-Farm Nursery in Sebring, Florida.
• The Pickup option must be selected during checkout.
• Applies only to eligible regularly priced items.
• Not valid on already discounted or sale items.
• Not valid on BOGO items.
• Not valid on pickup-only specials.
• Not valid on locally delivered orders.
• Not valid on gift cards.
• Customer must contact us in advance to schedule pickup, since plants may be located at different nursery locations and may need to be transferred.
• If the order is later changed from pickup to shipping, shipping and handling charges will be added and the pickup discount will be removed.
• Additional exclusions may apply.

Online Order Pickup Policy

To help protect our customers and Top Tropicals from credit card fraud and unauthorized transactions, additional verification may be required for online orders picked up in person at our Garden Center.

When picking up an online order, the customer or authorized pickup person may be required to provide:

• A valid government-issued photo ID.
• A signature confirming receipt of the order.
• A pickup verification photo showing the customer with the order.

The name on the photo ID must match the name on the order, or the person picking up the order must be listed as an authorized pickup person.

For security and fraud prevention purposes, Top Tropicals may record limited pickup verification information, such as ID type, issuing state or country, the last 4 digits of the ID number, pickup date and time, employee initials, signed pickup acknowledgment, security camera footage, and pickup verification photo.

Top Tropicals does not photograph, scan, or copy the customer's ID.

Pickup verification photos are used only for order verification and fraud prevention. They are not used for advertising, social media, or marketing.

Top Tropicals reserves the right to refuse release of an online pickup order if we are unable to verify the identity of the person picking up the order.

If a customer does not wish to complete the pickup verification process, Top Tropicals may cancel and refund the online order. The customer may then choose to purchase the merchandise in person at the Garden Center using a physical credit card, cash, or another accepted in-store payment method, subject to item availability.

USE FEDEX HOLD & CONTROLLED PICKUP LOCATIONS

Why Use FedEx Hold: Having your package held at a FedEx store (external site), Walgreens (external site), Dollar General (external site), or other participating locations ensures a temperature-controlled environment.
This helps prevent plants from suffering in extreme heat or cold and avoids your package sitting on a hot porch or freezing doorstep.

PLANTING & CARE INSTRUCTIONS

• Included with Shipment: Every order comes with instructions relevant to the plants you’ve purchased (e.g., planting instructions , seed germination tips , and special care notes).
• Ask Questions in Advance: If you’re unsure how to grow a particular plant, contact us before ordering. We try to offer advice but cannot guarantee results.

ORDER STATUS & SHIPPING CONFIRMATION EMAIL

• Track Your Order: Use our Order Status Page anytime to check if your order has shipped.
• Tracking Info: Your valid email address is very important! On the day your order ships, you’ll receive an email with tracking details. USPS might only provide a delivery confirmation rather than step-by-step tracking.
• Protect Your Delivery: Arrange for someone to be home or use a FedEx Hold location so the package isn’t exposed to extreme temperatures for hours.

SHIPPING COST

• Automatic Calculation: Shipping cost is based on the plant’s size, weight, and destination. Add items to your cart, select your state, and click “Add Shipping” to see costs.
• Free or Discounted Shipping: Some items may ship free or at a reduced rate , though free shipping is not available to all states. This will appear in your cart once you add items and select your destination state.
• International & Outside USA: We currently only ship outside the USA to Canada. Contact us for a quote if needed.
• What Shipping Cost Covers: It includes carrier rates (often at a discount) plus a small handling fee. We use quality packaging and protective materials to ensure safe plant arrival.

PAYPAL ORDERS OVER $750

• Signature Required: Per PayPal rules, orders over $750 paid through PayPal may require a signature upon delivery. If no one is available, the package may be held at the carrier’s office for you to pick up.
• If you pay with a credit card, signature confirmation is not automatically required, but we may add it depending on order value or other circumstances, such as fraud prevention.

SHIPPING DESTINATIONS & REGULATIONS

• All 50 US States & Beyond: We ship to every US state and, under certain conditions, internationally.
• Alaska: No special import restrictions apply to tropical plants shipped to Alaska.
• Arizona Regulation: Live plants to Arizona are limited to a 1-gallon pot size due to USDA rules. We also do not ship to Arizona during the summer months due to extreme heat; contact us for current shipping availability.
• California: We are certified to ship to California , but their import regulations are strict. Phytosanitary inspection is required. Some plants can’t be shipped there. Restricted items will be canceled.
• Hawaii, Puerto-Rico, US VI: Some plants can’t be shipped there. Restricted items will be canceled. USDA Phytosanitary inspection is required. Contact US for more information
• Other States: A small number of other states may restrict certain species. If you're unsure whether a specific plant can be shipped to your state, contact us before ordering.
• PO Boxes: We can ship to PO Box addresses via USPS.
• Canada: Special guidelines apply - please see our Canada -specific instructions.
• International orders Current Limitation: Due to high costs and complexity, we currently only ship internationally to Canada . We hope to resume other international options in the future.
• APO Addresses: We cannot ship live plants to APO addresses because it’s often unclear how long transit will take, where the package will end up, and if import rules apply.
  

SHIPPING DAYS, CARRIERS and TIME IN TRANSIT

• Year-Round, Weather Permitting: We do not ship when temperatures fall outside a safe range for live plants, typically below 32°F in winter or in the 85-90°F range and above in summer. The exact cutoff is at our discretion, since different plants tolerate heat and cold differently.
• Shipping Days: Monday - Thursday to avoid your plants sitting in transit over the weekend. Shipping may also be delayed around holidays for the same reason, so plants don't sit in a warehouse or with a carrier over an extended holiday closure.
• Carriers & Methods: We choose the most economical and reliable method (FedEx, UPS, USPS) depending on your location and the plants’ needs. Some orders may need expedited shipping
• Time in Transit: Typical delivery times are 2 - 4 business days, up to 5 for remote areas.
• California Processing: CA orders need extra preparation (treatments, quarantine), so they may ship later than orders to other states. Cut off day is Friday 5 pm for shipping CA orders on the following Monday. This means, if you placed your order on Saturday to CA address, it may wait for another week to be shipped out.
• Expedited Shipping: Expedited shipping is available. Contact us for options and pricing.
  

DELAYS & NOTIFICATIONS

• Possible reasons for Delay:
  • Unfavorable weather
  • Temporary out-of-stock items
  • High-demand items requiring extra preparation
  • PayPal orders over $750 needing signature confirmation
• We will notify you about any delays. If your package doesn’t arrive within 4 days after a “shipped” notice, check with the carrier or our Order Status Page .
• Tracking Info: See Order Status & Shipping Confirmation Email for details on tracking.
• Marked Delivered but Not Received: If tracking shows your package as delivered but you did not receive it, contact us right away. We will file a claim with the carrier, and once the investigation is complete, we will reship, refund, or issue store credit.

SHIPPING & HANDLING PROCESS

• Quality Selection: We choose the best, largest plants. We inspect them, and ensure they are clean and healthy. Some of our plants are much bigger than those that you might get from other mail-order sources.
• Reducing Weight & Size: To lower shipping costs, we may remove pots, excess soil, and trim non-essential branches. We never ship completely bare-root within the US; roots remain wrapped and moist.
• Protective Packaging: We use quality materials - food-grade wrap for roots, protective padding, and sturdy boxes. Bamboo stakes may be included to support plants.
• Heat Packs & Weather Holds: Add a Heat Pack during cold season. If you are expecting air temperatures in the 85-90°F range or higher, tell us so we can hold your order to prevent heat damage. Whether we hold an order depends on the plants involved and other circumstances, since not all plants handle heat the same way.
• Multiple Shipments: Your order may arrive in more than one box, and boxes may ship on different days. This can happen when items come from both our Ft Myers and Sebring locations, or when part of an order becomes available at a later date.

Below are some pictures of our plants during packing process:

To save you money on shipping, we work to minimize both package weight and dimensions. (See Our Products page, and Size of Plants for more information).
We strive to safely package every plant to the fullest extent possible. Read more about plants shipping and possible problems.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN A BOX

• Upon Opening: You’ll find your plant(s) carefully packaged, possibly with supports, wrapped roots, and any necessary instructions.
• Shipping stress. All plants experience some stress during transit due to lack of light, water, temperature extremes, and handling. We package every plant properly to minimize this stress (see Terms of Sale & Guarantees for our plant health guarantee). By ordering, you accept the risk of receiving a stressed plant, which can often recover with proper care and thrive.

WHAT TO DO UPON RECEIVING PLANTS

• Immediate Care: Unpack your plants right away.
• Follow planting instructions . Pot plants in well-draining soil and let them rest in bright shade (no direct sun) for at least 24 hours.
• Adjustment Period: Give your plants time to recover from shipping stress. They may appear wilted initially but should revive with proper care.
• Prepare prior to delivery:
  • Potting soil (see recommendations ), we recommend our professional soilless mix
    
  • Pots (slightly bigger than the size of the root ball)
    
  • Patience, time and effort to help your plant to recover from shipping stress (use SUNSHINE boosters )
    
  • If the plant is intended as a gift, please consider if the recipient will be willing (and capable) of providing all the above.
• If you are inexperienced in establishing mail order plants, feel free to contact us for cultivation advice before ordering.
• See also Possible problems in transportation , Establishing plants and problem solving

VIDEO: A guide how to plant a mail order plant (external site)

ETHNOMEDICAL PLANTS DISCLOSURE

• Informational Purpose: Any ethnobotanical or ethnomedical information is provided for reference only. We do not guarantee any particular use or result. These ethnobotanical statements / products have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We urge all customers to consult a physician before using any supplements, herbals or medicines advertised here or elsewhere.
  Some local laws prohibit growing or importing some plants - it is your responsibility to comply with the law.
• Poisonous plants. Some plants or their parts might be poisonous or cause undesirable reactions or conditions when consumed internally (or inhaled). These plants are marked as poisonous or irritating in our Catalog with the appropriate pictogram . Under no circumstance such plants should be used for human or animal consumption. To the best of our knowledge, we do not sell plants known to cause severe reactions, however some people may individually experience certain conditions, such as skin rush, sneezing, etc. If you are aware of such sensitivity of yours, consult your doctor prior to plant purchase.

LET'S GO SHOPPING WITH SMOKEY & SUNSHINE

If you made it through all of that shipping mumbo-jumbo, we're impressed. Let's go shopping.

Sunshine: I only came for one plant.
Smokey: Then explain the orchid, bromeliad, and six other plants already in your cart.
Sunshine: They looked lonely.
Smokey: That's how every collection begins.

Let's Go Shopping