Everything You Need to Know!
FAQs: Get the answers you need for a smooth buying experience.
About Us
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What is Appalachian Plantworks?
Appalachian Plantworks is a small, backyard bonsai nursery run by me (Billy), located in the mountains of Asheville, NC. We have been operating since late 2023 and are an NC-certified nursery operation specializing in quality pre-bonsai stock, seedlings, and bonsai pots. Our goal is to make bonsai more accessible and affordable for hobbyists.
Are you a large nursery?
Not quite! While we are an NC-certified operation, we operate as a micro-nursery. We have a maximum inventory of about 2,500 trees (seedlings up to prebonsai), and at any given moment there are no more than half of that ready for sale. While that might seem like a lot for a personal collection, in the nursery trade it's a micro operation -- but I think it's enough to sustain itself (and your bonsai hobby in the process!)
Can I visit your nursery in person?
Appalachian Plantworks is run out of my home, so in-person visits are limited to weekends and a couple of evenings each week. If you're in the Asheville area and would like to stop by, please contact us to schedule a time in advance.
Product Availability
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Why do you only offer seasonal availability?
We have a few periods out of the year - usually the month of June, August to mid-September, and November to March - where we disable website ordering. This not only helps to avoid some extreme temperature shipping periods, but also gives us a chance to do regular inventory, complete nursery projects, and hopefully take a vacation here and there.
How accurate is your inventory?
We update inventory with every order and change in the season. That said, certain products might be unexpectedly unavailable due to extreme environmental conditions, recent work done on them (pruning, defoliating, etc), or other health issues. We try to update the website immediately when this happens, but every once in a while, we discover something only when pulling an order. In these cases we usually want to keep some stock on hold until we're sure it is recovered and healthy! So if you make an order and we discover an issue with your trees that gets in the way of us shipping with confidence, we'll work with you to remedy it via refund or a delayed ship date.
Are the trees you sell all ready for bonsai?
Most of our stock includes pre-bonsai material or starter trees, perfect for hobbyists looking to shape and train them into full bonsai. We aim to serve folks interested in the development (rather than refinement) process, so all our stock should offer you the opportunity to grow with your trees!
How can I stay updated on your availability?
We keep our website updated with any changes to stock availability, shipping delays, or seasonal breaks. You can also sign up for updates or check back regularly to get the latest information on our trees, pots, and other bonsai materials.
Shipping
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Where do you ship to?
We currently ship within the continental United States only. We strive to provide the best care for your bonsai during transit, which is why we are focusing on U.S. orders at this time.
What service do you use to ship?
We ship via UPS or USPS depending on the address provided and type of product ordered. We are unable to take specific shipping service requests, but in the western US, you can select Expedited Shipping at checkout and we will use UPS 3-Day Select or equivalent service.
How do you calculate shipping costs?
Shipping costs are calculated at checkout based on your location, order size, and difficulty of packaging those particular products. Shipping minimums of $15 for the eastern/midwest US and $20 for the western US apply for all but seed-only orders.
While costs may seem higher than flat discount shipping, after much experimentation we have decided that this is the only way to offset a portion of the extensive labor that goes into pulling, protecting, and boxing trees that arrive to you safely and undamaged. Accordingly, larger orders benefit from lower shipping cost per tree due to economies of scale associated with shipping 5+ or 10+ trees vs. a single tree or two.
When can I expect my order to ship?
We typically ship once a week on Mondays or Tuesdays. We do not guarantee that your trees will ship out by any certain date and during periods of high sales volume, some orders may need to be sent in a following week's ship cycle. Due to our small size and seasonal considerations, shipments might be delayed or paused during extreme weather or if the stock needs more attention. We’ll keep you updated on any delays or changes to your order.
How long does shipping take?
Transit times can vary from 1-6 business days depending on location. We have a target transit time of 3-5 business days for tree material shipped during higher risk seasons. Expedited shipping is done using UPS 3-Day Select, which takes 3 business days in transit. During periods of inclement weather, shipments may be delayed for the safety of your plant.
I never got my package!
If order tracking shows 'Delivered,' we ask that you please wait it out for another day or check nearby addresses. Sometimes our shipping partners provide delivery notifications before the item was received, or sometimes it’s delivered to a neighbor in the same building but not the actual addressed recipient.
If it has been 24 hours and is still a no-show, email us at billy@appalachianplantworks.com and we’ll try our best to assist you further.
See full Shipping & Returns Policy for more info
Orders
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Help! I put in the wrong shipping address!
We process orders within 24 hours, so we ask that you let us know within that timeframe if you need to modify your shipping address. No changes can be made to an order once a shipping label has been printed.
Can I cancel my order?
We process all orders within 24 hours, so please let us know within that timeframe if you need to modify or cancel your order. Once a shipping label is printed, no changes or cancellations can be made, even to the shipping address.
Can I place a hold on my order?
Sorry, we do not do holds as we have limited space in our staging and picking area. If you have specific requests though, feel free to contact us.
Do you accept returns or exchanges?
Since all sales are final, we don’t accept returns or exchanges. However, if your trees arrive in poor condition due to carrier mishandling, we’ll work with you to make things right.
What happens if my tree arrives damaged or unhealthy?
While we strive for excellence in every order, if your tree arrives in less-than-ideal condition due to carrier mishandling, please reach out right away. IMPORTANT: please follow all instructions and terms in Shipping & Returns.
See full Shipping & Returns Policy for more info