I'm not Northeast, but in my area (Chicago) prices run the gammit from 3.79 at Lowe's to 8.00-12.00 at Craig Bergmann's. It is tempting to say that Craig Bergmann's will have the latest and best cultivars, thus the higher price, but I have purchased even 'Jolly Bee' geranium at Lowe's. I pay higher prices (in my personal shopping business) when I am confident that the plant is correctly named and well cared for. Some of my wealthiest clients will only pay a 'Lowe's' price and others simply do not care as long as they love the plant. I guess what I am saying is that someone expecting low prices will only be happy paying less and someone expecting high quality plants does not look at the price.

I'm not in the northeast either, but I would have to say it depends a lot on the plant in question. Certain common, standby perennials are available from my wholesale vendors for as little as $2.75 but most run $3.50 to $4.50. New intros, patented plants and less common selections can go up from there - double hellebores are running around $12.00 - $14.00 per gallon and I brought in a variegated Asian podophyllum last season that cost me $18.00 each. FWIW, I don't sell any gallon perennials for less than $8.99 and the vast majority are $9.99 to $12.99, but a number of more select choices are priced (retail) higher.

I am in the NE and pay anywhere from 3.50 up, depending on the plant and the quantity I'm buying. The prices aren't that much different from Gardengal48's. Hellebores and new cultivars are a bit higher here. Why don't you call some nurseries and ask for an availability list--they all have pricing.

The one gallon is Home Depot's best seller.

It retails for $3.98.

They pay in the high $2's for a junkey trade gallon (.75g).
They pay a certain vendor $3.53 for a real one gallon.

wow..$3.53 for a true gallon...I would have thought it would be a little less...What do they retail it for ...$7.00????

$ 3.54 cents

Correction : it retails for $4.98 not 3.98.
Buy $3.53. Sell $4.98

The one gallon retail was at $4.96 in 1995.
As the quality actually improved over those years.
The usual profit margin in the garden dept at Home Depot is 40%.

The one gallon is Home Depot's best seller.

It retails for $3.98.

They pay in the high $2's for a junkey trade gallon (.75g).
They pay a certain vendor $3.53 for a real one gallon.

They pay another certain vendor that supplies about 80% of their gallon perennials $1.73/ea. This vendor charges independants $2.90/ea, but independants rarely buy from them.

who is the vendor??? Is it a secret?

At $1.73 it is probably a "trade" gallon.
Which is 3/4 gallon round.

The Home Depot has started a yearly gallon sale midsummer, in which the retail gallon price is something like 2.88.
Sort of clears the decks.
They don't have a clear policy about throwing, store to store.
The garden dept is a huge moneymaker for Home Depot.