By Bryce Casson, Founder · Cardocrat · Updated July 2026
The short answer: Usually just the base rate. Standalone garden centers and plant nurseries code under their own category that mainstream cards do not treat as a bonus, so a flat-rate card earns the most. A garden department inside a home-improvement store, however, takes on that store’s category and could earn a home-improvement bonus.
How garden centers code
A standalone nursery or garden center rings up under a nursery-and-garden-supply category code, outside the usual bonus buckets, so most cards earn their base rate on plants, soil, and tools. The framework is in what is a bonus category.
Home-improvement stores are the exception
If you buy plants and garden supplies at a home-improvement store like Home Depot or Lowe’s, the purchase codes as home improvement, so a card with that bonus earns its higher rate, as covered in home improvement store bonuses. A dedicated nursery down the road, buying the same plants, would earn only the base rate.
The best card for gardening
For a standalone garden center, a strong flat-rate card earns the most; for a home-improvement store, a home-improvement card wins. Run your spending through the rewards calculator to see which card gives the best return across where you actually shop, and compare flat options in best cash back cards.
Frequently asked questions
Do garden centers earn a bonus category?
Standalone garden centers and nurseries earn the base rate. A garden department inside a home-improvement store, though, codes as home improvement and could earn that bonus.
Do plants bought at Home Depot earn a bonus?
Yes, because they code as home improvement. A card with a home-improvement bonus earns its higher rate on garden supplies bought there.
What card is best for a nursery?
A strong flat-rate card for a standalone nursery, since it earns the base rate, or a home-improvement card if you buy plants at a home-improvement store.