Big plants command big prices but they may not be worth paying for, a study by Gardening Which? has revealed.
In the two-year study, three identical gardens were created, each filled with twenty-five plants that differed only in size.
The total cost of the small plants for one garden came to a modest £305, but the same plants bought in a larger size came to a staggering £1,062.
According to the consumer watchdog, the bigger plants weren't always worth the extra cost.
The small Weigela florida 'Foliis Purpureis' was stockier and produced a better shape than the medium and large plants.
The Hydrangea anomala subspecies Petiolaris can be bought small and trained to fit to a space to be filled, making it ideal for covering shady walls.
Size isn't the only issue in the case of the Cytisus battandieri 'Pineapple Broom' as the medium and large plants needed taming within the first season.
The small Euonymous 'Emerald Gaeity' plants romped their way around the edge of the garden.
However, the study found that bigger is better when buying slow-growing shrubs such as a Japanese maple, rhododendron, daphne or Magnolia stellata.
Julia Boulton, editor of Gardening Which?, said: "The healthier the plant, the better it will grow, so checking for signs of damage and disease before buying matters much more than size.
"Our trial goes to show that you don't need to spend a fortune to give your garden instant impact."
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