We buy plants in pots these days. Before the advent of plastic it was common to sell plants "bare root" i.e. freshly lifted from the soil. As long as the roots don't dry out many species can survive a day or two of this treatment when they are dormant.
 I revived the tradition to transplant some Comfrey from Hertfordshire to London. I generally don't plant this late in the year but Comfrey is tough as old boots and the ground isn't frozen. This form has mauve/magenta flowers in May/June which will be a nice addition to the other Symphytums in the garden- it's probably one of the Russian Comfrey variations on our Common Comfrey.
 In fact the bare root method is still used in the horticultural trade by some nurseries specialising in roses, fruit trees and hedging to be purchased and planted between October and March. A few weeks ago I joined some volunteers in a local park to plant a native mixed hedge using such staples as Hawthorn, Blackthorn and Dogwood. These were the 'stockproof hedges' of pre-industrial farming though planted here for wildlife value.
 The plants were delivered as 'whips' several feet long including the roots. Not much to see as yet but I look forward to watching them grow in the years ahead...