Best online plant supplier?

[JinglingHellsBells]

For years I've bought from Crocus / Sarah Raven and always loved their quality and choice but they are really £££. I need to re-do a couple of borders and will need to buy a lot of plants.

I was looking at J Parker and think I bought from them ages ago, but delivery was really slow/ delayed and plants were small.

Any suggestions?

Hi I usually buy from Sarah Raven, and have had some great experiences, including very good treatment if things fail – probably you are partly paying for that, and also because the plants are very good quality in my experience. This year though, wanting some plants during lockdown, and seeing Sarah's lead time, I ordered from here:

www.claireaustin-hardyplants.co.uk

I always prefer to buy small plants, as I think they establish better, and also if they die, you haven't spent as much money. These were all small, and a good price, but all but one have taken (and I think that one was eaten by slugs). She has a good choice and some good varieties. I will definitely buy from her again.

I second that, I’ve had some really good plants from Claire Austin. I’ve also had some good plants from www.secretgardeningclub.co.uk , only one real disappointment and that was broken in transit; delivery times were also very good.

I find you get what you pay for: plants from Sarah Raven this year I'm perfect condition and well-packed for protection. Plants from J Parker in poor condition though adequately packed - one beyond redemption which they did replace. Secret Gardening Club were good last year, haven't used them this year.

I have had great plants from Sarah Raven but not much success with bulbs from there.

Thompson and Morgan have good daily special offers/flash sales if you sign up to their newsletter. They are expensive if you don't buy during the sales but they do have a 30 day guarantee for plants.

I like using small, specialist nurseries as they offer a wider variety of plants, the plants are often better quality and better value for money. They have better customer service and usually offer expert advice. Some of my favourites are:

www.norfolkherbs.co.uk herbs, salvias and pelagoniums
www.taylorsclematis.co.uk/ clematis
www.hartsnursery.co.uk/ lilies and other bulbs

I also like this nursery who sell wholesale to the public:

www.brooksidenursery.co.uk/

I redid an area last year and bought perennial collection X2 from Thompson & Morgan. I think I paid about £16 per set. I'll try and post photos, one of when I planted them & this year. I was really pleased with them.ive tried to attach 3 photos 1 what I bought,2 first planted, ignore the petunias, 3 this year.

Don't use Bakker.they are terrible in every sense. Poor plants. Customer service useless too

I have actually had decent luck with J Parker's this year. Campanula plug plants doing well in the bed out the front, a few young 9cm hydrangeas for a bargain £3/£3.50 each are looking good, and some Russian sage that I hope will take off next year. I also got begonias and star jasmine from Thompson and Morgan which all have survived well. Worst purchase was petunias from Thompson and Morgan, only about half have done much, disappointingly.

I use jparker wholesale - very tiny plants but very tiny prices! And they replace dead deliveries!
Also some good deals at gardeningexpress