Would you be happy with these plants from crocus?

[WellTidy]

Ordered a huge amount of plants from crocus a few weeks ago. They arrived, some were dead, some were covered with aphids and some were extremely small.

These ones that were extremely small plants were agapanthus flower of love.

m I complained to crocus, they refunded me the price of the ones with aphids and the dead plants (as they were out of stock so couldn’t send replacements) and they said they’d send me new agapanthus.

I’ve attached a photo of the replacement agapanthus. Two have barely any growth above the soil, one has no growth at all.

Would you complain again or accept this is how they’ll be at this time of year and just hope they do well?

I wouldn’t be happy but for what it’s worth my agapanthus (bought from a garden centre in flower last year) has hardly any top growth right now either. I don’t think what you’ve been sent is unusual for the time of year. Next time try a cheaper bare root if ordering perennials now?

That’s good to know. They were £9 each (9cm pots), so not at all cheap, chosen for their relatively low height for agapanthus, which would suit my border. I will wait and see I think.

Agapanthus can be a bit lazy I find, mine don't have much going on right now either.

My be worth telling them you're not happy with them but willing to give them a go. If they don't grow much you'll want a refund.

Haven't you got a decent garden centre somewhere you could visit or make a day out to, so can you a look before you choose?

You'll save yourself money for one thing, and all the hassle of receiving manky plants.

I must say I avoid Crocus now as have been disappointed by size/quality in the past.

As pps say agapanthus only just strarting to show leaves (Though all mine area bit bigger than those). I'd want to know how much root I'd been given in those pots though , so I'd reserve judgement till id planted them out.

Just been inspired by another thread to come back and say - maybe I wasn thinking of Sarah Raven not Crocus (though both seem overpriced to me) - I hae had some minute duds from Sarah Raven. Once and once only...there are much better suppliers, though I tend to use the garden centre for preference these days

Better that they be sent with minimal top growth than with more top growth and greater danger of damage in transit

Ok, maybe I should just see how they do and in the meantime let Crocus know that I’m still disappointed but will wait and see.

@gkd1234 My very good local garden centre just doesn’t carry the variety that I’d like. Much as I like going there, and they do great scones (!) the stock is limited. They have agapanthus, but they are quite tall, and I chose these ones from crocus as they’re relatively short. I think anywhere selling plants, be it a garden centre that you visit or online, should only sell good quality plants though.

I agree - my garden centre although nice does not have a great deal of choice. Got some great plants from crocus last year but a long delay and quite patronising response from customer service this year - still no plants..

I'd be very disappointed with that tbh. Crocus is so expensive you expect really good quality. I've been getting a lot of plug plants from eBay and if I get a good seller (well packaged, healthy plants with a decent root ball) I save them!! I've just received 6 salvia (3 different varieties) for less than £20, they'll all flower this summer (and then I take cuttings!)

Stopped using Crocus two years ago for just this reason.

They were really good in the beginning but over the last four years just deteriorated in terms of plant quality. I have bought dozens of plants from them over the years but in the latter years had so many failures and real hassle with customer service.

My advice would be to really complain now and then do what I have done, find a new Garden Centre you can visit and select your own plants from.

Right, I’ve complained. Let’s see how they respond. I feel that at £9 each I should be received more established plants. Maybe they shouldn’t have been despatched this early in their growing season. Thanks for your posts.

Huh, I have literally just bought agapanthus from Crocus to replace ones I lost to the frost, and they aren’t much better than what you have shown here. That said, I stuck them in their proper pots and the rooty bit looks good and healthy.

I wasn’t expecting much more - now I’m wondering if I should complain as like you I paid £9 each.

I also don’t have a great selection near me, garden centre wise, and it’s a faff to go only to be greeted with a poor selection.

I definitely wouldn't be happy.

Agapanthuses did badly over the winter and lots of people have lost them. Nursery stocks will be lower than normal. A reputable nursery would explain this, and either they'd admit they couldn't fulfil the order with a plant in good condition, or they'd let you know there would be a delay. Sending out a plant that looks dubious is just lazy. Sure, it might come - but if you're paying their prices, you have paid for more than 'might'.

What are the roots like on these? That will give you an indication of how established they are , rather than the top growth - it's still early for agapanthus.

But a nursery shouldn't send them out like this. Agapanthus roots don't rot off easily; if they've failed, there will likely still be a pot full of roots. In a normal year it might be fine to send out bare pots and assume they'd come, but after a colder-than-normal year, I think it's poor customer service.

• Sorry, I should say: a year with some record low temperatures.

When I complained about my plants being delayed and the poor response I had from customer services I had my postage refunded (which I then had to follow-up). I am thinking this is similar to the downward trend with Sarah Raven. Just planted two agapanthus bare root plants from Farmer Gracey - good roots and green growth. Never used them before but the plants were reduced and they had a free postage offer.

This is how my agapanthus looks now, if it helps. I bought it last summer and the variety is called Charlotte. It doesn’t look up to much at all but I’ve not had one in the spring before so can’t really offer much by way of comment!