Online plants, shrubs, and trees stockists you'd recommend

[WhiteTilesWhiteGrout]

We are in the market for a couple of flowering shrubs and a fruit tree for a sunny, large bed. The garden centres near us are known to be expensive. I'd like to explore online retailers but I'm concerned about spending money on low-quality stock.

Can anyone recommend reliable online stockings in the UK for flowering shrubs and trees? If they sell 'normal' plants too that'd be a bonus. Thank you.

3 fat pigs have always been good for us (Beechwood Nurseries).
Good price, nice range and well packed for delivery. We've planted lots of hedging and shrubs from them and it's all doing well years on. The range is more limited than somewhere like Crocus, but great if you want to do a bit of bulk buying.
I think they supply B & Q too. We've been really pleasantly surprised by the B & Q online range, which they gather from different specialist suppliers. We've bought some lovely healthy and unusual plants from them and not at the usual eye watering prices either!

Also used Crocus for more ornamental shrubs and bed fillers. Always well packaged and healthy plants but definitely more expensive.
Yeo Valley Trees are excellent for bigger ornamental plants.
I'd steer clear of Gardening Express, they were an absolute nightmare!

I've been really impressed by Let's Go Planting. The plants were large and in excellent condition, with really impressive care taken over the packaging. I've ordered lots from them, and the only time I wasn't happy was when they sent a very small plant in a large pot. I complained and they got back to me really quickly to say sorry, that was a mistake, and refunded me what I had paid.

Avoid J Parker's at all cost! Cheaper than others, but plants sent in an absolutely terrible condition with awful packaging. Several arrived dead, some may have been alive when sent but had been packaged so poorly they likely died en route. It's like buying plants from someone who hates plants!

Crocus

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll take a look and report back!

This one.
https://www.scotplantsdirect.co.uk/

I'll caveat that I'm a beginner gardener, so my suggestions may not be approved by proper plant people in the know.

Last year I bought some agapanthus plants from suttons. They arrived alive, well packaged and are still thriving. Their seeds have been good too in terms of actually germinating. Once signed up, I do get weekly emails about their patio fruit trees, bumper summer bulb selections etc which I need to change because they give me too many ideas of things I want to grow! 😆
https://www.suttons.co.uk/all-offers

I did see fruit trees at the Morrisons garden centre yesterday for £15 each. They were 6/7ft tall and looked healthy. Various cherries, apples, pears and maybe plums. I'm think of going back to get some.

Seconding the Parkers anti recommendation.

I’ve bought plants and bulbs for them for thirty five years, sometimes professional size orders. Last year there was a definite falling off, this year was a nightmare: plants which were Dead On Arrival, plants which were obviously not those ordered ( I can tell the difference between buddleia and forsythia, even without the flowers). Some bulbs which were rotten and/ or mouldy in the pack. Two lots of bulbs were mis labelled , which was only apparent now they are in flower.
Terrible hassle getting replacements or refund : rude , argumentative or dismissive ( yes, if I wanted and ordered purple , it does matter if they are yellow).
Such a pity.

I've never bought anything online, perhaps I just like to be able to go and actually look at what I'm buying, and choose the best one from the stock available.

Interesting to hear recommendations though. I've a feeling that my late dad always used to buy his seeds from Suttons many years ago.

To add to my earlier post, I've also had success with vegetable seeds from
https://www.realseeds.co.uk/

I don't think they sell plants though.

R. V. Rogers

Had trees & hedge plants by post from them over the last decade. All well-packed, strong & a wide range. Very pleased with the several orders I've had, the fruit trees are now mature & have done well.

They are suppliers to Habitat Aid too.

Good prices here with plenty of realistic, good humoured advice about where stuff will grow.

Ballyrobert's in Ireland and I don't think they'll send to the 'other' island since Brexit. I'd be delighted if you were wrong because it's a fabulous nursery.

Well, prepare to be delighted because they're in NI, not Ireland, and they post to the UK as well as lots of places in Europe.

Chris Bowers for fruit.

in general, a restricted range is a good thing - if a company is selling you everything, it means they’re buying stuff in. “Just” fruit, or “just” roses means they’re more likely to be growing their own

These are good and always score well in Which gardening reviews

https://www.brooksidenursery.co.uk/?gclid=CjwKCAiAirbBRBNEiwALHlnD1tikYZlGLVr4TdRd2ltTYPPzpcmKh1iD6SOkX2jBhrCINXI4EnhjhoCDkgQAvDDBwE&gadsource=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwwLOwBhBFEiwAmSEQAf84BM0YHqnp3GYkQBLTWX-T8QBMEU0CodIpGKoRo1-ZaC7jqaiEqhoCNS0QAvD_BwE

Anyone used a company called "mail order trees".
Here is my experience of this dreadful company.

UPDATE. BE AWARE BEFORE ORDERING!. THEY TOOK OUR MONEY AND NO TREE. WE OPENED A DISPUTE WITH THE BANK AND THIS COMPANY IS NOW CONTESTING OUR REFUND. WE WILL SEE THEM IN COURT IF NECESSARY AND MAKE THE MEDIA AWARE AS IT IS A GREAT STORY. WE WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED ON HERE

One tree was delivered out the blue with no notice whatsoever, so had to be rejected, as we are disabled and could not arrange for it to be planted without notice.
Called mail order trees and told another would arrive shortly, with notice.
A week later, no tree.
Called and told, "haven't you had it yet. We have limited staff because of sickness. I will look into it".
Asked if i could get a call back and told, "i will try".
THIS IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE WORST COMPANY WE HAVE EVER HAD TO DEAL WITH IN 45 YEARS.
IF YOU ORDER FROM THEM, EXPECT THE WORST AND ANYTHING ELSE WILL BE A BONUS!

OUR ORDER NUMBER 126952

Date of experience: 17 February 2025
Date of experience: 17 February 2025

I have had good experiences with Gardening Express for shrubs and perennials.

For 'special' plants, ie those bought for wedding, anniversary and milestone birthdays I usually go to a specialist.
For example, I bought DW, for her 50th, Nye Bevan from David Austin and it's fabulous.
Beautiful

I’ve had bad experiences with Gardening express, I completely avoid them now. Be aware that their “warranty” is extremely restrictive, to the point where they make it impossible to claim a refund. They also substitute plants for others without notice or refund, which isn’t great if you have a specific planting scheme in mind. I notice they never published my bad review on their site, which doesn’t inspire confidence.

I have only good things to say about Big Plants Nursery, they do tropicals/arids/acers. All the plants are top quality and a good size. The only downside is that their website isn’t the easiest to navigate.

I know some people are unhappy with J Parker’s, but my experience with their wholesale arm (Dutch Bulbs) has been consistently excellent. Good quality bulbs and large tubers, lots of choice, everything well packaged, delivery on time. The prices are very reasonable too.

I've used RV Rogers as well and they are excellent, particularly if you are in the north of England. Their nursery is in Pickering in N Yorkshire.

The supermarkets are actually pretty good, I've been very happy with the plants I've bought from them. The RHS website is obviously good and I like Crocus as well. I bought bulbs from Boston Bulbs last year and although they took along time to deliver (ordered at the end of August, delivered mid October) the snowdrops and crocuses have both put on an excellent display. Some bulbs haven't appeared at all but I'm assuming they have either been eaten or hate the location because those that have come up have all come up. Even the daffs I planted this year.

Oooh great- came in here after the same.
im after country garden perennials-
any recommendations really appreciated as I need quite a lot.

I've had some really good plants from Gardening Express and they have good offers. I bought loads from Farmer Gracy last year, bare root and fledgling, l think one took, it's a cascading flower thing, no flowers as yet.

Keepers are really excellent for fruit trees. I've bought pear and cherry trees from them that have been really strong with excellent fruit. Particularly the cherry tree.

Otherwise I like Crocus, Hayloft and Farmer Gracy for bulbs.

Stay away from Sarah Raven and Parkers.

I was in the Range yesterday and they had a great selection of fruit trees, bottle brush plants etc. I know it's not on line, but it's a low cost option.

If you need bulbs I can recommend Farmer Gracy and also Sarah Raven. You have to order early! Excellent delivery and bulbs form Faemer Gracy now showing their little heads in my garden. Very good prices. I had to get my snowdrops from Sarah Raven as Farmer Gracy sold out.

Paramount Plants for trees and shrubs. Lots of different sizes available and they have a photo of the actual specimen.