Which online plant suppliers are good/bad?

[Magicpaintbrush]

It's that time of year where many of us will be buying lots of plants - I can't always find what I want at the garden centre so would then be ordering online, but I'd like to know which online plant shops other have found to be reliable with plants that arrive in good condition. I've had mixed results with plants bought from Sarah Raven for example - bought some Salvia sagittata last year, one was broken, and a couple of others had clearly been used to take cuttings from as they had missing stems. On the other hand, bought a rose from David Austin a while back and it's so healthy and thriving, arrived in mint condition with lots of planting advice. Would love to hear recommendations for decent plant suppliers.

I've used Thompson and Morgan a lot, only had 1 total dud and they refunded as soon as I got in touch.

T&M plug plants are ridiculously tiny so avoid those, but I've had a lot of nice garden ready plants. Pretty much everything gets reduced in price at some point over the course of the year so never buy anything 'full price'.

Farmer Gracy has been amazing for bulbs and dahlia tubers for me. I've also had bare roots that have done well. I've had maybe 2 out of the 20 or dahlia tubers over the last 2 years be a disappointment.

I have also used Dutch Grown for bulbs and dahlia tubers this past year and all seems ok so far.

Newlands nursery - https://buyplants.co.uk/ has been excellent. I've had perennials last year - lupins were lovely. So far this year dahlia tubers and bedding plugs to grow on. All excellent.

I've also used secret garden club and they have also been brilliant - nicely packaged and good value.

Of course David Austin roses are perfection.

Any suggestions for a herb supplier? I was tempted by urban herbs but review above doesn’t sound great…

https://www.herbalhaven.com

these guys are local to us, but I’ve never bought anything online from them.

Has anyone actually bought from Plants of Distinction please?

Their taste is impeccable and I'm drooling over the catalogue, but the online reviews are so bad. Trying to convince myself it will be fine...

David Austin for roses, I cannot complain. I’ve also used Gardening Dream on eBay for my Salix Kilmarnock. It was packaged perfectly and is a healthy, thriving tree. I will probably look there first for more plants.

Any recommendations for suppliers of indoor plants? I’d like to get some trailing plants and yet to see anything decent in our local garden centres

Indoors, Patch Plants are good, everything arrived very safely packaged and thrived (until I forgot to water them).
I’ve had mixed results from Farmer Gracy, but thought it was my own inexperience. David Austin great, Crocus good. Sarah Raven disappointing. Beth Chatto was awful - things arrived looking dried out and dead, and their advice was to plant them and see if they revived - they did not.

Hayloft have been sold; so no idea of quality.
most that have been listed are actually wholesalers.

shame not many small nurseries have been mentioned!!
I run a nursery (with mail order) and we are absolutely not like the “big boys” and actually call our customers for payment and to have a chat!

That's intriguing: what's your specialism?

In my area, I find Lady Helen Nurseries to be excellent, but they only deliver in Fife so far as I'm aware.

I ordered Cafe Au Lait dahlia tubers from Hayloft, when the flowers bloomed they were bright yellow and definitely not Cafe Au Lait. I sent an email to Hayloft along with photos, and they refunded me immediately. Excellent customer service.

I then ordered the same tubers from Sarah Raven, come September the plants bloomed........ and they were orange. Once again I emailed Sarah Raven with photos, and had an immediate refund. Can't fault the customer service.

Ever optimistic I have ordered some more from Crocus, so I just have to wait until September to see what I get this time!

Herbaceous and Primula auricula

Not Hillside Nursery?

Nope; I’m Hillview Hardy Plants

Just a little comment on FARMER GRACY, Ive had some mixed success with them,, but they do replace any plants if you contact them even 6 months after the order.

Ordered many things from Farmer Gracy, think Dahlia bulbs have all been successful in growing. Bare roots plants need more love than I can give so I order them and wish them the best of success as I immediately plant out.... Hence I don't complain if they don't survive!

I've not had a mislabeled Dahlia bulb from them either so far?

J parkers was good too with little plug plants

We are well served with garden centers so for bigger things I go direct to them rather than risk online.

I’ve bought from a few online plant suppliers and had both wins and misses. One great one sent me a perfectly potted hydrangea with zero damage and detailed care instructions—overall very professional. On the flip side, another supplier’s packaging was minimal, and a couple of plants arrived scratched and wilting. Quality varies so much — check reviews for shipping condition, how plants are packed, and if replacements are offered.

i have bought from Ballyrobert and Proctors recently and been very pleased with the plant health and the packaging.