Good Online Nurseries and Plant Sellers

Following on from another thread where a person expressed dissatisfaction with some plants she’d ordered online, I thought it would be useful to members to have a thread where we can name good nurseries and online sellers, ones we’ve personally had a good experience with. So I’ll start off.

First is an eBay seller of trees and shrubs. I’ve bought bare rooted hedging and a few trees from them and the quality has been very good. BEECHWOOD NURSERIES | eBay Shops
They also have a website which is not eBay. Beechwoodtrees

Next is Cramden Nurseries. I like scented pelargoniums and I’ve bought these from them. Good quality plants and reasonable prices. Pelargoniums specialist.
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Buckingham Nurseries . I’ve bought bare rooted shrubs and hedging. Quality has been good.
Buckingham Nurseries Online Catalogue - Hedging, Young Trees, Shrubs, Fruit Trees, Soft Fruit, Grasses, Ground Cover Plants, Climbers

Another eBay seller, this one is for pond plants which they send out bare rooted in plastic bags. Quality has been good both times I’ve bought.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Various-POND-MARGINAL-PLANTS-water-bog-aquatic-SALE-50-Plant-Varieties/221294198597

And a clematis specialist nursery, Hawthornes which also holds the national collection of vitacellas. A passionate man who loves his clematis’ and sells good quality plants.
Hawthornes Nursery - Clematis Specialists

That’s all I can think of now but if I remember more I will add. I will say that I have no personal or financial interest in any of these nurseries, only bought plants from them.

 

@Redwing Great idea for a thread, was going to start a similar one the other day but just about eBay sellers!

Got three plants this morning from The Secret Gardening Club which seem to be in really good condition (photo in the "Recent Purchases" thread). The Veronicastrum 'Fascination' only cost me £3!

Secret Gardening Club - UK garden plants for sale

Another seller I like is Penlan Perennials, have bought some nice hardy geraniums from them, they have a decent range of these.

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Used to buy from J Parker's a lot but a few of the plants seemed to arrive in rather poor condition. Photos in their catalogues are sometimes misleading too, in terms of representing flower colours accurately! Thanks for mentioning Buckingham BTW, some of their perennials seem really cheap! The only eBay seller I have bought plants from is this one, three plants which all arrived in great condition and were well packed.

greenfingersjim on eBay

Nick

 

Ha ha, Redwing.....you must have read my mind

Ballyrobert gardens, Hillview Garden Plants, Paddock’s plants, Dorset
Perennials, Hardys, Knoll gardens, are excellent....to name just a few
For patio plants etc., Brookside Nurseries are very good. For climbers both Taylor’s and Thorncroft are excellent. Anglia Bulbs very good. Harts Cannas....the only place I purchase cannas.

I too can vouch for the Secret Garden Club...good value

On eBay there are several I use incl Perfect Plants. It is surprising though how many well known established nurseries are featured on eBay. Be sensible on eBay.....read the details carefully to make sure what is offered is actually what is sent. Use your instinct and common sense. Money back guarantee ensures you cannot really lose. eBay offers a wide choice of perennials as plugs and small plants for little cost to grow on in early spring. Surprisingly too are plants not too readily available elsewhere. Never really had any problem with eBay.

On the downside, I agree with Nikalaos that Parker’s are not great at all for plants in my experience. ...bulbs yes. Similarly T & M ....seeds are great but that’s all. West Country Nurseries, Hayloft and Crocus supply very small plants in comparison with other growers/suppliers often at similar prices so poor value I think

As an aside, I think it’s important to ask for UK sourced plants with reference to importing diseases, viruses and pests. There is a worrying escalation of affected host plants entering our gardens now.

 

I've used the following over the years and would recommend. Dibleys for Streptocarpus, Ashridge Trees and Chris Bowers for bare root fruit trees and bushes, Ken Muir for strawberries, David Austin for roses, Avon Bulbs, Kings, Marshalls, Chiltern Seeds and Special Plants for seeds.

 

All I'll say is I wont be using
'ediplants' on ebay again as sent me 3 Linum which were dead spindles. Complained and got a refund but in the same sentence they said they checked their stock and the plugs had been left as plugs too long.....WELL WHY SEND THEM TO ME THEN??
Also ordered several 'Deep Purple' Phlox and have got several shocking pink ones. They told me they don't even grow pink ones!! (ergo the inference is I must be lying)

Also on ebay I shant use 'imperial plants' again as ordered a Daphne and today received a twig with a few yellow leaves on it

Perhaps Im just unlucky as I tend to be. I'll blame my own personal rain cloud that follows me about.

 

I would recommend......

Dibleys for houseplants ( a lot of rare and unusual )

Allwoods for any Dianthus ( species, pinks, carnations ), succulents, scented Pelargoniums, species and many facy/unusual types

Claylane for Fuchsias

Hayloft for anything unusual plus their collections of plants at either 12 for £12 or 10 for £10 are excellent ( I've had 12 different Delphiniums for £12 this year and I've just ordered 12 different Digitalis species for £12 ). I just don't see the point of paying someone else £5 or whatever to grow a plant for me when I can grow it myself.

JW Parkers I've used for years only ever had one problem and that was resolved straight away, plus you get a free gift off them. I've got an sbsolutely stunning Hydrsngea Annabelle with over 20 flower heads on it and it didn't cost me a penny, had an amazing show of Freesias this year for nothing and got many more over the years.

 

No “personal rain cloud” Cindy.....get rid of that negative thought ASAP

As I said, you have protection under eBay rules......just log a complaint and it will be sorted. You will get to know the good guys and the bad guys

Those Linum? Sow seed and you will have plenty of plants. It’s what I did/do

 

I've just had a very nice Daphne 'Eternal Fragrance'for £10 from Gardening Express. Decently sized, well branched, good healthy foliage. I also made a mad decision to chance their offer of lilies from cold storage - 50 for £5. I figured if even if all they did was settle in this year, it is worth it. They sent me a free gift of 50 more! Bulbs plump though lots of broken growths. I'll keep you posted on their survival.

Timpany nurseries in Northern Ireland have always sent good plants.

Beeches Nursery of Ashton also have great plants, though don't visit otherwise you will spend a fortune because they have some intriguing things in small quantities.

 

Hi Nick , you're in trouble now

Did you have to put that Secret Gardening Club on here. They've got quite a few I'd like to have.
Looks like I'm either gonna have to get my own garden or some more pots for my moms garden for next year

 

I’ve also had some great plants from Gardening Express CarolineL......a large Edgeworthia Chrysantha some 3 years back. Wonderfully scented, daphne-like shrubs that thrive in this mild climate. Some unusual hydrangeas too. Excellent quality and reasonably priced

 

Oh @Verdun I have fancied an Edgworthia for a while - Gardening Express had a variety with red flowers - which makes a change as most winter flowers on shrubs seem to be yellow

 

Ah CarolineL..... I have the red too....forgive my forgetfulness, it’s called Red Dragon, I think. This is still quite small in a pot being grown on until I found its “perfect” spot

Edgeworthia Chrysantha is a beauty. Prob 150 cm tall and flowered beautifully in late winter preceded by the promising-so-much buds. Lovely scent and the foliage is lovely too
I think ​

 

Edgeworthia C ...foliage only right now
Not a great photo...difficult to get close

 

@Verdun Ive ordered from gardening express but it seems to be taking ages. I ordered last week and the money has gone from my account but the status is still showing as 'processing' Is this normal for them in your experience? Don't mind waiting if the plants are worth it but just a bit nervous as a first time customer.

 

Morning Cindy

Sometimes they can seem to be a little slow compared to some online suppliers. For example, last week I placed an order and it was delivered the next day.
Yes, this “processing” status is a bit frustrating but now I understand it ...it is normal.
Don’t be nervous, the plants will arrive soon enough. Often I found status had changed to “dispatched” when in fact I had received the order.

Relax....enjoy your plants