Out of Africa

I purchased several plants from here recently, and was very happy with the specimens. They all arrived impeccably packaged; barring some freak accident with the post office, these plants could not have suffered any damage during shipping. Plants were shipped quickly, arrived soon, and were still moist when I received them. I'm so pleased with them and will definitely be buying again in the future! For this interested, here is a photo album containing pictures of how things were packaged: https://imgur.com/a/Eks5tKy

Posted on May 13, 2019, updated May 15, 2019 Posted on May 13, 2019, updated May 13, 2019 POOA used to be THE place to get great deals on pachypodiums, euphorbias and many others. Their prices were incredibly reasonable with many starter plants below $10. I got many, many fabulous plants from POOA. However, they have moved from Florida to South Carolina and with that move, their entire business has changed for the worse. Their selection has decreased dramatically, their prices are extremely high, there are no more starter plants, no more $10 specials, they do not answer the phone, email and they NOW have a minimum $75 order and $25 shipping/handling fee. I say, WTF. This nursery has turned from one of the best I have ever dealt with to a nursery you would NEVER want to order ANYTHING from. Forget about POOA.

In the past Out of Africa has been very good at customer service. However recently I purchased a plant that was field collected. The plant never woke up from hibernation. I'm out $100.00 dollars. The policy is that if the plant is over a week old to bad, they keep your money and offer no refunds. I've been buying from this vendor for over 20 yrs. I have to say that I'm done purchasing plants from here and I'm spreading the news. They could of at least replaced the plant or given a refund. Buying a plant from here is risky just remember.

Posted on August 11, 2018, updated August 11, 2018 hello I have purchased many plant's from out of Africa nursery. mike is great and friendly..

Posted on March 15, 2018, updated July 30, 2018 Posted on October 20, 2017, updated March 15, 2018 I ordered several Euphorbia specimens from Out of Africa. In my order confirmation email they explained that due to recent hurricane damage the order might take longer to be processed. Nevertheless, I received my order promptly and the plants were well packed and quite nice. I did have a question about two of the plants I ordered and I called and left a message on their answering machine. Mike called me back the same day and answered my questions. I will definitely consider this company for future orders.

HELLO, AS A PERSON NEW TO PACHYCAUL AND CAUDICIFORM PLANTS I TALKED TO MIKE ABOUT CERTAIN PACHYPODIUM PLANTS WHICH I LIKED. MIKE WAS ALWAYS RIGHT ON AND VERY POSITIVE. I EXPLAINED THAT I HAD VERY LIMITED KNOWLEDGE REGUARDING PURCHASE OF THE VARIETY OF PLANTS WHICH I WANTED. I PURCHASED SEVERAL PACHYPODIUM PLANTS WHICH WERE SENT OUT FAST. THEY ALWAYS ARRIVED FAST AND HEALTHY. THANK YOU MIKE AND OUT OF AFRICA. KIRK.

I bought plants from Out of Africa several times--both online and on eBay. The plants I received were of top-notch quality. They were well-packed and quickly sent. Any communication with them was gentle. They were responsive and polite in all dealings I had with them. I notice that the negative review was posted a short time after the Naples area received the full brunt of a major hurricane. I am pretty certain that the nursery received both damage to their business and their way of life. At that time, i wrote a short email to them expressing my concern and to reassure them that people not affected by the major storm were also thinking of them as they went through tough times. I wish all nurseries were as well-run as this one and that some narcissistic critics might understand that nature is not always kind to people and that natural disasters can happen to everyone. Think about the effects your screed may have on the lives of other people. Try to walk, with grace, in their shoes. Many of the plants that Out-of-Africa grows are native to the island of Madagascar--an island nation that is under severe environmental stress. Their native flora is being destroyed by decreasing natural habitat. Out-of-Africa is doing the plant growing community in this country a tremendous service by making many endangered plants available. They deserve commendations, rather than criticism, in my opinion.

Posted on September 19, 2017, updated October 5, 2017 I have ordered a lot of plants from them. I wanted information about the soil to use and was told to see their website. Fine. I had an additional question and they completely ignored me?! I tried a few times and nothing?! I gave them the benefit of the doubt at this ignorant behavior. I later wanted to ask a question about a plant I was interested in buying. I called and spoke to Maureen, the owner. She was cold, condescending and outright rude?! Seriously?! I wanted to buy another plant but thought they have to know how I feel. Their customer service couldn't be worse. Zero people skills. I ordered their plant and told Maureen how I felt and said if you have a problem with that, send my money back. They sent back my money with no response! I have spent a lot of money with these horrible people. I like their plants but don't ever look for any kind of customer service. Amazingly, pompous and disgusting people.

Three times I have contacted Dave's Garden to represent my company, Out Of Africa. The third time was one week ago, I have never received a response back from them. With the negative comment below, my only method to reply to that comment seems to be in this form. Out of Africa is a two-person operation: Mike and Maureen Massara. Although we know who "sally420" is, and she has placed orders with Out of Africa, neither Mike nor Maureen have ever spoken to her on the phone. Her review is false. sally420 has, however, e-mailed Out of Africa. In two of her more colorful unsolicited e-mails, sally420 directed sexist, personal attacks at Maureen. The attacks were unprovoked and troubling. After sally420's most recent vitriolic e-mail, we immediately canceled and refunded her order and have discontinued doing business with her. We stand by this decision. If any current or prospective Out of Africa customers are concerned by the content of sally420's review, please contact us. We are neither pompous nor disgusting and are happy to make sally420’s e-mails available for your consideration. Mike Massara

Wow! Am I impressed--I placed an order at 8pm on a Wednesday night and was immediately sent an acknowledgement. The next day I was told my order shipped and was given a tracking number. My plants arrived on Saturday. Plants were huge and bursting with health. It was as if a fellow succulentphile had selected them for me. Oh the joy...thank you, Mike and Maureen!

Posted on March 3, 2015, updated April 6, 2015 All I can say about this nursery is Wow!! I made my first order with them this last Friday at 1am (so actually that makes it Saturday) and I checked my email around 6am Saturday morning and I had an email saying that they already mailed my plants out!! And Monday around noon my mailman was delivering my plants to me, I couldn't believe it!! I've never seen plants get delivered so quickly. And since it was my first time ordering from this website I decided to make it a small order of just two plants that costed around $11 together. The shipping was nine dollars and some cents, which is the about normal for plant orders, and the plants where packaged very well and snug, not a leaf broken, some soil fell out but that's to be expected. The plants are in beautiful shape and look very healthy. Didn't see anything creepy-crawly or weird about them or their roots and soil. Their website is easy to follow and I love seeing pictures of the exact plant your getting. This place is definitely my new favorite place to get succulents from, especially Euphorbia as they have quite a good selection of hard to find euphorbia and they're my favorite. I highly recommend this nursery for online shopping for succulents, I can't think of a thing wrong about them. I'm just happy to find such great place and they can be expecting more orders from me in the near futute!! Thank you Out of Africa!! I can't quit staring at the beautiful plants you sent me!!

Numerous great experiences with this company. The plants in the photos are the ones you buy. Pot size clearly listed so you can get a good idea of the size of the plant before purchasing. Plants usually shipped potted if they are smaller. Larger plants always well wrapped if sent bare rooted. Shipping is fast and packages are usually mailed priority. I get my box usually two business days after placing an order (your location may be different). Plants are always healthy. Never had any issues with disease or insects. Always good root systems. Reasonable pricing depending on size and rarity. This is a great source for unusual African species. Sign up with your emails to get notifications weekly when new plants are added for sale.

In my opinion, one of the best sources for unusual succulents! Great plants, great prices shipping costs within reason. I just received my first order this year and I am overjoyed. I received multiple orders last year each one equally awesome. I cannot say enough good things about this nursery!

Posted on October 16, 2012, updated August 1, 2013 Posted on May 24, 2012, updated October 16, 2012 Posted on September 28, 2010, updated May 24, 2012 Posted on September 11, 2010, updated September 28, 2010 Ordered 10 succulents from, Out of Africa, for the first time. All I can say is WOW..Excellent, healthy potted plants. Each succulent came individually wrapped, with a name 'non-smear ink,' tag taped to the wrapping. I ordered last Sunday night, 9/5/10, and received shipment, Fri, 9/10/10. A fantastic nursery to stock up on succulents. Toni

I have ordered from this nursery forever, when they were still in Ohio. I always received great plants that thrived. The prices arent bad and they have alot of hard to find specimens. Highly reccomend!!

I just received an order from this company and I am very please with the plants and the packing job they did. They were extremely patient with answering my multiple e-mails. I will be ordering from them in the future!

I ordered a number of Pachypodiums and they are very healthy and arrived in great condition. This company is now in Naples, FL and I received my plants in AZ in very good time. I would definitely order again.

These guys are actually located in Naples, Florida now. I've ordered many plants from them ( all the smaller ones, not the expensive specimen plants ) over the years. Lately, they've been selling all their smaller plants on E-bay, and I've received a couple from them in the past month. The plants have always arrived healthy, and amazingly quickly. I trust these guys to ship well grown plants all the way across the country quickly and safely.

I have won multiple plants from Out of Africa on ebay. Everything is healthy and as described. I am very satisfied. You can find succulents here that you will not find anywhere else. You will not be disappointed. Check out their plants!

Just got an order which I made from their website a week ago, glad to see that they have returned to selling young plants from their site rather than thru ebay, so one can figure out what one will recieve and at what price beforehand. Plants were in excellent shape, they come in gritty soil and are put in small pots (they seem too loose to have been growing in the same pots at the greenhouse) to protect the roots and are VERY well wrapped to protect them from shipping damage. I've ordered from them before and find the plants adjust well and grow quickly (I ordered mostly euphorbias, of which they have the best selection of Madagascaran species--which are particularly nice in foliage and form and often not as visciously spined as some of their mainland African cousins). Ordering is easy, packing is superb, shipping is fast, the plants are reasonably priced and the quality is excellent--what more could one ask for!

Very, very happy with my order - plants exactly as described - well packed - will definitely order again

Careful! I had totally positive experiences with them, ordering multiple times over several years. Until... Three years ago I received an order of their plants, (all of which were ordered according to pictures on their specimen page), one of them was not the actual plant I had ordered, another one had rot on the bottom, and the third had soft black areas throughout. Naturally, I found this unacceptable, and sent the plants back, emailing them at the same time and telling them the problem and tracking number of the package. To his/her credit, the owner acknowledged the problem and agreed to either give me a refund (which I REALLY should have took!) or credit. I figured since I would be ordering from them in the future, a credit for a future order would be fine. WRONG! Later on I tried ordering more plants from them, using the credit. Nothing happened. I tried many times, but I would get no reply from them. This went on for about one year. Until the summer of 2005, when the owner finally replied and said he would fill an order with my credit (more than $300), and even give me larger plants than I had ordered. I was relieved that it seemed this lengthy ordeal would be over. WRONG AGAIN! I placed an order and waited to receive my plants. Nothing happened. After repeated emails, and phone calls (only answering machine picked up). Nothing. Absolutely nothing for the last year. I have not been able to get the owner to honor his promise. So I would advise people to beware of the perils of ordering from Out of Africa!

I have purchased from this company 4 times so far. They are a delight to deal with. The plants arrived quickly and were healthy, happy, and extremely well packed. I especially appreciate the plant tag with the botanical name and info printed on it- I missed the first one because they tape it to the outside of the newspaper they wrap with (I'm sure that's so you do NOT miss it, but I was being clueless) They have plants that I have never seen anywhere else and are extremely well informed on their favorite subject- exotic African plants.

I have purchased many plants from these folks via eBay this summer (2006). Each is wrapped, in the pot, with TLC; a custom printed plastic popsicle type lable is provided for each; and they arrive via USPS Priority Mail within 2-3 days. Frankly, I don't know where else I could find most of the exotics they offer. Sure, no matter how much care is lavished on them, some plants travel better than others - or worse - as the case may be. BUT, without exception, I've had no failures, and all have revived nicely after 2-3 days out of the box.

I have received great plants from them. In one case, I didn't realize my greenhouse cooling wasn't working, and one of the plants I received collapsed soon after I got it. I told them, and they immediately offered to replace it. I appreciate this real guarantee, but when I found out why it happened, I told them, and let them off the hook! They really will stand behind what they send. This is even better than just sending nice plants! Wayne

I've ordered from Out of Africa once. I ordered an interesting plant that I've never seen anyone else offer. It was very healthy and labeled when I received it. So far, doing well. This nursery has an outstanding selection (especially of caudiciforms).

From the first time I received plants from this company, it instantly became one of four nurserys that I will buy from via mail order and sight unseen. Okay, before the moans, I did not know it at the time, but they had put plants up for auction on eBay and that is where I first discovered them and where I received the first ones. They were packed exceptionally well [best packers so far], received within 2 days of payment, and the plants are unremarkable - I can not believe the quality. Even in shipping, they remained in their pots and unscathed. Each plant is tagged so there is absolutely no confustion as to what is what. This is an A++ company! They offer plants that have been on my wish list for quite awhile and thus, this is how I found them. They had many plants that are rare and hard to come by. I was unprepared for the quality of the plants as I thought they would be, like all others, small in 4" pots, but they were bigger and better than most nurserys offer. While some prices on specimen plants are pricey, the plant prices overall are quite fair. Someone else said it, you only get what you pay for. Will order again from them without reservation - this company is a keeper.

I ordered several plants from this company recently and was very impressed both with the customer service, speed at which i received my plants, and quality of the plants. The quality and size of plants was greater than I expected and the packing and labeling of plants was excellent. They have a lot of hard to find items and I will definately order from them again.

I've ordered from Out of Africa once. I ordered some very interesting plants I've never seen anyone else offer. They were very healthy when I got them and labeled correctly. They're all doing really well. This nursery has an outstanding selection (especially of caudiciforms and Euphorbias) and fair pricing. Some of their very large specimen plants are expensive, but you get what you pay for. Highly recommended.

If you are looking for specimen plants, especially caudiciforms, this is the place. Selection is very nice, and service is very prompt. Prices can be very inflated at times, so know what you are buying. All in all I've always been very impressed with this company.

I ordered from the company in late summer this year and was glad that i did. the plants were and still are in excellent health and their customer service is also excellent.

I just received several plants from this company. All were in excellent condition and a little bigger than expected. The owner delayed shipping because of below freezing temp., but mailed them immediately once the weather permitted. Worth the cost. I'll be ordering again I'm sure.

Since I live within an hour's drive of this business, I cannot comment on the mailorder aspect; I have purchased from them at least a half dozen times, but always at the greenhouse. They feature a huge selection of non-cactus succulents - probably 150 species of Euphorbia, alone -as well as caudiciforms of all shapes and sizes. Their stock are healthy young plants, most propigated on the site by seed or sometimes cuttings. There are also many larger, specimen plants. The owners are knowledgeable and friendly and a pleasure to do business with. I'll be back!