Comments regarding Violet Barn (Rob's Min-O-Lets)

I've placed 2 orders from Violet Barn and they're both been great!
The plants were expertly packaged and arrived in Alaska looking healthy. It's been months since my first order and I haven't lost a single plant.

Posted on July 21, 2014, updated November 13, 2020
About 6 weeks ago, I placed an online order for 6 standard African violets with The Violet Barn. Everything I wanted was in stock and arrived on time. Great packaging and reasonable shipping. This is the second time this happy customer has ordered from Violet Barn.

I have ordered streptocarpus plants from this company twice. Both times I received lovely plants that were very well packed and grew very well.

The selection of plants on the site has recently increased dramatically and I have just bought some kohlerias and nemantathus from them. I hope they are of the same quality as previous orders -- wonderful varieties available.

I highly recommend this company given my last two orders.

This was the first mail-order company I ever ordered plants from, and I was extremely pleased (and likely a little spoiled) with the experience. They were shipped promptly, with tracking, and arrived in the best packaging I have seen out of everywhere I have ordered since. It was almost hard to get them out of their packaging! Not a leaf out of place, and every single plant bounced back spectacularly well from the trip.
The plants were small, as expected, but surprisingly robust. Well potted and vibrant, and the Saintpaulia started blooming within 10 days, to my suprise.
I can't speak to customer service, I did not interact directly with the merchants, but I have no complaints. Will definitely be ordering from these folks again.

I love Violet Barn — since discovering them last spring, I have become addicted to the miniature violets. I have placed three orders, and have been very pleased with all the plants I’ve recieved. Every one of Rob’s hybrids I’ve ordered is a stunning plant, and they also have a good selection of violets from other hybridizers. There is a wealth of great information on culture on their website as well — very helpful if you’re a newbie like I was. And, I have have to say the freebie plant (when you leave a review on their website) is a good incentive to place an order. I noticed most of the negative comments here seem to come from people who didn’t read the information on their website carefully. No, they don’t ship large plants in full bloom; like other mail order vendors, they ship smaller young plants. African violets grow really fast, so within three to six months, you will have mature plants with lots of blooms. Violet Barn also does a great job of packing the plants for shipment, and they use a firm potting mix that stays put during transit. Really, you wouldn’t want to send a mature plant in the mail — the cost of packing and shipping would be prohibitive, and chances are they wouldn’t arrive in one piece. I am looking forward to ordering again, although I’m too cheap to spring for the winter shipping, so I’ll wait for spring!

I love this company. Everything I receive from them is in beautiful shape when it arrives in its lovingly packed box, and I appreciate how dedicated they are with keeping their website updated. It's great to get the plant you want, when you want. Also I'd like to mention the Ma's series of African violets that are hybridized by the co-owner of the company. They are beautiful, beautiful plants.

I just received an order of african violets and streps. I am very pleased with the quality of the plants and am frankly amazed at how well they are packed. Not one leaf damaged and no loose soil! I highly recommend The Violet Barn. Not only are their own hybrids beautiful, but they have the best names!

New to unusual Gesneriads (plus some of their other goodies like Hoya.) Paid extra for the overnight shipping, didn't understand that meant someone would need to sign to accept. Called the company, Rob reassured me their plants are packed to survive overseas shipping. Picked up my six babies from the post office, THEY WERE PACKED TO SURVIVE A TRIP TO MARS. Emailed him all's well, received a confirmation email. Very pleased, healthy beautiful babies, I'll be ordering from them again : ))))

My order arrived yesterday. As always, the plants were remarkably well-packed. They arrived in perfect condition. Almost half were in bud. That's pretty good considering that these are small, affordable plants in pots the size of dixie cups.
Violet Barn is the best source of gesneriads I've found. There have been no unpleasant surprizes in the 2 years I've been a customer. It wins in price, selection and quality.

This comment is in response to the previous one. I have ordered plants from the Violet Barn for years and have grown African violets for a lot longer. The pictures are to let the buyer know what the flowers will look like WHEN they bloom. African violets are sensitive plants which take a long time to acclimate and to reach maturity and are easily damaged in shipping. To assume that you can purchase a full grown, blooming plant for the price that The Violet Barn offers is naive and unrealistic. The Violet Barn ships beautiful, young plants that will reach maturity and bloom beautifully in time. Patience is required. If you have none I would suggest you buy the plants locally and educate yourself. I have NEVER had bad luck with the plants from the Violet Barn. An I highly recommend them.

I ordered 11 plants, mostly Sinningia and Streptocarpus from Violet Barn. They arrived in in perfect condition. The packaging was impressive. Plants all look healthy. I have zero complaint about the whole experience. Very happy.

I ordered both the standard African Violet special and the mini African Violet special. I was very pleased with both orders. I received the plants the following week after ordering, which is pretty good considering I have an order in with another company and am still waiting after two weeks.
It was above 90 degrees the day they arrived. All the Violets were packaged to perfection and not one plant was damaged or over heated. The plants were all healthy and so far insect free.
I have them in my isolation room under lights and they are adjusting nicely. I have since made two orders with this company. I would certainly recommend this company.

This was my first purchase from Violet Barn and I was very pleased. I ordered 17 Streptocarpus and 1 Kohleria. Everything was received quickly and came very well packaged. Plants look very healthy and several had blooms. I will definitely order from the Violet Barn again.

Ordered over 20 plants totaling about 160 from them. All plants packaged beautifully and individually wrapped. Every plant felt like a Christmas presents! =D Everyone of them came in prefect shape, not a single bent leaf! This is shipped in MARCH! I will definitely buy from them again!

I had a very positive experience with the Violet Barn, even though there was one small understandable mistake. I ordered 7 Petrocosmeas. I received 6 beautiful Petrocosmeas and one Begonia. It was clear the Begonia was an honest mistake--it had a name similar to one of the Petrocosmeas. Oh well. I emailed the Violet Barn, and literally within minutes Rob explained and corrected the problem, refunding some of my money. The net result is that I received 6 Petrocosmeas and 1 free Begonia--also a cool species that I did not have.

I received the Petrocosmeas (and Begonia) beautifully packed and in perfect condition, in December.

The Violet Barn's plants are beautiful, their prices low, and their attitude and service exceptional. They are an outstanding company that deserves our business.

My order arrived today. The violets were nice plants.

The Hoyas are smaller than I had thought they would be, but that is ok, as long as they do grow larger and are not stunted.

One of the Hoyas had lost most of it's leaves and is looking rather puny and not so great. I will contact Rob's if it dies and will see how well they are about replacing it if it dies.

Posted on October 11, 2009, updated August 11, 2014
In December, 2008, I ordered a collection of ten streptocarpus, their choice. The plants were quite small, but nicely packed. They sat in three-inch pots in my cool greenhouse all winter, not growing, not dying. Then they took off in the late-winter sun and warmth, and from May on they have been blooming like mad, and look picture perfect. Cultural instructions were excellent.

Wow!! I can't believe how beautifully packaged the plants were, and how high the quality. I would have to guess this is a labor of love. I ordered 13 miniature plants, including Sinningias, Euonymus japonicus, Hedera and mini violets. The box was very carefully packed in layers of insulation, the soil was kept in the pots with an ingenious plastic arrangement, and the small pots were then stabilized within a paper tube. These plants arrived in perfect condition in mid-winter here in (very cold and snowy) Maine. I am extremely impressed, and grateful for the beautiful plants.

Just received my second plant order from Robs since fall. Great service, super fast shipping, and beautiful plants that were carefully packaged. The ones I bought in the fall are all in bloom, warming up the Pennsylvania winter. My favorite plant is strep Bristols Nightfall. I will certainly be back for more.

Placed an order on Monday, late in the day. The order arrived on Thursday morning. Packaging was extremely well done - each plant had a plastic collar rubber-banded to the pot to contain the soil and had a plastic identification stake included, then wrapped in paper and stapled at either end. The plants were surrounded by insulation and placed inside a cardboard box with air pillows protecting them from all sides. Accompanying the shipment were full instructions on unpacking and care, along with a packing slip. The plants were well rooted and ready to thrive. Excellent!

very happy with my one small purchase! packaged well and shipped quickly. plant is healthy.

Posted on May 22, 2008, updated July 1, 2013
Received 5 African Violets today. . All five are good-sized, very healthy, and pest-free.
Price per plant is quite reasonable, as is shipping cost.
I talked to the owner, (I think he was the owner) who was very pleasant and helpful.
Soon after our conversation, a confirmation email was sent, letting me know all 5 Av's were available.
Plants were well-packaged, held together with plastic and rubber bands, tucked between newspaper. Foil was lined inside the box for safe-keeping.
Considering the order was phoned in a few days ago, shipping was extremely fast. Toni

Wow! These people are awesome!

3 baby Gloxinia’s arrived in perfect condition and only a week from my order in the middle of winter Wisconsin style.

My annual January pick-me-up was everything I had hoped so many in the past would have been. They should write a book on how to do retail plant mail order RIGHT.

And I know a number of companies who should read every word, twice.

I've been mail-ordering plants, seeds, supplies, etc., for decades now (I'm 70) and I've never seen any better service than Violet Barn's. The packaging is a joy to behold, so that not a bit of potting medium was disturbed in transit, and all seven of my African violets were in flawless condition. This nursery is sure doing its part to make life happier for us horticulturists.

The Violet Barn was my first experience in ordering African violets online.I ordered the 10 violet multipack . My wife got tired of the many blue African violets I have running around in the house.They arrived well within the promised time frame in very good condition.Extreme care was taken in growing these beauties.I could tell by the size of the root systems.They were bug free and had some sturdy leaves. They were well packed.No dirt was evident on the bottom of the shipping box and the soil was even moist. I cannot wait until they bloom and get big.I can then start some white,pink and red African violets and put them all over the house!

Good quality and variety of plants for a reasonable price! I ordered last spring and the plants are all healthy and doing well.
Something to be aware of: Rob seems to be the kind of person who is very curt and to the point, not the sort to go out of his way to be particularly friendly. Maybe it's because he's very busy with the business, or maybe that's just his personality. It's not really a big deal since you don't really have to interact with him much if you're ordering online, but if you do contact them personally be prepared for it.

Posted on June 1, 2009, updated April 6, 2012
I was hesitant to write this review, but I have relied on Garden Watchdog in the past, so I wanted to weigh in on my experience with Rob's Violets. I have to give him a neutral. I phoned in my order, and spoke directly with Rob. As the customer, I just didn't feel important. Customer service and the way you treat people, both in person or over the phone/on-line is very important to me. I felt he was condescending and short over the phone, and again when I emailed to inquire about the order a week later. My order was received, and he does an outstanding packing job... much care and time is put in to packaging the plants for mailing. I only ordered two plants, and while small, they appear healthy, and I don't expect to have any trouble with them.

Posted on November 11, 2011, updated March 9, 2012
Posted on November 11, 2011, updated November 11, 2011
I ordered named varieties and received small but well-rooted and healthy starter plants. The spreading African violets had a handful of small leaves and the streptocarpus had at least two leaves, with several smaller leaves starting on one plant.
The plants arrived in good condition. Packaging was careful and well done. They even included a piece of insulation around the plants against the cold weather we've been getting.

It'll be months before they bloom, but provided they are true to name, I'm satisfied.

I received my first order of 3 miniature African Violets a few weeks ago. I was so impressed that I have already ordered and received 2 more miniature violets. I have ordered many plants, shrubs, and small trees online. Violet Barn out does all the others with their packaging and shipping times! The weather has been unusually hot, yet the violets were completely undamaged. Leaves, blossoms, and buds were perfect. The soil in the pots was still damp. I am already planning my next order. Highly recommended.

I received my first order from The Violet Barn this week. I'd ordered two gloxinia plants. While quite small, both plants arrived in good condition due to some exceptionally good packing. I'm not aware of any other online suppliers of gloxinia plants in the U.S., so I'm thrilled that The Violet Barn has turned out to be a good vendor.

And...I'm a fairly serious and hard-to-satisfy gloxinia grower. See:
//www.senior-gardening.com/features/gloxinias.html

Made an online order, but then decided to drive 7 hours to pick it up...glad I did. Stayed at the guest house which the owners rent to out-of-town visitors. Nice operation, clean; neat and orderly; I bought double my original order because I kept seeing things I had to have! Plants were packed nicely for travel (in February) and are all thriving. The variety of offerings is outstanding; a boon for the collector. This is a great small business whose owners are passionate about what they do.

I've ordered three times now. The plants are well-packed, and even cold-sensitive episcias arrived in good condition in Ohio in March.

I ordered from Violet Barn this past spring and wanted to post feedback while it was on my mind.

The violets were expertly packed and shipped and arrived in great health.

They are all doing great and I've recently repotted them into larger 4" (2 1/2" for the minis) Oyama self-watering planters.

What I ordered:

Rob's Hot Tamale mini
EK Goddess of Beauty
Rob''s Antique Rose mini
Ma''s Wonder Woman
Ness'' Ruffled Skies
Rob''s Sarsparilla mini
Mermaid''s Kiss
Winter Smiles
Ian Sasha
Gillian

All but one were in stock, Winter Smiles, and they are all still doing great despite a very long and tedious move into a new house this past summer.

I would not hesitate to order again from this company.

Ordered Streps, Standard, Russian and Miniature AV's in early October. The plants arrived promptly with the best packing I have seen from any supplier. The plants, although small, were healthy. Now all are blooming and growing at a great pace. I will definitely order from them again when the weather warms up.

Two separate orders, streptocarpus for myself and my mother. Plants were just as advertised, and arrived with impeccable packaging. plants were very healthy.

Thank you to Rob for the beautiful delivery of my new African Violets! The packing is absolutely outstanding, the plants are healthy, and because they were packed so well, they arrived in excellent condition. I would definitely order from you again and would encourage anyone else to have no worries about the way this company does their business. You receive the highest praise from me. I asked a few questions about pot size and when to repot and every email was answered courteously and quickly, even though my questions were answered in the care information that is included with the boxed order. Great customer service! Lori

I ordered just a couple of plants back in March and they recently bloomed beautifully.
One of my SINNINGIA's although very beautiful were the wrong variety.
I sent an email and was promptly nitofied I would get a replacement at no cost.
The replacement came in just a few days,
I must say their packing is OUTSTANDING,as well as the customer service,
Bravo Rob !

I received my order of 4 miniature violets today, the packaging was excellent and everything arrived in good condition. Two of the plants have flower buds and it should not be long before the others do as well. The selection of plants and flower colors offered, truly are spectacular. I look forward to ordering again.

I've been buying from Dr. Rob and Olive Ma Robinson for about 3 years now and have never been disappointed. So far this year (2010) I've ordered streptocarpus in one order (let me see Bristol's Tractor Beam Bristol's Cat Dance Bristol's Goose Egg Bristol's Hot Rod) and my other order this year was Picasso, Vintage Wine, Rob's Heat Wave, Rob's Suicidal Squirrel, Rob's Chilly Willy. Great plants, healthy. Great Packing. What more can I say?
They have a great selection of all kinds of gesneriads. This is one of probably 3 websites I check before I go to ebay to look. I highly recommend them and I will keep coming back.