Comments regarding Vernon Barnes and Son Nursery

This company sent me excellent plants this year at an excellent price with zero shipping charge.Bought from them 15 years ago and those trees now bear fine fruit each year, my new trees are looking good.
These days most buying experiences mean dealing with people who could care less about anything besides getting your money and getting you out of their hair fast as possible.However, Vernon Barnes is NOT like that.They are the sort of company people used to have 50 years ago when decency,honesty, and reliability were the expected standards.I am from Tennessee too, and know the culture Vernon Barnes comes from.Such people are rare these days but great to find.I'm ordering again next week!

Posted on March 28, 2016, updated November 13, 2016
Faxed an order for 20 fruit trees (5 apple, 5 peach, 2 pear, 2 plum, 2 cherry, 2 apricot and 2 nectarine) over the weekend. The trees averaged around 6.50 per tree (with free shipping). Called Monday to make sure they had my order. A pleasant woman answered the telephone and checked to make sure that they had received it, which they had. Informed lady that they didn't need to wait until their normal ship date for my area, they could ship ASAP. Called back on Wednesday to ask when they would ship (so I could be ready to plant). Pleasant woman tells me that my order shipped that day. Got well packaged order on the following Monday. All trees (bare foot) appear to be alive, roots look good and trees clearly labeled. They also sent 8 free trees (fir & birch). Soaked the trees in water 16 hours, planted, pruned, protected (the trunk) and mulched them. Now we wait until spring for them to sprout. So far, I am very well pleased with this company. I'll try to keep updating as the year(s) progress.

I just wanted to take a minute to weigh in on this family nursery. We have ordered from them for the last two years, mostly whips of all kinds of trees and shrubs for our community plant sale. They send excellent stock with impressive root systems. We haven't had a tree or shrub fail yet and, planted in March, they look awesome for our June sale. Highly recommend.

Posted on December 19, 2002, updated December 13, 2014
Fall 2002

I found their ad in a magazine with very low prices.
I then looked them up on plantsbymail.net and saw that
most people thought they were good. We ordered about $20 worth of trees and shrubs from them. They had a deal that if you bought $15 or more, you would get 5 free trees and if you send in names and addresses of 3 other people for the catalog, they would send you some free stuff. Our shipment came within two and a half weeks, and not only did the plants look great, but they included as much free stuff as we had ordered. We will not know until spring if it all lives, but even if only one tree lives, we will not be out any more than if we had bought just one tree from a garden center.

Arthur Bishop Millbrook, AL

This is a wonderful traditional nursery. I ordered some bare root fruit trees. The trees are in nice condition and larger than what described in the catalog.

I'll order from them again.

Really inexpensive trees. I ordered about ten. They were delivered promptly and although they are small (persimmons especially), most of them are showing signs of growth already. I am hopeful they will grow into healthy trees. :)

There are so many mail order places who don't send what they advertise I thought I would take a moment and tell you about my recent experience with Vernon Barnes. This post only pertains to plants ordered and plants received. Never having ordered or heard of Barnes I was sceptical of their low prices and their newspaper catalog but i'm a dogwood lover and couldn't pass up their prices so I ordered 8 of them and various other plants. All the plants were packaged properly and looked healthy and alive. I have planted them and am anxiously waiting for warmer weather to see what lives. It is my belief that if something doesn't sprout leaves it was not Barnes fault but mine and I will definitely order from them again. P.S. 2 grafted plum trees have already leaved out and are lookin good. I had to see it to believe it.

I ordered 52 fruit trees last fall (2010) and planted them right after I received them. Some died for good and some died above the graft line. I called Vernon Barnes and told them I had about 50% survival rate (not counting the trees that died above the graft line). They immediately replaced all the dead trees shipping included without a question asked. They also send 6 trees as a gift. What a customer service! They excel in a business where there is risk and they know how to take good care of customers. Their prices are rock bottom and I will not hesitate to order from them.

Recently we received the small paper catalog that this company puts out. Since we live in Tennessee we were well aware of the history of McMinnville, TN and its assocation with growers and nurseries. We had heard local growers were struggling due to a bad weather year and the economy. So we wanted to help by purchasing trees from this catalog. I mailed the order on Tuesday afternoon and on Saturday morning had the shipment. It arrived fast, was well packaged and everything inside looked great. The prices are very reasonable, although the plants are a bit younger than you might get at a big box store. We will for sure use them again. and again

We ordered twice already from this company and were extremely pleased with the trees, plants and fast shipping. The pricing was very reasonable and S/H FREE. We ordered from several other companies, but the only one we ordered a second order from was Vernon Barnes and Son. They are to be highly commended!

I first ordered from Vernon Barnes in 2007, My first order was 50 peach trees and 10 apple trees. I was skeptical because of the low prices and my past dealings with other mail order companies, I was expecting 60 sticks in a green plastic bag, was I ever suprised. I arrived home to find what looked like a body wrapped in a large 5ft brown paper bag. After unpacking I found 52 peach trees that were all over 1/2in in diameter and had been properly pruned. the apple trees were in excellent shape and all tagged for easy identification. In 2009 I ordered 30 more peach trees and there was no decline in quality. I have had a 100% survival rate on both orders, and looking forward to a great peach harvest this summer.

I ordered 5 apple trees , 2 Paw-Paw trees, 2 Burning Bushes, 2 Pussy willows for Spring 2008. Over $50 dollars shipped free. The order arrived in excellent shape. The pussy willows were accidentally cut down by my wife. Paw-Paws are very difficult to get to grow here,. They failed to sprout. Vernon Barnes said they would replace. I am ordering again this Spring

You can't beat the price or quality of their merchandise! The only problem that I had was a mistake with the quantity of product sent to me. I informed them of this and the problem was rectified. I am very happy with Vernon Barnes and Son Nursery and will continue to use their services as needed.

I received my order today on time as ordered. Bundled, tied packaged and labeled properly.Plants were in very good condition with good, established roots. There were no shortages on quantity but there were a few extra plants in the shipment. Its true they don't have a fancy colored catalog and there prices are very reasonable In fact they are actually wholesale or some items are below wholesale for the quality you get. I know the above statements to be true for I own and operate a retail nursery and have bought from many wholesalers over the years. But I have continuously purchased plants that they can supply me with. Our hats off to you Jim and Wanda Barnes!

I HAD to join Davesgarden just so I could leave this review! (Not that there weren't other good reasons). I have ordered from Vernon Barnes for over 10 years and think they have the best value in the plant business. Much of what they offer is basic and, no, you may not be able to get some upscale hybrids or fancy varieties - but - what you'll get is GOOD, healthy rootstock that will die only if you've not paid attention to your growing zone or conditions or have yourself mishandled or incorrectly placed, planted or tended your specimen. I KNOW because I've killed quite a lot of things I've ordered from them - or my deer have! For their prices, however, it's great fun to at least try some things. Their service, shipping and stock is great. I highly recommend them.

I have ordered from this company several times during the last few years. The orders always arrived promptly and the plants thrived. The only time I had a problem was with a smoke tree but that was my fault. (I mowed it down!) True the plants are smaller but I will gladly trade a years growth for plants that live! This is one of my favorites and I will defintely order from them in the future.

Got a large order from Vernon Barnes this spring (2007). All were in good shape and were a good size. It's a little frustrating to not be able to go on-line but their prices would probably have to be higher. I ordered from them several years ago also and was very satisfied. Definitely a good, reliable company.

My husband and I just bought a new house. The garden was non existant. After reading reviews about this nursery we decided to order a catalog. The prices are amazing. My only complaint is that the only orchard trees they ship to AZ. are apple trees. and no berry bushes. Oh well. We got great prices on apple, shade trees, shrubs and vines. We were surprised that our whole order (A big order) fit into a rather small package. But all the plants(Bare root) arrived health. The honeysuckle,jasmin and privets even had leaves. We'll, see how well everything does. But for the price we are very pleased.

My experience was great because of the high quality of the products. They have very resonable prices. I wish I had known them before I dealt with TYTY.

my husband and i have bought from barnes and son several times and have always been pleased with our purchases. we have moved four times in ten years and have left beautiful plants and trees at all locations for the new owners to enjoy.we are about to start a new garden and we will be purchasing our plants from our catalog. can't wait! j. and t. in tn.

what this company does NOT have is: A web site or an expensive catalog. What this company DOES have is: good stock with superior root systems. reasonable prices. product well packed for shipping. good customer phone service, and 58 years in business, (as per their catalog). This rating is based on my first order placed last week and received today.

A few years ago I was driving through McMinnville, Tennessee looking to buy a few trees (the town bills itself as the "nursery capital of the world") and I stopped in at the Vernon Barnes & Sons Nursery. They are probably in the same building for the last 50 years, out in the country.. I found the people inside to be very nice and helpful, and as I remember I bought a few trees very inexpensively. I got them to sign me up for a catalogue. Well, due to moving around I haven't ordered from their catalogue which I get every year -- until this year. The homeowners association I'm a member of wants to spruce up the commons area. I ordered eight or ten apple trees, several dwarf peaches and some plum trees, took advantage of all their coupons and discounts, and got five free plants from them to boot, and only paid $54.00. Everything looks great, and I'm the hero of the homeowners association. (I bought fruit tree stakes and tree wrap for the trees from Home Depot the other day and that cost was almost as much as for the trees!)

My three year old Golden Jubilee Peach is in full bloom, which reminded me to say something about this nursery. I ordered the Jubilee and a Redskin three years ago. The trees were in excellent shape for fall planting and have thrived. Expect a full crop this year barring a late freeze.

I just recieved my plants today and I am delighted! I ordered several fruit trees, including apples, peaches, cherries, pears, blueberries, and a grape plant. They all look great, with buds that look ready to go. The blueberry plants are small (hey they were cheap!) but they look healthy. The trees are of good size, all are about 3 1/2 ft. The prices are very low, and the plants appear to be of good quality. I will update after they have a chance to bud out.

I'll put Barnes and Savage into the same boat as they are very simular companies in the same town. I've been doing business with both for the last 15 years or so and am very pleased with their plants. The survival rate is better than 90%. One thing I bought was 100 small leaf privets for about $10. Mine were planted on 2 foot centers. They grew from 6 inches to a dense 8 foot shrub in under 2 years.

Very fast delivery. Inexpensive. Gave free bonus plants. Of 4 4-ft apple trees that arrived dormant, 3 have leaves. The other has buds. Jury is still out on 2 of 4 bald cypress. These tend to "leaf" late in my area, so they still might be okay.

I faxed a rather large order to this nursery on two pages. I received my order right on time, but a large portion was missing. When I contacted the nursery, a very polite lady looked into the problem and noted that she herself had overlooked the second fax page. After apologizing profusely, she promptly mailed out the second portion which arrived in great shape AND she didn't charge me at all for the overlooked portion. My plants are doing great!!

Decided to try this "bargain" company, even though I had bad luck with others. To my surprise, their quality was outstanding for the price. Very healthy plants and lots of bonuses. I was impressed with the size of the plants. Other big companies charge much more for the same size. The shipping cost was also very low. I will definately buy again from them this year.

I ordered Paw-Paw trees and Sourwood trees.The service was fast and the trees arrived in excellent shape.I guess I was surprised as this is a "bargain plant" type company.I will definitely buy from them again.

Today I received my order of plants and trees ordered from Vernon Barnes. The service was good and they even enclosed a listing of the botanical names of my plants as I requested on my order form. The plants were well packaged and labeled and appear to be healthy. I received everything I ordered and everything looked okay. The purple leaf plum tree, old-fashioned lilac as well as the Japanese Snowball looked really good for the money. The free bonus plants they sent were birch trees and red-osier dogwoods. They are tiny but who knows, they might make it! Judging by appearance only and ""perceived"" vitality; I think Vernon Barnes is a good value for those on a tight budget or for those who don't mind waiting a little while longer to see mature plants. The true test will be whether they thrive or not.

About 15 years ago I bought lilac plants from Vernon Barnes. They have grown beautifully and just recently I remembered that mail order firm, but could not remember their name, nor had I kept a catalogue. I found your LIST on the internet and thereby located Vernon Barnes. I would never order plants by anyone else, not only my very favorite lilacs but other plants I bought then, all have done wonderfully. I am really thankful to you for helping me find Vernon Barnes again.

I was always very pleased with my orders from Vernon Barnes. The plants were not always gorgeous at arrival, but usually thrived. Their prices are the best in the business and the product is high quality.

I wanted to say I have bought plants thru Vernon Barnes for years. Yes the plants are small but so is the price! I have had good luck with my plants it just took longer for them to grow to full size. One rare occasion I got a bad plant they replaced it. I have ordered from other more expensive places (Burgess) and the plants were the same size but they were all dead. And they would just keep putting you off for replacements. When I got those replacements they were also dead. So the long and short of it is. If you want large plants you need to pay more just like in the stores. I applaud you Vernon Barnes for offering plants at such a good price.

It is two years since I spent $70 on 25 trees from them. The prices were so low I figured I had little to lose. Despite many of the trees being small thin 3 footers, they all lived except for one bare root Paw Paw. All the Tulip Poplars put on 4 feet the first year and they were 10 for $18! The blackberries all failed, but the 4 fruit and two nut trees did well. The packaging was OK, not great and the labeling a little primitive. But for those with a lot of ground to cover in trees and a little cash, I think they did great.