Comments regarding Hardyplants.com

Posted on June 26, 2012, updated March 8, 2013
Posted on January 29, 2012, updated June 26, 2012
I ordered several hard-to-find seeds form this company. Mostly Campanulas. They shipped in a timely manner and also sent along some Magpie Aquilegia. So far they have all germinated well and are tiny sprouts. I did not have any problems with them. They look to be what they say they are, but I won't really know until the spring. I have no reason to think they are not. So I would say I am a fan.

I should have checked here before ordering. I usually do, but this time I let my excitement distract me (they have some rare seeds that you won't find anywhere else in the USA). Unfortunately it would have been easier to import them myself because this source is a dud.

I ordered over 2 months ago and have not received my order. I sent them an email, and waited a week (no response). I sent them a second email, and waited a week (no response). I also called them twice and the phone just rings and rings. There is no answering machine and no one ever answers.

I guess I'll be joining the rest you of with a complaint to the BBB which is too bad because I purchase a lot of seeds and they could have had a loyal customer.

Posted on March 4, 2011, updated July 1, 2011
I ordered Blue Barlow Aquilegia Vulgaris (columbine), and Hakone Blue Platycodon Grandiflorus (Balloon Flower) in Summer, 2010.

The site emailed me saying they were shipped after about 10 days. But that wasn't true, I received them about a month later. It was fine because I wasn't using them immediately.

But both packets said they should be used before 2011, before they were meant to be planted. I don't know why they would keep stuff that old, let alone sell it.

This is my first gardening experience, and I had no idea that the seeds were bad, I kept thinking I was doing something wrong. But I ordered from another company and learned that it should be much easier than that.

Of all of the 2 sets of seeds, and TONS of work and attention and care, I only got 2 balloon flowers to germinate, and only 1 survived. I regret my purchase deeply because I really did waste so much time on this lost cause, and it took most of my enthusiasm away from gardening.

I did email them about all of this, but as you could guess, they didn't respond and I expect they would tell me to go to ____. Please don't support this rotten business, even if you're desperate for something they have, you'll regret it.

P.S. They also market themselves under Specialty Perennials FYI.

I ordered 7 packets of Oenothera seeds last fall. The arrival was timely but, when I grew them out in the greenhouse in January four of the packets contained what turned out to be plantago. The company did not respond to emails about this until I got through the the phone number which appeared to be Pauls father. I did then receive a long email describing the botanical characteristics of the seeds and verifying they were not Oenothera. I asked for replacements- I need them for a research project. This has been months and no word, nor seeds. The Minnesota Better Business Bureau warned me that this company has a track record with them for not responding.

I placed an order on September 6, 2009. Three and a half months later, I am still without my seeds. I have tried to contact them twice about this order, with no response from them.

I`m without the seeds and without the money.

They ignore all my emails.

I wanted two specific species of columbine. I ended up ordering a few others I had been thinking about. I got out of date per the package seeds, two sets of seed I didn't order and I was missing those I wanted in the first place. Only two packages matched what I wanted . Email link is no longer working, no phone number posted to call, No response possible. NOT HAPPY

I placed an order with this company on Feb.18th. My responding e-mail stated the seeds would arrive in 5-10 business days unless it is June which is a busy month. It is now March 17th with no seeds and no response to my e-mails. I do not agree with the earlier positive response to this company. If they are not able to deliver as they say they will then they should honestly say when they will deliver and not charge until they are delivered. They are also very difficult to contact, if you respond to their e-mail it is undeliverable. There is no e-mail for hardyplants.com or specialty plants. The only way to contact them is by the address contained in the e-mail.

I placed an order in February which was charged to my credit card but was never shipped. They did not respond to emails and did not follow through on shipments after they stated they would when I called. I did try to go through my bank to get the money refunded, but it had been too long since the initial transaction took place.

Then a couple of days ago (6 months later), they sent an email that they refunded my account, which they had. I am proud to support any small companies as long as they deliver, and I can simply say that Hardyplants did not.

No email responses no shippment. I am not going to follow suit as others did with phone calls. The state of WI does have a Consumer Protection for dealing with fraud as does the internet and ebay. The IRS also may want to check up on fraudulent companies. If interested the address below is to the WI Department of Justice. Links to consumer protection and contact method are on the page.

http://www.doj.state.wi.us/dls/crimltt.//www.doj.state.wi.us...

I join those who who where lured to order from this company by their great selection and great prices; however I also join with those that have had a very negative experience. (They also operate as Specialty Perennials.) I placed an order and after 3 weeks of no items received or any correspondence sent me, I made an friendly email inquiry and left a message to their telephone. Hardy Plants replied to neither.

This is unacceptable business practice. I did not have the problem that Hardy Plant had already charged my credit card so I closed the card account used and will refuse any items sent me.

I encourage the gardening community to boycott this shady business.

This is the same company as Specialty Perennials. I ordered a variety of seeds & was very excited to see their selection. Unfortunatley, after a month I did not receive them, although my credit card had been billed on the day of my order. I sent numerous emails (very polite) which were all ignored until I threatened to go to my bank, then they sent me an email back apologizing and saying my order had been sent out. Over a month later, still no seeds, and no responses to the numerous emails I've sent since.

Do not order from these people. They will cheat you.

The seed that I received was NOT what I ordered. This was not an isolated incident!

I ordered seeds on-line from hardyplants.com on 7/16/04. Shortly after, I received an email from them notifying me that seeds are shipped out in about a week and gave me an order number. They charged my credit card on 9/15/04, but I have not received my seeds as of 10/18/04. I tried to contact them by email twice, but got no response. I would like to either be reimbursed or receive my seeds.
Robin

My experience was similar to karlaetten's. I placed an order and ended up contacting this organization numerous times via e-mail and by phone. I would deem them unresponsive. The seed was properly packaged when I recieved it however substitutions were made without my knowledge or consent and I don't particulalry appreciate that. It was so diffiuclt initiating contact with them that I didn't even bother recontacting them to comment on the substitutions. I do have to also comment that I did not get the greatest germination rate from their seeds. There were other issues with the transaction I had with HardyPlants. They did offer a nice variety of seeds and to their credit, they do have a nice website that offers good advice on seed starting.