Comments regarding Park Seed Company (aka Park's Gardens)

I had a good season with my Park's seed that I ordered last spring.

I ordered a total of 9 own-root roses from these two, related companies (Park and Wayside). They arrived tired, with broken roots and branches, and several with blackspot. Six have died.Of the 27 own-root roses I bought from other vendors, only one has died. The others are flourishing - Austins, shrubs, hybrid musks, climbers, and OGRs.

There seems to be a bit of a shake-up going on at this company. You can no longer order bulbs from the Park Seed branch--only from Wayside. And they have a new spin-off for perennials, etc, Countryside Gardens. It's all veryconfusing. In terms of quality, I've had good luck with bulbs from Park Seed, but the perennials from Wayside have been 50-50.

I also buy from Parks and have enjoyed the same happy experience from them [as Wayside.] Of course, being one and the same company. I will say that three clematis plants ordered recently are iffy for survival, but we shall see.One rule I make on mail catalogues: if they don't give the botanical name for the plant, I don't order from them. I'm sure that rule hassaved me many problems

This is my Park's Seed story - like so many others, I find that the seeds are fine,but the plants stink. Last year I ordered seeds & plants. My order came in 4 different shipments since most plants were not in stock at each shipment, not due to planting dates/zones. I placed my order in March, the last shipment came 6 months later. I live in zone 5! I called them & told them that we were getting frosts now, stop sending plants!! Also, most of the plants were tiny, broken, moldy, etc. They told me when I called that I should just plant them and they would be fine, but did credit my credit card when I pushed them. I will never buy PLANTS from them again. They do seem to be ok for SEEDS.

I have had bad luck with Park Seeds; never have any seeds produce… Maybe sharing information on the Internet will help good quality nurseries to continue to send good stock and inform the not so good quality nurseries to send good stock. Shipping at the right time and packaging for ease of planting is a plus.

[One of] the best places that I have had luck with is Park Seed. (They are 100% guaranteed or your money back.)

I just received my bulbs from Park. They are all moldy, I wonder if they will grow?

I am very disappointed. I placed an order at Park Seed in August, 2000. They confirmed the order by email. They sent me the seeds I ordered. I was waiting for a blue Rose of Sharon plant that they had for $10. We started getting frost warnings in Philadelphia in September and needed to mulch my garden for winter. I emailed them in September, but got no reply. I called them the 3rd week in September and was told that they apologize. They should not have confirmed my order in August as they were out of stock at the time. I should have (but didn't) receive notice by post card. Their best suggestion was that they'd make sure to send me their sister catalog, Wayside Gardens. The Wayside catalog usually carries Rose of Sharon in the Spring catalog at twice the price because they are older plants.I'm very unhappy. Rose of Sharon is practically a weed. It's such an extremely hardy plant it seems to survive anything. And they grow veryfast. I told them it's a waste of money to pay extra for an older plant.I only became aware of them this summer, but now that I know to look for them it seems there is one in every block. There are plenty of white and red but I can't find blue either in the neighborhood or at local nurseries.So I'll be stuck spending twice the price if I want to order it in the spring. Seems to me they could have made arrangements to send one fromWayside now since they did confirm my order, but they didn't make this offer. This is not good customer service or what I'd call a reputablecompany.

Park Seed is less expensive [than others], also has 2,000 varieties, a nice-looking catalogue and I have had better success with their seeds.

I was very pleasantly surprised when I ordered from Park's Countryside Gardens. I was stunned to see such beautiful, green, healthy plants (all of which flourished) arrive in the mail.

I recently received an order from this company that I was very pleased with. Both items were very well packed and planting a care instructions were clear. The "good news" however, was that the rose I ordered (a new English hybrid that I couldn't find anywhere else) was not only an outstanding price- but resembled 5 plants rather than 1. It has about 15 strong canes! Definitely impressed!

I am new at ordering seed catalogs, etc. Heck, I am fairly new at growing anything from seeds! Last year, I got tomato seeds from Park's and that worked out fine.

I order seeds from this company every year and they have never disappointed me. Their prompt service has enabled me to get seeds as gifts at the last minute and in time for spring planting even if I ordered late. Everything I have ordered from them has a great germination rate and I have never had a problem with any of their products or seeds. This is a premiere quality seed house and I will continue to order from them every year.

I've been ordering from Park Seeds for a number of years, and have been completely satisfied with their merchandise and service. On the one occasion when I was not satisfied (a bare-root rose which did not thrive) I phoned Parks and was offered a refund or credit as the rose was out of stock and could not be replaced. No questions asked as to my care of the rose, etc. I elected a credit as I intended to order other items.This winter/spring I ordered seeds and plants. The seeds arrived in less than 2 weeks, and the plants shortly thereafter. I had never before ordered plants via the mail, and was dismayed to open a box full of what appeared to be dead plants. I WAS WRONG. The plants were simply dormant, as the enclosed literature explained. Dormant plants are not something we are accustomed to in Florida. Skeptically, I watered the pots and set them outside. Within a few days most were sprouting. Within 2 weeks they all were. I checked out the pots, and they all have nice, healthy roots. I am looking forward to a bounty of flowering plants this spring/summer.As for seed from Parks, the varieties are great, as are the germination rates, and I really like the catalog.

I ordered from Park Seed; the seeds arrived promptly

I ordered, online from Parks for the first time this year. We ordered, among other things, 3 rose bushes which were sent at the proper time for planting in our East Texas climate, were well packaged and all but one appeared in good condition. A few weeks after planting the bushes didn't look as though they were going to perform so I e-mailed Parks simply asking if there was something else I should do and if I decided they were not going to live, would I need to ship them back. I did not expect them to DO anything at that point because I felt there was still time for the bushes to perk up. They IMMEDIATELY shipped one replacement and credited back a full refund on my credit card for the other two. I now have four rose bushesthat are in leaf and one is budding. I can't say enough good things about Park.I think some people have exaggerated expectations for service and a little patience is called for. Many of these nurseries that have gone on-line are overwhelmed with much more business than they anticpated and, in doing 90%of my ordering on the net, my experience has been, that they try very diligently to catch-up.

If you want to order anything from Park Seed -- don't bother with their website. I placed an order on 1/19 -- and they haven't even begun processing it yet (as of 1/25). I called this morning to check on its status because I hadn't received it yet -- and they can't even give me an estimate of when they might start processing the order, much less when I can expect to receive it. The customer service representative told me that she could cancel my online order, and take my order over the phone and they'd get it out immediately. So -- if you're desperate for something from Park Seed, give them a call...but personally, I won't do business with any arm of a company that has such poor online order handling.

Great company! Have ordered from them for years & will continue to do so. Checked out the site to order this year & noticed quite a price difference between the site & my most recent catalog-some packets 50 cents higher online. Not a big deal, & certainly won't prevent me from ordering, but where did I put those stamps?

I have ordered seed from Park's for several years in the past with excellent results. In 1998, I tried ordering plants and lily-of-valleypips. The plants arrived in excellent condition (although too early for me to plant out in my climate but I have a grow-light set up for seeds so I just put them under the lights until the proper time). I guess the pips were all right, too. I had never seen pips before so I can say. Everything was planted outside when the soil was workable (about 6 weeks later). Half of the pips sprouted; none bloomed. The Houttuynia started off well but then declined possibly due to some cold June weather. The Geranium 'Ballerina' thrived. I transplanted the Houttuynia to a warmer location with no luck. I didn't contact Park in 1998 about theseproblems but waited until July of 1999 to be sure of the results. By that time, there were no living Houttuynia and no Lily of the Valley. The Geraniums were back and doing well.I called Park's and reported all this. Without questioning me further or trying to shift the blame for failure on my gardening expertise (or lack thereof), the customer service representative cheerfully told me that I would be receiving a refund check in the mail with 2 weeks and apologize for the poor results. This is the way Customer Service is supposed to work! I just received their current catalog and I wasn't going to order any seeds this year (because I have over 150 species of seeds in inventory). As always, I went through the catalog checking off the most desired species. Then, just for the heck of it, I went to their order form to see what shipping & handling would cost IF I DID decide to order. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it had been lowered to just $1.00! Because of their wonderful customer service and this new lower S&H rate, I immediately put together an order for those checked species. (I'll find some room under those lights somehow.) I would wholeheartedly recommend this company. And their selection is not the same old run-of-the-mill species, either.

I have been gardening for about 30 yrs. and grown plants from seed for most of those years. I started buying seed from parks many years ago and when I had poor germination rate I thought it was my inexperience was the problem. Well, after many years, I have decided it is not my fault but Park. Seed I buy from other companies have good germination rates. I will say if you buy a new seed it will germinate well but a couple yrs. later forget it. I have also bought some bulbs a couple of times and they were already dried out and dead or did so soon after. I have been a Purdue master gardener since 1988 and do know how to grow plants from seed.

Of all the seed companies I have ordered from, theirs wins hands-down! Most consistent germination, clear instructions, and well-sealed packs are some of the reasons I favor them so highly.

My experience with Park, twice, was terrible. The worst was my order for clematis, which I ordered based on their photograph of a husky plant. Mine (three varieties, six plants) looked like culls, worse than those little boxes at the discount mart. I don't go back to false advertising.

I was most displeased with my order. Although they willingly refunded my money, I called them shortly after receiving my order that the plants had dried out. They suggested waiting until spring to see if they grew. After waiting a reasonable time in spring I called again to tell them nothing had grown. They suggested waiting 2 more weeks since the plants in question were typically late to start. Two weeks later still nothing so I called to request new plants only to be told they were now out of that plant. In one order of Geranium "Splish-Splash", whose flowers are white splashed with blue, one of the 6n plants I ordered has now produced all blue flowers and looks like Johnson's blue, not Splish-Splash. Two other plants they sent that didn't thrive -- they were very puny plants -- when I called for replacements they were again out of stock of that plant. I've just about decided that it's better to buy from local nurseries where you can see what you're getting.

I just received an order of seeds and perennials from them. The seeds are fine (as always). Because I had always had such good luck with bulbs from Parks, I thought I'd try the perennials. They are pitifully small, anemic, and sad looking little things with almost no root system. Never again. This order is a complete waste of money.

On 5 April, 1999 I ordered 3 lilacs. On 26 April I called to find out when I will receive my order, they told me 2--3 more weeks. Their service is terrible; their product is good. I wanted to get the lilacs planted before it gets hot, so they may get established. Their excuse as to why the delay is they are busy. So if you order in April, be prepared for a long, long, long wait.

I have ordered seeds from Park Seed Company for many years. Their prices are more expensive than some, but germination is excellent, so in the long run you save money. This year I tried seeds from other companies, but many of the seeds didn't germinate. Next year, I'm sticking with Park.

I often purchase plants by mail. Park Seed is on my shopping list. Since I have had successes and failures with each and every purchase, including purchasing from local nurseries and garden centers, I usually chalk it up to experience, and try something else.

A small order - seeds were fine. Honeysuckle plant received late summer - supposedly dormant but looks dead. Seeds only in the future.

I have ordered from Park Seed for about 7 years. All plants have been in excellent shape when I received them. The seeds have great germination percentage. Their prices are reasonable and service exceptional. They ship on time and packaged well to protect the plants. Shipping costs are not bad, recent catalogs only charge one small price for shipping seeds only. I will continue to order from them, as I am very satisfied with their service and products

Their seeds are great and the customer relations department there should receive an award for responsiveness. Unfortunately, we have not been totally impressed with their plants, which have been small -- although it should be said that they survive anyway.

I ordered 10 liriope from Park -- all were small and very dried out, and only one is making in (very slowly). They gave me back my money since they had run out of them!!!

When our local Agway and farmer's union ran out of dwarf snow pea seed, I ordered from Park. The pound of seed came in good time and so far germination looks excellent. I look forward to freezing much for winter stir-fries and will continue to keep the Park catalog on hand.

I have been ordering many plants this past year or two, since I have drastically increased the number of perennial beds in my yard. From Park Seed, I received 2 plants with beautiful top growth, but no roots. Was able to save one, but the other died rather quickly. They sent me a very nice replacement, and were very congenial.

Park Seed…is pretty stingy when it comes to the size of a packet.

I order most of my seeds from Parks every year. Excellent service, reasonable prices, large variety and germination is excellent. They even send a helpful book on starting seeds.

This is the second year I have ordered from Park Seed. The customer service is top notch. I have emailed twice with questions about my plants, and they have responded very quickly. On the phone or on the email, the staff has been very helpful and knowledgeable. I ordered the Park starts, planted seeds on a Monday, and on Wednesday of the same week, a good portion of the seeds had sprouted. Now, not even two weeks later, about 95% of the seeds have grown, some so much that I've already transplanted them. All but one of my bare root plants are doing well, I ordered 5. The sad one is a coral bell, but we have high hopes for it. The actual plants are thriving, even my rosemary! Everything was packed well, and I received my orders within 2 weeks of mailing the checks. As for those who have had bad experiences with Park Seed, I ask you to give them another chance. The good definitely outweighs the bad.

I have stopped ordering plants from Wayside Gardens and Park Seed. (They are one and the same company, and send the exact same plants from the exact same growers.) I will admit that they sent some reasonably nice Agapanthus way back about four or five years ago, but every other plant that I have ordered from them was too small, and either failed to grow, or required growing on in a greenhouse. There are so many other mail order nurseries who send bigger, healthier plants at cheaper prices…

This is one of the best companies I have ever done business with! Last year I ordered seeds, roses, a heating cable, a pH meter, and clematis vines. One of the roses arrived with a crack in the central cane, all the way down to the graft. It was replaced within the week. I ordered the wrong size cable; they took it back for exchange and picked up the postage. 2 of the 5 clematis vines did not come up, and they replaced them with any that I wanted from the catalog, whereas my first order was for 'sale-grab bag' varieties. All of the seeds germinated very easily (thanks to my trusty heating cable) and the roses look great in only 1 season. I am very pleased with the courteously of their customer service, and they have even had their horticulturist call me about a question I had. Truly professional.