Comments regarding Annie's Annuals and Perennials

I placed 3 orders with Annie's this year. Annie's carries many unusual plants that I have not been able to find the seeds. Certain annuals just do not ship well and I have had better success growing them from seed. All of the plants I ordered were hardy enough to survive shipping to Chicago. The first two orders arrived in 2 days as anticipated and the plants were beautiful. They are all thriving outside. The 3rd order arrived 2 days late thanks to problems with the shipper - yes - the same shipper who handles anthrax shipments. Also, the box was handed to me upside down with total disregard for live plants or this side up! The mimulus pictus plants that I had ordered suffered significant damage. I called Annie's and explained the situation. They cheerfully issued me a credit for the plants. I could not ask for better service!!!

I have nothing but high praise for Annie's Annuals! I've ordered several times from them and each time my plants have arrived in beautiful condition. They are packed with care
and are ready for planting in my yard. I would recommend Annie's Annuals online or better yet visit their nursery in Richmond, it's awesome. The only problem I ever have is in deciding which plants to pick!

I just received my first shipment from Annie's.

Plants were bigger than I expected and in great health. Packaging was excellent.

Shipping charges are high, but Annie's insists on shipping to the east coast by 2-day air (I assume because of their experience), so I bit the bullet because I couldn't find these plants for sale anywhere else. Shipping was $29.95 on an order of $47.70.

Though Annie's carries a long list of excellent plants that are rarely available elsewhere, they rarely have enough of them in stock at any one time for me to put together an order that justifies the shipping costs. This is the first time I've ordered from this company, because it was the first time they've had six plants I wanted available at the same time.

There seems to be one labeling mistake, but I will see how their customer service deals with it.

Posted on March 27, 2015, updated June 1, 2015
As a former orchid grower/fancier, I have purchased and received many mail order plants from all over the world. Plants arrived in various states of growth to dead. So I must say that not only am I extremely pleased with my order from Annie's Annuals, their packing was unique, superb, and the perfectly protected plants arrived in absolutely primo condition! Do not hesitate buying from this fabulous plant source!

I cannot tell you how thrilled I was with my Annie's order. Their packaging and care with shipment is superb. After carefully unwrapping all of the thoughtfully packaged 4" pots and bare root plants, everything was happy and healthy.

I order on-line since, where I live, we have a short growing season and our nurseries seem to have the same expensive plants every year. I support buying local, but I need some variety! I have ordered from other on-line nurseries and been very/somewhat disappointed due to ailing plants and/or no stick identifier with the plant. I may love to garden but I do not have a degree in horticulture and need that little stick which was in every plant.

Due to the care Annie's takes with shipping, the packaging materials are quite profuse. So recycling is a must.

I will definitely be ordering from Annie's again.

Annette
Park City, Utah

I just got my first order from Annie's. I was nervous wondering if the plants would ship from California to Ohio okay. I ordered anyway because they had some rare varieties I couldn't find anywhere else. I'm so glad I did. The plants couldn't be in better shape. The soil was still moist and all were healthy and good sized. I have ordered from other nurseries that are closer to where I live, but the Annie's plants were in better shape. I will definitely be ordering from them again.

First off, Annie's was the only place where I could find the plants I wanted. Bloody Dock or Red Sorrel, whichever you choose.
My order arrived today. I could not be more pleased. The plants look perfect! Great job. They are outside now, getting acclimated I gave them a nice drink of water.
Thank you for such excellent service and plants.
Sharon Miller OKC

Annie's has the best transplants I've found...through mailorder or through any of our local nurseries. Their packaging is superior and they ship well-rooted and developed plants in 4" pots that have been thorougly watered for the journey. Even though I live in western Washington, I'm able to order both perennials and annuals from Annie's location in California. They have valuable information in their descriptions including hardiness zone (look yours up on their website while taking into account microclimates within your zone), mature plant dimensions, water and soil requirements, and tolerance for deer and snails (slugs up here). This is the second year I've ordered and the plants I received two weeks ago are already thriving in the ground.

The folks at Annie's are exceptionally friendly, knowledgeable, and go over and above to provide that really rare customer SERVICE we all miss so much.
The packaging your plants arrive in will amaze you. I haven't seen anyone else really even come close. Your plants will thrive, due in large part to the care they received at the nursery and in the way they arrive at your home.
They are a wonderful company to work with and it's been a pleasure doing business with them for many years!

I have used Annies Annuals over the past 3 years, they are a wonderful nursery that knows the meaning of bee friendly plants. Everything I have ordered from them has always come to me in great shape. These guys really know how to pack & ship live plants. Whenever I have had a question or issue with my order they have been very quick to respond and have always been pleasant to work with.

I've been using plants from Annie's Annuals for over 15 years both in my own garden and in the ones I design (I'm a professional landscape designer) and have never, EVER had a problem with any of the staff or any of the plants. Yes, shipping is expensive, but you should see the care that goes into packaging them! The plants arrive safe and secure and the moment you open the box it's like the moment Dorothy lands in Oz - filled with life,scent and color. The shipping is worth every penny. Here's a little story to let you know how much I love them: A few months ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer and knew that I would have to immediately begin 5 months of chemotherapy, followed by a mastectomy. Before my first round of chemo I treated myself to a hefty order of my very favorite plants from Annie's, with the goal of quickly planting them in the ground, knowing what pleasure they would give me in the spring. Well, it's spring now and as I walk around my garden (in PAIN, I might add, due to my recent surgery) I can't tell you the joy I feel seeing these treasures growing at the speed of light with our unseasonably warm weather. Placing that order was the smartest thing I did for my mental health. This is a wonderful, thoughtful, caring nursery run by people who are as passionate about their plants and the environment as any gardener could be. I *heart* you Annie's!

I have ordered from Annie's Annuals several times. I admit, the first time I ordered I was a bit sticker shocked at the shipping costs- but when my plants arrived I knew I got what I paid for. Most nurseries ship their plants wrapped in paper- Annie's ships each plant in their container, with each plant allocated its own space in the box. This is great for busy people like me who can't immediately put the plants in the ground (I'm ashamed to say I have some plants from Annie's that are still in their 4" container from last summer lol). I also love that I can pick the date I want the plants shipped. It gets very hot in the summer here in Sacramento so it's nice to plan my shipping for a cooler day, or for a day when I know I'll be home so they don't sit roasting on my patio. My plants have always arrived really healthy, and the only time I've had a plant die on me is when I bought a plant that was not suitable for my zone (I can't help myself- I want to be able to grow everything). Kudos to this small business for running such a unique nursery, thank you for the excellent customer service you provide.

I am a long time customer of Annie's Annuals, and have nothing but praise for the quality of their plants, service and selection. They are one of the few places I can be certain of getting neonicotinoid-free plants. As a professional landscape designer, my standards are high, and I not only shop here for my own garden, but regularly send clients either to order online, or visit in person. They carry many unusual specimens that are simply not available anywhere else. Highly recommended.

I have shopped at Annie's Annuals for more than a decade, and it is, by far, the best nursery I have ever visited. By best I specifically mean the coolest plants at the best prices, well-grown and carefully packed.

Any fellow Texan who orders Nemophilia from California in a snowstorm and then attempts to extort the nursery with bad reviews is... not a good Texan. Or a good gardener.

Kick ass customer service and rip-roaring plants. Nobody does it better! I'll buy from them again and again!
Thanks Annie's!

Although I have not ordered from Annie's Annuals, I have to defend them regarding the comment below.

I was ready to place an order on their website yesterday and decided to wait since they specifically state that all orders will ship within 2 weeks. For the person giving them a negative rating, BLAME YOURSELF. Why would you order tropical plants in the dead of winter knowing they're going to ship them in 2 weeks?

The response from Annie's is extremely considerate - just based on their customer service, I'll be ordering. But since I live in the Chicago area, I'll wait until late April to put in my order.

The plants I received had been very carefully watered and wrapped. It was like receiving little gifts. They were delivered on the day they were shipped out; that made the shipping costs seem much more reasonable. One of my plants was flowering; all seemed very healthy. I was so pleased to see the care with which my plants had been wrapped and packed. If I can do half as well now they are in my care, they should thrive.

This nursery is amazing! All of the plants I ordered arrived way ahead of schedule and they were all in great shape! Each plant had plenty of soil which was wrapped in a damp paper towel and then the whole thing was inside of a wax paper bag to retain moisteure and then slipped into a small pot so I could transfer it right away if I wasn't ready to put them in the ground. The box they cam in had plenty of room for the tops of the plants with cardboard cutouts supporting each plant (hard to explain) but nothing got crushed or damaged and each plant had plenty of room to breath. I would absolutly reccomend Annie's Annuals and Perennials to anyone looking for a wide selection of plants and a company that actually knows how to ship them (most don't)

the plants arrived in great condition. packing was the best. an aeonium arrived completely intact. the plants were shipped on the day i requested and arrived the next day. this is a good place.

I have ordered from Annie's Annuals and Perennials several times and have always been pleased with the quality of the plants and service provided. Earlier this year, I ordered some sweet pea and poppy plants for spring planting. The folks at Annie's kept an eye on the weather in our area and held off on shipping the plants until the weather warmed up. (As you remember, the winter/early spring was very harsh on the east coast.) I was stunned when they first called to arrange a better time to ship the plants. What remarkable customer service! I've also been impressed with the care they take shipping the plants. Yes, the cost is higher than some websites but I think it's worth it.

This was the first time I ordered from Annie's and I was amazed at how well the plants were packaged. I received my order in a timely fashion and the plants were in perfect condition. I would certainly order from them again.

Made my first purchase from Annie's last year and among other things, bought 4 climbing asters. I could not believe the results this year. The plants grew to between six and seven feet and are just a mass of beautiful asters this fall. Everyone asks what they are as no one in this area has seen asters that size. I am beyond delighted and looking forward to many more fall seasons of these beautiful blooms.
The plants were shipped in beautiful condition and although the shipping was a little pricey it was definitely worth it. I would highly recommend this nursery for their quality and service.

I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate the plants that you sent me and the care you took that they arrived in perfect condition. I have perused your site for over a year and even have a wish list. But my experience with mail order plants was so horrendous that I just could not bring myself to actually place an order. Thank you!! I will continue to go to your site and I will undoubtedly be ordering again in the spring.

I have been ordering from Annie's for several years, and have always been very happy with the service and quality. My selections have arrived in good shape, and well packaged. I like their wish list option when an item is not in stock, and look forward to getting that e-mail saying my wish list item(s) are available.

Plants arrived in good shape. I immediately had to leave town for a funeral trip across the country. A neighbor checked on things, and your plants are still in good shape a week later. Thanks so much for "filling the box". It feels like a plant gift at a time when plants are extra appreciated. And now plants are in the ground and hanging on in this Texas heat. I would love to visit Annie's nursery someday. Thanks for a good experience for my first time ever to order plants online.

I have been doing business with Annie's Annuals & Perennials for 3 years now. What I really like about Annie's is it allows me to purchase plants for my garden that you cannot find in any of the local stores such as the 3 "Lobelia aquana" plants I recently purchased. This is great for having a garden that's unique from your neighboors.

Unfortunately in one of my last purchases the "Abutilon striatum" aka Redvein Indian Mallow plant I bought arrived in very poor condition ---{we all know when dealing in plants, occasionally 1 dies during shipment}--- so I called Annies and spoke with Cassandra Ramos. Cassandra's extremely pleasant personality is a real asset to Annies. She told me no more "Abutilon striatum" were available, which really bothered me. Because this was the plant I wanted the most.

Cassandra must have heard my disappointment, but she remained cheerful and as helpful as she possibly could be. She informed me I could wait for another "Abutilon striatum" to become available or order a different plant if I chose to. I stopped Cassandra and told her it really didn't matter what my other options were because I really wanted another of the "Abutilon striatum" plants. So I'd just have to wait for another "Abutilon striatum" to become available.

Cassandra informed me I could check my "Wish List" online daily at Annies to see when another "Abutilon striatum" became available and when one did I should call her immediately! Well Cassandra was so cheerful & helpful by the time the call was over I wasn't even bothered about the "Abutilon striatum" dying. To make a long story as short as possible, I continued checking my Wish List on Annies everyday to see if another "Abutilon striatum" became available. Then one day I called Annies again and asked for Cassandra Ramos when they picked up.

I was going to ask Cassandra about a different plant I saw in Annies catalogue, when she said; "Mr. Scata I just hand-picked the best 'Abutilon striatum' I found out in our greenhouse just for you!" Cassandra explained how there was only 3 or 4 "Abutilon striatum" plants left in their entire greenhouse and she realized how bummed I was about my "Abutilon striatum" dying. So she hand-picked the one she thought looked best and was about to call me and tell me the plant could be replaced after all!

Cassandra Ramos went well above & beyond the typical customer service I'm used to receiving anywhere ---{I want to be crystal-clear that I've always received good customer service at Annies}--- She is the person I'll always ask for from this point on. My "Abutilon striatum" arrived today and it does look very nice. Annie's Annuals & Perennials and Cassandra Ramos get's BIG thumbs up from me. Thank you both very, very much. ---Tom Scata

I placed two different orders for Phormium 'Black Adder'. Both shipments arrived with very nice plants, but also the shipping containers were the best of any mail order shipments I have received....and I have done a lot of mail order plant buying. The plants arrived fresh and perky, despite the weather being quite warm. The soil was contained and moist and none of my plants were crushed or otherwise damaged, even though the box was NOT lying " this side up" on front porch. I am impressed with the plants I received, but even more impressed with their shipment method. Altogether a very happy experience!!

I ordered six perennials from Annie's Perennials this spring. They arrived in beautiful condition and were very carefully packed. I was very impressed by just how carefully they were packaged. Since I live in Oregon and AP is in California, I really appreciated this. All six plants are still alive and thriving. I will happily order again from these folks.

Annie's Annuals and Perennials always have healthy beautiful plants that they send; and, they arrive at our home looking like they have never been disturbed. Just comfortable in their containers.

I have ordered plants from Annies Annuals for many years and they are my source for annual poppies. The plants I receive from them are strong and transplant very well and I should add I have found no other mail-order source for annual poppies! The one time my plants arrived with problems they took care of me. This last batch of plants from them was amazing.

Here is the email message I sent to Annie's Annuals after receiving two different plant orders from them:

I so appreciate the care you take with the plants you’ve sent me. They have been in excellent condition and I feel they are treated with loving care from the time they come into your keeping until they leave!

A happy customer,
Jan Starling
Olympia, WA

Posted on May 10, 2012, updated June 21, 2014
Posted on May 1, 2012, updated May 10, 2012
Posted on November 12, 2009, updated May 1, 2012
Posted on July 12, 2009, updated November 12, 2009
While browsing DG this morning I saw the review of Annie's and realized I'd been amiss in not giving extremely positive feedback! I read about Annie's on DG, and , although they were in Calif., and it can be a long shipping process to Ohio, decided to give them a try.
What a delightful experience! Annie's treats customers and plants with care and consideration. These plants have now been in the ground here for over a month, showed no signs of shipping stress-due to the well thought out packing. The rootballs were huge and the plants-a diverse mix-took off rapidly. Several plants have outdone those from the local 'upscale' nursery, where I paid 3x as much for a larger size. Annie's is great! Thanks DGer's for the info about this special place. Thanks Annie's for a wonderful experience!

I am a bit disabled and have trouble shopping in a nursery. The nursery in my town treats me like I have a communicable disease, so I began buying plants from Annies as this company is highly recommended in my favourite magazine, Garden Gate. They were quite correct. All plants, and I order 8 every month, arrive in a very sturdy box, having been packed the previous day, and are still wet, not just moist, and all are at this moment healthy on my balcony and in my garden. They are all so far for the hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies in my area, but I plan to expand as time goes by. I wish I could afford to purchase more, but finances curtail that, but this certainly keeps me busy and entertained.

I have been buying plants from Annie's Annuals & Perennials for over 10 years. I first found her plants in a local nursery in Santa Cruz, CA. I moved to Oregon a few years back and I've used her mail-order three times.
The first two times I ordered six plants each time and I believe one plant had a broken leaf. All the rest of them were in great shape. This year I ordered 12 plants because my wonderful daughter got me an Annie's gift certificate for Mother's Day. They all came in perfect shape and very healthy. Her plants are so well cared for they are unlike any other mailorder nursery. I just came in from my garden and all my plants are looking great even after a three day spell of unusually warm weather for May (86*). I have ordered plants from a competitor and they arrived wilted, scrawny and overall not in the best shape.
This Spring I've had three different neighbors, that I am not well acquainted with, tell me how awesome and beautiful my garden is. That says it all. You will not go wrong with Annie's. My only regret is that I didn't get to go to the nursery in Richmond before I moved. I bet it is fabulous!

I have ordered flowers from Annies last year and this year.
They are always packaged very well - Which is partly why shipping is so much, as well as the fact that shipping is from CA to Tennessee. This year I ordered 8 plants and they arrived quickly and very healthy. I would order more but the shipping price is just a bit much for me, even though I understand the cost. Since, I've had such good luck with her plants - I will order again but probably keep it to once a year.

I have now ordered from Annie's Annuals 6 times. Each time I am more than pleased with the plants. They always arrive well packaged, and in great condition. So far I have not had any problems with any of the plants I have ordered. You just have to give each one what it needs, and it is happy. I will very soon be traveling to the nursery and am very excited.

I received my first order from Annie's about a week ago and I was pleasantly surprised. The plants were much larger than I was expecting and were packaged with great care. There was almost zero damage from the shipping, other than 1 single broken leaf and they were shipped from California to Florida. The plants were potted and have grown quite considerably since I received them. I have received another order from a different nursery around the same time and the growth rate on the Annie's plants has been drastically better than the other plants.

I ordered 1 poppy plant. 1 week later it arrived, well packaged & looking good. I am impressed. Thanks Annie.

After watching all of Annie's videos and absorbing the catalog I may have to admit that I have a garden crush on her and her plant knowledge. I held off on making a purchase because of the high shipping rate. I got off that fence about a week ago and placed a order, so glad I did. The plants arrived healthy and very well packaged. This order was for three different carnations they offer and a hat. The hat that arrived was not the one I ordered. Sent a e-mail and within minutes was responded to and the mistake was corrected. New hat on the way and a return ticket for the other hat being sent with it. I hope to fly out there next year for their Spring party and do shopping in person. Time to start saving my pennies...