Comments regarding Horizon Herbs, LLC

I have been running a small-scale certified organic nursery for the last 8 years, growing plug trays for our farm and selling herb and vegetable plants at our local farmers markets. Every year, I order thousands of seeds from a dozen or more companies, as well as live plants, bare root stock, and so forth. I am currently raising about 150 different kinds of herbs and vegetables. Horizon Herbs has been a steadfast resource for me since the very beginning, offering an amazing variety of organic seed, cultural information, advice, and encouragement, all of the highest quality. There is no one else out there that does what they do and I am super grateful to know they are there tending plants and keeping our seeds safe.

"On May 28, 2013 7:37 PM, Horizon Herbs, LLC responded with:

Thank you for this positive note, we appreciate it very much. In this crazy world its hard to stay grounded, but gardening has much to give us in this regard. Furthermore, we can breathe a little easier knowing that our children will have a greener world for our efforts. So important to plant a diversity of seeds, so important to keep a diversity of trees within our ecologies, so important to stay positive and support eachother in this good work. "

I wish I'd seen some of the other reviews here before ordering from Horizon!

They do have a great catalog but my experience with them has been terrible! I ordered 5 or 6 seed packets (so, a very simple order - no live plants or anything). I didn't receive any communication after the initial order confirmation.

Almost two weeks went by and the 'order status' link they send you is a joke. It's just a receipt for your order and tells you it's been processed/completed. Anyway, I waited and finally wrote them a friendly but concerned e-mail after almost two weeks just asking the status and stating that I was worried because I'd never received any further communications and my seeds hadn't arrived yet.

I got back a one-line response (literally one line) saying : 'This order shipped today'. No salutation, no sign-off. No apology for the delay. No explanation. It was the rudest e-mail I've ever received from a company!

Then, to add insult to injury, this unnamed horizon rep (that's right - they didn't even sign their name, no signature line either), lied about the shipping date. My order actually only shipped two business days later!

You'd think, after they obviously misplaced or forgot about my order, that they could at least send it priority mail or something. Oh no. USPS first class. Took another week to get to me so total time from order to arrival? Almost a month!

I've written to them with a description of the above and haven't heard back. No doubt the rude, lying person who responded to me the first time (sort of) opened my second e-mail and threw it away!

It's a shame, but I'll only order from them in the future if I absolutely cannot find what I want elsewhere. HORRIBLE service. So disappointing. Not surprising though, considering many of the other comments on here.

ps: I'm going to laugh so hard if the response to my experience is that Richo is going to 'pray for me'- ahahaha! Please. Save it.

"On May 21, 2013 8:03 PM, Horizon Herbs, LLC responded with:

Hello there Dbai,
I'm sorry that you perceive our service as per the above. Spring is always a busy time for gardeners and seed shippers, so early ordering and a little patience in receiving your goods really helps. I will keep you in my prayers and hope that your seeds work out well for you.
Best regards,
Richo"

Posted on May 2, 2013, updated May 3, 2013
I really want to like Horizon Herbs. I love the IDEA of the company. I have been happy with their selection and quality of most of their seeds. But the people behind the company sure seem like jerks. I will probably continue to order seeds from them, but I will never again order plants, and here is why..

I placed an order for six plants recently and received them today. One of the plants that I ordered was completely dislodged from it's pot during transit, which I understand does happen, but it is clearly not a plant that should have been sold, at least not for the price I paid, IMO. They obviously tucked a tiny plug into a deep pot just before shipment. Two more of the six are also unbelievably small for the price. They look like barely rooted seedlings! Horizon Herbs may be all about treating nature ethically, but they are not at all interested in treating their customers with the same respect. On their website they state that they do not want to be contacted or sent a photo if plants are damaged in transit. And in the note included with the plants (but not included in the catalog or on the website so far as I can tell) they freely admit that these plants will need to be further nursed in their pots to develop a good root system before being transplanted!!! What is the point?!! Don't most people order plants because they don't want to go to the trouble of nursing seedlings? Arrgh. So I haven't contacted them. I am simply leaving appropriate feedback here. Horizon Herbs is guilty of deceptive business practices. Don't order plants from them and expect to receive actual plants that can be transplanted to your garden this season!

I will accept and nurse these "plants" along because I happen to have the time and facilities to do so. But I feel like a sucker. I wish I'd not been impatient and just started these from seed on my own or purchased them from another, albeit non-organic, plant retailer. What a disappointment.

"On May 2, 2013 8:09 PM, Horizon Herbs, LLC responded with:

Many rare plants are hard to start from seed and/or grow slowly--those are a couple of the reasons they are rare. Ashitaba is hard to start from seed, as is Wasabi--we are charging what we think is a fair price for species that are hard to find elsewhere. Try growing 370 species organically and keeping them all in stock with strong demand coming in from every direction--not easy! A Gentiana lutea may look like a seedling and yet its 3 years old. Can't really give any more useful feedback without knowing what the customer ordered.

About a week ago I placed an order with Horizon Herbs and a few days later a gal named Nikki called from Horizon Herbs to ask if I'd intentionally ordered both Arnica Montana plant and seeds or if I'd ordered one of them by accident. I was so glad she called because indeed I had mistakenly ordered the plant, which I did not want. I was blown away by the fact that she called me to inquire. Most companies would have processed the order and been happy to take my money. But Nikki went above and beyond the call of duty to make sure my order was correct.

No other company I have ever dealt with has been this diligent in customer service. I thank Nikki and Horizon Herbs for offering such fine quality products with such excellent, warm and courteous customer service on the side! They will always have my business!

I have used Horizon Herbs for years and have never had a problem with their service or products. However, after Nikki's call, I appreciate this company all the more!

Kelly M, gardener and herbalist in Kent, Washington

Posted on March 13, 2013, updated March 18, 2013
Posted on March 6, 2013, updated March 13, 2013
Not happy about communication.

I placed an order on the weekend of 2/23-24 for 2 packets of ephedra seeds. I received an email thanking me for the order, and that was it. I decided to wait a week at least to receive the shipment, but after a week had passed, I have nothing.

I checked my order and it says status is "Complete". There is no tracking information or carrier information shown, so I have no idea how to expect it, or even if it has shipped.

I contacted Horizon via their contact form to inquire about the order, but received no response. I followed up again by email earlier today, and still have received no response.

Based on the statement by Richo in another negative review, it would appear that my order has not shipped yet. That's fine - but it would have been nice to have gotten a response when I asked what was up, instead of having to come here.

I can understand a small operation getting really busy, but I feel that failing to respond to a customer's inquiries about their order is unacceptable under any circumstances. This is not a good experience for a new customer.

"On Mar 6, 2013 7:53 PM, Horizon Herbs, LLC responded with:

Hi there,
We're currently sold out of Ma-huang seed and all orders are on backorder and will be shipped as soon as we have the seed. If for some reason an e-mail doesn't work, a phone call is a great option and our number is (541) 846-6704. Ma-huang grows best after the spring equinox in very warm soils and there will still be plenty of time to plant the seeds and get good results. We also have Ma-huang plants available for anyone who wants to go that route. I would like to thank this person for pointing out our faults and will try my best to keep the good seeds flowing to good gardeners. I would also like to say that keeping a positive attitude really helps seeds come up and helps gardens and gardeners be beautiful.
Richo

I've been gardening with Horizon Herbs for about 5 years. I've even made a trip to Oregon to see their place. I live about 1000 miles away. I like the family feel and the more personal aspect of the company.Maybe as the company grows they won't be able to keep that up. When I email a question I often get an answer from the owner. I got lyme disease about 6 months ago and asked his opinion about what herbal people/books to look to for answers. I have made many orders. Most have been perfect, but if not they have fixed them. I order from many companies/ebay/amazon and none are perfect. I love how much I learn from this seed/plant company. For me the plants from Horizon are very healing to grow. They help me deal with a stressful job. I have learned that some of the more tropical seeds they offer are harder to germinate without a greenhouse, but that is the adventure! Thanks Horizon Herbs(Richo and family and employees).

I am brand new to starting seeds indoors and I so appreciate the detailed instructions that come with each type of herb seed that I ordered from Horizon. My orders arrived within a reasonable amount of time and were well packaged. I have no problem with an online retailer making a few bucks on shipping costs - MOST do. For common items such as hardware or supplies, I will shop for the best price because many retailers charge a stupid amount for shipping. But for specialty items, such as the unusual variety of seeds offered by Horizon, I will pay to get a great product. They answered my questions when I had germination failure, and I had success on the next try. I am thrilled that I have germination of some of the more difficult seeds since I am on a steep learning curve here with Spring just around the corner! I am a happy customer!

"On Mar 11, 2013 10:08 AM, Horizon Herbs, LLC responded with:

Thank you very much for this positive review, it is very much appreciated. Germination failure is a great way to learn more about the specific requirements of the species! Germination success after altering one or more variables helps fine tune the technique even more. "

LOVE Horizon Herbs. I have been ordering seeds and plants from these folks for about 15 years. Germination rates (for both herb and vegetable seeds) are awesome, even when my young kids are the ones doing the planting. I am always thrilled (altough no longer surprised) to see those little green sprouts pushing out of the ground in happy profusion. I have also had great success ordering plants - my rosemary bushes are chest high and flowering profusely. The quirky seed catalog gives loads of great gardening advice, and I really appreciate the personal touches, including hand-drawn cartoons and humorous comments. The company is dedicated to green practices, printing their catalog on recycled paper with soy-based ink, using biodegradable packaging in their shipments, and selling eco-friendly gardening products (e.g. coir, a sustainable replacement for peat moss made from coconut husks). Horizon Herbs sells open pollinated seed varieties, meaning that seeds from their plants can be collected and regrown true to species. This is nice for me as a gardener, but also important for perserving heirloom herb and vegetable varieties that are being pushed out by hybrid cultivars. In my experience, customer service has been prompt and polite, and I appreciate that it is easy to reach a real human being when I have questions. When I give Horizon Herbs my business, I really feel like I am supporting a company that really cares about making the planet a better place. Thanks for everything you do, guys, and keep it up!

"On Mar 11, 2013 7:55 AM, Horizon Herbs, LLC responded with:

LOVE positive reviews. Completely INSPIRES us to keep working on moving vegetable, medicinal and permacultural seed diversity out to the people. My blessings on your garden and on the gardens of everyone who is passionate enough to post their comments on this public forum. Richo"

Posted on March 8, 2013, updated March 8, 2013
First, let me preface this response by acknowledging the fact that I signed up just now to Dave's Garden to inform and help other buyers and present my experience and hopefully help plant lovers and enthusiasts to make more informed decisions based upon the information I am presenting. I have read most of the responses from Richo of Horizon Herbs and noticed a fairly disturbing passive aggressive trend and the last thing someone wants to hear when helping other fellow gardeners is excuse after excuse and an inability to take ownership and responsibility of the shortcomings of their company. You can only grow if you are open to criticism. Shutting your customers off does not help improve business standards. Nevertheless, here is my experience: I have yet to plant these seeds so this review will not include the viability...yet. I placed a substantial order online (over $350) and called to ensure that the shipping cost of just seeds was correct as the algorithm they use to calculate shipping is not based on weight but on cost of items ordered. I was assured that the $26 for shipping was correct and that if when they went the ship the item and weighed it out, it came up under the weight, they would refund the amount. I called again a few days later to check on my order and they said that they did indeed weigh the package and the cost was $26. After waiting two weeks for the seeds to arrive (you would think $26 would have bought me overnight shipping with white glove assistance planting them) I inspected and weighed the package. It was sent USPS Flat rate box and cost them $5.25 to send to our zipcode. I immediately called and was told that someone would call me back in a few minutes. No one called so I called back and was told that a manager would have to evaluate the situation as there may have been a handling charge imposed. I asked where in their website does it say shipping AND handling. There is no such wording. Further, I received a COUPON for an out of stock item instead of a refund to my CC. I was not notified that the item was out of stock, simply forced to shop again and most likely pay an inflated shipping fee. I waited for the call back from a manager and here we are a week later, $20 disparity/overcharge and no response, thus the review. I realize that charging an extra $20 isn't that much when you are spending $350 on seeds but this is clearly deceptive and fraudulent. Even if its a dollar or two your company slips onto the total, at least be honest and upfront with the people that are supporting your company. 4 emails and 4 calls and no resolution or response? Ignoring paying customers and refusing to answer emails or call back says alot about the integrity of this company. I guess my next step is my credit card company. Richo, if you have as much love for the plant-world as your proclaim in your responses to others, don't you think that that same attitude should transfer to the human kingdom as well? After all, humans are paying you to do what you love. Further, after speaking to several of their employees I noticed a smug attitude that was not welcoming to a customer. It felt as if we should be grateful to them for supplying seeds, instead of a mutual gratefulness for the customer as well. If you are looking for reliability, honesty or gratitude in your seed company, my experience would suggest to look elsewhere.

"On Mar 8, 2013 5:58 PM, Horizon Herbs, LLC responded with:

I do not understand why this person is so irritated. The shipping charge is clearly given before the online order is finalized, and if someone doesn't like the shipping charge then they are free to opt out at that time. Credit cards are automatically charged by Authorize.net for exactly the amount that is given on the order. We do not see the order before charges go through, and we never see the credit card number at all. Sometimes shipping charges do end up costing the customer more than the actual cost of sending the package, and sometimes they end up costing the customer less. We have set up the shipping cost module as fairly as possible under the constraints of the software (and talk to any online seller, this part is hard to do fairly, especially when a great diversity of things is being shipped domestically and internationally via several different shipping methods). We are focusing on seed quality, and we offer some of the best prices (base price $2.45 for an organically certified vegetable seed packet, $2.95 base price for perennials and trees, etc.) that you can find anywhere. I'd like to advise everyone to review the shipping charge before making the order and if it seems unacceptable, then they should not order online, but instead call us up with the order and negotiate at that time. This is Richo. About the "passive aggressive" claims and other angry language, let me just say that us gardeners really need to stick together better then that and I am holding this person in my prayers and hoping that they settle down and get on with good work. Jeesh!"

By far my favorite seed company of all time. Horizon Herbs is THE go-to place for seeds of interesting, hard-to-find, bizarre, and spectacular plants from around the world! I wish all seed companies were this reliable.
~ Weston

"On Mar 8, 2013 6:30 PM, Horizon Herbs, LLC responded with:

Thanks for this positive review, we really appreciate it. The good attitude really makes the seeds and plants happy, too. They feel it just like we do. Plant on! Richo
"

I am a student of chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture in Chicago. I am in charge of growing our school's medicinal herb garden. I have ordered medicinal seeds several times from Horizon Herbs and have always been pleased with the results. By results, I mean the seed quality and the interaction with the company. I love knowing that there are real people behind these seeds with a story and a love for all the plants that come out of their farm. I have communicated with Horizon by email (and via FB) with success regarding my orders, with specific questions about plants, and when their new website was going up. I will not hesitate to order from them again.

"On Mar 7, 2013 9:36 AM, Horizon Herbs, LLC responded with:

Hi there,
This kind of holistic arrangement, where there is a school and a garden attached, is a very positive emerging paradigm that recognizes the importance of nature in good education. We are delighted to support these endeavors!"

I love Horizon Herbs!!! I've only ordered once, but plan on ordering more soon. Richo is a very kind man, a brilliant writer, and a gardening GENIUS! My first order arrived in a timely manner, was labeled clearly, and all the seeds were easy-ish (I didn't pick the easiest) to grow. Happy to support this fantastic business!

I have been ordering for 15 years. always positive.

"On Mar 7, 2013 8:35 AM, Horizon Herbs, LLC responded with:

I have a friend named Noey who gardens and runs a nursery near Santa Barbara. She totally gets it. Her nursery (which I do recommend) is named "Yes, Yes..." Richo"

I love this company! I recommend them to all of my students. I continue to receive professional, respectful, and timely service. I have ordered twice so far this season and I enjoy Richo's informative and witty comments in his catalog and Facebook page. His knowledge is a benefit to all of us.

"On Mar 7, 2013 8:12 AM, Horizon Herbs, LLC responded with:

Thanks for the love!"

Horizon Herbs and Richo Czech are part of what will allow our medicinal herbs to survive land encroachment, over harvesting, and climate change. The vast array of options, explorations, and instructions - allow for the amazing medicinal herbs of the world to be grown in doors and out doors at my home. The seeds have great germination and the source is trust worthy. Truly - i can't write enough positive comments on ordering seeds through Horizon Herbs. Thank you!!

"On Mar 7, 2013 8:11 AM, Horizon Herbs, LLC responded with:

Thanks for your kind comments. This venue (Dave's Garden) is the virtual 2-edged sword. You've turned it into a scythe to harvest goodness, and I for one really appreciate it!"

I have ordered hundreds of dollars worth of seeds & plants from this company. I am a practicing herbalist & must say that this company has one of the best selections of herbs I have ever found. The selection keeps on growing. I find them to be very friendly, helpful, & timely in fulfilling my orders. Not only that, but their catalog is one of the most interesting & informative reads around. I can tell from dealing with them for a while that they put alot of love into what they do. If I have ever had a question about my order, I have always been given an answer in a polite & timely manner. Their online system is easy to use. Once the order is placed, it is quite simple to access the order to find out the status. I heartily recommend this company to anyone who is interested in finding a unique selection of quality seeds.

"On Mar 6, 2013 8:43 PM, Horizon Herbs, LLC responded with:

Thank you so much for these positive words, they are very much appreciated. We will continue to offer one of the more unique selections of botanicals on this planet. Long live herbal diversity!
"

I ordered some night-blooming cereus cuttings and though they took a while to get to me, I was informed of the delay at the time I placed the order. All changes in expected delivery date were made very promptly and I wasn't charged until the cuttings actually shipped. I interacted with a few folks from the company and they were incredibly friendly and helpful.

Furthermore, included with my cuttings was a very thorough information sheet on how to plant and care for my wonderful cacti. I *dig* this company and highly recommend them.

"On Mar 6, 2013 8:26 PM, Horizon Herbs, LLC responded with:

Thank you for spreading bread upon the waters. R"

Posted on April 27, 2012, updated August 6, 2012
I've ordered seed from Horizon Herbs many times and have been generally satisfied. They have a great selection of odd and interesting edible plants. Some seeds have been difficult to germinate, and I haven't always succeeded, but the difficulty was a characteristic of the species, not necessarily the fault of Horizon Herbs. This year, for the first time, I ordered plants -- Chocolate Mint, Mashua, and a Spicebush. They arrived a couple days ago. The Mashua plants look great -- much, much, much better than the rotten tubers that I got from McClure & Zimmerman once. The Spicebush and Chocolate Mint are both very small, and I was a little disappointed about their size. But they're healthy and came well-packed. With time, they'll grow and thrive.

"On Aug 29, 2012 5:11 PM, Horizon Herbs, LLC responded with:

Thanks very much for not changing your rating! Perennials need to be worked up in successively larger pots before transplanting to the landscape. I usually work them up for 2 or 3 years before subjecting them to outdoor conditions, starting with gallon pots and finishing off with 5 gallon pots. If we were selling a large spice bush we wouldn't be able to ship it 6 plants for $14.95. If we were selling a large spice bush it would be more than $10.00, which is our base price for woody perennials. This is not pricey on today's market.
"

Hello everyone, I ordered 2 packs of seeds for the first time with Horizon Herbs on the 31rst of July Tuesday afternoon. I recieved my order on the 3rd of August(friday) from OR to central FL. Now that's fast shipping! Wow!
I am very satisfied with Horizon Herbs: a lot of rare seeds that I am interested in. I will order again in the future!
You have an amazing customer service at Horizon Herbs.
Thank you for what you do.
Sincerely,
Isa.

Horizon Herbs provides seeds and plants full of VIBRANCY which yield great medicine. Thank you Horizon!!!!

I am a naturopath, trained in the use of medicinal herbs but not in how to grow them. With the help of everyone at Horizon Herbs, I have just begun creating a medicinal herb garden -- Ganesh Gardens -- to use for both medical purposes (to grow herbs to use to make medicine) and educational (to teach people what their medicine looks like, how to befriend it and grow it at home. Everyone has been very helpful, especially Richo and Leif, educating me on what i need to do, and advising me on how to order plants. Leif was great when I tried to order some plants and he explained that it would be better to wait until the fall and get them as roots -- I didn't even know I could do this!! He was more interested in me getting what I needed in the best way possible than in making a quick sale. Ditto for seeds -- didn't know about cold stratification until he explained it to me!!

Everything hasn't been perfect, but I would be surprised if it were -- mailing live plants around seems to be a fairly complex task. I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened my first box of plants and found them all in perfect condition. The packing was ingenious. When the next box didn't fare as well, they send me replacements. And when there was a mix-up with regards to the type of shipping I requested, they absorbed the cost difference for the error. Everything was handled very professionally.

I'm looking forward to a continuing relationship with Horizon. As I add plants to Ganesh Gardens, some from them, some from their seeds. Every time I wonder whether I'll be able to do this project successfully, I remember what Richo said to me when I first contacted him -- "The plants will teach you all you need to know." Thank you so much for what you do!! -- I don't think anyone else does it and without out, I would be unable to do what I am doing now.

We have been ordering form Horizon Herbs for maybe 4ish years and have always been happy with the products (from an tincture press to seeds), selection, and service. Our germ rates have always been at least what they say, often times better :) and the service, sometimes even from Richo himself, has been flawless. Thank you Richo and crew for doing this work, we are so grateful for what you provide!

I have excellent luck with botanicals purchased from Horizon Herbs and in the event I have a problem I know I can get expert advice as to what I am doing wrong. Not only have I received expert advice but my seeds were replaced. After Rico advised me as to why seeds that I purchased were not successful and I followed instructions they were 99% successful. I was referred to Horizon Herbs by my best friend who has experience and a wealth of knowledge and who also introduced me to herb gardening and I will keep returning my business. Horizon Herbs is knowledgable about all aspects of gardening and provides the best customer experience ever. Nothing but a positive experience.

I'm here to shout out about what an awesome company Horizon Herbs is. I'm probably one of their smaller customers but have had very individualised attention. My seeds have all been just fine and the little plants I ordered sent with TLC. The squash seed I ordered grew like crazy!!! Maybe since I'm fairly new at growing these kinds of plants I keep my expectations realistic and study up each time I grow something. Sometimes people get too big for their britches, big money big head and all that so as soon as there's a problem they want to blame someone else. I take full responsibility for my failures in gardening and there have certainly been more than a few but NEVER have had a problem with items ordered from Horizon Herbs. I wish I could add some stars right here because they are my all time favorite. I'm sure I will be a customer forever.

I have been ordering from Horizon Herbs for years. Not only have I found them to be highly personal and responsive, their integrity is unmatched--they simply live their beliefs. This is a family company, people whose life work is the health and perpetuation of sustainable medicinal plants, and consequently the health of both the planet and its people. They are conscientious, informed, compassionate, and exceedingly human--Richo Cech's newsletters are like sitting by the fire with an old family friend who is a mesmerizing storyteller. The seeds have a vigor unlike seeds I've gotten anywhere else--they spring out of the soil and take off. (And if they don't, they replace them immediately.) Richo's Making Plant Medicine is a thorough and understandable guide to processing medicinal plants. Their service is quick and courteous, and often it is the owner himself or a family member who responds--never a fulfillment house. Horizon Herbs has a permanent place in my gardening life.

I have ordered several times with Horizon Herbs and I have always been very happy with my orders, seeds and plants. I always received the seeds and plants in good order and after following their instructions have always had good luck with germination and growth. Their Catalog is amazing and their Facebook page is great. I enjoy the emails that I receive from them and the colorful way that the owner shares his love for his job and company!!!

I've ordered from Horizon twice now. For the most part, the seeds grow as expected and give me beautiful, strong plants. When they don't, I am certain that the problem lies with me and my carelessness, not with the seeds or excellent advice.
This is a great company and they care about us and the planet.
I think this quote sums it up:
"Most of all, we believe in eating out of the garden and making medicines out of the garden and are here to support you to adopt these practices for the health of you, your family, your community, and the planet. "

Reading the horizon herbs catalogue is like drinking warm milk and honey by the fire. I relish every word and it keeps me warm all winter long as I anticipate my coming seed order. I have a small permaculture farm that is now almost exclusively populated my Horizon Herbs babies. I raise goats to milk for cheesemaking and I have kept my herd healthy by planting medicinal hedges and creating very diverse pasture mixes using Horizons seeds. I have ALWAYS had excellent germination rates and have received nothing but lovely customer service.
And I'm crazy for the Mrihani Basil that Ricco lovingly brought home to us!!!!!

"On Jul 11, 2012 9:24 PM, Horizon Herbs, LLC responded with:

Wow I wish I always had excellent germ rates with all the seeds I try, but its OK, there seem to be plenty of babies to take care of, regardless. One thing I've learned is that the process of natural selection among plants actually begins when the seed is planted, and so I view nongermination as an indication of inappropriate environment, and move on from there. In the case of reliable environment and good seed, the only other factor is the human one, and the positive good feelings (much augmented by drinking warm milk by the fire) will indeed help one have better success in the garden, and also engender appreciation for the moment. Some would say that this, ultimately, is the best gift the plants have to give. Thanks to lady long arm."

I've purchased only live herb starts from Horizon at regional herb conferences. Moving delicate plants around must be difficult, yet every herb start has been fresh and undamaged. My results with survival of these herbs is about 95% over 10 years time. Granted, I am in their same zone however I've found each herb hearty enough to even survive freak snow storms or scorching heat in the first year of their life. The owner Richo is knowledgeable beyond gardening and contributes wonderful history and traditional facts to his customer service.

"On Jul 11, 2012 9:17 PM, Horizon Herbs, LLC responded with:

I think those plants are fortunate to find a home with you! Although we can't guarantee plants to overwinter, plants have their own survival agendas well beyond their dependency on us humans, and it is surprising when and where one finds them popping in the cycles that ensue the original planting. I always watch this, and learn. Thanks again for your positive support. It matters. Richo"

Posted on June 13, 2010, updated June 11, 2012
I am a professional grower of medicinal plants. Horizon Herbs has been my seed provider for more years than I recall. The variety, availablity, quality, and customer service is, and always has been top shelf. I order unusual plants and Maishe (one of the owners), has saved me a lot of money by combining orders, shipping as cheaply as possible. I have had questions and emails answered promptly and have been very pleased with the seeds, plants, books, and myriad gardening products. I recommend this company highly and often to friends, and other herbalists. Go Horizon, Richo and Maishe and all the kids. Thank you for your wonderful seeds, which I have never had a problem germinating. Maybe those folks who complained should read the directions. Some seeds are hard to propigate and take a very long time to germinate. Some seeds need extensive care to germinate. If you read and follow Horizon's directions, you will be as successful as I am. My plants and seeds from Horizon are flourishing.

"On Jun 27, 2012 2:02 PM, Horizon Herbs, LLC responded with:

I send my prayers out to this person. May she be healed in the garden. Richo"

I enjoy reading the Horizon Herbs catalog, with its extensive array of herb seeds and plants. All my order experiences have been positive and I would recommend Horizon Herbs to anyone who is interested in learning more about herbs and sprouting them from seed. Richo even emailed me to answer a question I had about smudge herbs and he was very helpful. I also received a phone call alerting me that my plants were about to be shipped. Very thoughtful! I'm an adoring fan of Horizon Herbs.

I made my first order with Horizon Herbs earlier this year and have been very pleased with the germination of seeds. They have a wonderful inventory, fast shipping and lovely customer service. I'll most likely order again.

This was my first order from Horizon herbfarm. I ordered six live baby curry leaf plants and wondered how they could be packed and shipped so that they would survive. They came in two days, all six of them healthy and whole with instructions for unwrapping them and taking care of them. I'm glad Horizon included a catalog because I'd like to order from them again.

This is my second season ordering seeds from Horizon and the first year ordering live plants. Horizon called me at the end of the week to inform me they were shipping and the plants arrived early the following in excellent condition with one of better packing jobs I have seen. I was very impressed, especially compared to some of the other packing jobs I have received, including one that separated the top part of the tree from the bottom.
I've recommended them to my friends; the same goes for anybody looking for the less common varieties of seed. For anybody interested in growing chile, I suggest Aji Colorado. Low-medium heat with excellent flavor on very productive plants

Horizon herbs is one of the best places to purchase medical herb plants and seeds. The vitality of the plants and seeds is so strong, I can feel it emanating all around me in the garden. I have been ordering from Richo for years and my garden has many of his plant beings in it now. I feel a healing soothing relationship with these plants just by sitting with them. The customer service is excellent, too. One year my live plant box had obviously been kicked around during shipment. When I opened it up, plant roots were loose out of the dirt. Richo quickly righted the situation by sending a replacement order. However, I couldn't bear to dump the plants in the garbage, so I planted them anyway without much hope of any surviving. To my surprise all of them not only grew, but are now some of the most vibrant plants in my garden. You can't go wrong with Horizon Herbs.

"On Jun 27, 2012 2:47 PM, Horizon Herbs, LLC responded with:

Thank you for these positive words! We strive to provide solid seeds and plants. It is inspirational to me to hear of your relationship with the plants, and I'm really happy to know that our plant friends have found such a goon new home. May you, your plants, and your good vibrations ever seek the light. Richo"

This is my first purchase from Horizon Herbs. My order included two live plants and seeds. I am so impressed with the plants. They arrived securely packaged and happy!

Additionally, I am impressed with Horizon Herbs. Early spring is a busy time of the year for them. Yet, they made time to handle a special request from me. I will be ordering from Horizon Herbs again.

I never bought anything from them, but i have a close friend who speaks well about Richo, or I think that is the owners name. She has no computer or way to post reviews. So I'm doing this on her behalf. Thanks Richo for making my friend Anna so happy!

I have made several purchases of seed from Horizon Herbs...all of the seed from woodland herbs to medicinal herbs were excellent quality. I have had high germination rates on all of the seed that I have purchased from them. Richo's insight and feedback have been outstanding, informative, and most beneficial! Keep up the fantastic customer service. I look forward to doing subsequesnt business with Horizon Herbs.

I have been ordering seed/tubers from Horizon for several years now. There's a couple things I really appreciate about them:
- Their catalog is a wealth of information and knowledge, I read them like a magazine.
- The range of medicinals and herbs offered is impressive.
-Their seed has consistently had a high germination rate across the board (the lone exception was uva ursi, which is a slow and difficult germinator anyways).
-With a user account, one can pull up all their past orders, which I recently found helpful trying to remember a specific variety I ordered a couple years ago.
-I feel like the money Horizon gets from me will end up in a good place and put to good use.
- Living in PDX, I know the seed is adapted to the NW climate.
- Their edible offerings have been very appealing to me in the past year or so. They have made great strides in this department.
- It's refreshing to read about one's reverence for the power of plants in a catalog, it's welcoming and educating.

Summary: Give them a try, they're reliable and provide good quality!