Comments regarding Bluestone Perennials

I made my first purchase here during their last 50% off sale. I had purchased several widows tears, some astilbes, and a few heuchera.
The plants all arrived in some of the largest boxes I have ever seen plants shipped in, but everything was intact and healthy. The coconut husk pots take some getting used to, and I let then soak in some water for an hour before planting. Considering how well they retain water I suspect it's the only reason the plants haven't dried out and died in this heat yet. For those complaining they don't decompose properly, I've noticed a light mulching on top of the pots helps.
I was a tad worried about the astilbes, they turned brown and withered a week after planting, but I noticed today that they're coming around and starting to bounce back.
All in all, I'm quite happy with my purchase and will continue to buy from them next year.

Posted on February 7, 2010, updated July 8, 2013
I ordered 13 plants from Bluestone during a half price sale. I ordered Astible, Sweet Woodruff, Sandwort, and White Bleeding Heart.

The plants were small but healthy. Some of the items I got were purchased with the future season in mind so I can't tell about their blooms but the plants grew and spread beautifully over the summer. My Astilbes bloomed and were lovely.

The only problematic plant was the White Bleeding Heart which arrived broken. I was assured by the friendly customer service agent to plant it and it should come up in the spring so time will tell. If it does not, I was told to call for a replacement. Reading the feedback on this site and from my own experience, I truly trust that this will be the case. I just hope I won't have to as I will love to have a blooming white bleeding heart this spring!

Posted on May 8, 2013, updated June 11, 2013
Posted on May 14, 2008, updated May 8, 2013
I received my very first order from Bluestone Perennials today, and I'm a little disappointed. I did take advantage of their recent sale, and most of those sale items look great, BUT I also ordered a viola (Etain) at $15 for 3 that is in just awful shape. It looks like something you'd find in a clearance bin in mid-July! All yellow and spindly with no blooms.. very disappointing. I love violas and was so excited to have this unique plant, but that excitement has turned to disgust. I have written to Bluestone to ask for a refund for this particular item, but have not heard back. If I do receive a response and refund I'll gladly change this to a neutral, but I really wish they'd not bother sending out these spent plants, especially at these prices!

Posted on May 20, 2012, updated June 11, 2013
I returned to Bluestone after having abandoned them a number of years ago, thinking that they had become too big and their delivered plants too small and insecurely packaged. I was very pleased to receive large, healthy specimens in a timely manner, package it a box with dividers fitted as if tailored to the plants. Bodes well.

I ordered several plants during their 50% off sale. Half of the order arrived if good shape. The other half was blackened and shriveled. This was not a case of shipping damage, those plants were boxed and sent in that condition. It only took 3 days for the plants to arrive at my door and I unpacked them immediately. I emailed Bluestone and they responded promptly and said they would either send replacements or give a credit. I received a credit. So I would give them a 'A' on customer service and a 'D' on plant quality. And I absolutely HATE those coir pots.

I have recently made 2 orders with Bluestone Perinneals and although not perfect I am pleased with the vast majority of plants and my dealings with the company.

I ordered 4 All Gold Bleeding Hearts. The packaging is well thought out to protect the plants. They all looked well and were planted immediately. For some reason 1 died immediately but the other 3 are doing well. After contacting Bluestone I was given an immediate credit, charging the cost back to my credit card. They were out of All Gold Bleeding Heart.

My 2nd order was 3 Gaillardia (Arizona Sun, Arizona Red Shades, Oranges and Lemons), and a Patriot Hosta. All of the plants were packaged well and in good health. They are doing well.

Posted on June 11, 2011, updated June 8, 2013
I wish there was a "splendid!" rating. I started gardening when I purchased my house 9 years ago and have been shopping with Bluestone since then. I LOVE that they grow their own plants.
In all these years and my many orders, only one plant in one threepack was unsatisfactory. I didn't request replacement because in that same order I received 2 free threepacks as premiums. I LOVE sales and coupons.
I'm sure they would've replaced it though, as the only two times I needed to contact customer service in 9 years I found the representatives to be professional, helpful and friendly.
Shipping is prompt and reasonable. In fact, last fall I took advantage of a bulb clearance sale and--I swear--I got up from the computer and walked to the front door and the box was on the porch already!
As long as I keep finding a square foot of free space, I will remain a happy loyal Bluestone customer.

Posted on April 25, 2013, updated June 8, 2013
Posted on June 1, 2012, updated April 25, 2013
Posted on May 7, 2012, updated June 1, 2012
Posted on November 2, 2011, updated May 7, 2012
I ordered 4 plants on 10-31-11 and received them 11-02-11. Very fast shipping and plants are fairly small but not unusual prices for starter plants. I noticed the good packing and soil was still moist. I have never gotten Coconut fiber pots before. Hope they work out because it's good for the environment. Millions of these plastic pots end up on the landfills.
See pictures on the Hosta forum. ( Mail order experiences good or bad ) Thank You!

This is my second purchase, in 2013 with this company.The first was a gift, and the intended receiver was very happy with the plants.
For the second one, I am enjoying the same experience. The plants were well protected and made the transit in the Southern heat. ALL the plants were healthy.

I placed my first order with this company recently. I was impressed with the size of the plants, however two of them were damaged in transit due to crammed packaging, etc. I notified customer service via email. After about a week they responded that they would send replacements. They kept their word and I received nice healthy replacements this week. Good communication and followup. I will order again.

Posted on August 14, 2012, updated June 4, 2013
I'm not posting about a specific order but my overall experience. I have placed quite a few orders the last few years, both large and small and it has been nothing but a positive experience. I love the new coco pots. Do I miss the smaller plants that were priced in threes for the most part, yes. However, all the plants that I have ordered since they changed packaging and pricing structure have been far more robust then when they came in threes, plus they are still small enough and priced competitively that I'm still able to plant a whole bed at a time and not go broke. I just recently did five different shade gardens with plants purchased from several orders this past spring. All are doing fabulous even though we had the hottest July on record and abnormally dry conditions. I'm lucky enough to live in one of the parts of Indiana that hasn't been experiencing the extreme drought conditions. I hope this company thrives and lives just as well as the plants they sell! Thank you!

I miss the old Bluestone. They used to be, in my experience, been the best mail-order company around. Good selection, healthy plants, and unbeatable prices. They changed all that a couple of years ago, and it's a much less appealing source now. First, they tripled their prices. Sure, they upped the size of their plants, but I think few of their regular customers appreciated the trade-off. Second, the put their plants in "biodegradable cocopots." I am not sure about how well these degrade, but I urge you to NEVER PLANT THEM DIRECTLY IN THE GROUND. Most of the plants I tried this with last year are still relegated to that little 4" x 4" space. A very few were able to grow through it, but I will never plant it directly again. Now I'm left with the choice of digging the plants up, thereby disturbing their growth, or watching them be small for however many years it takes for the cocopots to disappear. Sure, you can cut the pot and remove the plant, but this is much more likely to damage the roots than removal from a plastic pot.

In general their plants still come in decent shape, but some of this spring's shipment are a little questionable. Time will tell.

Why oh why did they have to make these unfortunate changes?????

I have been ordering from Bluestone for many years and have always been very well pleased with my orders. Will continue to do so in the future.

I emailed them and to date have received no reply. I informed them that my Armeria rubrifolias arrived very dry, many buds, very dry, foliage next to the coir collar brown. I finally removed the coir collars, have watered them daily, they may or may not survive. The next order came shortly after. Planting mix bone dry.
I compared their geranium phaeum "Samobor" with another vendor's I received same time. Bluestone's is yellowed, small- leaved. Magic Garden Store's is large, green, gorgeous shape. I won't buy from Bluestone again.

"On May 28, 2013 11:12 AM, Bluestone Perennials responded with:

Hello ferncrazy, I have checked into this with our office manager and I am glad to hear you are in direct correspondence with us as we resolve the situation. I apologize that we were not able to answer emails over the holiday weekend."

I have been ordering from Bluestone since 2009 and I have to admit that last year I was a bit disappointed with the size of the plants. All but 2 made it through the winter. I placed another order this year for some perennials I could not find locally and they arrived today. I was extremely happy. I ordered 16 plants and all 16 arrived in excellent condition. I think they were the largest plants I have ever received from Bluestone and everything looked healthy. I thankfully got all of them planted before the rain came and I look forward to them blooming later in the summer. I was so impressed by the high quality of Bluestones plants this year that I am placing another order tonight. Thank you Bluestone!

Posted on December 19, 2007, updated May 14, 2013
Bluestone is fabulous! They sent me a replacement order this past September for cyclamen that did not grow; unfortunately I never received it (I think someone took it out of my mailbox), and they credited my account immediately. Awesome.

Ordered perennials this year. Bigger pots, which I like,and the plants look great. The achillea are huge. Like the fiber pots as I can put them straight in the ground. Have ordered from them before and will continue to do so. I've never had a problem with a plant from them.

Posted on February 12, 2012, updated May 8, 2013
Posted on April 9, 2004, updated February 12, 2012
Last summer I ordered a couple of sale plants from Bluestone, and they arrived quickly and in great shape. Even though planted in June, they bloomed throughout the summer, and are getting ready to bloom now.

This year I ordered a few more things: daisies, ornamental grass, lobelia and a hosta, and they arrived exactly when I asked them to and in great shape. The plants promise to do as well as last year's sale plants. I would definitely order from Bluestone again.

I purchased several perennials. They were planted in coir pots that could just be planted, pot and all. The packaging was corrugated. Not a plastic pot or styrofoam packing peanut i sight. Thanks so much, Bluestone, for your environmentally sound materials.

Posted on November 26, 2001, updated May 7, 2013
Plants are rather small, but very vigorous growers, and great prices. Nice selection of perennial plants.

I needed many plants this year, ordered from Totally Tomato, Bluestone perennials, NH hostas, American Meadows, Classy Groundcovers, & Dans Dahlias. I will comment on each site as the orders come in.
My largest order, I ordered 56 perennials in 2 orders from bluestone.(first time ordering with Bluestone)
start with I found their website and catalog to be better than average. packaging is outstanding, some plants did dry a bit in the 3 Days shipping, coco pots i find a plus, plants for the most part came in good condition, my Pulmonaria i need to keep an eye on right now (transplant shock maybe?). orders over $75 you receive a free plant but this can be missed on their website and they will not inform you that you missed it. after missing it the first order i e-mailed about this and a quick responds and my free plant was in the order, some time later i put in a second order
and watched to where i put in for the free plant. ordered the plant
but i didnt feel it recorded on the website and when the order came in i found that to be true. i found this to be minor and didnt bother bluestone about it but it may be an issue with others at Dave's garden.
all in all a good experience with Bluestone.

I've had 2 seasons and over 50 plants now from Bluestone, and my experiences have all been positive. In fact, I have come to prefer them over any other online vendor. The coco pots are genius, especially for some of the more fragile perennials. For the first time, I was able to successfully grow lupines and delphiniums - and they came back this spring in zone 6. I planted several perennials in the fall, and they too returned. Customer service is excellent - friendly, prompt and helpful. I wanted to add some plants to my order after placing it and although it was too late, they offered to send me the plants with no extra shipping costs. Selection is also excellent. I highly recommend.

I ordered 18 plants. They all arrived healthy and well rooted. Their pots are larger and deeper that standard. I highly recommend this company.

I ordered a clematis "Royalty" a year and a half ago, and it died. Bluestone sent me a replacement last spring, and the poor thing is struggling so badly, I almost want to put it out of its misery. It is still less than 6 inches tall. Meanwhile, the clematis I ordered from Brushwood Nursery grows like a weed every year. I am done with Bluestone - their quality is just not as good as it used to be.

"On Apr 9, 2013 9:29 AM, Bluestone Perennials responded with:

We are so sorry to hear that neither of the Clematis Royalty that we sent did well for you. If you would be in touch directly, we can refund your money, or send any other plant selection of your choice. We would like the opportunity to regain your trust. Please give us the chance to do so? 1-800-852-5243 or helpdesk@bluestoneperennials.com

I ordered three plants: 1 Clematis & 2 Hydrangias. They arrived healthy & well-packed. The pots might have been a bit small (maybe 3" size) but each plant was tall & had strong stems. I liked that the pots were obviously bio-degradable - I can plant the pot & all - a nice touch. They have a beautiful catalogue which is a little confusing to use at first, but the plants that arrived matched the healthy look of their pictures. One additional note: the clematis I ordered is one for which I had been searching for over 15 years! The costs were reasonable. I will buy from them again & recommend this nursery to others.

I recently purchased a number of perennials from Bluestone Perennials. The plants received were meticulously packed with excellent usage of green materials. The coco pots are not only green + functional but they ensure the consumer never receives rootbound plants from Bluestone as the Coco pots are so highly biodegradeable that the likelihood they will last for any appreciable amount of time is almost impossible. Having a fairly new property, the time savings in being able to simply dig a small hole and plant - pot and all is a real consumer pleaser. I give Bluestone Perennials two enthusiastic thumbs up. Everything about the company oozes quality! Gary from Lewes, Delaware

I am giving them a positive review because:
1. Plants came in ahead of schedule.
2. Plants were in great shape.
3. Potting was excellent with the new packaging they use.

The only thing that could have been better was the size of the plants. There was lots of headspace in the boxes so I was thinking the plants would have had plenty of room to be bigger. That being said, I realize that it is April and the plants have not had that much time to mature.

All in all a great mail order experience and would order from them anytime.

Posted on June 3, 2008, updated March 24, 2013
I have ordered from this company three times now. I have always been satisfied with their plants. They've all grown well and most have bloomed the first year. None of their plants have ever died on me either, except for the one that the cute little chipmunk chewed off. Oh well!!! This is good company. I will certainly order from them again.

I have ordered from Bluestone Perennials since 2008. I would estimate that a third of their plants would die, especially those from the 3 packs. I quit ordering for a year because of my disappointment. But I went back to them in 2012 due to the new coconut pots. Just in case, I ordered sale items in order to keep the price lower. By the end of the summer everything I had ordered in 2012 was still alive! That was never my experience with Bluestone in previous years. I can't wait to see if the 2012 plants made it through the winter and if they will thrive in 2013. In any case, I placed another order last week. If you gave up on Bluestone, try again.

Posted on February 4, 2012, updated October 20, 2012
Just made an order of 6 Hardy Sugar Cane. Pricing was exceptional! $7.50 per plant with the 3+ discount. This is the first order I have placed with them so I dont know what the pricing was last year. Considering that the other company offering them is Plant Delights Nursery- they are selling for $20.00 a plant! They are both highly recommened so for me it was a no brainer. With shipping my order was $55.00 vs. $120.00 from Plant Delights. Will post updates with my order.

I found Bluestone last year only because of also finding Dave's Garden. Many people had great things to say about Bluestone. I ordered some plants last year and they were great. I am writing today because I ordered some end of season specials this fall. In just two days these 5 lovely plants were on my doorstep. Nice plants and fantastic service. They also have a wonderful selection of plants. I will definitely buy plants from them in the future.

I ordered from them a few years ago and was happy with the quality of the plants. I ordered some hens and chicks, bulbs and oriental poppies. I moved and had to leave the plants behind. Since I moved, I've been ordering from a few companies this spring and fall to stock my new place. I commend this company for their awesome shipping/FedEx notification policies and the great plant material I received. I ordered from the other companies before I placed my 2 orders with Bluestone this fall and I am still waiting for the other companies shipments. I called the other companies and they tell me they cannot even give me an estimate for delivery. It's a little hard to plan planting without any info. The Bluestone material is already planted and looks ready to take off. These guys are the best I've seen in years, that is why I am taking the time to recommend them.

Posted on June 7, 2009, updated October 1, 2012
I have been using this company for several years now and am quite happy with them. Once in a while in the order a plant may arrive in bad shape and all you have to do is call and it is quickly replaced no questions asked. Yes, the plant arrives smaller then most of the other mail orders, but they mature to beautiful plants. Sometimes something you order may not thrive, but that is more because of the zone, the soil or something else not pertaining to Bluestone.

Posted on September 26, 2012, updated September 26, 2012
Posted on October 26, 2007, updated September 26, 2012
One of the very BEST internet garden sites I have ever dealt with... great plants with excellent packaging. Customer service goes the extra mile in working with you if there is any problem with any of the plants. They deserve to be in the top tier!

This company is fantastic. I ordered from their winter sales (you get cheaper plants, they get money in the winter, a win-win) several times last winter & all orders were combined with combined shipping charges & shipped together in the spring. I ordered close to 100 plants. The office staff is extraordinarily helpful & friendly. With so many plants there were a very few problems which were solved instantly. Their packing is wonderful, the plants were healthy. I had heard from others not to plant compostable pots because the plants got root bound before the pot decomposed. Not these pots - the coconut fibers allow the roots to grow out through it. Now in fall, all the plants are still doing beautifully. Also, I had never ordered plants by mail before & I love it! Cheaper plants and you eliminate most of the impulse buying which is so tempting in a nursery. I give Bluestone 5 out of 5 stars!

Posted on June 29, 2012, updated September 3, 2012
Posted on June 9, 2012, updated June 29, 2012
Posted on June 5, 2012, updated June 9, 2012
After seeing Bluestone reviewed here multiple times, I decided to place a "test order". Due to the large selection and the end of season sale, my little test order grew! After submitting my initial order of 47 plants, I realized that I had omitted 9 evergreens. I emailed Bluestone and they updated my order (thank you, Pat, you're fantastic!!!). I received my 56 plants yesterday - some traveled well, some arrived dry and wilted, and one is basically DOA. I have emailed Bluestone and I am comfortable that they will address the DOA Callicarpa. Although I did not receive a shipping notification (fortunately I was home when the boxes arrived) and despite the fact that a few of the plants are rather bedraggled (plus the issue with the Callicarpa), I am giving them a positive review as

- customer service is fantastic (again, thank you, Pat!!)
- the plants were shipped securely (great inserts)
- my order arrived in a timely manner
- they have a wonderful selection and, with the sale prices, everything is attractively priced
- every plant is good-sized, well-branched with full root systems
- I believe that they will respond to my email.

At this point, I would definitely order again.

I just received an order of several fine, healthy plants. As usual it was extremely well packaged and the plants arrived in excellent shape. Among them was a replacement for a plant that arrived in next-to-dead condition. Although the damage appeared to be the result of negligence by the shipping service, Bluestone replaced it for free.
Since I tend to order on a sporadic basis, I like that they combine orders so that the plants arrive in a single lot at the appropriate planting time.

Posted on July 17, 2012, updated July 21, 2012
placed a large order,recieved damp pots with soft mushy leaves.Husband planted them,none grew even with babying them.Not wanting to admit defeat Ilet them struggle with fertilizer.and water.I lost my packing slip;by this time hubby was very upset.I sent Emailexplaing situationand saidI would be willing to buy from them again if they could check my order recordand offer a csecond chance discount. Of course no response.All I wanted was to let them know half dead plants in wet pots wrapped in plastic do not grow;at least free shipping?

"On Jul 18, 2012 9:04 AM, Bluestone Perennials responded with:

Could you please give us a call at your earliest convenience? We reply to every email we receive, and would have offered you a reshipment or a refund without question. I am puzzled - Our plants are not wrapped in plastic (with the exception of a 3/4" removable band at the top of the coconut fiber pot) and they are shipped in a cardboard carrier (again, no plastic). Is it possible they came from another nursery? Let's get to the bottom of this. Call 800-852-5243 or email me directly helpdesk@bluestoneperennials.com We look forward to hearing from you and resolving the situation.
"

Posted on July 10, 2012, updated July 13, 2012
I had made 3 purchases from Bluestone Perennials and up until the 3rd order, I had been satisfied. It was upon receipt of my 3rd order when I opened the box to find 1/2 of my plants (barely seedlings) sickly looking and half dead. I took pictures of them all along with the plant ID cards, and then I emailed Bluestone Perennials the pictures, complete with the order number and advised them of the plants' conditions upon arrival, expressed my severe dissatisfaction and asked them to kindly respond. I never heard a single word back from them in response... not by email, phone or USPS mail. I understand things go wrong in shipping -- anything can happen. But when a customer reports a valid complaint and the company ignores it? Unacceptable. I got no apology, no explanation, no acknowledgement, no attempt to make things right. Of the order, there were 3 of each of following: foxglove, sweet woodruff, zing rose dianthus, and 3 different types of campanula. After planting all 18, only 10 survived. After this, I have never and will never order from them again. I still get the catalogs and merely use them for reference... when I find something I like, I spend my hard earned money elsewhere.

"On Jul 12, 2012 3:05 PM, Bluestone Perennials responded with:

Sorry to hear that your email was lost in transit. Our server will refuse emails with large pictures or many images, so that may have happened. Please be in touch by phone, or try sending your images individually. We answer every email we receive within 2 days. Let's get this resolved right away to your satisfaction. We can reship or refund at your discretion. Please be in touch, and never hesitate to call if you have not heard from us - we are standing by to help!"