Comments regarding Antique Rose Emporium

Excellent experience with Antique Rose Emporium. I ordered the Felicia rose which arrived when expected and larger and healthier than other roses I have ordered via mail. The Felicia rose has grown very quickly and looks and smells gorgeous. I would definitely order from A.R.E. again. :)

great Rose nursery; have ordered from them several times and all plants have been exactly as described, healthy and vigorous.

Posted on April 18, 2009, updated March 30, 2010
Amazing quality! Large, healthy roses delivered in perfect condition due to the wonderful packaging. It doesn't get better than this!

I have ordered from Antique Rose Emporium several times. Each time my roses have arrive healthy and ready to plant. (and packed with the greatest of care). When I have questions I email them and they get right bake to me. As someone who owns their own business I do understand that despite your best efforts sometimes things go wrong, so to all of you out there that have had a bad experience with this company I am sorry that your initial dealing was disheartening. I happen to admire there work and think that they deserve a second chance.

I have mail ordered roses from the Antique Rose Emporium for years, in addition to buying their roses from local nurseries in the Fort Worth, Texas area. Finding their roses and their catalog in a now defunct garden shop many years ago led me to my great love and appreciation of old garden roses. I have never had a negative experience with them, either online or on the phone. Their plants always arrive healthy and well packed. They have a wonderful variety of old roses available. I have also grown or given as presents several of their own Texas Pioneer roses, and they have all been beautiful and hardy. Their display gardens in Brenham, Texas are a "must visit" if you are a true rose lover. It is a great way to see so many of the roses they offer in their full and mature beauty in the landscape. One day I will make it to the San Antonio location and display gardens as well. These folks deserve only positives, according to my experience!

I have been ordering roses from ARE for years. The roses have always arrived healthy and well-packed. All of them have lived and produced beautiful blooms. I have had especially good results with the Mutabilis.

I ordered 2 Therese Bugnet and 2 Sir Thomas Lipton rugosas as well as 1 Iceberg Climbing rose.
All the roses were very nicely packaged for transit and arrived in excellent condition.
Three days after planting, they have already set leaves and look to be very vigorous.
I am so pleased with this company, their products and the extremely careful packing, which was the best I have ever received.
Definitely will be shopping with them again.
Colleen in Polson, MT

I was delighted to find exactly the roses I was looking for at ARE. Even though the catalog said that they were two gallon roses, I expected something a lot smaller. I was surprised when the roses arrived in full size, two gallon nursery pots. They were well packaged in a box obviously designed especially for the roses. Despite the three days in transit, the roses looked healthy. After less than a day in the ground, the leaves have already perked up. If I had more sun, I'd defintily buy more roses.

I ordered six China/Hybrid Musk roses from ARE in late April. When they arrived, they were packaged very securely. The roses arrived in good shape. I planted them right away and they are thriving, with new growth all over. I am very happy with my order from ARE and look forward to ordering from them in the future.

I was able to buy a Chrysler Imperial rose from a local nursery. It came in a small plastic pot but already had an amazing bloom, and is about to give out another. The plant itself has a lovely shape and is vigorous. Also, I went on ARE's website and ordered a catalogue, which came a mere two days later. I love the story of their founder and his rose-rustling from Texas highways and abandoned places for hardy, fragrant roses. A very interesting company.

I'm actually surprised with all of the positive comments ARE has received considering I would rate them as average at best. I placed an order with them via telephone several months ago when a specific rose I was looking for was out of stock at other rose vendors I buy from. I was met with a seemingly curt and indifferent sales person right from the start which should have been a good indication of what I was to expect down the road. The sales person took my order as if she were doing me a favor by answering the phone, then abruptly hung-up. The transaction took less than 2-minutes. I was a bit baffled considering I never received an order confirmation for my one rose after that even though I provided her with all of my information. It took two requests for over a week via email to finally receive an order summary. I remained optimistic about the experience considering the feedback posted here. I was excited to receive my rose. As the shipping date approached two months later, I received no updates as to its status even up to the day it was to arrive. I decided to email them to request an update. No reply for over a week. I emailed them again. Someone finally replied almost two weeks after I had originally emailed them only to tell me that my rose had just shipped. No other details were provided, not even a tracking number, so I had to email them again just to acquire it. When my rose finally arrived I was not impressed. I received a shabby 2-gallon nursery pot full of dirt and some thin canes (the foliage had been removed for the trip which I actually appreciated however). The plant appeared healthy, but I was disappointed to have paid more for what looked like a band-size seedling I could've just ordered from Heirloom Roses for less without the large pot of excess soil. Suffice it to say, the plant only produced a few leaves of new growth at the tips, then suddenly dried-out and died. I decided not to ask them to replace the plant since I wasn't eager to relive the experience I had had with their seemingly indifferent and unreliable customer service throughout the entire experience. While I'm sure other customers have had pleasant experiences and results with ARE, I would have loved to also. I think I will stick to Northland Rosarium and Heirloom as well as a couple of other rose retailers I consider much more superior in price, selection, quality and customer service.

Yesterday, April 24, 2009 I received two rosebushes each one was in a two gallon size pot from Antique Rose Emporium. The roses are extremely healthy looking and a very good size. They were packed with great care and I received the shipment via UPS very quickly. They had notified me via email when the roses were shipped and the tracking number was supplied too. I am very happy with this transaction with Antique Rose Emporium!!! I would highly recommend this company. Joyce, Ormond Beach, Florida

This is my first order from ARE. I'm impressed.

The roses have arrived in amazing condition. I'm looking forward to planting and growing them.

I'm already placing another order.

I ordered an Altissimo climbing rose from the antique rose emporium in early february, and also requested delayed shipping (to try to get past the frost a bit). The rose that arrived was healthy, and seems vigerous, several new canes are emerging already. It arrived in great condition, without damage from its ride. Great company, great selection, great service.

What a wonderful place to visit! As a Winter Texan from Wisconsin, my wife & I enjoyed the Rose Garden so much. One year coming back from Galveston and once while staying at Round Top(another great place to visit, I suggest the Outpost as a place to stay in a 1836 log cabin). Heading for Galveston in a couple weeks, we'll see....

A champion of reviving old garden and found roses, Antique Rose Emporium is an expert choice for these varieties. Their publications, videos, and rose stock are second to none. Healthy plants, easy ordering, quick and reliable shipping and excellent customer service continue to make this nursery a premier source for your mail order needs. The display garden is also phenomenal and well worth the trip in the springtime. This nursery is particularly helpful to the Southern gardener, as Michael Shoup's publications often specifically address our needs. A++++!!!!

Every rose was received exploding with health and vigor!!! AAA+++ roses!!!

I ordered 2 roses in July. To my surprise, the earliest shipping would be beginning of September.
Oh well... But my credit card got charged immediately, which to my knowledge has not happened anywhere else I ordered plants, and they sit on my money for 2 months!
Half September I called and it will take another week to get my plants, by then it will be END September, and I wouldn't have bought their roses if I knew this in advance.
They ship roses on a Friday, which makes the plants sit in a box over the weekend. For bare root roses I don't mind, but plants with leaves get diseases and funghi. I asked the customer care lady about this, and she said they will just drop all the leaves and be fine. Why do I buy plants WITH leaves than?! They will be underway for a week!
I asked about 2 day shipping, but it would be $ 60 for 2 plants. 3 Day shipping would cost $ 40, which still is more than I can afford.
All in all, a negative experience already. I am giving a neutral rating because I expect great plants. Keeping my fingers crossed for plants that live in a dark moist box for so long.
No matter how nice the plants might be, I will not order here again.
Will update when I receive the roses.
CC

Beautiful Plants A + to do business with

ORDERED 3 PLANTS. ALL HAVE REMAINED HEALTHY AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS BLOOMS. ONLY ONE I PLANTED IN THE SHADE ISN'T THRIVING AS QUICKLY. I WOULD ABSOLUTELY ORDER FROM AGAIN.

They are just a a short drive down the road and a wonderful place to visit in the Spring when the wild flowers are in full bloom and the air is filled with the scent of roses. The folks who work there are very helpful and they have a tone of other items besides roses. I look forward to my first Spring visit every year!

I have only ordered one rose from them. It was SO lovely and started blooming as soon as I planted it. This was a very heathy specimen. I do not have a rose garden, but I incorporate them into my mixed borders, and I must say it really looks wonderful. It is a part shade spot, and the rose has no disease whatsoever. I am so pleased! I will order from them again.

Thank you Antique Rose Emporium!

Evelyn

This is the second time I have ordered roses from Antique Rose Emporium and I will be ordering all my roses from them. The first time was two years ago. I now have a total of four roses from them and all four are the most disease and black spot resistant I have ever had.........no small feat in coastal NC. Even at this time of year, the leaves all look great and the blooms are good. I do not spray these roses on a regular basis. Great company to deal with.

This company completely deserves their excellent reputation. I ordered 5 roses, and got a bonus rose. They were all large and robust and delivered right on time and were extremely well packaged. Compared to other internet plant deliveries I've received, I am by far the happiest with their product, and feel that it was money well spent.

Got my big roses from ARE! This is the second year I order from them... great roses... if shipping was not so expensive for me I would order way more roses from them... love their roses...

The plant I received was absolutely beautiful. It's already blooming and growing well and it's only been in the ground for about a month. I have an uncanny ability to kill roses, but this one is flourishing in my garden. I would definitely order from Antique Rose Emporium again!

Great place to shop for roses. I have always had the best service there. Over the past 2 years I have purchased 8-10 bushes. Of all the places I have shopped, they have the healthiest roses in my opinion.

April 7 2008
This company has a Watchdog 30 rating for a very good reason. They are first class all the way. My order was absolutely flawless; the packing unbelievable and the roses as fresh as if they never traveled. No need to deal where you are treated rudely or your order substandard. I learned that the hard way. I realize the Watchdog 30 listings are in alphabetical order but these folks deserve to be first ANYWAY!!!!!

I can't believe how perfect the packaging was and how great these roses look! I am thrilled. Huge, perfectly designed packages! Carefully done and the roses look like they haven't been through a thing at all!

I ordered three roses. The plants were packaged very carefully, shipped promptly, and arrived very robust. I wish that I had larger yard and could order more roses from this company!

Wow! Very impressed with everything about this purchase. Came very well packaged, in great shape, & great price. Questions answer quickly and professionally. You will be hearing from me again! Thx ARE!

Just received five rose bushes in excellent packing! We were very impressed with them, they looked very healthy and were packed very well. Placed our order months ago and they shipped out just as they said they would. Informative email giving us the tracking number, which we were very happy to receive. Thankfully, UPS delivered them upright and not turned over. Will certainly order from this nursery again. Nice!

Ordered Smith's Parish and was very surprised at how large and healthy the plant was when I received it. Great communication and they shipped exactly when they said they would!

I love ARE roses and the people there.

I was fortunate enough to get to attend a class taught by one of the men who started that company. (I have oldtimers and can't remember his name)

The class was informative and the teacher was very friendly and helpful.

I have since bought some beautiful roses from them (Caldwell pink) and they were in great condition upon arriving and have survived a drought, and a very late snow (rare for my area to even have snow at all).

I am making a list to buy from them again for next rose beds.

Wonderful experiences across the board. I'd like more new introductions (of old roses), but everything I have bought from ARE has thrived - - -that includes many classes of roses. I've bought from them for almost 14 years! Some of the roses have been dug up and moved several times, and some have been dug up and given to friends. I've seen no evidence of virus or weakness in the stock.

I was lucky enough to visit their place in Texas, it was absolutely wonderful and everyone there was really very incredibly kind and it was a memorable experience that I'd recommend to everyone!

What a delightful nursery! I ordered some Max Graf groundcover roses, and they took off as soon as they were planted! Friends of mine have waxed enthusiastic about ARE for some time... perhaps I should have ordered from them sooner.

Fair prices and a great product sent right to your door. Definately would buy from them again!

I ordered from Antique Rose Emporium last year (and also the year before last: 2006 & 2005). Both times, my experience was positive. They sent all the rose I ordered, in great condition, and on time as scheduled when I ordered. I would recommend Antique Rose Emporium.

Thanks!
--robbie--