Comments regarding Northern Trading Company

I ordered two trees and am very happy. They arrived nicely packaged and very much alive. They were showing buds and very well shaped. I asked a question and had good prompt feedback which was nice. If you need to landscape a lot of space this would be a great place since the prices are very reasonable.

WARNING TO SHOPPERS: if you buy from here, be sure to keep the PACKAGING LABELS! You need it if you ever want to use the warranty! Also be aware they drop ship their bare roots from other nurseries - they don't grow things themselves.

I ordered a willow tree and 2 redbuds.

My expectations were horrendously low. Their website has only been around since 2009, only 1 recent review (a negative), and I can get 3 trees for under $10? Just seemed ridiculous, but I gave it a shot.

The willow tree (stick really) was fairly long for the price. Roots were ok.

The red buds were at the low end of the size range purchased (I think 1.5'-3'). Pretty good roots for the size of the trees.

The order came with 2 free tulip trees, which apparently are a somewhat hot item on freecycle :) . These were really small. Good roots though.

I just planted the willow and the red buds recently, so I expect it will be quite a while before they come out of dormancy and start to grow.

However everything was packaged nicely, and passed the scratch test (very green inside). And pretty good instructions were included. The free twigs were a nice touch (I think they also sent a maple also with the willow or something like that, too). So for now they get a positive rating from me.

If either grows it will have been worth the $10 I paid. The redbuds at the local nursery (admittedly 5 feet bigger than these) run for $399.

The red buds and tulip trees came directly from "Farmer Seed & Nursery" in IL. I didn't keep the package for the willow so I'm not sure where it was from.