Comments regarding Plant Delights Nursery

It's a delight to deal with responsible high quality nurseries, such as PDN. I've done business with them before and they have always been excellent in every sense. Top quality healthy plants carefully packed, plus a warm, prompt and effective customer service.

My order came and the plants are gorgeous. I've been shopping with them for probably 15 years now without any problems. Thank you, Plant Delights for your good service.
Pat Wallace

I was thrilled with the 6 baptisias I ordered from Plant Delights this year. They were so much larger than I was expecting and the packing was excellent. Also, I couldn’t find these particular plants anywhere else. When PD was having trouble with my e-mail, they telephoned me, then went out of their way to send my order confirmation through the mail even though I told them it wasn’t necessary. Fantastic company!

I am giving Plant Delights a neutral rating for the following reasons:

4 of the Clematis plants that I ordered in 2011 (two did not have much of a root system and did not survive the first year) the other two are tiny. I really think that they should make sure that these plants have good root systems before they sell them, the prices on these are not cheap and this company usually has good healthy plants, I don't know what happened here. I did not contact this company regarding these two clems, but I still might since it is obvious they never did come back.

However, the Peppermint Arundo grass is wonderful and is doing great, it was a good size and was healthy. I also noticed that their packing has gone downhill a little, since my orders when I lived in California.

Antoinette Hague

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the plants I received today, the first time I've received anything from them, and would rate the order as positive overall. The only really odd thing about the shipment would be that the plants were not actually rooted out in the pots - 3 Arisaema were in my order, and two were completely dormant which meant they were just bulbs tucked in a pot with potting soil around them. Having these in pots really doesn't make sense since there was absolutely no root growth. The third was just starting to grow, but again, no real root growth into the pots yet. They were also really soaking wet, not something you would want with dormant bulbs, and one was slimy with a couple soft, rotten spots on the bulb, though I don't think this is anything that will harm it. I simply took it out of the pot so it can dry out before I plant it in the garden. The other two plants also weren't really rooted but were growing great and larger than expected. The packing was excellent, other than being overly wet as I mentioned. I would consider ordering again as they have a nice unusual selection.

Posted on October 6, 2011, updated April 4, 2012
This nursery is a treasure. Yes, the prices are higher than some other companies, but the quality and range of unusual selections is unsurpassed. Many times this is the *only* company from which to buy certain plants and they always send such large (for container size), healthy, well grown happy stock. While I don't always personally agree with their politics, I just try to laugh it off. As long as they continue to maintain the wonderful quality of their plants, I intend to always order from them as my need and budget allow.

Have placed 4 orders with Plant Delights in the past year. All the plants were of the highest quality. The online database is a wealth of information.

I so wish I lived near this nursery!!! I just received my first order of two goldenrods and three aspidistras. Four of the plants were on sale and ALL of the plants were bigger than expected for the pot size with well developed roots.
I'll reorder with no hesitation.

My first order with Plant Delights was a smashing success. I ordered online and listed my preferred shipping date. I received an email confirmation and my order was shipped on the exact date. The plants came well-packaged and in good shape. The plants are large for the container size and look to be in excellent health. It's a pleasure doing business with a reputable company. Thank you Plant Delights.

I ordered two plants from PDN back in the late spring -- Chrysactinia mexicana and miniature hosta "Pure Heart". Because of the heat, they held shipment until this week. The quality of the plants is superb, and because of the excellent packaging, they arrived in perfect condition. The chrysactinia is still blooming and very fragrant, and the little hosta has strong foliage and a well-developed root system. I promptly placed another order -- for another hosta, and a couple more plants that have been on my shopping list, but which I haven't been able to find. (*White* salvia greggii!)

I've gotten good plants from lots of local nurseries and online nurseries, but the ones I just received from PDN are absolutely the best, and worth every penny.

Posted on July 8, 2011, updated July 21, 2011
Posted on June 28, 2011, updated July 8, 2011
I placed a first time order online with this company on June 19th, 2011. I submitted specific instructions that the order cannot be DELIVERED between July 1st throught the 4th, as I will not be available for the delivery.

I received a notification yesterday from FedEx indicating that my order shipped 6/27/2011, and the ESTIMATED delivery date is 6/30/2011. Concerned that this is NOT a guaranteed delivery date and that the package MAY NOT arrive in time, I contacted customer service at Plant Delights Nursery and spoke with Virginia. This is a long distance phone call that I have to pay for because they don't provide a toll free number.

In speaking with Virginia, I got the "passing the buck" attitude throughout the entire conversation. I explained I submitted specific instructions that the order CANNOT be delivered after June 30th, and my growing concerns that the plants will die if they are delivered after this date. She tells me that I should talk to neighbors and see if they can pick up the package if it is delivered after June 30th, and that I am supposed to ask them to open the package as well. This is NOT my neighbors responsibility, and I explained to Virginia I am not involving my neighbors in this matter, especially over a holiday weekend, in which my neighbors will not be available in the first place.

Virginia then went on to pass the buck with excuses that they can't be responsible that "Fed Ex has no guarantee" and then began chastising me that I didn't respond to the nurseries email (that I don't recall receiving), and proceeded to tell me that I was supposed to call them after I got THEIR email. I told her I don't recall seeing their email, and why should I have to call them after I've already given EXPLICIT instructions with my initial order at the time of placement, and then take time out of my day to call them at a long distance phone number, at my expense, to repeat the information I'd already given them with my order? So, it's the customers responsibility to keep contacting them to ensure they "get it right" the first time? Not my responsibility to micromanage the company with which I am giving my business to.

I explained that I AM contacting them, as soon as I received the email confirmation from Fed Ex, which is why I'm calling today. She made some comment that they can't be responsible, and that they couldn't ship last week because they were doing inventory. If they couldn't ship last week, why risk delivery so close to the date with which I specifically explained I would not be available, instead of waiting to ship after those dates? It is evident to me that this is a very poorly run operation.

At this point I'm upset and told her if these plants die because of THEIR error in following my explicit instructions, that I will dispute it with my credit card company. If you tell a nursery that you will not be here for the delivery, and they ship so close to the date that it's questionable whether it will arrive in time and then pass the buck that "fed ex has no guarantees" and "we can't be responsible if there is a problem with their delivery", and "we couldn't ship last week because of inventory" and "you should ask your neighbors to pick up the package and open it for you" ---- it's a clear indication to me that their internal operations are incompetent.

In a condescending manner, she now tells me that I'm getting ahead of myself and that I should just 'wait and see' what happens. "Maybe you'll get the delivery at 8:00 am on June 30th". Yes, perhaps I will. But maybe it won't. Am I being chastised for being proactive? Perhaps they should have contacted me to ask whether I'd like my order shipped after July 4th, but they never did. They shipped anyway, obviously knowing that THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES WITH FED EX.

I explained if the order is not received by June 30th, I'll have to call them long distance again, at my expense, and obviously listen to them tell me how this is the customers fault that Plant Delights can't follow explicit instructions that were provided with my order placement. In a condescending manner, which is commonplace at this point in the conversation, Virginia proceeds to tell me in a very sarcastic tone that "since you have email" then you can email us. I'm supposed to email them regarding a matter that is timely, and expect to receive a prompt reply and have this matter resolved over email? I suppose it's the customers responsibility to sit by their computer all day awaiting a response to a "timely" concern that came to be through no fault of their own.

I will NEVER order from this company again. This is a really poor excuse for 'customer service'. The 'passing the buck' attitude for their own incompetence is unacceptable. Why would any company ship so close to a date that I explained I would be unavailable for delivery, knowing in advance that there are no shipping guarantees with Fed Ex????? Extremely poor business operations.

"On Jul 8, 2011 3:06 PM, Plant Delights Nursery responded with:

Here are the facts pertaining to this negative post:

On June 20th, we downloaded an order for two hosta from Kimcoco33 along with this customer note: “NO substitutes please. "NO DELIVERY between July 1st thru 5th. Shipping any other time at your discretion for my zone."

Due to multiple heat delays, many orders including Kimcoco33's could not be shipped during the week it was received. With a break in temperatures, we shipped Kim's order on 6/27 with a Fed Ex delivery scheduled on 6/30. This was cutting it close, based on our customer's request for no delivery July 1st - 5th. Unfortunately, Fed Ex uses the term "estimated delivery" which prompted an angry call from the customer to our office.

During the time Kimcoco33 was on the line, I was listening to Virginia's side of the conversation. I have listened to 1000's of conversations between Customer Service Representatives and customers' over the years and what draws my undivided attention faster than anything else is a CSR who is not being allowed to finish a complete sentence. I immediately tuned into this particular conversation. I can say without hesitation that the rude and angry person was not on this end of the telephone. Virginia has 100's of customers to who have been the recipients of her exemplary service during her 7 1/2 years tenure and not once have I ever heard her raise her voice. Additionally, Virginia receives more commendations for her excellent customer service than anyone else at Plant Delights and is the recipient of many gifts of gratitude for her above and beyond service.

I heard Virginia's attempt to assure you that should the plants arrive after the you left town we would take care of the loss. I also heard her tell you not to jump the gun and assume the worst. Because you were so busy ranting, I'm not sure you heard her because you have not mentioned any of these details in either post nor in the two emails I have received from you to date. The plants were in route; there was nothing Virginia could do to change that fact. She offered you all she could by offering you the assurance that should your plant arrive after you left town that we would take care of your loss. Frankly, I don't know what else anyone could ask for.

Aside from these two posts, you have emailed me twice in an effort to damage Virginia’s employee status with PDN. My reply to your first email reads as follows:


From: Dianne Austin
Subject: RE: Confirmation of Order & Shipping Date
To: "Kimcoco33(address omitted for customer privacy>
Date: Friday, July 1, 2011, 7:21 AM

Dear Kim:

I am very sorry that your ordering experience with Plant Delights Nursery did not set well with you.

I have reviewed your concerns and in hindsight, I agree we should have rescheduled your order to ship after you returned from your trip. This would have been a more conservative approach to managing your order and less stress on your end as well. I apologize for any misunderstanding on our part.

In our own defense, I will say that we have been pressured by many weeks of heat delays to ship orders just as soon as we see a window of opportunity to do so. When temperatures rise above 92F in our area, we are forced to delay shipments regardless of the order destination. Damage occurs when the boxed (damp) plants sit in 93F and above temperatures on a hot tarmac waiting to be loaded on trucks or planes at the Raleigh airport. Our Customer Service Representatives simply saw an opportunity to get your plants to you prior to your departure and took it.

Fed Ex tracking shows that your order did deliver on time for which I am grateful to see; and I hope that your two plants arrived in good condition. If they didn't, please let me know.

If there is any service or promise we have not lived up to please email me and I will help you in any way possible.

Kind regards,

Dianne Austin
Manager, Customer Service & Shipping
9241 Sauls Road
Raleigh, NC
Ph: 919-772-4794
http://www.plantdelights.com
Plant Delights Nursery, Inc.

In closing, I will say that this rebuttal will be the only response to your outrageous accusations and post. There is a saying "Let the punishment fit the crime". Our crime? Getting plants shipped between heat delays and accepting full responsibility for plant death should Fed Ex deliver late. My crime as a manager? Allowing an exemplary employee to endure your shouting and verbal abuse along with being called "incompetent" and not intervening on her behalf. Based on your phone etiquette, you were fortunate to have a calm and rational person such as Virginia handling your call. The owner’s of Plant Delights support Virginia and her continued efforts to provide excellent Customer Service to all of our gardening friends and customers. You have gone to extraordinary lengths to sabotage a very nice person’s reputation. Shame on you!
"

I have bought plants from Plant Delights Nursery numerous times within the last two years. Their staff is very friendly, polite, and have great customer service skills, they email me with any changes to my order and keep me posted on delivery dates. The plants have always been packed carefully and have arrived safely and alive. I have been very impressed with the quality and selection of the plants. Their prices are fair considering all the work involved, and I feel peace of mind knowing that the plants I'm getting will survive the winters in my area and grow well in my environment. I just recently received an order from them, and have placed another order which is due to arrive shortly. The plants that have come from PDN are thriving in my yard. My yard is the envy of the neighborhood. All of my neighbors are asking me where I get my plants, they haven't seen these cold hardy exotics before, I always tell them to go and check out Plant Deligths Nursery. I give this nursery a high rating. I am very happy that they exist and are doing the work that they are doing, especially in todays economy when a lot of nurseries are going out of business and closing down. I appreciate very much that we have this great resource. Sincerely, from your loyal customer way down south where bananas grow!

I placed my first order around April 2011, for Amorphophallus Henryii, and Amorphophallus Kuisanus. I am an aroid collector and wanted to add these to my collection. Although the cost of tubers are extremely high, I went ahead and ordered them. Both cost $20 (later on seen them on ebay for $5, I about had a heart attack!). So I got them and the henryii was nice and big 4-5 inches across, but kuisianus was about 1 inch across (I almost cried) and complained. But they both grew wonderfully and are still nice looking. 17.00 to ship them, both less than a pound. Shipping is rediculous. I think its because their boxes have their name on them. Has anyone told them USPS has free boxes they can order online for FREE? Yes PD you can get free priority mail and flat rate boxes at no cost to you! Blah

A few weeks later we ordered a Helicodiceros muscivorus ($20 for one very tiny tuber less than 1 inch across) Which arrived rotted and soaking wet, but was replaced, the new one was also very tiny and soaking wet, but I didn't complain as there were lots of baby tubers. And we ordered an Amorphophallus ochroleucus (Which was soaking wet as well and the tuber was on top of the soil/wood chips and not down in the pot. The leaf was broken in half but a new one grew 6 weeks later. Again another high shipping cost, but still with the water logged pots should have been less than 17.00 if they used usps boxes which is cheaper in shipping and saves the customer money.

We again placed another order for an amorphophallus and an arum. Amorphophallus yunnanensis, and Arum cyrenaicum x concinnatum. We accidently ordered the wrong amorph, so I sent it back and got another ochroleucus plant. The arum tuber (main bulbs) were rotted completely, yes the pots were once again soaking wet, however even with the 2 huge rotted tubers I got about 30 babies from that one pot so I was happy. The 2nd Amorphophallus ochroleucus I recieved to replace the returned Amorphophallus yunnanensis also had a broken leaf, however it too grew another one after I threw out the nasty wood chips it was potted in and planted it deeper in real soil. It has a new leaf growing on it also.

While their plants are less than satisfactory, I can say I did get nice people on the phone and got prompt replacement.
I want to hit myself in the head as some of the items we bought from PD we seen on Ebay 50% cheaper.

I did ask about the wood chips used to grow their plants in and was told that its very good medium for growing plants, and while the bulbs were rotted they told me (Dianne) that the person who did the watering probably overwatered some things causing them to die, and my reply was to hire someone who knew what they were doing.

When I think of PD, it reminds me of the half dead plants you often see at walmart and kmart, Its just awful. I had no issue with PD customer service as they were very helpful and polite, but I will only buy from them again if they have something I absolutely cannot find anywhere else in the world.

Oh and if I do purchase something from them i'll send them a box myself to pack the plants in so I won't have to pay those rediculous shipping charges.

"On Jul 18, 2011 12:41 PM, Plant Delights Nursery responded with:

Smurfwv:

You are 100% right! We agree with the following points you are making:
1- Our plants are more expensive than you find on Ebay. The plant exploration and the research that goes into acquiring our plant collection; along with years of trialing and then the propagation of our rare plant collection comes at a higher price than the average overhead of most EBay growers.
2 - We agree that shipping is expensive, but the carrier charged us $11.63 for your box of three plants and that was our contracted price. Anyone shipping to your address from Raleigh, NC or further away would be losing money if they charged you less. The plants have to be pulled and packed as well; therefore the difference for what you were charged ($17.50) pays for labor, supplies and overhead.
3 - As conscientious as our staff are, when watering many thousand of plants with many diverse requirements, we do over-water, under-water and as a result kill plants as we attempt to care for them appropriately. That is the reality of owning and managing a nursery - at least here at PDN.
4 - We agree that we do have very nice people here and appreciate and thank you for acknowledging that.

Based on an earlier email, you requested to be removed from our mailing list. We have respected your decision not to order from us again and have removed you from our mailing list. We realize that we have been unable to provide you with plants that meet your expectations and hope you will find another nursery that better meets your needs and your budget.


"

Quality of plants received was ok, but their packing is a combination of plastic peanuts and shredded paper--difficult to separate and not environmentally friendly.

The Plant Delights catalog is one of my favorite winter reads. Fabulous humor, and yummy descriptions of plants far beyond my income or climate zone. I end up buying more than I can afford every year, but . . . I guess that's what gardenings all about.

I order A LOT of mail order plants online and via catalogs for our multiple gardens. In recently ordering from no fewer than half a dozen of nurseries from which I receive catalogs and/or emails this season, I can say that I am FULLY delighted (no pun intended) by the quality of Plants Delights Nurseries offerings. Not only do they ship the healthy, robust plants that I would purposely purchase sight-seen in a physical nursery, they pack them with the care of someone who is shipping from their own garden. None of the plants were limping in health, haphazardly dropping dirt or "iffy" looking when I removed them from their packing. I honestly felt that all $300+ that I'd spent for my garden @ Plant Delights website was money well spent, and when I tend to my newly planted fare now, I smile with gratitude. Thank you, Tony Avent, for running a shipshape operation with the quality and care of a true Gardener! I will always be back to shop again.....

I received a very well-packed order of Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus and citrina in excellent condition and in the time frame indicated.
I was glad that the company uses a 'rapid-transit' shipping method to my area, which enabled the plants to arrive without undue stress.
A nice experience with this company and one I hope to repeat.

Tony Avent and his Garden Delight Nursery put the Fun back in Flora. I'm looking forward to attending the July 8th Open House.

I just received an order of several sinningias, punica, amorphophallus, and others. This nursery always sends the largest specimens, in excellent condition, and perfect shipping. I hope I can visit their nursery one day. They are on the top of my mail order list!

I've ordered for the first time last year and this year was my second time. Won't be the last, however! Happy with both orders of plants!

Posted on May 29, 2011, updated June 9, 2011
I've been following this company for years and have always appreciated their diverse catalog. However, I've also noted their poor customer service, especially in the way they've responded to complaints on this site, and their strange infusion of politics with plants and questionable comments in the plant descriptions. What this all adds up to is unprofessionalism, which has been evident especially in the snarky email replies from the company, in which the representative in several cases actually made personal attacks toward the customer. The fact that they entitle a section on their website "Hate Mail" that includes critical correspondence demonstrates their childish sarcastic attitude. I've never seen another company do this - who stayed in business. I am glad that some people have had luck with this company but I will continue to be wary and avoid them until I know they have a more serious dedication to customer service and quality over sarcastic humor and rudness.

"On Jun 1, 2011 12:12 PM, Plant Delights Nursery responded with:

Speckled_Hen:

You sound like someone with an axe to grind. Let's see, you've never ordered from us and have no first hand experience with our customer service. You don't like our truth in advertising when we post our hate mail on our website without any editorial comments. You didn't bother to mention our good mail, which extols our excellent customer service...hmmm...sure sounds like an axe grinding episode to me. It goes without saying that you obviously don't share our sense of humor. That's fine, and if you don't want to order from us, that's fine also, but why can't you just keep your negative thoughts to yourself? I'm reminded of the old saying, better to remain silent and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt."

Tony Avent
Plant Delights Nursery @
Juniper Level Botanic Garden
9241 Sauls Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27603 USA
Minimum Winter Temps 0-5 F
Maximum Summer Temps 95-105F
USDA Hardiness Zone 7b
email tony@plantdelights.com
website http://www.plantdelights.com
phone 919 772-4794
fax 919 772-4752
"I consider every plant hardy until I have killed it myself...at least three times" - Avent"

Received my first order from PDN yesterday and was extremely satisfied. Although the pricing may be higher than some mail order businesses, the plants are healthy, quite large, packaged exceptionally well and just downright delightful. (Kniphofia, Aristolochia fimbriata, Manettia cordifolia, Echinacea 'Gum Drop' ) Hoping to plant today and tomorrow...

I've been a fan of Tony Avent & Plant Delights Nursery for over 20 years. Before opening his nursery he wrote a weekly column for the Raleigh News & Observer - and I was so upset when his column ended - not knowing what was yet to come (that's were the humor in his catalog probably comes from - but can't someone try to be a little bit different?) If you are ever in NC at a time they are having an Open House, this is a must! The gardens are interesting any time of the year. Busloads of people come from all over. He travels all over the world searching for new and exicting plants. I've never had to use the mail order catalog, but would highly recommend checking them out. Every plant I have bought there has thrived. I recently moved to a small town outside of Raleigh, so am having to start over with my garden. His next open house is coming up and I can't wait!

I have been a customer of this nursery for several years, and have always been extremely happy with the plants I received and their service. I just received 3 more healthy and unique plants that I can't wait to plant in my garden. Even though I thoroughly enjoy their website, I always look forward to receiving their catalog in the mail twice a year. I hope they can continue to do what they've been doing for many years to come.

Posted on June 25, 2007, updated April 15, 2011
Summer is here and the rush to get my garden planted has let up. I find myself planning for next Spring. I find now a good time to write comments on the vendors I used this time around. For the first time, I ordered from Plant Delights. I found the quality of their products to be superior and their selection to be one of the best. Above all, the information I have gleaned from the website has been very helpful. I have only found two other vendors (maybe three) to have reached such a high level of customer service. Plant Delights has been all that I had hoped it would be. As I came to write this, I was surprised to find all the negative comments that seem based on a perception of the politics at PDN. I guess I really never noticed anything all that offensive or even political for that matter. I like to think that most gardeners can look past political orientation when it comes to buying plants. As with any business, if you don't like the person that runs it, don't go there. To slam a business just because you do not like what it says really is not fair and is terribly misleading to other potential customers. If PDN's main fault is in the writing of its catalogue, go elsewhere, but let other gardeners not be misled by the political opinions of some. This is not a political forum. That said, I will again express my satisfaction with all the business and service aspects I have experienced with PDN. Thank you and enjoy the day.

I order quite a bit from this company because of the variety of plants they offer. There is a lot of information about these plants on their website which makes selection easier. I know they are expensive, and shipping seems high, but the size of the plants is larger than offered by others. That is important where I live (Texas) because plants must get established before the summer inferno sets in. I have always found customer service to be responsive.

These are some of the best hostas on the planet! I have never dealt with such a wonderful nursery!~

Plant Delights Nursery's customer service is the best in the business. I got a quick, friendly response every time I sent a question.

This review is almost skirting a 'neutral' rating, but stays in the positive zone as everything has survived, and I now have plants in my garden I could not have acquired otherwise.

You have to keep in mind the target audience of this company. They are selling obscure or newly introduced plants that are not widely available or suitable for all locations. It's like beta-testing software. You have to do your own research on what you are getting, and expect a few kinks along the way in order to try something you otherwise wouldn't be able to get at all. Likewise, they are very expensive, and you are paying more for rarity than for exceptional specimens.

I placed an order in the spring of 2010 and it arrived promptly and adequately packed. The condition of the plants varied. They were all of adequate size and rooting, if not impressively large. Some appeared mildly dry and rootbound, but not enough to be concerned. A hardy hibiscus was rather tall and spindly with the tip broken off where it didn't quite fit in the box. It promptly lost all its leaves within a day of being unpacked. However, the plant itself was healthy and bounced back quickly from the trauma without any particular coddling. I would describe the condition of the plants overall as not perfect, but completely acceptable.

I suppose I will summarize as such: If you can find a plant somewhere else, you should probably get it there. It will almost certainly be cheaper, and may well be a nicer specimen to boot. However, for things that can't be found elsewhere, I will not hesitate in being a repeat customer to plant delights as often as I can afford it.

Ordered 3 Colocasias and 1 Musa Siam Ruby. Promptly received nice healthy looking plants of good size. My Siam Ruby has several pups! Two of the Colocasias were slightly damaged (broken leaves from squashing in the box), but they'll recover and overall I'm very happy. Got a free slug too!

Very expensive but they have plants that no one else does and they do ship very large plants

Ordered two crinums, which were shipped promptly. I was very happy with the quality of the bulbs received. I probably could have saved some money if I had waited for a sale (which they do have from time to time), but wanted them immediately. Their shipping is a little bit higher than others when you only order one or two plants. However, if you order five plants versus just one or two the shipping is actually quite reasonable. I will order from PD again.

I recently ordered two aspidistras - an Okama and a Seko Kan. They arrived in great condition and are very healthy plants. I'm most pleased and will order from this company again.

I ordered 3 Hannibal's Dwarf Crinum from their 20% off overstock sale during the wee hours of Oct 24th. Realizing they ship USPS and the fact that I was ordering during a special I still had the audacity to request a Oct 29 delivery date (after all, it was my birthday). I'll be danged if I didn't come home on the evening if the 28th to a rather large box on my doorstep begging to be opened (literally - it's written on the box)! Inside several editions of the Herald-Sun I found three plants that I'm sure would be considered very fine by any nursery's standards. Expecting overstock specials to resemble something from the Island of Misfit Toys I was pleasantly surprised. The first was a large bulb well leafed out in healthy green regalia. The second was even bigger and had two pips or pups or whatever you crinum people call them. The last bulb must have been a birthday present because the pot was literally bulging out on all four sides. Surrounding the main bulb were no less than eight leafy stems with the shortest one being long enough to make Tony jealous! New customer? Definitely! Customer for life? Will keep advised. I do still owe a few boxes of chocolates for the prized catalogs of such high hu-morals.

I have been ordering plants online for years, but this is the first time I felt compelled to send a thank you note to the company. Not only that, they responded immediately and thanked me for thanking them! That's a first for me.

They did a remarkable job pulling and packing my shipment. Not only did it arrive in just two days, but everything was perfect. The Spiranthes cernua was in full bloom, and not a single petal was wrinkled. That is quite a feat for such a long and relatively fragile wand. The White Ball Buddleia was similarly in perfect condition with all blooms intact. I look forward to doing business with this company again.

I am so glad I found this daves garden so I can rate some of these companies I have been buying from for so many years; like Plant Delights. I have been buying hostas and rare things from PDN as long as I have been a master gardener and Tony and the team have always taken GREAT care of my plants. I even buy a shirt every now and then so I can show my support for PDN's great sense of humor. Thanks for being an awesome nursery!

Posted on May 10, 2010, updated September 29, 2010
Posted on May 7, 2010, updated May 10, 2010
My review is "neutral" only because I haven't ordered from them on-line. Rather, I had the good fortune to be able to visit them last Friday during their few open houses of the year. What a joy! The "demonstration gardens" are unbelievably beautiful and full of gardening inspiration. I did buy plants, however (what's the point of going if one does not?), and these were healthy and had good root growth. From the quality of the stock and the personal care I saw that day, I would definitely order from PD on-line next year. I can only hope I find a shade place for the Hellebores they exhibit and sell. Unbelievable....

I have had great success with plants from PDN. They are more expensive than a lot of nurseries, but as I tell all my friends, the plants are huge. I have had only one failure with a PDN plant, but it was a plant I was trying to grow (perhaps) a little too far north. However, as Tony Avent notes, zones are not written in stone. I like to push the boundaries if I like the plant. With proper placement and winter care I've had great luck with PDN plants. So--one didn't make it. I don't want my money back but I do wonder what I could do differently next year. If at first you don't succeed...

I recently ordered two "Australia" canna lilies that I have not seen in local nurseries. Although the temperatures here have been in high 100's, the plants arrived in great condition and are growing and producing new leaves. Green Thumbs Up to PDN.