Comments regarding Mountain Valley Growers

Disappointing customer service. I ordered the flagstone filler assortment, which is described on MVG's website as "Great for filling in those spaces between pavers". Instead of the variety of low growing creeping herbs i was expecting, I ended up receiving a bunch of tall growing herbs (pennyroral, fruity teucrium, etc) that clearly wouldn't work planted between flagstone pavers. MVG's own website describes several of the varieties i received as "not suitable for walking".

Understanding mistakes happen, i wrote MVG to inform them of the mistake, and was told instead that pennyroyal will need to be regularly sheared back (as it can grow more than a foot high), and that others will simply need to be planted at the edges so as to avoid any foot traffic. They made no acknowledgment of their mistake, and no offer was made to replace nor refund the incorrect plants sent.

I've order this same flagstone filler assortment in previous years, and have always received high quality creeping thyme varieties that can withstand foot traffic. Clearly they are now just filling orders with whatever they have in stock at the time. Given i paid over $150 for 36 plants that i can't use for my project, I will never be ordering from Mountain Valley Growers again.

I am very happy with my mail order purchase from Mountain Valley Growers. They offer plants that can be hard to find and had what I was looking for at a better price than other mail order sellers I checked. I think the shipping charge to my location was reasonable.
The plants I received were packed well and arrived in great condition, and processing/shipping was fast.
I recommend this specialty plant company!

My order arrived on time in great condition. I like their packing features. I am pleased with my purchase.

In addition, I asked to change items within my order, which was no problem.

I will order from Mountain Valley again.

I've had only the BEST experiences with Mountain Valley Growers. Their expertise on their products has been priceless, and I've ordered many times. Not every product worked out in my soil conditions, but many DID and often I've gotten the chance to try new thymes I never knew existed. Last year, I ordered Pink Lemonade Thyme in 4-in pots, then cried on the phone to Mt.Valley folks when our horribly wet Pittsburgh late spring drowned them out.

The Mt.Valley agent advised me to keep calm and wait a couple weeks. Every plant came back!!! And this spring, they expanded to 8x their original coverage.

So for 2016 I treated myself to another order, which I just received, of Pink Lemonade Thyme. Of all their thymes, this is THE winner in my book! Sometimes you have to pay more to try something not available anywhere else. And if it works, YAY!!!! Less area I have to cover with expensive mulch!!

Thanks, Mountain Valley Growers. I'll be watching for MORE new discoveries.

. . . BUYER BEWARE . . .


HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE
&
VERY DISAPPOINTED

It is very obvious they make their $$$ on shipping rather than selling their plants

Very small plants with VERY HIGH SHIPPING PRICES
& you must order minimum of 6 plants which drives up the S&H
SHIPPING PRICES ARE WAY OVER-CHARGED

POORLY PACKAGED

Their method of shipping, which they are very proud of, is not a good one,
Most of my plants bounced out of the soil


I ordered from them because they had a specific plant that I wanted

With their high prices I would expect bigger, healthier plants


This is my Second and Last order
First Order, 4 out of 8 Plants DIED
I would NOT recommend Mountain Valley Growers, you don't get what you pay for

The plants are organic, so I don't have to worry bout chemicals. I have ordered from them several times for the past 15 years or so, and have not had issues. They have a very large selection of herbs, varieties that are hard to find elsewhere. The prices are a little high, especially the shipping, but they do offer a sale in the fall. They are always friendly and helpful on the phone. I can always count on them for healthy organic plants.

This was my first order from Mtn. Valley Growers, and I was pretty disappointed. Their prices are very, very high, particularly the shipping. I ordered from them because they carried a specific plant that I wanted (lavender viridis) that was hard to find elsewhere. When the plants arrived (there is a minimum order of six), they were pretty small and looked a little worse for wear, except for the one I particularly wanted -- it was almost dead. Ten days later the others had recovered, but the desired plant didn't make it. Given the high prices I would expect bigger, healthier plants - the one that died looked as though it probably shouldn't have been sold in the first place. With that steep of a shipping charge, I would expect everything to arrive in excellent condition. If you want a yellow lavender, search by the latin name and you'll find a couple of other sites that offer this plant. I wouldn't recommend Mtn. Valley, you don't get what you pay for. Sigh, buyer beware...

Posted on May 14, 2008, updated May 8, 2013
I received my first ever order from MVG and I'm EXTREMELY impressed by the whole experience. They kept me updated as they waited to ship my plants at the proper time for my zone, and shipped when they said they would with the plants arriving promptly and in VERY GOOD condition! The best I've ever seen plants in the mail! The herbs were more fragrant and the plants in general were in better condition than most of those in my local nurseries. If only all companies used the innovative and thoughtful packaging that MVG does -- it's minimal, recyclable and there was absolutely no mess involved. The fact that they are certified organic makes it all the more amazing. The prices are fantastic! I plan to place several more orders!

I've placed a number of orders for assorted herbs and several types of lavenders with Mountain Valley Growers over the past several years. Plants have arrived in excellent condition, are clearly labeled and their unique packing has protected the plants from any shipping damage. None have failed to thrive. I'll continue to order from MVG with confidence.

Posted on November 4, 2012, updated November 4, 2012
I placed an order with Mountain Valley Growers during the September Sale for the second year in a row. I was hunting for a nursery selling scented geraniums last year and stumbled across their website during last year's sale. This year I ordered twice as many plants, again during the sale, and have been very happy with the large and unique selection of herbs and drought resistant perennials they carry.

Since I am on the edge of zone 7b/8a, and have fairly dry summers, their California and Mediterranean selections have thrived in my landscape. The plants are also certified USDA Organic (I'm not sure if all their plants are, but all of mine had the label).

The shipping is a little expensive, but the plants are very well packaged and were shipped two-day air from California to Georgia very healthy with no damage. The shipping is determined in multiples of 6 plants since that is what fits into the shipping boxes. Even with shipping, my order this year averaged $3.87 per plant.

I highly recommend them for their large selection of herbs, plant quality, and organic status. Give them a try during the September sale when there is a very large selection of herbs and plants 1/2 off.

Small sized plants, rather spindly & not very robust-looking at all, shockingly exorbinant shipping fee. Bought dozens of plants this year from many sources & my purchase of 6 herbs (you are not allowed to order fewer than 6 plants!) from Mt. Valley Growers stands out as one of the most disappointing of all my many purchases. What I received was in no way worth the price I paid. If I had paid 1/2 the price I did, I wouldn't have too much to complain about, but for $50 I expected large, robust & very healthly-looking plants, not two-inch tall spindly sprouts that look like they were picked from WalMart's bargain plant rack. I don't think I will ever again consider buying from Mt. Valley Growers.

Ordered and received almost everything for my new herb garden: lavenders, rosemary, oregano, thyme, ornamental sage, yarrow, lamb's ears, etc. Delivered very well packed, soil moist, happy and healthy plants, even some live insects flew out (we're in the same state, so I figured this was okay). The 3" pots were plastic and labeled with stickers on the sides. Each pot had a cardboard "collar" with U-shaped cut out to keep plant stable and soil moist. Pots were arranged in a rows with channel-shaped cardboard separators in a long, flat box. Very impressive packing without tape, shredded paper, or plastic bags. Got a great deal with their fall sale - only wish I had started earlier before some items sold out. Website could have been easier to navigate, but it was easy to see what was in stock and what wasn't. A great source for organic culinary and ornamental herb plants!

I was very excited to get my order (which got here as very quickly as estimated in an e-mail to let me know my items were shipped), but upon opening, completely impressed at the packaging, and condition of the plants. Mountain Valley Growers, please keep up the excellence, and you've got a customer for life! Thank you for a fantastic order!

I ordered Salvias from MVG and was very pleased with my plants. Was my first ordering from them, but it won't be the last time.

My first order from this company came quickly, the plants were well-developed and beautifully-packed. The selection is extensive. Best of all, two-day air shipping was very reasonably-priced (one-fifth of what was quoted at another western nursery).

I tried this company for the first time.They have a nice selection of herbs at good prices.My order arrived quickly and the plants were healthy and well packed. I would order from them again.Recommended.

The best. I've ordered from Mountain Valley Growers for five years and will continue to do so. Super healthy plants arrive expertly packed. Nice selection of unusual herbs. If a plant is out-of-stock they email or phone me within a day. Arrive in 2-3 days from CA to FL. Pricey but well worth the extra money. I can't live without their lemon verbena, wild watermelon sage, lime thyme, buddleia, scented geraniums, and maraschino cherry salvia. Everything grows great. This is my favorite mail order company for plants. Especially like their informative descriptions, telling photos, weekly bargains and 1/2 off sale in September.

I would recommend purchasing from Mountain Valley Growers, not only because they grow certified organic herbs and plants, but especially because plants arrive in excellent condition. The plants are healthy and thrive. They reserve shipping seasons to assure that the plants arrive in great condition. They take online and personal orders and are very helpful if you need assistance.

They have great herbs, vegetables, California native plants, numerous flowering plants, etc. Some are very unique and worth a try. They seem to specialize in lavenders and rosemary. If you receive their email, you will receive notices of very good sales.

I placed an order online for the first time with MVG during their fabulous "Fall Extravaganza Sale". I wanted to "test the waters" and spent $70 on plants and herbs that I could not find locally. (Most notably their superb selection of lavender). I am pleased to say that the plants arrived within days of my order (all the way from CA to NC!) and were very healthy and packed perfectly with no damage! The pot sizes are small. However, the plants are doing wonderfully settling into my garden and I suspect them to be doing just fine come spring! I did receive a plant in error. I emailed them and received a friendly response promptly. Since they only ship a minimum of 6 plants, I could not get a replacement but was refunded the money with no problem. Even though the plant sizes are small, I would definately recommend MVG as a source to purchase hard-to-find plants and herbs.

Herbs arrived poorly packaged The basil and oregano were out of their pots with the roots exposed. The English thyme was badly bruised from rattling around in the box.

I contacted Mountain Valley Growers. They said to let them know what plants didn't survive. I did let them know that 4 out of 6 plants did not make it. I did not hear back from them regarding replacing these plants.

I would like to know one way or the other as soon as possible, as I will have to order more herbs from another grower if Mountain Valley Growers will not honor their guarantee.

Excellent packaging and very healthy plants. And quick service. Couldn't ask for better.

Along with many others who have commented, I am just awe struck by the professional way these people manage and execute on-line nursery transactions. The MVG plant packaging is the best I have seen ( except for ecolage's which is for much bigger plants ). The plants were in perfect condition, they are now thriving. The package tracking system and order confirmation were excellent. In my top three for first place.

I have ordered from this company several times and have always been very happy. This year money has been a little tight so I waited for the "June Jumble Sale".

On monday I placed an order for six packs of salvias, pelorgoniums, and gallardias. The plants arrived on tuesday (the day after I placed the order). Wonderful healthy plants - one of the salvias was actully blooming - packed efficiently and effectively. Will definitely purchase from Mountain Valley Growers again and again.

Can't wait for the the Fall Blowout Extravaganza!!!!!!

I have made several purchases from Mountain Valley Growers and they are my favorite online nursery. Good quality plants and fast ship. You can't go wrong.

I grew rosemary for more than ten years in Southern California and wanted something a bit more cold hardy for my high dessert location. I ordered 10 rosemary plants which arrived bone dry. I watered the plants and several days later potted them up to bigger pots of organic potting soil with sharp sand. I watched as the plants turned from green to gray, then to silver/brown. I contacted MVG via email, at which time, I was told that I must have overwatered the plants that I must not have put in full sun. I was told that I needed to send a picture, but have heard nothing since. I guess I should have bought plants at Home Depot, they guarantee the plants for more than a couple of weeks. We shall see what MVG does for there guarantee. I will post the final outcome if MVG ever responds back.

As a first-time buyer with this company, I placed the minimum order of 6 plants. The company e-mailed me almost immediately to say that one plant was out of stock and asked if I wanted to order a substitute to complete the order. I did. The plants arrived on the day promised, beautifully packaged and healthy. No complaints here.

I have used Mountain Valley several times. The first time I was living in Minnesota, and they were careful to advise us about shipping plants at the appropriate time for that climate. The plants all arrived healthy and did well.

When we moved back to California and I had to leave all of my plants behind, I placed an order in for a variety of salvias, lavenders and a scented geranium. It was, unfortunately, sent to Minnesota (where my former landlord apparently accepted and kept it) but MVG replaced the order at no cost to me.

I don't have the greenest thumb in the world, but I the Sweet Lavender and the Attar of Roses scented geranium that arrived in two inch pots are now in 23-inch pots and going strong.

I highly recommend MVG for plant quality and customer service.

I wanted some more of some soft metal plant tags which attach with a wire tie like some I had recieved on plants I had received in a co-op. A couple of places to find them were mentioned and I ended up purchasing from Mountain Valley Growers. My order arrived in a reasonalbly fast amount of time, neatly packaged and exactly what I ordered. I'll be ordering from them again. Very pleased.

This was my first time ordering from Mountain Valley Growers.

The order never arrived.

I was going to place an order at the end of August, but since that was just a few days away from their "Fall Extravaganza", I waited to save a few bucks.

I placed a fairly large order (over $60) on September 1 and received an order confirmation on September 2. There were actually two SEPARATE orders being shipped separately, since one was for plants and one was for terra cotta-style planter pots.

Neither order has arrived. I have received no shipping notice or any other notification. It is now September 19.

I will never do business with this company again and now I must try to get all my money back. What a shame, I was looking forward to having a garden this year.

"

Unfortunately, this customer ordered plants which were not in stock. To aid customers in this, we publish an in stock list which is located as a hyperlink at the top and bottom of every page. This list is updated every Thursday. Even with a published in stock list, there are times when a plant will still be out of stock because the previous customer may have ordered the entire lot. This is stated on the in stock page.

Our policy, when an item is not in stock, is to notify the customer by email so that they may decide if they wish to continue the order, change the order or cancel the order. In this case the customer also ordered pots, and, since often customers order the pots to go with the plants, we like to wait until we hear back as to what the customer wants to do.
At this point, many customers never get back to us. This is their privilege. We consider it an invasion of their privacy to make uninvited phone calls.

We do not charge credit cards until products are readied for shipment.

It is unfortunate, that Matthew did not receive our first email. According to the time/date stamp on the email, it was sent shortly after his original order. We did check our records and it is interesting that he posted his comment here at Dave's within minutes of checking in with us to see what was going on. He did not even give us time to get back to him, which we did within minutes of his follow up (and before we knew he had posted here at Dave's wonderful garden site). This is standard operating procedure. Our phone call the next day was a sincere effort to take care of his problem.

We get hundreds of orders a day and rely on email to contact customers with any questions we may have regarding their order. We are sorry that Mr. Gudenius did not receive our first email and that he is upset by the events that occurred.

We have been providing quality plants for almost 25 years, but we cannot be responsible for lost emails. We only ask that we be given a reasonable chance to make the order work.





"

They have such an amazing selection of herbs. I ordered several herbs and flowering plants. All were very healthy when they arrived. Everything is thriving in my garden. They were very upfront about when they would be shipping to my area so I knew exactly when to expect them. It is so great when the things you order arrive in great condition and when expected.

I love this company...I can't believe they aren't on Dave's top 30 list yet...I'm sure they will be soon.
I've placed at least 4 orders in the last 6 months, and every single time I've been very happy with their healthy plants, the prices, and the quick shipping. Not to mention all the great info and articles on the website. Plus, their site is organized and reliable with the way they update their inventory every week so you can always see whats in stock before you order. (This is definitely the nursery to order from if you have any OCD tendencies...because the plant sizes and the way they package & label everything always looks so neat and uniform. lol.)

I recently ordered a wide variety of plants and herbs from this company; all arrived quickly, well-packed and healthy, I even had berries blooming on my strawberry plant when I opened the box! All the plants have been transplanted and are thriving. I've been very pleased and will be ordering from them regularly. Thank you!

I have ordered from Mountain Valley twice. Their plants are consistently healthy and beautiful, always well-packed, and service is great. They always have good specials running with purchase. Excellent variety of herb plants and a wealth of information about growing herbs.

Certified organic herbs and perennials, very prompt delivery, well packed and lovely good sized plants. A good first experience and after looking at their hard copy catalog, I know I'll be ordering again soon!

I ordered ten or twelve plants from MVG a month or so ago. All plants (several African blue basils, a society garlic, a Skeleton Rose scented geranium, a lavender, some woolly thyme plants) arrived promptly--well-packed, in good shape, and good-sized--and continue to thrive after having been in my garden for over two weeks. This was my first experience with this company, but I fully intend to order from them again.

I have just received my order and have to say that my plants are all beautiful and very healthy. I will be ordering from them again. Professional packing and a great catalogue as well.

What a great nursery!

Anna

i'm completely satisfied with my first order from MVG. great communication, professional packing, fast shipping (less than a week) and good prices. 6 vitex for 36.45 including shipping. best of all, the plants were tall and healthy and actually have "trunky" looking stems already. i wish i could post a picture. you would swear that i've had them way longer than two days.

I have been ordering from MVG for at least 10 years. I have be consistently happy with their products, service and delivery. One year I received someone else's order (presumably they received mine) and was told to keep that order and sent my orginal order. I got the opportunity to plant some things I would have never thought to purchase. This company communicates well with their customers thru e-mail when a problem arrises. I have had problems ordering on their web site and have had to either mail or fax orders in several times.

Over the past 4 years I have ordered from M.V.G. many times. I have never once been disappointed.

Sometimes I don't want to grow herbs from seed and sometimes I want more than what is offered from the garden department at our local DIY store.
It's the first place I check.

Organically grown
Fabulous herb selection; with a large collection of Lavender
Excellent customer service
A News Letter with a sense of humour and great information.... who could ask for more?

Dovey