Comments regarding Spring Hill Nursery (aka SpringHillNursery.com)

I ordered the primrose Spring Hill shows in the picture with the brick wall. I planted it next to a driveway on one side sidewalk on the other and a retaining brick wall next to my grass. I have been trying to kill it for a season and a half now with weed killer of all sorts. I have spent $200.00 on killers and put gas on it and burned it. It still lives! It's not that it not pretty, it the fact that it roots every four inches under the ground and under the bricks on to may grass. I have been killing my grass one foot away from the brick and it still lives. If anyone can tell be how to rid my garden and grass of this monster please do it ASAP. Before I burn the house down and move away. When it gets to my neighbors they going to sue me and then I'll have to sue Spring Hill.

I have also used Springhill, and although more expensive than MBC, the plants are of a better quality, and were shipped 2-3 weeks faster!

I have ordered plants from them for several years. I suspect that in many ways, I'm more patient than many of your commentators, and perhaps luckier as well. I had the same experience with the pink daffodils as many of your letters indicate - rather than pink, my blooms were orangey. However, the other daffodils I ordered have been beautiful and very productive. Some of the odder plants I've ordered haven't been successful, but I received a rebate without any question when I let them know that they didn't make it. The overall rating of my daylilies, lilies, tulips, etc. has been quite satisfactory… In summary, yes, caveat emptor, but Breck's/Spring Hill seems to be a good choice.

Nothing I bought from Spring Hill ever did anything but DIE.

I've always gotten good plants from them, especially their roses, which are far better than [others.] Their catalog may be a little vague for beginners, but the plants have always been good quality. And since they are grown in Peoria, I know they will be acclimated to northern Illinois.

For those of you wanting an excellent mail in garden, try Spring Hill's catalog. I received everything I ordered, and their packing system is wonderful. One little plant was dry, but he perked up after an afternoon of watering. They are responsive, list their phone numbers, and have very friendly sales people.

I often purchase plants by mail. Spring Hill is on my shopping list. Since I have had successes and failures with each and every purchase, including purchasing from local nurseries and garden centers, I usually chalk it up to experience, and try something else.

These folks messed up but I got lucky. First they sent me several lilac bushes by mistake. I got to keep them AND was told they would re ship my order in case mine went to someone else. I ended up with several nice bushes for free, and my order arrived twice. This is not the only shipping error I had with them. Always to my advantage. (I don't know how they stay in business.) They will also give credit even if you lost the receipt. Unlike Brecks who questioned my ability to read!

I think that the service may differ depending upon where you live. So, if you live in a Zone that doesn't see the end of winter until well into April, read on. Three years ago, I lived in Zone 2 in Montana and dreamed all early winter about what to order from each catalogue. I finally narrowed down my choices…and I ordered about 10 plants from Springhill - which were about two-thirds cheaper than others. I keep a gardening journal, so I can tell you exactly what happened. Springhill plants were sent in mid-April (perfect for my zone), and every single plant thrived and became even more beautiful with each year. Since then, I pay two-thirds less and get better quality plants from SpringHill.

I was very disappointed in Spring Hill. I ordered one of the garden packs. Relatively nothing came up the first year. The second year only a few plants came through, and they did not flower well. The free gift, however, is doing well. I don't think I would order from them again.

I have been pleased with my orders for perennials from Spring Hill. The orders were well packed and grew beautifully. On one order I received pink instead of white bleeding hearts. I kept the former and notified the company and they sent me three while bleeding heart's right away. Give them another chance. Their prices are also reasonable.

I've been doing business with Breck's and Spring Hill for about five years and I regard them as the best around. I have usually found their bulbs and plants to be of very high quality. But it's their customer service that is second to none! Last fall I received my annual shipment of bulbs and they told me not to bother paying for them because they feared they were damaged in shipment. Those bulbs came up fine this past spring. In addition they sent me free certificates on my next purchase. True their prices are a little bit higher than other places but they back it up 100%+.

I have never ordered from Spring Hill, so I don't have any problems in ordering. My problem with them is their outrageous prices! That is precisely WHY I never placed an order with them. Other companies provide the same great bulbs and plants at half (or less than half) of the price Spring Hill does!

I have ordered twice from Spring Hill Nursery. The first year I received my rose hedges they were in excellent condition and have continued to thrive excellent since I planted them. This year, however, I placed an order with them in May, and it never arrived. Mid-June I called their customer service and was told there was no order on record for me. Although disappointed, again I placed my order. I was told my orderwould arrive in approximately one week. Three weeks later, still no order had arrived. Again, I called customer service and to my surprise I was again told I had no record on order. Computer input error was the only explanation I was told. For some reason, they just don't want my money. I told them to remove me from their mailing list if they don't want to send me my order. I am still receiving their catalogs in the mail.

I just wanted whoever see this to know that not all experiences with mail order catalogs are bad. I purchased 5 bare root hybrid tea rose bushes from Spring Hill through QVC. As ofToday, all 5 are growing and in bloom. Each plant is exactly what it said it would be and more. Everyone's experience is different - growing perennials takes time (years).

I am an avid gardener. I currently have approximately 2,000 perennials. I have ordered several thousand dollars worth of bulbs and bare root plants from Spring Hill and other companies in the past ten years. The service and quality of products from Spring Hill has been wonderful. I have had very little problem in timely shipment, or growth. The couple of times plants did not grow they were replaced or my account credited immediately.

Springhill Nurseries offers a no-risk guarantee and I used it last spring. I ordered a Japanese Red Maple from them and it croaked in the front yard. After it was pronounced dead, I called Springhill's toll-free number and they sent out a replacement with no questions asked. The new tree I received was bigger than its poor fallen predecessor. Also, you can inspect the plants before you pay for them, and if you are not satisfied with the quality, there is no need to return the plants. They have a large selection, and low prices.

I have ordered many, many plants, bulbs and shrubs from Spring Hill and have found the plants to be of very good quality. Their packaging is excellent, and the plants are very well protected during shipment. Their guarantee is good too. I had 8 roses bushes that did not make it through the winter, last week I called to see if they would replace them and within one week I had 8 very healthy plants. Their customer service reps are very pleasant to deal with too!! I would highly recommend using them!!

I have been ordering many plants this past year or two, since I have drastically increased the number of perennial beds in my yard. My experience with Springhill: Forget it. Teeny cuttings.

I have had nothing but success from all their roses, all fantastic great!

I have however had tremendously good luck with spring hill. They sent fine quality (alive)plants and the ones that did not grow I simply called their 1-800 number and they sent replacements no questions asked. I truly am impressed with them. There prices may be a little high but you definitely get your money's worth.

I have ordered many plants from Spring Hill and they have all come back year after year and multiplied. I have never had any problems withanything I ordered. The plants have always been healthy and well packaged and the bulbs in very good condition. I will admit to not being a very adventurous gardener. I have always ordered what I have already seen growing well in my area. I also have always ordered the "old"standby's - glads, daffodils, wisteria, clematis, roses, etc.

We bought a house two years ago and I bought an all year around color garden from Spring Hill. I was impressed on how nicely packaged and on-time delivery for November planting. The diagrams were easy to understand, and I watched the garden grow in the spring of the following year. It was up to me to keep educating myself through trial and error on certain plants like miniature roses and hydrangeas…The flowers I planted have established into a beautiful year around color garden as promised and I am continuing to keep up my ordering with Spring Hill. I was impressed for first time ordering. They promise you hardy plants and directions to follow, but remember it's up to you to keep educating yourself on how the garden grows in your area. Most is trial and error. Good Luck! Two Thumbs up for Spring Hill.

Spring Hill wishes to charge interest on the invoice amount for plants that have not been delivered. This is highly irregular and poorbusiness practice, indicating a firm that is ready to gouge its customers. Given this practice and the complaints about its productsindicates a mail order house to be avoided.

I now fall on the "anti-SpringHill" side of the fence. Read the guarantee very carefully before you order, and make sure you can live with it. I placed a large order in June '97. Only 1/3 of the plants lived (roses, carnations & hostas did wonderful; ferns, astibilles, bluebells, ladyslippers, lily of the valley, & violets croaked). That order was only guaranteed until August 1, 1997, and they will only give a $50 credit on "out of guarantee" orders. I waited until this spring before calling, because I wanted to see which ones made it through the winter, so I'm out of luck. Order in small quantities, and call immediately if the plants don't perform. They won't receive another order from me.

A few years back I have had a bad experience with Spring Hill. I was kind of new at rose gardening. I ordered a rose collection that consisted of 8 tea roses and 3 climbers. Also I ordered a few perennials and lilacs that did fine. The problem was 2 of the climbers and 3 of the teas failed to bud any leaves and soon I realized they were dead. Being naive at the time I did not call and complain. So the following year I received another catalog that consisted of only roses. I ordered a little over a hundred dollars worth of roses. Spring in my area came and went. I figured they were backed up with orders, so I would give them a little more time. Soon fall was around the corner, still no arrival. I gave them a call and they told me some of the roses on my order were out of stock. Also that they would send out my order as soon as all the roses I ordered were in. Winter was approaching so I expected my shipment to arrive in the spring planting season. Well I'm sad to say summerarrived and still no roses. I called them again explaining my situation. They bluntly told me I have placed no such order. To top it off I could not find my money order stub, so I lost my fight for the roses. Soon I noticed I was no longer receiving their catalogs. Since then I have tried to mail a request for another catalog, but to this day I have not received another.

I have only purchased mail order bulbs once before and they never arrived. I believe this was from Spring Hill. They tried to charge me a late fee, but when I called their 800 number they quickly removed the order and I didn't have to pay anything. This experience left me cautious in ordering again…

I have ordered from Spring Hill for the past several years. While the plants are small and the prices slightly high, their guarantee makes up for it. At any time that I have had a plant to not survive, they happily ship an entirereplacement of the item. Sometimes, this may take several tries to get a plant to survive, but I attribute some of that to myself for being slow at getting it in the ground. I have ordered from Breck's and have the same thoughts. Spring Hill will get future orders from me; Jackson and Perkins will not.

I am new to gardening, and began my garden two years ago with plants I ordered from Spring Hill. The hostas, daylilies, and "Peace" rose Iordered did great. The delphiniums, primrose, lily, clyclamem etc. all died. I assumed mostly from my inexperience, but even I don't have athumb as black as that. I have noticed, that the pictures in their catalog are somewhat misleading. Their garden packages typically show flowers all in bloom together, when in fact they all bloom at different times of the year. The Grab bags are just that. Do not assume anything from the picture displayed along with them. Also, when I cross reference Spring Hill's descriptions of plants with plant encyclopedias, the plant height, hardiness, and sometimes picture are completely different. Now, when I order from Spring Hill, I am much more careful to research the plant and variety, and it has only been through trial and error that I have learned what can grow in my yard.

Have not had any problems with Spring Hill. BUT I have found Holland Bulb Farm to have better prices on the same item, and size of plants are of the same size and quality.

I am on the side of the fans of Spring Hill!!! I have ordered hundred of dollars worth of plants from them and I have not lost one!! They all came up and looked great. My plants were very healthy when they arrived. I will definitely order from them again.

I've ordered a great deal from these companies (Breck's and Spring Hill) the past three years, and in every case, the plants or bulbs arrived plump and healthy. It's true I won't buy roses from them again, except from their Select catalog which seems to carry a much higher grade of plant. I just got a bareroot HT from them that had canes two inches in diameter! All theplants grew except part of one shade garden, and it took me weeks to get it in the ground that year so I blamed myself and didn't ask for a refund. Some things I've killed, like the hydrangea I planted in full sun and didn't water enough, but on the whole I've been most pleased.I think their no-questions replacement guarantee is practically the only way for a large mail order company to do business. Can you imaginedealing with novice gardeners and wrangling over what they might have done--or not done? Where did they plant it, how much water, did they take the plant out of its plastic pot??? You know what I mean. Better to just charge a bit more and send out replacements.I don't deny people's bad experiences, but it does make me wonder if it was luck, or if I have spent enough over the years to get on some kind of "special" list.

I will continue buying from SPRING HILL, who, although I have had minor problems with, ALWAYS send me new items to replace those that have arrived damaged.

I noticed a big difference, the first time I ordered from Spring Hill. The plants were alive, and looked really healthy. I've yet to be disappointed By Spring Hill. Now my question is, if [Spring Hill and Michigan Bulb] are both owned by the same parent company how come such a different approach.

You get what you pay for. Spring Hill has low prices and a no-questions, no-hassles refund policy. When they say "We'll take all therisk" re: whether or not certain plants succeed in your area, they are saying they will pay you back if it doesn't work. If I listened to those who assign plants to ONLY certain zones, I wouldn't have Z8 bamboo, Z9 gladiolus, Z8 fuschias, Z7 scolopendrium, Z7 eucomis, Z7 Davidia (a tree!), etc., growing well now for many seasons in my Z5 yard - where they remainoutside during our harsh winters. Also, Spring Hill pictures Primula polyanthus, a perennial primrose, not an annual; and they are finishingblooming just when Nikko hydrangea is starting.

I have two mail order nurseries that I have used in the past and they have provided excellent service. I say this because you will almostalways have some plants that will not grow. Each of these two nurseries have replaced them with out question. They are Stark Bros Nursery andSpringhill Nursery.

I have ordered plants from Springhill twice. My advice is that if you aren't good at rescuing plants or you aren't an experienced mail order gardener or you live over 1000 miles away or if their plants you want to order are not "bulletproof", don't order from Springhill! YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED.

I have had nothing but excellent success with all orders I have placed through Breck's and Spring Hill. From bulbs, to roses, to amaryllis, the quality has been great and the flowers huge. I'm a lifetime customer!

Although my experience is a few years old, I would like to add my comments if nothing else for therapeutic value. Spring Hill is the worst catalog I have ever ordered from (and I have ordered extensively). I received incomprehensible junk--the bulbs were so rotted they were gooey. The plants were just little stems with no leaves. I was so mad I wrote a very angry letter but didn't ask for a refund (only about 2 plants of the $50 order were any good). I was curious to see if they would offer one on their own but they did not. They just continued to send me more catalogs.