Comments regarding Miller Nurseries

I'd ordered the "Supermale" Asparagus - which had many assurances of the rootstock being male. But over 50% of them were female. 25 plants and I wound up with 10 male plants. It was so disappointing because you have to wait for them to be big enough to start harvesting and the selection is no better than any random sorting of asparagus.

Received very poor quality stock. In one case a pecan tree arrived dead. Used their replacement form and got another one, which promptly died. Totally unimpressed. And for the love of G-d is there some way to get them to stop sending catalogs? Maybe if they spent as much money on quality control as they do on mailing the same catalog multiple times a year it wouldn't be such a waste of money ordering from them.

I have ordered several bareroot thornless Honeylocusts from Miller's since the 1990's. All of them arrived as strong and healthy dormant plants.
They all lived except for one that was attacked by a pitbull. I have been gardening for four decades and know how to handle dormant plants. One of the Honeylocusts is about twenty feet tall now. I will continue to order from Miller's as my budget and space allow.

Posted on August 18, 2012, updated June 30, 2013
Ordered a Heritage Raspberry Plant and received same never grew waited longer-nothing. contacted them, sent me another one and this one took forever to show any growth. No berries this year. Hopefully next summer. Its in full sun, composted soil and gets watered and fed.

Terrible ! Junk plants ! The DEADEST Stuff, Smallest pieces of stock and junkiiest quality. What a dissappointment.

This is the absolute worst nursery I have ever ordered from. I had a gift certificate which they never applied to my order. It took me 7 calls to get it applied after my credit card was "mistakenly" charged with an amount not one representive of the company could explain. By the time I got reimbursed about $100, one of my berry bushes was actually dead (about 3-4 wks). I asked for a refund in accordance with the usual policy spoke with the woman in charge of refunds and I finally gave up fighting it because it wasn't worth my time. I was told to keep watching it because it is dormant.....in an eternal state of dormancy called death.....I understand fruit trees are dormant in the winter months this is coming from someone who has about 30 fruit trees. A terrible company and one which we will never order from again.

My browser "autofill" entered my workplace zipcode instead of my home zipcode when ordering Tristar strawberries and Heritage raspberries. Received a phone call from Miller Nurseries to a few days later to correct/confirm my address.
Received my order in good shape and in a timely manner. Hopefully I will have strawberries and raspberries to eat someday.

Posted on May 10, 2013, updated May 13, 2013
30 years ago when I was a new Midwesterner, raised in the East, I bought enough fruit trees and berries from Miller to start a small backyard orchard. The trees and plants were healthy and grew well, but as time went on I found that the fruit trees touted as "Laughing at 30 below zero winters" in New York State did not laugh at Northeast Wisconsin Winters. They didn't survive even the 20-below-zero winters we had. When I wrote to Millers complaining about the trees that did not survive temperatures as cold as they advertised, I received a rude reply saying that I did not know how to care for my trees. What??? Was I supposed to keep them warm somehow in January? That is when I realized that a tree surviving a 30-below-zero night is not the same as surviving two continuous weeks at 20-below. The entire climatic condition must be considered. Our continental climate of temperature extremes with dry air and occasional snowless winters is nothing like a moister climate with lots of insulating snow. So take that into consideration when buying plants that are touted as being super-hardy. A hot droughty summer can cause a tree to die the next winter of dehydration, rather than simple cold; while ground frozen to the depth of six feet that stays frozen until mid-April causes water to stand at the base of a tree and the crowns of berry bushes in early spring and often rots the crowns. Once I lot full-grown healthy cherry trees that way. Growing on a slope or mound is a must under such conditions. I had to learn that the hard way.

Anyhow, the rude reply I received from Miller's caused me to quit buying from them, and purchase Midwestern-grown material, which by-the-way did much better.. However last year (2012) I tried ordering some plants from them that are not locally available. By now I know what is hardy and what is not. The beautiful Cornelian Cherry (dogwood) I bought 30 years ago never bears fruit because it turns out that you need two for cross-pollination. So I bought another one of those. My spouse had been trying to grow honeyberries for several years, and as luck would have it, you must have two varieties of those for pollination as well. Unfortunately the two he had, bloom at different times. Also I wanted to replace the Elderberries I had for many years that died of old age. So, being very sure of what I needed, I once again ordered from Millers.

What a disappointment! You need two varieties of Elderberries for pollination and of course one arrived dead. Of the two Honeyberries I ordered both were tiny sticks one of which was totally dead and did not grow. The Cornelian Cherry I ordered was also a pathetic little stick and though it did live, It had obviously been touched by a glycophosphate herbicide in the nursery and never got more than a few stunted distorted leaves. This spring it is smaller than when I got it, but is still clinging to life. When I saw how sick it was, I bought another via EBay that was cheaper and got a strapping healthy sapling.

Also from Miller's, along with the berry bushes, I ordered a collection of three mixed Toad lilies. The plants I got were so tiny, I could barely see them after they were planted. They were tiny two-inch bare root plantlets. One of them made a valiant try at growing but failed.

I did not request that the dead stuff be replaced, because I didn't want to get any more of their dead plants.

So that will be my last order to Miller's. I had a significant over payment last year for plants they were out of, (They don't send your money back--instead they keep it so you can apply it to your next order). I cashed that in on some lily bulbs I figured they could not kill, but they were sent so late that they have six-inch shoots. That is not the best way to plant lilies. I could buy the same ones at WalMart. off-the-shelf, and not pay postage.

I ordered a modern 4n1 Apple tree, raspberries, and strawberries. It's been a couple weeks since planting and the strawberries are all showing new growth, and while the rasberries haven't shown growth I'm sure they will. Everything was packaged wonderfully.

The Macintosh graft on the apple tree had snapped off in shipping, but when I called they sent me a replacement without a problem. The busted tree went to my cousin, and I got a nice replacement tree in now time. A+ service, I will deal with them again. Don't be fooled by the discount guys, you won't get the fast shipment and the quality won't be nearly as good. I'll be dealing with Miller again in the future.

A positive experience does not do justice to the chinese chestnut tree I recieved! I needed this as a pollinator for my other tree as my pollinator for it got weed wacked. I was blown away by the size and condition of the tree they sent. I hope to buy more from them again and again.

I ordered two plants in spring 2012 from Miller Nurseries. A bare root black current as well as a Pixwell goosberry. Both were packaged well and good size(compared to Gurney's or Henry Fields) for the price and a good value. Both were planted and did well and are now established. Since then I have also ordered fertilizer which arrived promptly. I also ordered an almond for this season and waiting for it to arrive any day.

My experience thus far has been a good one.

I've only ordered two cornelian cherry trees from Miller, and both didn't look that great when they arrived. One never did leaf and the other only had one or two live branches. Their guarrantee seems pretty good, but "my bad" for not exercising it within their time limit (although I should probably call and see if they will provide replacements anyway). I should add that their cornelian cherries are very low cost which means my expectations aren't very high. Since the general response here and on the BBB site is positive, I ordered replacements and some apple trees this year. This is a bigger and more expensive order, so I certainly won't hesitiate to ask for replacements if I have a similar experience again this year. I will update this comment when I get the order (as to the quality of the stock), and again a month or so later after it's planted.

I have ordered from Miller's Nursery, over the last seven or eight years, two apple trees, a nectarine, a plum, two Carpathian walnuts, two Chinese chestnuts, two grape vines, and some Baltic ivy. All have arrived heathy and vigorous, well-packed, with adequate moisture, and correctly pruned. Being careful to plant them in accordance with the instructions in the extremely helpful pamphlet Miller's sends with every order, all of them, with one exception, have survived and are thriving. The exception was one of the newly-planted chestnuts, the death of which I put down to a week or so of unrelenting 100-degree plus weather in the summer of 2012. (One can hardly blame Millers for that.) Its twin, planted in forty feet away, managed to survive, but barely. Miller's will be sending a replacement for planting this spring. It appears to me that this family-owned company is concerned with its reputation, and I am very pleased with the quality and condition of the plants I have received from it.

I ordered 6 black raspberry plants at the end of season buy 3 get 3 for half price sale. The plants were small - all 6 were about the size of 1 bare root plant from nourse farms. All were planted in good soil in full sun and watered - none of them grew.
They issued a refund minus the delivery cost.

I ordered some blueberry plants from this company. The delivery was quick, the plants arrived in great shape (of course they were dormant) and the return policy was stated in big letters on the package. They even sent out a very professional confirmation for my order. I will buy from this company again and again.

They earned my trust -- something I don't give out easily after dealing with other online nurseries (e.g. Farmers and the like).

Overall my experience with them has been generally positive. I've ordered berry plants from them over the last 2 years (aronia, elderberry, honey berry, goose berry, cranberry, currants). The plants arrive timely and carefully packaged, and most have done very well in the ground. I have had problems with their honey berry plants, which leaf out then quickly wither away, probably because they have almost no root structure to support them. However, Millers quickly replied to my request for replacements under their guarantee and sent them within a week.

I am a local gardener in the Penn Yan area. I have lost more money and precious growing time dealing with the terrible, weak, diseased stock from Miller Nursery then anyone should ever have to.

15 rasberries all DEAD after a little more than a year. DEAD Blueberries, DEAD apricot trees, DEAD strawberries DEAD Cote D'azur ..

Time and again I have had to re-order stock to replace the junk Miller supplies. I haven't shopped there in years now and warn everyone I come across who asks to simply NEVER shop there.

What did survive is growing at half the rate as comparable stock from say Stark Bros. Who have become my primary source for replacing Millers JUNK. Landscape bushes are stunted and lilacs have terrible color and lack of vigor even after years in the ground. Unbelieveable.

The material is poorly grafted onto week rootstocks and many of thier landscape "bushes" are little more then one year old barely rooted cuttings. Yet you are still charged $18.99 for a Wisteria vine that is a literally a stick with two roots. If you go to their facility you will be shocked to see that ALL THEIR STOCK IS LIKE THIS, sticks with hardly any roots, dried up, fungal....JUNK

Go to Mayflower nursery just up the street for outstanding stock and helpful staff, mail order your bare root fruit trees from Stark Bros.

Miller Nurseries has made a business out of blind mail order catalog sales, figuring they only need your money once. Because once you see what they sen you you never order again.

JUNK!
-Jay

Over the years, I have purchased several varieties of bare root fruit trees from Miller Nursery, primarily apple and pear. Properly planted, these trees have always proved to be healthy and vigorous. I now have a healthy and productive home orchard comprised of fruit trees purchased from them. I have high degree of confidence in the quality of Miller’s bare-root fruit trees, and they would be my first choice for additions to my orchard.

Sour Cherry Tree I purchased from Miller Nursery died. I contacted the company to inquire about their exchange policy. They were apologetic for my inconvenience and told me they are sending a replacement out. Top notch customer service! Will definately buy from them again because of that! Other nurseries-will charge you to ship the product back. Miller's did not. Thanks!

I've ordered from this company a few times over the years. I've purchased apple trees, grapes, blackberry, blueberry, strawberries. Everything has always been of good quality. This year, I order a strawberry plant mix (75 plants, 25 of each type) to replace the ones I bought years ago. They came with nice big healthy roots. Now I do live fairly close to where they are being shipped from so the plants are not traveling far in the mail. I obviously can not comment on boxes that are going farther away.

I would like to warn everyone away from Miller's Nursery. While this company has prompt delivery, and there is always a smiling voice when you call customer service, their success ratio for live and healthy plants is about 25%.

I have had three years of experience with this company and I finally said "NO MORE, TAKE ME OFF YOUR MAILING LIST NOW!"

I have ordered fruiting bushes (bilberry/raspberry/etc..) -- for the first two years these kept arriving either spewing fungus, or with little more than a single green shoot (which dies within a month). I have requested replacements --- they came, but in no better condition. This year they are charging for replacements. They finally did send a single healthy Bilberry bush in 2012.

Strawberries were another adventure. All came bare-root (I was aware they would be, but expected them to be packaged properly for survival!). They were all dried up in a paper sack when they arrived, and of the two orders, I got 4 plants to grow! UGGGG!!

Gamecock iris arrived rotting (smell was so bad that I had to remove the sack they came in from the house). Out of two orders one iris is alive. OUCH! Empty wallet and nothing to show for it.

Whoever is supplying this company with plants takes absolutely NO CARE of their plants, and does not care what condition they arrive in or the impression they will make on the shopper.

For my money, I will not order --- ever again.

My advise -- go to a local nursery/store and look at the plant you want to buy. If you have to order something in -- be sure they have a return policy, and be VERY CRITICAL when the plant arrives. If it looks sick or damaged, call at once and report it and get your money back.

I recently ordered some Carpathian Walnuts and Elberta Peaches and I was happily surprised with how fast I received them. It wasn't an overnight deal but the wait wasn't as long as I thought it would be. This was NOT my first order from Miller's Nurseries, last year I bought some Apple trees as well as Strawberries (Pyramids) and I even drove out to Millers with the wife and we were well taken care of in the store, the employees were very helpful.
I thought the store would have been bigger but the lady at the counter explained that there was a warehouse out back that I could visit, which of course I did. I felt like a kid on Christmas Day, sadly the Mrs. wouldn't let me buy everything that I wanted right then. I will surely be ordering more from them as well as visiting. I am very excited to get some grapes up on the Millers farm in the "U-Pick"
I hope this review was helpful, pleasant gardening!
-Fred J.

O.k...I ordered some strawberry's and then some strawberries pyramids to plant them in along with some other stuff for my gardern Strawberries showed up but the rest of the order did not, so I called Miller's, they said it was scheduled for the delivery the next day. Three days later called again and made them give me the tracking number and I looked it up. There was a problem with the address and the package had been returned three days prior! So they lied to me when she supposedly checked on delivery!

Now my poor strawberries have no place to be planted. Called again they blamed UPS and said they have been having trouble with them and they would resend the package and email me the tracking number so I could watch the package for any delivery issues, they never sent me an email. So I called and got the new tracking number, watched the package and yep another problem with the delivery address showed up.

Since I am the receiver of the package I could not correct the problem, so I called Millers, this time they were VERY RUDE and told me basically there was nothing they could do since the address they had for me is correct. All they had to do was go onto the UPS website and put in the delivery address again as a correction. The lady on the phone just wouldn't help me! After argueing with her she said she would contact the shipping department to see if they could do something...Geez people it's not rocket science get on the UPS site and correct it already! Needless to say after three years or ordering from them, this is my LAST order.

My experience with Miller's this year was satisfactory. I ordered one Lacrosse, and one Corot Noir grape vines from them and they are doing terrific! Strong canes, roots, and it leafed out beautifully. This is the first time I have ordered from this company because I was a little "turned off" by their prices. BUT IT IS WORTH THE EXTRA. I cannot ask for any better quality. Last but certainly not least, they were packaged professionally and came with full instructions, and bamboo poles were provided for support. Can't wait to order for next springs arrival.

I ordered 250 Honeyo Strawberry crowns and two Reliance Peach trees from this company at the end of their shipping season.

I called the Miller Nursery twice yesterday trying to track this order.

Today I received a postcard from UPS telling me that they were holding it for me, I immediately drove to UPS to pick it up only to learn that the trees looked so poor upon arrival that UPS had also contacted Miller Nursery. Miller instructed UPS to send them back but did not call nor email me.

I then called Miller and they denied speaking to UPS, of course UPS gave me a printed copy of their correspondence with Miller.

I am shocked at not having a phone call about this from Miller Nursery or a mention of this when I called them twice the same day.

I can attest to the arrogance of the ignorant in leading the inept at this company and the complete lack of communication with the customer that the customer service has shown me.

I sure wish I had read these reviews before placing an order with these buffoons.

I have wasted precious time on these folks, I will never waste a dime to see if their products are any good, their words aren't.

I've had a mixed experience with Millers regarding their plants, though their customer service has always been excellent. I've bought many plants from them over several years. The trouble is that quite a few have not survived--a few failing even to leaf out at all after planting and seeming to have been "dead on arrival." Some plants have arrived looking to be in excellent condition, but others have been pretty drab coming out of the box. The plants I've had trouble with are a Berry Blue honeyberry, three different Sungold apricots, about 1/3 to 1/2 of the strawberries, a few asparagus crowns, and about 1/5 of the raspberries I've ordered. On the other hand, the Moongold apricot I bought from them is growing like gangbusters and this year--it's fifth season in my garden--it is producing fruit (and lots of it) for the first time. (This is especially surprising because Moongold is supposed to require a Sungold companion for cross-pollination, but there was no living Sungold nearby to do that job.) New this year--and looking fantastic--is an antique 4-on-1 apple. It's even got a few blossoms on it this first year, another wonderful surprise. As for the good customer service I've had, each year that I've received some dud plants, Millers has always been completely willing to replace the plants the following season with no hassle. So consider my review as being halfway between neutral and positive. Unfortunately, I've just had a few too many dud plants to be able to give a full thumbs up. (I realize that I might have made errors in the way I planted things, but given that I planted all my trees, bushes, raspberries, etc. the same way and in similar soil, and yet some fail even to leaf out at all, I think some if not most of the blame lies with the plants.) My only other "complaint" is that Millers does not list the Latin name of their plants in either their print or online catalog. I love my Latin names--especially for the more unusual breeds of plants they offer, I really wish they'd include this info.

I have ordered from Miller's the last four years in a row. I have been extremely pleased with the quality of the plants I have received with the exception of the raspberries. I am going to try one more time and pot them (planted directly the first three times) and see if I can get them better established before putting them out in the Texas heat. On the other hand my walnut trees (both Carpathian and Thomas Black) are exceptional as is the "sweeten up" peach. Every time I have called with a question or to order replacements I have been assisted by a very helpful and friendly representative. They are my mail order nursery of choice.

I've only placed a few orders with this company for some 'standard' items. Read the reviews and do your own due dilligence when deciding what to order from them. I have not had a bad experience, but they just don't have the selection of some of those rare items that us old-timers are looking for. But, there are many other Nurseries in this country and lots of choices for filling your needs. Also, when ordering, verify your zones. I see too many people buying from online or mail-order businesses without verifying zones.
Cheers
~Never challenge an old man, because if you lose, you’ve lost to an old man, and if you win, so what?~

I used Millers on and off for years and I never was what I would consider happy. It seems everything with them is hit or miss. At one time I ordered several types of raspberries and the differences in terms of root development and quality was amazing. Some were sticks that you knew would not leaf out and others fairly well developed. Same with bushes and trees. There seem to be limited quality control. About the only things I saw consistent were strawberries. Now days I order from more specialty nurseries. Some are significantly pricier, but the quality is worth it.

Posted on May 24, 2009, updated January 10, 2011
I've ordered from Miller a couple of times over several years. This year I ordered asparagus and 3 currant bushes. Everything looks great. One of the currants bloomed! I may get fruit this year...and they've only been in the ground 1.5 months.

About 5 years ago I ordered peaches and blueberries. The peaches are particularly noteworthy. The 3 peach trees are probably 12-15 feet tall. Last year I picked 25lbs of peaches. Great trees.

I am very selective about mail-ordering live plants. Miller is one of the few companies I will trust.

I placed a $700 order with this company in 2008. I ordered 300 privets. The plants were of very uneven quality - although shipped dormant 30 never leafed out. Since receipt I have replaced about 70% of these plants due to a fungus that has now infected my perennials and fruit trees. When I called about the dead plants within warranty I was treated like a cheat and a liar. I had also ordered 8 half- high blueberries that were nothing more than sticks. Most did not make it the first winter and same shoddy customer service when I asked for replacements. I wish I never did business with Miller as I have ragged looking hedge in 2011, have spent a bunch replacing my perennials that became diseased.

I recently ordered several drawf fruit trees, and two different grapes, my only experience so far is with the Web site, (easy to use). I will update this posting as it progreses through each step.

Posted on June 3, 2010, updated June 25, 2010
Posted on May 31, 2010, updated June 3, 2010
I ordered many different items from Miller this year, and I'm pleased to say that every thing arrived in great shape. Everything is growing well and the lady that took my order was absolutly fantastic to deal with. I have placed two other orders with them since the first. If it goes half as smooth i will be tickled.

This spring we ordered blueberries, raspberries, and asparagus. Overall, the only plants really doing well are the asparagus. The blueberries are disappointing in that they are small, late to leaf out, and clearly will not flower this season. One plant is especially puny. The raspberries have not done well. One is clearly dead and the others are surprisingly small. We've grown raspberries before and found them to take off like rockets when given good soil preparation. Not this time! Perhaps the greatest disappointment is that I sent an email about this to Miller two weeks ago and have yet to receive any response.

Miller Nurseries is very good company.
I bought blueberries and apricot.
To be honest, I was not happy of plants.
But when I told them, they fixed it until I am completely satisfied.
I am very happy now.
The way they shopping is excellent.
I can tell. Thay LOVE plants.

I highly recommend Miller Nurseries.

This year, one of my favorite nurseries was not able to fill my order. Miller did fill the order, even though it was late (April 28) in the season. The trees (peaches, cherries, paw paws, lilacs and a fig) all looked normal, but they sent me two cherries that were not what I ordered. They replaced the unwanted cherries with what I originally ordered promptly. Some of the trees had almost no roots, but they all seem to be surviving except for the Elberta peach. I also ordered strawberries. They looked bad, and only about 1/3 of them survived. I probably won't order from Miller again unless I have to.

I'm overall positive about Miller.

First off, they are really nice to deal with; they are professional, yet friendly.

I'm variable about their plants: I ordered 2 cranberry plants, a Northstar cherry, and two apple trees this year that are growing like weeds. The asparagus, not so much, but that's asparagus for you; I think I'll see it next year.

Let me start from the first things I've ordered from them.

2 semi-dwarf Stayman Winesap apples: semi-dwarf? incredibly vigorous (if I didn't prune them, they would be 20 feet tall, but winesaps need a pollinator and the past few years there has been a frost right at pollination time. I've gotten one apple and I think I may get another this year.

Black, red and white currants: don't plant their currants unless you REALLY, REALLY, REALLY love currants. I make wine from them, so it's okay.

I also have a Jostaberry, a German cross between the black currant (JOhannisbeere) and a gooseberry (STAchelbeere) -- it's sort of a gooseberry without the nasty thorns. I planted it 4 years ago and it is just now producing, while I was harvesting more black currants than I could use the year after I planted those.

Meader persimmon: I was worried, since most persimmons need a male pollinator. I had about 20 last year and I will have lots this year. It would be a lovely tree even without the fruit.

Pawpaws: they grow really slowly, but I actually got a flower on one this year.

Temperate kiwis: I got flowers on the male two years ago. Nothing since, and again, late frosts the past two years that fried the leaves.

Dwarf Orange quince: I've ordered 3 trees from them. One actually lasted 3 years before it died -- I actually got 15 fruit from that one last year. The other 2 keeled over almost immediately, planted in the best soil in my yard.

Highbush cranberry: late frosts have fried it every year. What's up with that? It's supposed to be native to this area.

Brown Turkey fig: it came up every year from the ground, but only 5 baby figs in August last year that never made it to maturity. Last fall I bundled it up with burlap, straw and black plastic and there are two-foot long sprouts on the branches now.

I had a terrible experience with another nursery, and purchased some fruit trees from Miller as a form of retail therapy. They came yesterday and I couldn't be more pleased with how they look. I bought 2 asian pears, a pawpaw, and 2 brown turkey figs and they were well packaged, obviously well cared for, and HUGE! They also came with excellent care and planting instructions, and their prices were really great. I immediately went to the website to see if I could buy anything more from them. :) They have restored my faith in mail order nurseries.

Posted on March 23, 2010, updated April 28, 2010
The apple trees arrived well branched and with a strong root system. I have ordered from them for years and have always been pleased with the quality of the plants that I have received. Without question I will order from them again.