Comments regarding Bluestone Perennials

Posted on June 22, 2020, updated June 26, 2020
Posted on June 19, 2020, updated June 22, 2020
Posted on June 19, 2020, updated June 19, 2020
Posted on June 12, 2020, updated June 19, 2020
To date, Bluestone has neglected to send or refund money due for non-shipment of remainder of my order.
They sent three plants, two of which were not adequately prepared for shipment.The box had the soil out of the pots and the plants scattered at the bottom of the box.
I have ordered from this company for many years; it is hard for me to understand why they would steal...yes, steal my money! They are not responding to any of my requests to make good! I am ashamed for this company,

"On Jun 15, 2020 2:04 PM, Bluestone Perennials responded with:

I am sorry you have had such a difficult time reaching us! You are not alone in that and we are frustrated, too. This is not the way we typically do business. This spring saw a surge of demand that our staff was unable to keep up with. We are a small staff, and have been, and continue to be, inundated. It should let up soon. I am sure your requests are in the queue but I would like to help. Unfortunately, I have no way to know who you are in this forum, but you are welcome to correspond with me directly helpdesk@bluestoneperennials.com Please give me an order number or your name and address so that I can begin to make things right. If we owe you money, you will most certainly get it - do not worry! Jan

I ordered plants plants on April 16 - all plants were in stock. After not hearing from them I emailed and was told week of May 11, I received one plant out of four, the other three being Hidcote lavender. I emailed again - no reply and tried calling several times (always after 1 pm), line was always busy. Finally got through on June 4th to find out they were out of the lavender and it would then be shipped in the Fall. Not what I wanted - I received a refund, but not an email informing me at an earlier date that the lavender was not available. I understand that Covid interrupted normalcy, but communication via email is extremely doable. Very disappointed.

In early spring we hired some help to build a new perennial bed in our garden, approximately 7 x 20. We decided to place a major order from Bluestone--3 each of a variety of plants not available, or not the variety, from our usual excellent local nursery (that grows most of their plants). The plants arrived in great condition with the exception of the echinacea. Six weeks after planting the results are exceptional-the salvia, veronica, hollyhocks, gaillardia, rudbeckia, geranium and other echinacea are doing beautifully. We are extremely pleased. I noticed the negative reviews about "contact". They had sent us an email about being overwhelmed--I have a small business and this year I completely understand. A few days ago they contacted us that they has shipped 2 echinacea at no charge. We have are avid, not master gardeners, but have been at it here from almost 25 years and I would put Bluestone in the front rank of online nurseries.

Trusting the reviews on here, I ordered 21 plants from Bluestone this year. They arrived well-packed, in good shape. I especially appreciate that they come in biodegradable pots -- I wish more suppliers would do this.

Yes, Bluestone is expensive. I wouldn't recommend them for the common plants you can easily find in your local nursery. But for more hard-to-find plants, I recommend them highly, and intend to order from them again.

Last year I bought Veronica pink marshmallow. I planted it next to a fully grown Veronica pink marshmallow. They got the same light, water, etc. It died. I notified the company & they did replace it in the fall. It was small, I planted it following instructions & it didn’t come back at all.

But this one takes the cake - I ordered 3 rose campion plants. I planted them & they grew. At least, the foliage did. I kept waiting for flowers, but they never came. At the end of the season - still no flowers. I took a photo & google imaged it. No wonder there were no flowers - they were lambs ears! They weren’t rose campion at all.

I also bought Rosie poise agastache. It was small & didn’t come back this year. It’s in full sun.

"On May 13, 2020 1:55 PM, Bluestone Perennials responded with:

Hello hamptons - I hope you will give us a chance to make amends. If you will be in touch, we would be happy to send another V. Pink Marshmallow. Re: the Rose Campion - I hope you didn't pull them out, but I would be happy to send 3 more. I am soldout this spring but I could send them in the fall - or something else now if you would prefer. I still have A. Rosie Posie and could send one as well. Please email me directly at helpdesk@bluestoneperennials.com. Be well, Jan"

Last summer I placed an advance order for Phlox Blue Paradise, to be shipped this month. With shipping, I paid $22.90. It arrived right on schedule, and was securely packed. However, I received a tiny plant with a single stem. The plant itself is healthy and I think it will grow in strong over time, but for more than $20 I was expecting a lot more than this itty bitty plug.

"On Jun 10, 2020 2:41 PM, Bluestone Perennials responded with:

I apologize for the size of the plant you were sent. It should not have gotten shipped, most likely, due to its size. If you are dissatisfied (if the plant has not seen substantial growth), please be in touch with our customer service folks - service@bluestoneperennials.com or with me directly - helpdesk@bluestoneperennials and we can reship this fall or refund if you prefer. I hope to hear from you - Jan"

I have ordered bulbs and live plants from Bluestone Perennials in the past couple of years. I would say everything has arrived alive and healthy. Good customer service, very friendly.

I have to say, only buy from here if you're needing a plant you can't locate locally. The plants do arrive very small (3.5 in pots), but healthy. They are also very expensive and the shipping can be costly. Keep your eye open for sales, sometimes they'll have 50% off sales, which makes ordering from them a little more reasonable.

Posted on May 6, 2018, updated April 21, 2020
Posted on June 9, 2012, updated May 6, 2018
Posted on September 3, 2011, updated June 9, 2012
Posted on May 26, 2011, updated September 3, 2011
Today I received my order from Bluestone's Spring Sale (saved a LOT!): thyme "Annie Hall", Phlox "David", crested iris "Powder Blue Giant", campanula "Elizabeth Oliver", oenothera "Sunset Blvd", eupatorium "Wayside", and coreopsis "Sweet Dreams": all look terrific. In late April I received another order in perfect shape; I order from BP usually at least 3 times a year. My garden has been built from the ground up from their catalog- 75%, I'd say. I know I can count on Bluestone for excellent plants and outstanding service. The recycling program helps a lot with shipping costs, and is well worth it!

"On Apr 22, 2020 11:51 AM, Bluestone Perennials responded with:

Thanks for the kind words, lisaaj - enjoy your garden!"

I have done business with bluestone perennials in the past, the plants were acceptable at the time for something i couldn't find locally.
However I just received their new catalog and can't believe how ridiculous the prices are for a tiny plant grown in a 3.5 inch pot, plus shipping!
There are many other vendors out there that offer larger quality plants at a much better price!
I will not being doing business with bluestone again any time in the near future.

Posted on March 31, 2020, updated April 18, 2020
We ordered an ornamental grass and waited several weeks for it be shipped, which was fine. I understand that weather does put certain necessary limits on shipping time.

What I didn't expect was that the two specimens that I ordered (order came to $50, but we were unable to find this particular grass anywhere else) would arrive with barely four or five green shoots amid dried, dead ones. My husband looked at them and said: "I paid THAT much for a few strands of grass??"

I certainly expected robust, healthy plants, not what arrived, completely dried out with literally, less than a dozen green shoots between both pots. We have mail ordered plants from other nurseries before and were always pleasantly surprised at the quality. Live and learn.

"On Mar 31, 2020 11:21 AM, Bluestone Perennials responded with:

Sorry to hear of your disappoint, Mer52. The grass you received is dormant, and should have had a dormant sticker on it telling you that it is 'just waking up'. We are in NE Ohio and still have a chance of snow here, so some of the warmer season grasses are 'just' startingi to put up their growth. Now that it is in your warmer climate it will start to grow in earnest. Please give it a few weeks and let us know if you are still disappointed, and we can refund. I apologize that info was left off your plants. You are welcome to contact me directly - Jan helpdesk@bluestoneperennials.com"

I purchased from Bluestone 8 times last year and am already looking to purchase more plants this year. I find the "50% off" sales to be irresistible. Otherwise, the regular prices seem to be a bit high. The packaging is top notch and the plants arrive in good condition. Overall the plants have been healthy and good sized and with good root systems. I'm in Vermont and it seems that the plants arrive quickly. Once I contacted customer service about a very small and weak clematis and they did send a replacement.
Several of the plants were sold out in the spring and they sent them in the fall, which was a bit of an inconvenience.

I really appreciate the wide selection, and the sale prices are lower than my local garden centers, although I shop there as well. The website is probably the best in the business -- easy to navigate with lots of information, and the "plant finder" tool helps me quickly find tall or shade-loving plants. The catalog is also informative. Also, you can move plants to the "save for later" section of the website easily, unlike other company's websites.They also automatically combine your orders, which I think brings down the shipping costs. I think a "full box" is 18 plants, but I'm not sure.

I have always removed the plants from the coco pots as my soil is a heavy clay and I felt that the clay plus the coco would create an impenetrable barrier and the roots would never escape the pot and also that the coco might wick the water out of the soil in the summer when it dries out. I planted everything last year and most everything survived until winter; some plants like the boltonia and the rudbekia grew like gangbusters, but some plants dried out (my fault) and many others never seemed to do much (again, probably my fault.) This year I will report back what has survived the winter, and with more detailed notes of how plants arrive from the company. Also, I may try leaving the plants in the coco pots.

Overall I feel like the company is honest, dependable and responsible and I have never felt cheated or tricked, which has happened with other companies. The plants arrive in very good condition, and any problems after that are probably my fault. We'll see how it goes this year.

I’m going against the grain here because I see most people have rave reviews about Bluestone. I was tempted to give a neutral review under some sort of peer pressure mentality but my husband told me I have to be honest and so I’m leaving a negative review. I ordered a couple hundred dollars worth of shade perennials from Bluestone this spring. I ordered from Bluestone because of Dave’s garden watchdog. I have benefited so much from these reviews in general and was excited looking forward to some great astilbe, dicentra, columbine and ferns from Bluestone. The first batch of plants arrived very dry and stressed out, but given the long distance we are from Bluestone, I didn’t complain (we are in rural eastern WA Cascades). I watered the plants immediately upon arrival following the instructions that came with the plants and hoped for the best. Thinking it wouldn’t happen again, especially given the great reviews, I ordered another batch that were partially dead on arrival from lack of water. The coir pots that Bluestone uses accelerated drying, I think, and we are in a very dry climate. Plus I was astonished that the plants from Bluestone were shipped so slowly. They were in transit for 5 to 7 or more days! I contacted Bluestone and they very promptly shipped replacement plants. However, I’d much rather receive healthy, lovely plants from the beginning and spare myself the trouble (and environmental waste) of having replacement plants shipped.

The reason I am only now leaving a negative review is that it is September, soon to be October frosts, and the plants from Bluestone have only struggled at best. I want to blame the coir pots but would have to dig up the struggling plants to check, and I haven’t done that. I waited to give a review because I wanted to give the plants a chance to recovery, but they have fared poorly compared to other plants I put in nearby locations this spring. I stared native columbines from seed this winter that are doing better than the Bluestone columbines. Also, astilbe I purchased at local nurseries are doing better, as are plants I ordered from Annie’s (who I highly recommend for people in the western US). The Annie’s plants are gorgeous right now. For the Bluestone plants, from the get-go I hated the pots. As I said I think they dried out the plant roots during shipping and I suspect they bind up the plant roots. One thing I liked about Annie’s is that Annie’s used plastic pots which are more moisture retentive plus Annie’s wraps the soil surface with wax paper. (I reuse all of my plastic pots for years, even decades, for seed starting and transplants so I have relatively little heartburn about buying plants (in small quantities) in plastic pots.)

I do want to note for the record that I am an experienced gardener - we grow all our own veggies year round, plus cut flowers in generous proportions for ourselves an neighbors in the growing season.

Bluestone may work well for folks in the Midwest and east where conditions are wetter, and closer to their nursery, but for us the Bluestone plants did not work well. I do not plan to order any additional plants from this company unless I know that they package their plants better (to withstand drying conditions, and those awful coir pots) and ship their plants faster. It is a bummer because Bluestone has such a nice selection.

"On Sep 30, 2019 2:48 PM, Bluestone Perennials responded with:

Please be in touch with us so that we can send replacements on those items that are struggling - either immediately or in the spring if you prefer. A refund is also an option. Re: the pots: You are welcome to remove the top half or all of the coir pot if you prefer, and perhaps in your dry situation it might be helpful. Removing the pots can damage some of the roots, but it usually only sets the plant back by a week or two - it will soon catch up. I fear one of your shipments was too long in transit, and I hope you will try us again and/or let us make up for your disappointing experience."

Posted on July 3, 2019, updated July 3, 2019
Posted on June 15, 2019, updated July 3, 2019
The 12 Carex flaccosperma plants I ordered from Bluestone arrived in lovely condition. Plus, they were, by far, the most professionally-packed flora I have ever received via delivery. It was almost mind-boggling how well they were packed. It’s been a few weeks since I planted all 12, and nine are doing great. One, however, appears to be giving up the ghost and two others are iffy. I sent an email with this info to Bluestone yesterday and asked for them to please advise. Today, I received a very friendly response stating that a replacement shipment of three plants is already in the works and, indeed, four minutes later I received formal notification that the three replacement plants will be shipped next week AND … at no charge to me! In my world, this sort of stellar customer service is rarely seen or experienced anymore. Bluestone has shot straight to the top of my list for any online flora for which I may be in the market.

An honest company with a good product, Bluestone Perennials makes good on any plants that don't thrive without questioning the customer's veracity.

Posted on April 26, 2013, updated June 22, 2019
Posted on May 12, 2005, updated April 26, 2013
Nice plants that all arrived in good shape... I HATE peanuts but I guess they do what they gotta do to keep the dirt in the pots at least. :)

Bluestone Perrenials has become my go to for plants I cannot find or are out of stock locally. I ordered 5 different shipments this year over 30 plants and every single plant came in fabulous condition and are doing extremely well. I also love that they come in biodegradeable pots and that they ship with recyclable materials.

I have been searching for a better way to buy perennials. Their website is great, but the product is even bette and I've had many poor experiences elsewhere. I'll admit I live in the same state as Bluestone, but I've received multiple orders the next day and by the health of the plants, they must have been packed immediately before shipping. I could say "it's as if I just picked them up at the garden center" but the truth is, the quality of the plants is so consistently great, it's BETTER than any garden center.....it's not crowded and you have not only the information on their website but the power of the internet to research in the comfort of home..

I love this company. I've only been using them for 3 years because that's when I found them online. I usually order 4-5 times each season
.
They are awesome for communication, they have replaced 3 plants that didn't make it through the winter and should have.

The prices are good, their plants are outstanding, shipping is 2 days max, customer service is awesome, need I go on.
Highly recommend!

Posted on May 22, 2013, updated June 2, 2019
I have ordered from Bluestone for at least 5 years now. Their customer service has always been top notch. Any time I had a problem with any order they rectified the situation immediately and pleasantly. I am sad they are not in the Top 30. For the most part I have been very happy with their plants. There are a few plants I had repeated trouble growing, but I wrote it off to my conditions. Also, I enjoy taking a road trip and going directly to the nursery to shop.

It took me a bit to adjust to the new coir pots/single plant system. I have learned I get better results if I remove the coir pot entirely immediately when I get the plants. Often I do not plant my gems right away and they would dry out too fast in the coir pots for me. And if I planted with the coir pot I found it did not break down fast enough and the plant suffered in the ground. Clearly though it works great for growing the plants as effidenced by the two orders I received from them this year. WOW! Gorgeous healthy plants. I am so very pleased!

I placed 2 large orders of perennials with Bluestone totaling over $400. They shipped together even though I placed them 3 weeks apart, which I was very happy about. The plants shipped and were delivered two days later, They were well packaged and all very healthy. I appreciate the coir pots and everything has been in the ground for a week and looks good. I was worried about mail ordering plants but now will order from Bluestone with confidence.

Geat company. Purchased a large order this winter received them in time for planting. They never disappoint. I have been ordering from them for over 20 yrs.

Posted on May 12, 2018, updated May 12, 2019
Incredibly useful website, easy to use. Ordered for 1st, 2nd and 3rd times on May 6-7 (a weekend). On Monday, May 8, they combined all to save shipping costs and updated me on delivery within a week. Received on Thursday, beautifully packed. Aired out and starting to bloom by Friday. I'm new to this, but it was sure easy...great experience!

First order from them. I was impressed they shipped order 2 days after I submitted it. Not many will do that. Plants packed in specialized box to keep them secure. Also like biodegradable "pot" - plant it also. Keeps root disturbance to a minimum. Plants were a little small for the price but looked healthy.

Posted on May 18, 2018, updated October 15, 2018
Posted on September 1, 2017, updated May 18, 2018
Posted on May 26, 2017, updated September 1, 2017
Posted on October 7, 2016, updated May 26, 2017
Posted on October 7, 2016, updated October 7, 2016
Posted on October 7, 2016, updated October 7, 2016
Posted on September 13, 2016, updated October 7, 2016
Posted on May 14, 2016, updated September 13, 2016
Posted on May 13, 2016, updated May 14, 2016
Posted on May 8, 2015, updated May 13, 2016
Posted on May 12, 2010, updated May 8, 2015
If I could give a "positive-plus" rating to this company, I would. The plants I have received from them are well started, nice and green, in pots with well-developed root systems. So much better than those I've gotten from some other mail-order nurseries. The plants in my Bluestone order are also very good sized. There are a few varieties that I would like to see them include in future catalogs that aren't in current ones, but the quality of what I've gotten can't be beaten! Bluestone Perennials is a keeper.

"On Oct 7, 2016 11:43 AM, Bluestone Perennials responded with:

Our apologies, flowermaiden2. Your order inadvertently was not shipped on the correct day. Please don't ever hesitate to call right away when your package arrives in poor condition. I have booked replacements to be shipped to you in the spring since you are in Idaho, but if you want to plant still this Fall, we can have them leave here Monday. Please call us 800-852-5243 or email service@bluestoneperennials.com if you prefer Monday shipping. "

I ordered some Eranthis bulbs and tulip bulbs as well as a potted Hellebore. Bluestone was running a free bulb promotion with an order so I got the free bulbs too. Shipping was lightning fast. Nice healthy bulbs and potted Hellebore. I expected the free bulbs to be a few crocus or something similar but they are huge 'Avalon' daffodils. Very happy with my purchase. I plan on making more purchases from Bluestone as my budget allows.

Posted on July 5, 2017, updated July 17, 2018
Posted on June 17, 2017, updated July 5, 2017
I ordered two clematis plants on sale. Upon receipt only one was shipped; the other is back ordered until Fall. I would have liked to have had the option to purchase one available now. The one I did receive is in a terrible state with only one viable leaf.
About five years ago I placed a number of orders with Bluestone and my puppies killed all the plants trying to eat the coconut liners. I decided to try them again knowing to take the liners off. They have many unique varieties I would like to try but am hesitant after this experience. I've emailed them and am awaiting a response.

Posted on May 6, 2017, updated June 18, 2018
I ordered 8 shrubs and all arrived in excellent condition.

Excellent company. Bought plants several times from them. Good size, good value and healthy plants. Really like the new biodegradable pots. Highly recommended.

My plants arrived by regular mail and left on my porch upside down,None of the plants were in their containers and were straggly tossed about the box amongst the scattered dirt.After reading so many positive reviews I really expected better.I wish they would use a better carrier than just regular postal mail.

"On Jun 11, 2018 9:46 AM, Bluestone Perennials responded with:

So sorry to hear your order was mangled in transit. Please be in touch and we will reship immediately!"

Posted on May 22, 2018, updated May 31, 2018
Posted on September 16, 2015, updated May 22, 2018
Today I received my shipment of Centaurea and these plants are very large and healthy. The packing again is excellent. I've dealt with them for a number of years and have been very pleased with their product and services.

"On May 24, 2018 1:20 PM, Bluestone Perennials responded with:

I am so sorry your plants did not make the trip successfully. We are reshipping your order right after the holiday weekend. Please don't ever hesitate to contact us if a shipment arrives in poor condition - your plants are guaranteed, and we guarantee we will make it right!"

Posted on May 26, 2003, updated May 23, 2018
Have ordered from Bluestone - friends had warned me that the plants would be smallish, but would be healthy and grow well.

Have had 100% survival; many perennials are better and more adaptable when purchased as smaller specimens as opposed to big pot-bound hulks from the nursery. Can't say anything about their customer service department, as I have never had to contact them.

"On May 24, 2018 1:52 PM, Bluestone Perennials responded with:

I am glad to hear that your plants arrived in good condition. In 2007 we switched to a larger product size based on customer demand. And at about that time we switched to the coconut fiber plantable pot and our all-recyclable packaging as well. It was hard to let the smaller economical 3 packs go (and even, back in the early days we sold 6 packs!), but our customers have been very pleased with the new size, the ease of the pots and the environmentally friendly packaging. I hope you will find the more mature, more vigorous plants and our extensive plant list inviting. One thing that did not change was our guarantee! We are indeed a different Bluestone from 13 years ago - better in many ways - but still offering quality plants delivered to your door. Guaranteed."

I have ordered from Bluestone Perennials for two years now and I am so impressed with the quality of the plants, their customer service, willingness to answer stupid questions from a new gardener, and their integrity to honor their unconditional guarantee. Any plant that I have been displeased with, they have replaced. And after ordering upwards of 50 plants from them, there have only been 2 or 3 that I have had an issue with. They have a great track record in my garden and they have won me over as a lifelong customer. (Note: This review was also cross-posted on the Bluestone website.)

I placed my first order with Bluestone Perrenial 2 months ago, and I just received it in the mail. The primary reason I placed an order was that I was interested in Veronica Tidal Pool. I paid $15.95 plus shipping for this plant - which is not cheap compared to what local nurseries charge for a new plant - and what I received is ridiculous for the price! I have a few trailing springs, and not a full pot. I’m trying to understand why a plant that is supposed to be a super fast spreading plant with a height of 2-3 inches and flowers blooming in late April to May would be just a few trailing springs without flowers on it and would not cover the entire small pot. I am very disappointed, and I would not recommend this company!

"On Apr 21, 2018 2:39 PM, Bluestone Perennials responded with:

I am so sorry that we disappointed you. I understand you have already been in contact with our office manager and a full refund has been issued, as you requested. "

I ordered a pre-planned shade garden from Bluestone, never having ordered plants online before. I'd been planning this shade garden and most of the plants I wanted to put in were in the pack, plus a few I hadn't considered but was willing to try, and the price was excellent.

Plants came and were absolutely gorgeous, extremely healthy. They were accompanied with a planting guide that really helped settle my nerves (I am a novice gardener - not totally inexperienced but not an old hand either). The guide was written in very clear, easy-to-understand terms.

I planted them about a week and a half ago and they have settled in beautifully. I would definitely order from Bluestone again.

Posted on April 19, 2017, updated April 17, 2018
I received my order full of beautiful, healthy plants. Have been ordering from Bluestone for many years.

I was delighted to receive my order of 3 mums, a hydrangea and a dianthus. A couple of the plants already bore flower buds. The packaging system was quite ingenious. The tallest mum still suffered some damage during shipping, but it’ll survive. A lot of self-control will be required to keep from immediately ordering more plants with the enclosed coupon.

Posted on April 7, 2013, updated April 14, 2018
Posted on June 21, 2012, updated April 7, 2013
Posted on May 2, 2012, updated June 21, 2012
Posted on April 4, 2009, updated May 2, 2012
Received my first order from BSP and was very happy with
the plants and the way they were packaged. I will be ordering
again soon!

"On Apr 14, 2018 12:35 PM, Bluestone Perennials responded with:

Thank you for the glowing review, Patt52, and your long patronage! Happy gardening!"

I ordered 12 lychnis atrosanguinea Rose campion and they are beautiful and big! Fantastic shape and package extremely well I’m going to order some more perennials as I have no fear about ordering from bluestone perennials! BEAUTIFUL!

My order of Perennials from Bluestone arrived a few days ago and they’ve done it again! Made me a happy and thrilled customer with all the plants arriving in South Carolina ( from Ohio) well packed to prevent plant damage (absolutely love their packing container system!), green, healthy and non-limp branching, easily labeled as to what specific perennial they are.
Yes, their prices are a bit high, BUT you get what you pay for! I begin my perennial purchases for the spring in the preceding fall to take advantage of their on-line plant sales and coupons. They also send an e-mail when the plants are shipped so we can keep a lookout for the plants when they arrive, Thank you Bluestone! I’ve ordered from you the last 4-5 years and you and your friendly, helpful customer service and plants have not disappointed me!