Comments regarding White Flower Farm

I have ordered from WFF for years, and found their plant selection and quality outstanding. Very expensive but generally worth it for hard-to-find plants. I recently had a very bad experience with them. They issued me a refund after I complained. I ordered 5 plants for $120 back in Feb. First problem: they billed my credit card immediately, 2 months before shipping the plants. I don't remember them doing that before but perhaps they did. Second problem: their automated system emailed me on 4/13 stating "DUE TO A CROP SHORTAGE WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SHIP ECHINACEA
AFTER MIDNIGHT. WE WILL PROVIDE FATAL ATTRACTION IN ITS
PLACE WITH NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE TO YOUR ACCOUNT. "
They did not ask first. The substitute plant is quite different and nowhere near comparable (much shorter bloom period, much taller, different color). I responded immediately (same day) saying I did not want the substitution. No response until 4/16 *** the very day the unsolicited unapproved substitute plant arrived on my door step ***. Their email response was quite arrogant but at least they issued me a refund. But no apology. No explanation of why 2 months after billing me they discovered a crop shortage. No acknowledgement that the customer should be asked before making substitutions. WFF acts like it is doing you a big favor selling you their plants. They act like they don't want or need your business.

Rating neutral rather than negative because they did issue a refund.

I spent more than $200 on 19 dahlia tubers from White Flower Farm this year. One of these tubers was moldy and brittle and all stem. I wrote them a note asking them to replace the tuber, expecting an apology and a replacement. Instead, they wrote back to say that:

"Mold is not a bad thing for a dahlia. Upon planting any mold will naturally disappear."

Seriously, what kind of company charges premium prices and then sends out moldy product? Who wants to plant the moldy product in their garden. It might be mold, but it might be something else.

I had been very pleased with my dahlia tuber from last year, although the company messed up my order and canceled some tubers that I had expected. They did not pay attention to the order numbers.

The tuber from last year was a tuber, which I prefer. It produced a dozen more tubers, all of which I am planting this year. This year White Flower Farm sent out clumps, which are all right but which produce fewer usable tubers for the next year.

I ordered daffodil bulbs from WFF a few years ago--I think fifty "Stainless" and fifty "Camelot." I planted them and the next spring NONE of the yellow Camelot daffodils came up, and only a handful of the Stainless ever came up. Adding insult to injury, out of those handful only THREE have ever bloomed. Unbelievable. Last year I ordered daffodils from Colorblends and they are all starting to pop up now, so I know it wasn't me or my soil.

Plus, WFF's prices are outrageous. Their catalogue is nice, but I simply use it to window shop and if I see something I like I go or order elsewhere for it.

I have been ordering from WFF for many years. As other readers have commented here, their prices are high but the expense can be worth it as WFF offers some plants not easily found elsewhere. That said, I ordered perennials for a new bed last spring and was dismayed to see how puny and distressed the plants were on arrival. They were promptly planted and kept well watered, have all the sun they need, etc.. They have survived, but - given their rough start, they have not exactly flourished. For the first time in nearly 20 years, I was rather disappointed with WFF. Has the business changed ownership? PS: Their catalogs remain as luscious as ever, and are a pleasure to peruse during the cold, snowy winter months.

Have purchased plants & bulbs from WFF for 5 years or more. I think they're rather high-priced BUT they have merchandise that I can't find elsewhere. As a rabid flower & foliage fanatic, when I see something I've got to have, I'm willing to spend the money.... The price is the only negative, however. The plants are very well packed and healthy. The catalog is great! I learned some of my first garden dos & don'ts from their catalog which is more informative than most.

White Flower Farm has an inadequate website and rather poor customer service. My husband ordered an plant stand for me. When he had not heard from WFF in ten days either by email or phone, he called them. They had difficulty locating the order, because they had somehow put it in my name, but when they did find it, they informed him that the item was unavailable/sold out. They claimed to have "repeatedly" tried to contact us, but neither my husband or I ever received any email at all about the order. I checked their website, and guess what? The plant stand is STILL listed! Take a page from LLBean, WFF!

Ah, White Flower Farm, publishers of catalogs so beautiful and seductive that I've dubbed it "plant porn."
I've ordered a number of things from them over the years, and have had similar experiences to other posters... in a word, mixed. WFF's bulb collections are wonderful, simply wonderful. I just received 200 more daffodils (2 collections of "The Works") to join my 500+ from them, and as usual, they are as fat and beautiful as healthy babies.
Their "Unique 50" daylily collection (of which I have 3 or 4) is nice, too, worth the price, but not quite as over-the-top as the daffs. Their Iris reticulata, allium, and crocus bulbs, also very nice, and while not cheap, definitely recommended.
On the other hand, I'm sorry to say, their perennials are lacking, especially when considering the steep price tag. I just got a re-blooming iris that is an okay size, but not 13.95 worthy. I was very disappointed in the Monarda I got a few years ago... tiny, tiny, tiny, ridiculous price for the size. It looked a cutting that had recently been dipped in rooting hormone and stuck in a 3" pot. One of the three didn't overwinter. All the (same variety) Monarda I got from a local nursery (overflowing pots, half the price) not only survived, but thrived. The hedge roses I ordered 3 or 4 years ago... eh. They just haven't performed. I've seen much stronger plants for less locally. I've been underwhelmed by the perennials I've ordered. I love my wisteria standard, but $149 plus shipping? Good thing I had that gift certificate.
Customer service used to be better. I get the impression that the company's gotten too big. The staff seemed overwhelmed and distracted the last couple of times we interacted. This was for ordering and simple questions; I haven't had to see how they were in resolving a problem.
In short, I'd highly recommend WFF's bulb collections (remember to order your daffs early, you get a discount) without reservation, but would advise someone to shop their local independent nursery for perennials.

I started ordering from White Flower Farm last autumn, so until now I had only bought bulbs from them. They seem pricey, but I was satisfied with the bulbs I received. This spring I succumbed to the temptation of their catalogue and ordered plants. When my order arrived, I was disappointed to see that the cleome 'White Queen' I had ordered were not in the box, and the invoice said "to follow" which I took to mean they were back ordered. I emailed to find out when the cleome might follow, and indicated that I might prefer to just cancel that part of my order. Customer service responded 3 days later and explained the plants were just being released from the greenhouse and would follow the next week. Well, this week I did get cleome from White Flower Farm -- but they sent a different (magenta/pink) cultivar than the 'White Queen' I had actually ordered. I have not yet had a response to my email about this, so i don't know if this was a substitution or if there was a mistake. I doubt it can be corrected since 'White Queen' is now listed on their website as sold out. Unfortunately, I have no use for cleomes in the color they sent me, and I'm now stuck trying to find white cleome elsewhere.

The point of all this is to say that I will definitely think twice about ordering from them again. The plants I have received from them do seem to be large, healthy, and well grown, but given that their retail prices are on the high side, I frankly expect perfection in every detail.

If this was a mistake, well then how confident could one feel about future orders. I've spent thousands of dollars mail ordering plants, and honestly I've never been sent an incorrect plant. If they ran out of the plant I ordered, I would sooner they contact to me to ask if I want to choose something else instead of sending me their choice of a substitution -- how can anyone know what made me choose a certain plant and what criteria to use in selecting an substitution. This would have been especially appropriate since we had traded email about when the cleome would ship anyway.

This place charges the most outrageous prices. They send tiny plants. Example: Echinacea "Pink Poodle" - They charge $21.95 per plant in a 3 inch tiny pot! That is insane for one plant.

I use their pretty catalog now and just pick the plants out that I want and order them from some place that has more reasonable pricing. If you add in shipping, one Echinacea plant can cost about 30 dollars which is unthinkable in these difficult times.

After reading some of the reviews about this great company I feel compelled to write about 10+ years of very good gardening experiences with them.

I ordered from them again this year and (again) things were perfect with my order. Rasperberries, Blueberries and Strawberries - eleven bare-root plants in all were received when expected and in great condition - for a dormant plant. (I suspect many people look at dormant plants and compare them to ones they buy at a nursery....I do too. I, however, have removed nursery plants from their containers, washed off the roots and replanted them and have lately and found a tiny root system hidden in a gallon sized pot!?! Is that a bargain from anywhere? Much less Home Depot?) Sometimes quality, selection and plant advice is worth more than a trip to a garden center where nobody even knows anything about plants in the first place! Pay the higher price and get advice from their horticulturalists - you'll save much time and effort by doing so!

The items were planted and have already sprung into life - in an area where they don't naturally grow easily (our pH is not very good for the blueberries and had to be strongly corrected at planting time.) This is the same experience I have had for years with stock from this company and I expect will continue to receive from them.

They do an exceptional job of finding hardy and more rare selections of all types of plants and their horticultural advice is exceptional. (I have NEVER had to call and request a credit as I have never received poor quality merchandise from them - ever.) I wholeheartedly tell friends to use them but I also advise people to stay away from bare-root plants if they are not expert gardeners - they are more difficult and you will have more luck with potted plants.

Thanks again for more wonderful plants WFF!

Just ordered a few tomato plants.....all arrived as healthy as can be.....I placed them under my grow lights as I wasnt ready to plant them yet. Within a day or two, I noticed my Moskovich was declining....looked like an Verticulim Wilt...odd. I know I couldnt save it as it got worse each day. Wilt from the top down. I took pictures and sent an email in to customer service.
Today, I received my Moskovich replacement...Customer service was very painless to deal with.
Very satisfied about the no hassle. Thank you.

My Coleus came in special wrap around pot cardboard protection with cardboard medium plugs to hold the medium in the pot. This gave the protection of box in box packing. The packing was so good I saved the packing boxes for a second use.

I was informed when the product would ship. The shipping was concluded right on schedule with another notice to alert me to my order when they shipped.

The condition of the plants was excellent. I have never had anything but excellent service from White Flower Farm.

TOMATO PLANTS FROM WHITE FLOWER FARM, SPRING 2009. I purchased a number of tomato seedlings from White Flower Farm this spring of 2009. I had not used them before, and my initial thought was that prices were a tad high. But, now the plants are here, and I must say, the tomato plants are the healthiest ones I have ever received; they arrived in excellent condition and at the right time of the spring season for my zone. Also, the packaging was exceptionally clever--it provided great protection for the plants, and it was just cardboard, all recycleable, so I don't have any guilt over the packaging. Finally, they have great selection in terms of many different tomato plants to choose from. So, all in all, I think their plants are worth every penny--you get great selection, plants shipped at the right time, plants that are healthy and arrive in excellent condition, all wrapped in environmentally-friendly packaging. I will be a repeat customer here, and I will be telling my tomato-growing friends to spend a little more money and get better plants here rather looking for "cheapies" elsewhere.

i planted their "the works" 100 daffodil bulbs. they were not cheap,and the shipping is outrageous but every bulb flowered and the variety was great. i was so happy with them that i just ordered another 100 for fall.

First experience with this company. I bought 6 perennial snapdragons from them this spring. All 6 arrived on time. 5 were very fresh, one was wilted, I put it in the ground anyway but called WFF the next am. They immediately replaced the plant with a new one, no questions asked. The lady on the phone was very pleasant and professional, she even reminded me not to overwater snapdragons so the others would be ok. The new plant came a week later and was in excellent shape. As I figured the wilted plant died a few days later. I was very happy with the other 6 plants and the service from WFF. All 6 plants are going strong so far despite a wet cool spring here in MD. Cant wait until July when they are in bloom I would definitely order from them again.

I have been ordering from WFF for over 25 years; I am sorry to say that the quality of the plants offered has deteriorated somewhat. This year I was given a $200 gift certificate. The D. Austin roses arrived in fine condition as did the hydrangea petiolaris. The clematis terniflora is miniscule and has had to be placed in a nursery bed. I have been told that all WFF's plants are all outsourced at present. I feel that their prices are too high for most of what is offered.

I have been a White Flower Farm customer for a few years now. I have never had any problems with them. I purchased many, many plants from them in the past. Last autumn I bought lots of "Corps de Ballet" tulips, Apricot Impressions tulips, daffodils Double Campernelle and Lemon Glow. All are doing wonderful. They are huge and very healthy! Thankyou!
Yes, the prices are a little high, but the plants I have gotten are worth it! I also bought 3 Brunnera Macrophylla "Jack Frost" from them last year and all are growing fine, too.

I enjoy the products there and I've purchased many plants from them over the last few years. My only complaint would be very high shipping costs, considering I live in NH one would think it would be much more reasonable. I have several ' Gardening addicted ' friends and we would all love to order more frequently but find shipping costs prohibitive. I like the catalog, it's more of a fantasy for us though with many plants a little out of line ( cost wise) compared to our local nurseries. I find they are resposive to customers and do carry a wide variety for us ' collectors' and enthusiasts.

I have drooled over the WFF catalog for years, but have chosen less expensive plants from other mail order sources. I could not resist a climbing rose and clematis combo and finally ordered from them. It was a garden splurge for me. When the plants arrived, the rose was a very small set of about 4 canes. The clematis was a sprig! I was so disappointed. The rose has finally shot up to about 2 feet on one cane. The clematis died. At least I know the name of the clemais to repurchase from a more reputable dealer. I will not pay those prices again, but I will use their catalog to make combinations of plants that I buy elsewhere. Who would have thought! Actaylo

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We are sorry about your disappointment with the quality of our plants and service. We guarantee our products 100% and would be happy to issue you a replacement, credit your account or issue you a refund. We want you to be successful with our products and pleased with their performance. Please contact our customer service department at [e-mail:custserv@whiteflowerfarm.com or call us at
800-411-6159 so that we can resolve this to your satisfaction.
Thank you, Customer Service "

I recently received a $50 gift certificate from WFF mailed from the company along with a catalog. When I went on line to order, the prices were changed from $12.95 each to $15.95 each. I called the company to see if they would honor the original price since I had just received the catalog, which was the spring 2008 catalog. They quoted their printed policy about the right to change prices without notice due to increased costs to them. A few days later I received a Fall 2008 catalog in the mail with the new higher pricing. I feel it is bad business to send out a catalog with outdated prices late in the season without a big post it on the front saying the prices are not valid. As others have mentioned shipping is almost $14 (up from $9.95) so instead of getting 3 plants for $36.50 and a forth at $12.95 with me picking up most of the shipping, I bought 2 plants and told them to refund the balance to the card giver. ($4.15) The certificate was sent to cheer me up and through no fault of the giver missed the mark. I own a business and understand the cost of running a business and the need to make a profit but I also believe in keeping the customers happy. I will not purchase from them again.

At WFF prices the plants should be exceptionally large and healthy. But they're usually not exceptionally anything, and I agree with other reviewers that the quality of plants seems to have gone downhill over the years. I also once had a problem getting them to reply by email after they sent me a rotten iris bulb. I emailed about 5 times over a couple weeks and they never did respond. It's apparently better to call (they have refunded things for me when I've called), but I just didn't feel like calling that time, and I thought that since they have a customer service email on their site they might respond to it. They do have a great website & catalog, and also a great selection, and the plants usually arrive in a reasonable amount of time. It's not high-risk to buy from them, just high cost for what you get.

I have a very positive report on their tomatoes. They were great and flourished. Some annuals for pots were OK but some did not even bloom. The shade pot with Begonias, Fuschia were great but the plants over shadowed the Coleus and they never 'saw the light of day'. The perenials I ordered were a BIG disappoinment. As many have noted they are delivered very tiny and look like they will take many years to grow to full size. An expensive daylily never grew, was replaced by them and still never grew (in an area where other daylilies that are flourishing). I replaced teeny sedum with some from the local nursery which have done beautifully. The White Flower sedum are still the same size as when delivered. I just replanted them and the roots have not developed at all through a very good growing summer. I may order the tomatoes again but never any flowers. What an expensive disappointment.

I have ordered numerous time from WFF but have been disappointed with my last two orders. Most recently some plants were received in a completely dormant state with not even any foliage showing. After a good deal of coaxing and nurturing some of the plants survived but others didn't make it.

My experience in ordering bulbs from them has been OK. However, I don't view their products as a good value. Although WFF does a great job at marketing their products, they haven't come through with the quality of plants that is expected.

When I expressed my disappointment to WFF's customer service site, I never received a reply. Nothing.

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We are sorry about your disappointment with the quality of our plants and service. We guarantee our products 100% and would be happy to issue you a replacement, credit your account or issue you a refund. We want you to be successful with our products and pleased with their performance. We strive to answer each email within 24 business hours, we apologize that you did not receive that service. Please contact our customer service department at [e-mail:custserv@whiteflowerfarm.com] or call us at 800-411-6159 so that we can resolve this to your satisfaction.
Thank you, Customer Service


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Despite the bad reports on WFF, I decided to order because I had a $25 gift certificate (that I got with a magazine subscription). I figured I'd order some tulips bulbs because it's hard to get those too wrong. I ordered 20 bulbs and knew I would have to pay the shipping. Except the cheapest shipping was $13.95. For 20 tulip bulbs. I cancelled the order. I'm not sure if that's a standard shipping rate or the "special" rate for this particular deal or what but either way I'm not spending $14 to get 20 tulip bulbs.

I should probably complain to the magazine the deal came through as I don't feel this company puts them in the best light, but WFF is a big advertiser of theirs and I know how magazines work ... they aren't going to do anything to anger a good advertiser.

I bought a number of plants from WFF last year and have been very disappointed in the results. About 75% of my plants either failed to over-winter or failed to thrive. I don't know if this was due to the CT winter of 2007/08, but I am hesitant to purchase from them again. I wasn't too pleased with the previous year's plants either compared to the first time I bought from them.
Have they expanded too fast and lost sight of quality control?
Plants at their nursery and the ones they supply to local nurseries are large and healthy, but still relatively expensive.
Their mail order costs are very high both for the plants and shipping. I don't think I will be bothering to buy mail order from them again as I can get much better value elsewhere.

Upon reading the negative comments about White Flower Farm (WWF), I feel compelled to write about my positive experiences. The only negative thing I can say is that the pricing is expensive when compared to east central Illinois and to Tennessee, where we lived when I placed my orders. I have ordered shrubs, perennials, and bulbs (daylilies). While in TN, a shrub that I ordered from WWF died and I received a refund immediately with no questions asked, which impressed me. Of course, I purchase locally whenever I can and have ordered from a number of Internet suppliers (mainly seeking less expensive pricing than WWF). But I’ve learned to order from WWF when I seek quality plants that I cannot obtain locally. They’re definitely the best supplier I’ve encountered. I recently ordered 8 shrubs (Eleutherococcus sieboldiana variegata) that were not available in my area. I’ll never understand why they’re not available—this is a shade-tolerant shrub, easy-to-grow, disease/pest-free, and relatively low-cost. These shrubs have adapted well and are growing beautifully. The daylilies I ordered while in Tennessee were HUGE, numerous, got better and more prolific with each year, and the bloom season afforded by these plants lasted very long. I would order more in a heartbeat were it not for my yard conditions (dry-shade, which isn’t great for daylilies). Of special note: their catalog is one of the best resources I’ve found. Plant specs., required growing conditions (detailed), possible problems, even phonetic pronunciations for plant names (which I love!) are included. If you never order from WWF, I suggest you request a catalog to keep as a reference.

I have had a spate of tiny, tiny tiki torch echinaceas sent to me that have had to be replaced. So far, they have been obliging, but I would like them to send a plant that is more than a bare minimum seedling. White Flower is not inexpensive; while they guarantee the plants, it would be a whole lot simpler if they sent more durable stock to begin with. I am suspecting they are counting on people not bothering to invoke the guarantee. I am very disappointed with them--have been a customer for a long time, both in person and mail order. I am just about ready to give up. I just requested my third replacement for the miniscule tiki torch--hopefully I will get something better this time. I am an experienced gardener, so the problem is not me. It is a big bother to keep fussing with them.

I ordered a bunch of bulbs from there and 100% came up and where absolutely beautiful.

But...I ordered perennials - Amsonia WFF Selection, Heucherella Stoplight and a bubblegum pink coneflower.

The plants were tiny, tiny and I planted them in perfect locations. They did nothing last year when I planted them...no biggie.

This year I need binoculars to see the Heucherella, the Amsonia had two shoots. The conflower is up, but still tiny, tiny and I'll be suprised if it flowers.

I would definately order bulbs there again, but will stick to my favorite nursery in my area for perennials. I would've received huge plants for the same price at my nursery. Everytime I walk by them I get annoyed. They are dwarfs compared to the rest of my garden.

I ordered a LOT of bulbs from while flower last year. I got about 50 lilies (don't ever order 50 lilies it is way too many ;-)) and some crocuses, narcissus, tulips, anemones. Everything came up and is quite gorgeous. I would not be surprised if my bulb bloom rate is 100%. I also bought three clematis, some cranes bill and some gaillardia. Two clematis and the cranes bill are doing great. One clematis and the gaillardia did not survive my fall planting. I emailed them and they are sending replacements. I'd use them again.

I shopped from them in the past and when we lived in Connecticut ( still have a lilac and irises from then), and I was somewhat disappointed in my recent order (prompted by a gift certificate) compared to previous purchases. Plants were smaller than the same plant ordered in the past (specifically pink Convallaria), several plants were out-of-stock, and the Dicentra King of Hearts was much smaller than the same plant at my local nursery at a lower price. Not up to the previous standard.

Two years ago I ordered two Autum Joy Clematis. They looked dead when they arrived but did finally leaf out and I was hopeful that they would take off. Last year they showed a little growth but no bloom, this year they are both dead. I was very dissapointed in these plants, could have done better at my local garden center.

I've been satisfied with the company, at some times receiving small plants and others receiving outstanding plants. If anything I have found them to be inconsistent but acceptably so in comparison to other mail order companies.

The Hydrangea quercifolia 'Little Honey' arrived today. What a disappointment. It was advertised as "shippied as two qt. pot". Maybe so. Hard to actually judge what a pot really holds, except that this plant didn't fill a third of the pot. When I took the plant out to set in the ground the root ball barely filled my hand. In addition it was a one stem plant with all the shoots broken off in shipping save one. There are some buds and some top growth so I think it is salvagable. However I didn't order salvageable stock. Nor will I again trust them for potted material.

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We are sorry about your disappointment with the size and quality of our Hydrangea 'Little Honey'. We guarantee our products 100% and would be happy to issue you a replacement, credit your account or issue a refund. We want you to be successful with our products and pleased with their performance. Please contact our customer service department at [e-mail:custserv@whiteflowerfarm.com] or call us at 800-411-6159 so that we can resolve this to your satisfaction.
Thank you, Customer Service
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Last year I ordered two of the newer echinaceas which were not available elsewhere yet, and was therefore willing to pay more. I was greatly disappointed by the time it took them to send the flowers to me and unfortunately they did not come in a timely manner to have growing time before the weather turned bad. I was disappointed by the sizes of the plants and this year only one appears to have come up. I look for good customer service in a mail order company and quality flowers.

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We are sorry about your disappointment with our plants. We guarantee our products 100% and would be happy to issue you a replacement, credit your account or issue a refund for the plants that didn't survive the winter. We want you to be successful with our products and pleased with their performance. Please contact our customer service department at custserv@whiteflowerfarm.com or call us at 800-411-6159 so that we can resolve this to your satisfaction.
Thank you, Customer Service "

I ordered from White Flower Farm every season for several years, but no longer purchase plants from the company. Though WFF is notoriously expensive I’ve been happy with most of the specimens I’ve received from them: good-sized, healthy, vigorous plants and many unusual specimens.

The plants I’ve received with recent orders seem smaller than in past orders and I was not as impressed with the variety in their most recent [spring] catalogue. (So many nurseries offer rare varieties now.) There was certainly nothing to persuade me to remain loyal to WFF after they started selling meat, which really irritated me. I want a plant nursery that specializes in growing plants, not selling cute gift items and beef! I definitely won’t buy anything from WFF again.

I ordered Dahlia Happy Single Party and received Dahlia Mystic Illusions instead. As best I remember, there was no place on the order form to indicate whether I would accept substitutions or not. It was not an unreasonable substitution: both yellow with dark foliage, but the overall effect is not a pleasant.

This is typical of my experience of White Flower Farm over the last decade: looks great in the catalog, but what you get is inconsistent: as to size, quality, or even variety in this case.

The very expensive tree peony "High Noon' I ordered two years ago, much to my surprise, developed one flower bud this spring. I felt better about paying so much for such a very small plant (will stick with Reath's Nursery in MI from now on). Then the flower opened and it was a lurid magenta. Years wasted. For the prices charged they should have some controls in place to make sure the varieties are true to name.

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We are sorry about your disappointment with our tree peony 'High Noon'. We guarantee our products 100% and would be happy to issue you a replacement, credit your account or issue a refund for 'High Noon' since you are not completely satisfied. Please contact our customer service department at:custserv@whiteflowerfarm.com or call us at 800-411-6159 so that we can resolve this to your satisfaction.
Thank you, Customer Service "

RE: Bogus Fuel Surcharge and Shipping Practices

I have not received my plants yet but so far my overall experience has not been good. I tried ordering online a while back but the web site stated my customer number was invalid. I had two catalogs and both had the same number. Calling during the weekday is hard for me. I finally remembered to order on a Saturday. The order was $2.50 more than I figured. The rep said due to "fuel surcharge". I did a quick check at the UPS site and it said the surcharge would be approx 60 cents. This brought the total s&h around $10 with UPS fuel charge included. WFF had shipping listed at $10.95 then added the $2.50 on top of that. I explained this to the rep and asked her to waive the fuel charge. She said she could not, the computer adds the charge automatically, and suggested I call back during the work-week.

Next I asked to have one plant shipped now as it is an ornamental plant I would like to keep indoors. She said she could make the request but no guarantee due to my zone. Unless there is a valid reason such as weather too hot/cold, ground still frozen, ground too soggy, etc., the customer should have a choice when to receive his/her goods. Other mail order firms offer the choice but stipulate they won't, or may not, honor the guarantee.

I chose to order from WFF as I had a gift subscription to Fine Gardening magazine that included a $25 gift certificate to WFF. Otherwise I would have just canceled my order and bought locally at a lower cost and with no frustration. At least if my friend asks about the gift she gave to me I can honestly say I really enjoy the magazine and avoid mentioning my plant order.

I have ordered several times from WFF and I have always been happy with the quality of the plants I received. Shipping is timely and the packaging is good. As others have noted, they're pricey. Many of their plants can be obtained at better prices elsewhere. However, I ordered bulbs from them last fall and the grape hyacinth and Ipheion collections were priced (on a per bulb basis) less than Brecks, and all of the bulbs I ordered were priced reasonably. They all did really well too, in spite of the drought conditions when I planted them last fall - they're blooming as I type.