Comments regarding White Flower Farm

I placed my first order with WFF on 4/6. I called them first to check what the shipping schedule would be on the plant and was told " that will ship immediately". It is now 4/11 and have not received a shipping confirmation so I called to check the status. I was told that it was scheduled to ship sometime this week. When I explained that I was told that this would ship immediately and that it was a gift I was told there was nothing they could do except cancel the order. Sorry, it was just a miscommunication.
So I haven't even received the plant and I am already unhappy with this company.

I just received my order from WFF. The two Little Honey hydrangea's, and the Gilt Edge Tricyrtis were in great shape. They by far offer the healthiest plants with the best packaging. While they are a bit pricey on some items I have never been displeased with the end product. This is probably the 5th or 6th year I have dealt with them. Only one year did I have plants that were damaged in shipping. After calling WFF they quickly sent replacements with no hassle. The catalog alone is worth placing a small order from them each year.

I received my order today and I was pleased.I have ordered from WFF for 16 years and have always been satisfied.Contrary to Wayside Gardens from which I also order and who usually send half dead plants with the note that it is not the way theplant looks that matters but the roots. WFF plants are always healthy and green. They do cost more but they are worth it. Also they are the only place besides Antonelli brothers for quality tuberous begonias.

I placed my first order with WFF last fall for the perennial tulip collection and an orienpet lily 'American West'. Although they are pricy on most items, the tulips were the best price(if you got the collection-12ea of 6 varieties)I was able to find and I do shop around. The lily was $8 ea, but I've still never seen anyone else offer it. The bulbs were large, firm, and healthy, and all the tulips have huge sprouts now. I'm very pleased with the transaction and love their catalogs. I will use them again as I did last fall-when the price is competitive or when offering a variety no one else has.

I live near WWF and have been doing business with them for more than ten years. When I pay so much for their products, I expect good plants. Problem is a lot of time they substitute without asking and also do not deliever when they initially state items will be delivered. The only thing I would recommend purchasing from WWF is bulbs. Everything else is risky. Quality of their stock is getting more marginal with time. My husband is a spine surgeon and takes care of a lot of the WWF workers and the WWF employees themselves comment that WWF plant quality is deteriorating.
Usually I purchase about 1200$ worth of stock a year from WWF and am consistently disappointed. Much happier with vigor and health of local nursery things. However, when WWF stock does survive, their quality of plants as far as their appearance and bloom size are good. I have had problems with WWF sending dead things and not willing to refund me but wanting to replace with more dead stock. I am not referring to bareroot items, I mean dead items. And yes I get placed on hold for ever waiting to speak to their horticulturalist only to have her attempt to brush my problems aside. So this year-no WWF orders from me.

I only once bought from this company and it was a positive experience. I bought a Clivia. I first called them to ask advice about conditions the plant needs. They were happy to help. I bought the plant and was very happy with it. It came with detailed written intructions on its culture. I am looking forward to a second year of bloom.

I have mixed feelings about White Flower Farm. I've placed a number of orders from WFF over the years and I think the plant quality has decreased. This Spring a plant order I placed arrived on time and mostly healthy, but the plant sizes (for the prices!) were very disappointing. Last year, I chanced an order on plants too and found one snapdragon's colors to be nowhere near the description. To be fair, I find WFF's bulbs to be competitively priced and usually healthy (although I sometimes am just a little disappointed with the mixes). I will be sure to look around at other nurseries for plants I see and like at WFF until I'm convinced the quality has improved.

I have just received my first order from White Flower Farm and the plant is healthy and a nice size plus great packing. I will do business with them in the future.

I bought a few items from this company as a first time shopper with them. My snap dragons are amazing! The lilies are growing despite rabbits and deer. The ferns, however, did not do well. When I wrote to the company asking for a refund on the ferns, they did not hesitate. The company's ad claimed the lady ferns would do well in sun, but mine did not. Also, one of the lilies did not grow. White Flower Farm did not hesitate to refund my money on the ferns and put another lily in with my fall order. I have already ordered from them again, as their service was outstanding!

I was given a gift card to WFF, purchased seeds and bulbs, and have been very pleased. All the seeds I planted sprouted at a high rate, and have done very well in my garden. The only down side I've experienced, the bulbs I ordered are for fall planting so they won't be shipped until the fall, which makes sense, but I have no patience... Otherwise, their shipping was more than timely for the seeds, packaging more than adiquate, and their phone and email support staff has been above reproach.

I have been receiving whiteflower's catalog for years but never ordered anything because they are so expensive. This year for the first time I ordered a plant, a hardy fuchsia. I must say I am satisfied. The plant arrived quickly, was reasonably priced and is growing along better than any hardy fuchsia I've grown before. I'm going to look more closely at their catalog next year.

It is unfortunate, but it is obvious to me that WFF has grown beyond their ability to be a viable resource. They used to be a good resource for both reliable plant stock and cultural information. Somewhere in the past 15 years since I have done business with them they have lost the desire to be a leader in the industry. It used to be they shipped high quality stock and included excellent cultural information in both their catalog and on their website.

This past year I placed an order of about 30 plants, less than half of them even survived!!!! Yes they were quite gracious in sending replacement but even then they were again tiny specimens and again the colors were mislabeled.

I used to overlook some of this because they were a wonderful cultural resource but it seems that they have decided to discontinue sharing that information.

Needless to say, I will use other resources in the future.

I recently ordered a dwarf Meyer Lemon tree from WFF, and then found out afterwards that the tree is both small (8-12") and young (~1 year old, and thus not of fruit-bearing age yet). The estimates I have got indicate that it will be 1-2 years before the tree will set fruit.

This would have been all right if these trees just have to be sold that way, though it would have been nice if WFF had put the info about age and fruiting on their Website. However, fruiting-age Meyer lemon trees appear to be readily available from other vendors (some receiving very high marks on this Website) at essentially the same price that WFF charges for its younger plant. I saw one site selling 1 year old trees for half of WFF's price; most don't openly offer trees of that age.

Since I blame myself for not researching the topic more closely before buying, I can't really say that this has been a negative experience, but it certainly hasn't been a positive one.

I received a bulb naturalizing tool as a gift from a family member a few years ago. The tool was said to work in any soil, even rocky woodlands. The price was about $50. It did Not work in tough red clay. Of course I could manage by jumping on the tool several times, but that isn't too good for your back. My large husband tried, also found the tool hardly as easy to use as advertised. On behalf of WFF I'll say this - high quality workmanship, as advertised. Upon writing back & forth, they offered me a refund, even though I did not purchase the tool. I found this to be kind, but it wasn't an option. The family member who gave me the tool is one who would definately notice me not having it. It was given to me with much love & I did not want to hurt feelings. I would have been happy to have them acknowledge that they might need to do a bit more research, and asked that they forward my comments to the folks who tested the tool. I figured they would want to know what happened when their tool was tested on red clay. They told me basically that I didn't know what I was talking about. I still have the tool. I've noticed in the catalog that they have toned down their claims, but they still claim that the bulb naturalizing tool will work in all types of soil. If you don't have red clay, a notoriously hard soil, that is most likely true. I just don't want this to happen to anyone else I've gone back to using a good trowel...cheaper & easier ...

I have purchased plants from White Flower Farms for several years and generally had a good experience. I exchanged some emails with them last year about the length of time the plants I ordered were in transit. They acknowledged my comment but indicated they were satisfied with their shipping practices. I just received three pepper plants from them. The box was partially crushed. The plants had been upended, causing some of the potting mix to fall out. The roots were exposed, and both roots and potting mix were totally dry. The plants were wilted and bent over. They have been good about replacing/refunding plants that haven't survived in the past, but I'd prefer to get plants in good condition.

I made my first order(s) from WFF.com this spring. Everything I ordered came in a timely fashion and everything is growing well. The lily bulbs were in great shape and are about to bloom. I should have known better than to order Coleus from the other side of the continent but other than some spilled soil, those plants are now doing fine as well.

I got a $10.00 gift certificate for subscribing to Horticulture magazine. Ordered Lily bulbs which were sent quickly, packaged well and look good. No growth yet, but just got them last week, so that's to be expected. Thought they were a bit on the expensive side though.

I just received an order. The plants were lying in the bottom of the box, out of their pots, the dirt was also in the bottom of the box and the box looked like it had been run over. All the plant stems were broken and if they live a day,I'll be really surprized. I won't buy from them again.

I have ordered from White Flower Farm many, many times. In all the years that I have been buying from them I have never had a problem. Sure, once I had a plant that didn't look so hot when it arrived, but they were more than willing to take care of it and replaced it for me immediately. Their prices are higher than some companies, but so are their standards. The quality is top notch and so is their customer service. They even provide a very fair guarantee, which they follow through with. I have ordered from other companies, and have been disappointed with the size of the bulbs and quality of the plants. I appreciate that they have a 'Horticulture Department' which will help you with specific problems and questions. Based on my experiences, I would recommend them to anyone.

my sis ordered from this company....its a "DARN JOKE" the plants/bulbs they sent her..and it wasn't cheap either..POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE, POOR INVENTORY!!!!!!packaging bad........plants, moldy or dryed up...Save your money and put it with another company that is listed in the positive area!!!!!!!!

I have been a loyal customer of WWF for 7 years and have seen their plants and customer service go progressively downhill over the past 3 years. I have had to have every delphinium replaced or refunded, 2 of the 3 clematis, arum italicum, the list goes on. They now have a new policy that guarantees their plants only for 1 growing season which is ridiculous. In other words, they will not guarantee their perenials past the season in which they are planted, basically saying that all their plants are treated as annuals. PLUS, their prices have skyrocketed and are amongst the highest out there. While they may have a glossy catalog, stay away!!! You're throwing away your money.

Do not order from these people!

They have a slick catalogue, but the quality of their plants was HORRIBLE. I ordered some petasites, darmera, and patrinia this spring at a very HEFTY price, and the plants were TINY. These are all plants that are very aggressive growers, almost invasive, and they should be easy to cultivate.

All the plants had to go into 'intensive care' and I was only able to resuscitate the darmera.

The worst mail-order plants I HAVE EVER RECEIVED from ANYONE!

STAY AWAY!

Last year I purchased the fifty unique daylily mix. The plants were small, which I expected because of the price, but they were also full of an invasive weed, something like artismia, and instead of Fifty Unique I received maybe two or three different varieties. I assumed that when they said it would be 50 unique mix that there would be fifty differnt varieties. What was I thinking. To give WFF credit, they credited my account for one-half of the price of these daylilies. Unfortunately it was too little to late. I informed WFF that I would not order from them again and that I would inform the four persons I had previously referred to them to also not order from them. I have ordered (daylilies) from other companies and have been extremly satisfied by the price and condition of their plants. No so with WFF.

I ordered 3 Little Honey hydrangeas in January which arrived last week. I unpacked as directed. They were very small plants in large containers, but they had little baby leaves. It poured here and was unusually cold for the next several days, so I kept them sheltered. By yesterday, one was dead and the others are pretty puny looking. I called WFF and they immediately offered a credit back to my account, no hassle at all. WFF is expensive for some things, but their bulbs are often a good deal and my experience overall has been positive. I'm sorry these plants are so weak looking. I love hydrangeas! I will continue to comparison shop and use them when I need to. Despite the annoying pretentiousness of the catalogue, it is a source of inspiration to me for container plantings (most of which can easily be found locally).

They are quite expensive and can be argumentative about what my local conditions are. In addition, because of their money back guarantee, they do sometimes seem indifferent to getting shipments right the first time around.

The crocus bulbs I ordered two years ago were lovely, so I decided to order several other types of bulbs and plants from them last fall.

A few days after I ordered the bulbs, there was a family emergency that was to take me out of town for three weeks. I called their customer service to request they hold the shipment. No can do, I was told. So it had to sit on my open front porch.

When I got home, I checked the date the bulbs had been sent. It was shipped a week after I had called. Why they couldn't have held it is beyond me.

When I opened the shipment, planting instructions were missing for several items. However, when I e-mailed their customer service, they got back to me promptly with the information.

So far the delay in planting does not seem to have effected the bulbs, which all came up.

I love their catalog and use it for ideas, but they would have to be the only practical source for an item before I will buy from them again.

My small order last year arrived promptly, and two ailing plants were courteously and quickly replaced. However, they are ridiculously expensive. If you absolutely MUST have a certain plant and cannot find it anywhere else, consider WFF. Otherwise, your money is much better spent elsewhere.

I have always received excellent quality plants and bulbs and good service. However, this is one of the most expensive mail order companies that I know. I would recommend only ordering hard-to-find plants that are not available at local garden centers.

As a long-time customer, I am poorly impressed. The discernable gardener can easily locate other sources with plants that will outperform those from WFF. The same goes for tools and other non-plant products—better prices and quality easily can be gained elsewhere.

And a last note. Many nurseries, with less pretention (or none at all) but with their own unique eccentricities, produce catalogs that are just as interesting, even when not as well or professionally produced, and whose offers live up to promise.

I ordered from this vendor, a quite large order for a first-time buyer and small garden. Considering the bulbs were quite expensive, I thought there would be instructions about either keeping them cold or planting immediately, etc. Well, there were, but the instructions were found totally at the bottom of the shipment after all bulbs had been removed (which according to the instructions I should have not done at that time). Well, they lived anyway, but none of them were what I ordered. In fact, some of the Eastern lilies were Orientals and not single one was what I had ordered.

I have ordered narcissus and minor bulbs (allium, snowdrops, chinodoxia, etc.) from WFF over the past three years. Their prices are no doubt expensive, but the quality of the bulbs I received has been excellent. The vast majority of narcissus bulbs are double-nosed or larger. I will order from them again, but they are not for bargain shoppers.

I no longer order from this company. They have nice stuff, and their plants ship well, but they're incredibly expensive. They're also less than candid about how plants will do at the edge of their zone, or about plants that are aggressively invasive. I prefer to spend my money with other companies.

Negative, in that w.f.f. could WITH MOST ITEMS supply a stronger and or larger plant for the money. One needs to known that most of their stock must be grown on, and only some will be fit for siting directly in thr gardens. It is rare I order stock from them I can get elsewere. With small "Liner"plants, you can get at least half the varieties from other sources,as well grown and typicaly much better priced. I do buy a B#L tuberous Begonia from them occaisionaly, as I find the B&L strains to do well on the show benches.

I truly am sorry that some have found WFF's plant size to be less than satifactory. I must point out, however, that the size of the plants to be shipped is always clearly given in the catalog and online. If you are purchasing an expensive variety of any selection it would be best to check what size you will receive. If the size given is not consistent with what you feel you have to pay then check out a different source for the same plant online by doing a search, or checking sources within this service. If you are looking for larger sizes of hydrangea check out Hydrangea's Plus for larger established plants.

I have been purchasing plant/bulbs from White Flower Farms for some years now, last shipment in late May 2003.

I went to place my "fall order" and was informed that they no longer ship to Alaska and Hawaii.

There are no regulations (Postal or Agricultural) prohibiting shipment via USPS outside the continental US, just more restrictive packaging.

What bothers me is I usually receive plant materials Fed Ex or UPS and NEVER USPS.

I also noted that their web page has changed. And, why do they "refuse" to ship outside the continental US when I pay the shipment????

Its no longer an inconvenience, its an insult! Why can they continue to do this?

Its too bad, because I liked White Flower Farms.

When I first began ordering from this company 10 years ago, they were top notch! But their product quality has fallen and they no longer send out healthy, viable plants. Their catalog is a wonderfull resource, but recently I have noticed that they have digitally retouched many photos to exaggerate the impact. tsk, tsk. I am very disappointed in them. I still pour over their catalog during the winter months, but will no longer order from them until they return to their former respectable ways of doing business.

I've been ordering from WFF for years, but this is the last time.

I placed a large order for spring, and half arrived smashed (leucothoe) or dead (creeping thyme, azalea and virginia creeper).

Four years ago I bought what I was assured was a tree peony (Rimpo) that is definately a bush peony. At $60.00, it's a lot to pay for a bush.

Sorry WFF, I kept the faith as long as I could.

I ordered 2 perennials this spring and both came good sized and with good roots. Kinda expensive, both worth it if you can't find what you are looking for elsewhere.

In early spring I ordered two macrophyllia blue hydrangeas, because I had never seen them locally. I received 2 very small plants (for a total of $56!), which were both damaged by poor packing (packing tape was placed OVER the leaves, the catalogue was thrown on top, and the stems had broken off). I emailed White Flower Farms and they quickly wrote back that they would send replacements, which they did. These replacement plants were slightly larger than the originals, but still small in my estimation, for the price. I planted both and in the meantime found two more of the same plants at a local nursery; the nursery plants cost the same as White Flower Farm, but were literally 10 times larger! In the meantime, one of the replacement plants died, and the other has only grown 2 leaves in the meantime. The nursery plants, however, are already starting to bloom! I emailed the company again telling them of the dead replacement plant, and they have agreed to refund the purchase price to my credit card. Unlike a lot of people here, I found their customer service representatives very responsive, but the quality of the plants (in relation to the prices charged) rather poor. It's a shame, too, because they have beautiful product. Therefore the neutral rating.

I ordered bulbs from White Flower three years ago. All were big, firm, beautiful bulbs.

Because of a problem with their website, the company mistakenly sent and charged me for two orders, despite the fact that I had instructed the customer service rep to verify that I would only receive one order. I had some hassles getting credit for their mistake, but ultimately, I was very satisfied with the resolution (they let me keep the extra bulbs at no charge).

The catalogue is beautiful. The prices are somewhat high.