The scoop on 'Out of Africa'

Very, very happy with my order - plants exactly as described - well packed - will definitely order again

Careful! I had totally positive experiences with them, ordering multiple times over several years. Until...

Three years ago I received an order of their plants, (all of which were ordered according to pictures on their specimen page), one of them was not the actual plant I had ordered, another one had rot on the bottom, and the third had soft black areas throughout. Naturally, I found this unacceptable, and sent the plants back, emailing them at the same time and telling them the problem and tracking number of the package.

To his/her credit, the owner acknowledged the problem and agreed to either give me a refund (which I REALLY should have took!) or credit. I figured since I would be ordering from them in the future, a credit for a future order would be fine.

WRONG! Later on I tried ordering more plants from them, using the credit. Nothing happened. I tried many times, but I would get no reply from them. This went on for about one year.

Until the summer of 2005, when the owner finally replied and said he would fill an order with my credit (more than $300), and even give me larger plants than I had ordered. I was relieved that it seemed this lengthy ordeal would be over.

WRONG AGAIN! I placed an order and waited to receive my plants. Nothing happened. After repeated emails, and phone calls (only answering machine picked up). Nothing. Absolutely nothing for the last year. I have not been able to get the owner to honor his promise.

So I would advise people to beware of the perils of ordering from Out of Africa!

I have purchased from this company 4 times so far. They are a delight to deal with. The plants arrived quickly and were healthy, happy, and extremely well packed. I especially appreciate the plant tag with the botanical name and info printed on it- I missed the first one because they tape it to the outside of the newspaper they wrap with (I'm sure that's so you do NOT miss it, but I was being clueless)

They have plants that I have never seen anywhere else and are extremely well informed on their favorite subject- exotic African plants.

I have purchased many plants from these folks via eBay this summer (2006). Each is wrapped, in the pot, with TLC; a custom printed plastic popsicle type lable is provided for each; and they arrive via USPS Priority Mail within 2-3 days. Frankly, I don't know where else I could find most of the exotics they offer.

Sure, no matter how much care is lavished on them, some plants travel better than others - or worse - as the case may be. BUT, without exception, I've had no failures, and all have revived nicely after 2-3 days out of the box.

I have received great plants from them. In one case, I didn't realize my greenhouse cooling wasn't working, and one of the plants I received collapsed soon after I got it. I told them, and they immediately offered to replace it. I appreciate this real guarantee, but when I found out why it happened, I told them, and let them off the hook!

They really will stand behind what they send. This is even better than just sending nice plants!

Wayne

I've ordered from Out of Africa once. I ordered an interesting plant that I've never seen anyone else offer. It was very healthy and labeled when I received it. So far, doing well. This nursery has an outstanding selection (especially of caudiciforms).

From the first time I received plants from this company, it instantly became one of four nurserys that I will buy from via mail order and sight unseen. Okay, before the moans, I did not know it at the time, but they had put plants up for auction on eBay and that is where I first discovered them and where I received the first ones. They were packed exceptionally well [best packers so far], received within 2 days of payment, and the plants are unremarkable - I can not believe the quality. Even in shipping, they remained in their pots and unscathed. Each plant is tagged so there is absolutely no confustion as to what is what. This is an A++ company! They offer plants that have been on my wish list for quite awhile and thus, this is how I found them. They had many plants that are rare and hard to come by. I was unprepared for the quality of the plants as I thought they would be, like all others, small in 4" pots, but they were bigger and better than most nurserys offer. While some prices on specimen plants are pricey, the plant prices overall are quite fair. Someone else said it, you only get what you pay for. Will order again from them without reservation - this company is a keeper.

I ordered several plants from this company recently and was very impressed both with the customer service, speed at which i received my plants, and quality of the plants. The quality and size of plants was greater than I expected and the packing and labeling of plants was excellent. They have a lot of hard to find items and I will definately order from them again.

I've ordered from Out of Africa once. I ordered some very interesting plants I've never seen anyone else offer. They were very healthy when I got them and labeled correctly. They're all doing really well. This nursery has an outstanding selection (especially of caudiciforms and Euphorbias) and fair pricing. Some of their very large specimen plants are expensive, but you get what you pay for. Highly recommended.

If you are looking for specimen plants, especially caudiciforms, this is the place. Selection is very nice, and service is very prompt. Prices can be very inflated at times, so know what you are buying. All in all I've always been very impressed with this company.

I ordered from the company in late summer this year and was glad that i did. the plants were and still are in excellent health and their customer service is also excellent.

I just received several plants from this company. All were in excellent condition and a little bigger than expected. The owner delayed shipping because of below freezing temp., but mailed them immediately once the weather permitted. Worth the cost. I'll be ordering again I'm sure.

Since I live within an hour's drive of this business, I cannot comment on the mailorder aspect; I have purchased from them at least a half dozen times, but always at the greenhouse. They feature a huge selection of non-cactus succulents - probably 150 species of Euphorbia, alone -as well as caudiciforms of all shapes and sizes. Their stock are healthy young plants, most propigated on the site by seed or sometimes cuttings. There are also many larger, specimen plants. The owners are knowledgeable and friendly and a pleasure to do business with. I'll be back!