The scoop on 'Arrowhead Alpines'

Company Profile   Arrowhead Alpines Mailing Address: PO Box 857 Fowlerville, Michigan 48836 (United States) Phone: (517) 223-3581 Fax: (517) 223-8750 Visit Arrowhead Alpines at: Arrowhead Alpines in Fowlerville, MI » E-Mail them » Visit their website Recent reviews: Past month Past 6 Months Past 12 Months Positive 0 0 3 Neutral 0 0 0 Negative 0 0 0 This company specializes in: Plants: Alpine/Rock Garden Other helpful information: Accepts retail and wholesale orders

Feedback History and Summary   40 positives 8 neutrals 12 negatives

Comments:

Rating Author Content Positive balberth Sunnyvale, CA (Zone 9a) (18 reviews) May 03, 2009 These people have an amazing catalog that's now online, and when I discovered it over the winter I placed an order for about two dozen plants. Being up in the cold north, they don't ship in the winter, so I had to wait until spring for my plants - they shipped exactly when they said they would, as far as I can tell. The plants arrived in pots and well packed. Most of them filled out the pots very well - almost overgrown. A lot of them do come in 2.5" pots, but many of the plants are naturally small growing. If I was to make one complaint it would be that the nursery containers they use are quite brittle, and I had to repot most of the plants received pretty much immediately because I tore some of the containers when I was unpacking the box. Generally, I felt that the plants were more than worth what I paid for them, and I'd not hesitate to order from Arrowhead again. Positive pollyk Hannibal, NY (Zone 6a) (50 reviews) April 29, 2009 Received my order today from Arrowhead for species irises. The irises were potted, well packed, and in great condition. Very nice. Thank you, Polly @ Siberian Iris Gardens Positive gringo Hampton, VA (2 reviews) March 18, 2009 I purchased two cultivars of Eryngium, as potted plants from this company. Both, notoriously difficult to germinate... Both plants were received in great condition & well packed, so they arrived completely undamaged. They had already started spring growth & appear quite healthy. These are good sized perennials, too. Overall, it was an excellent experience. I was called about an error I made, after entering an incorrect expiration date of the Visa, online. But that was quickly & easily resolved after Bob called me. So I can honestly say, it was great, personal customer service too, instead of some non-human automated response. Thanks Bob & Brigitta! Positive abc55 Grosse Pointe, MI (1 review) July 27, 2008 I was very happy with our recent visit to Arrowhead Alpines for their "Summer Rocks" sale. Even though they outwardly appear to be unfriendly to children, I found that not to be the case at all. We took our four small children and they were having such a great time visiting the tortoise and poking the frog pond that it was hard to get them to leave. Besides all of that, the selection of plants is excellent! The plants, especially the evergreens, were in excellent shape. They really know their stuff. There were tags on 95% of the plants and it was pretty easy to find where things were located. Add to that the friendly and helpful staff and we are going back next year. Positive 6yellowpetals Dayton, OR (4 reviews) April 29, 2008 Last year I ordered many species Narcissus from Arrowhead that are very hard to find in the trade. The order arrived early fall, each bulb was potted individually which I thought a bit odd as I've never received spring blooming bulbs that way, but it was fine w/ me - I always pot or plant bulbs that have not bloomed for me either in separate containers or far apart enough in the ground that I can easily rogue the mis-named ones. So far 75% have bloomed and are correctly named and I am very happy! Really happy! I will order again. (These Narcissus were grown by Arrowhead from seed obtained through the Archibalds- at least most of them were, can't remember now.) Thank you, AA! Neutral ic_conifers Iowa City, IA (Zone 5a) (14 reviews) April 17, 2008 My order arrived today from Arrowhead Alpines. I saw the boxes on the porch this morning and assumed that it was camping supplies my husand ordered, so I left for work and he went to bring the boxes into the house. About four blocks away, he called and said, "It is your order from AA!" (We were both excited waiting for the order.) Hubby took the plants out of the box, took a few teaser pictures that he emailed to me when he got to work, and scanned the packing slip for me. I placed my order in January and did not receive a confirmation. I sent a letter to change one item two weeks after I sent in the order form. I wanted to cancel that item and substitute in another because I did not do enough research on the first item and it probably would not have made it in my zone (5a). In the letter, I also named a few substitutes, which I did not do when I sent in the order form. Again, no confirmation received, but I didn't sweat it. EVERYTHING (14 conifers) that arrived was exactly what I wanted! Hubby did not completely unpack everything, but I suspect it will all be pristene. This company really deserves a better rating and reputation. Specialized professionals are eccentric; that is par for the course. The owners are very busy - they do not have time to send out confirmations of every communication customers send to them. They don't have an email address. I've dealt with many of the "hand-holding" companies and found that most of them have merchandise that cannot hold a flag to what arrived today from Arrowhead Alpines. My qualification is that I ordered only conifers so I cannot attest to other items that they carry. For the future, though, Arrowhead Alpines will be my main source for conifers!!! Thank you Bob and Brigitta!!! On July 11th, 2008, ic_conifers changed the rating from positive to neutral and added the following: Well, I was very excited when my order arrived, but I feel I have to change my rating from positive to neutral after everything that happened since then. One plant died within four days of arrival, all the needles just fell off. Shortly after that, I found a worm/larvae on one conifer - turns out it was infested. A week later, I found evidence on a second that it was also infested and so that one went. One failed to thrive at all, the new growth just shrivelled and the plant started to lose all needles, so I saved myself the misery of watching needle by needle fall off and pulled it. One week after that, another died suddenly. Over the course of two months, I lost about half of the order, around $300 worth of plants. The ones that have made it (and appear fine) were those that were advertised as "older". Only two of the newer grafts survived - thankfully they were the most expensive of my order! I wonder if the shipping time, just as new growth was pushing, had something to do with the high mortality rate. One conifer person suggested the roots systems were to blame. I don't know what happened or why. I do know that I placed orders from two other companies this year and have not lost a single plant from either of those companies. I changed my rating to neutral because the plants that survived are nice and I felt I got a pretty good value on the older plants, which takes away some of the financial zing. Positive nevadagdn Sparks, NV (Zone 7a) (114 reviews) April 04, 2008 I received my order (my very first ever) from Arrowhead Alpines today. Everything is strong and healthy, and I'm quite pleased. In the interests of disclosure, I should point out that I am a hard-core plant nerd, a biologist and a very experienced gardener. I don't think that Arrowhead Alpines is a good supplier for "beginners"; the catalog and the selection of plants just aren't really meant for the Burpee crowd (nothing wrong with Burpee or its clients). Even I found the catalog a little strange in spots, but I'll overlook a whole lot more strangeness than that to get the healthy, difficult-to-find plants I want. The plants came in pots ranging from 2 1/2" to one quart, and the plants appeared to have been in those pots for more than one growing season (none were rootbound or stressed, however). Even the smallest plant was worth what I paid for it. What else could I want from this company? Bigger plants at lower prices, more selection, a free surprise plant or plants, a cute UPS deliveryman, a bar of chocolate with each purchase...in other words--Arrowhead fully met my high expectations, but I figured as long as I'm daydreaming... Positive beauxbeaux Harper Woods, MI (2 reviews) February 25, 2008 Arrowhead Alpines is without a doubt one of the best growers in the country. The diversity of species is perhaps unmatched anywhere. I would say, though, that it is best if you know what you are doing or at least are willing to learn. Over the years, I've asked some "dumb" questions and have been responded to with snappy rejoinders. This only fed my eagerness to gain as much knowledge as possible before asking about "Cotton Easters" again. I appreciate being able to glean information from the people who actually have their fingers in the soil and not just a hired salesperson. I hear the carping about USDA zone info lacking in the catalog. Good for them. I have perhaps 3 different zones in my yard that is considered zone 5. I was able to grow an Amorphophallus konjac outside next to the house last year with no protection, proving that you can create zones or simply find them with a little bit of study. Also, the weather is different every year in Michigan. A year ago, we had a zone 7 winter and perhaps a zone 6 this year, yet the maps remain unchanged from year to year. Bob and Brigitta have always been approachable and willing to share their vast knowledge with me. Even with an enterprise the size of Arrowhead, either of them has always taken time to answer questions and point me in the correct direction. Bob just looks a bit imposing but he is really a nice guy and a gifted plantsman. Brigitta, seemingly as exotic as the plants she sells, is always matter-of-fact and "down to earth" regarding information about a plant in question. These are awesome people and I hold them in high regard. Sure, I have had plants die "been there, killed that" but it was usually my own doing. For instance, the dionysia gravetye requires nearly impossible conditions, but I keep trying. The idea of reducing inventory, put forth in a previous response is ridiculous and so is the guy affronted by the Pink Lady's Slipper. The fact that the plant is being grown means that it also is being conserved. I think there was an idea about "reducing inventory" a few years back in Germany. The plants are always high quality, even when I don't pick them out myself and have them shipped. Anyway, thank you Bob, Brigitta and the gang for providing the best and hardest to find plants at reasonable prices. Positive dbertoncini Mishawaka, IN (1 review) June 12, 2007 Found a plant, Pinus leucodermis 'schmitii' that I couldn't find anywhere else in the country. Came well packed at a fair price and good size for the price. Tree is growing well. Probably the nursery is best for rare and hard to propagate plants. Positive johnboy38 Lansing, MI (1 review) June 11, 2007 What is wrong with the public? A 67% rating for a company that should have a 110%? I have been shopping at Arrowhead Alpines for years. I could wander around that place (and have!) for hours and hours. Greenhouse after greenhouse of healthy, well-cared for plants that you CANNOT find anywhere else. Reasonable prices and fantastic new plants. When I read comments that say they should downsize their catalog and only grow about 1000 plants, I could just explode!!! THEY should downsize because YOU cannot be bothered to educate yourself on the culture of a particular plant. Are you kidding me? All you have to do is ASK them! How about this, since you are on the web anyway, why not just type in the name and click? Google is a powerful tool, my friend. I have a yard full of the most interesting trees, shrubs and perennials that anyone could ask for. This is completely due to Arrowhead Alpines. I have a collection of hellebores that I challenge anyone to beat and a drift of cyclamen that would take your breath away. I've bought too much to list. Let's be clear about one thing here. These folks are passionate about what they do and it shows. I just hate when good people and businesses get a raw deal and that's why I just had to post something. Please give this company a shot. You will not be disappointed. Negative timclarke Canby, OR (1 review) June 07, 2007 Anyone heard of Paxil. This guy is a joke. Please spend your time on anything else. I think he took a little to "much" one of those times. We all know that consistancy is crucial especially when shipping. There are a lot of other places to get those "rare" items. He will eventually put himself out of business. Negative byoho Rock Hill, SC (1 review) June 01, 2007 I enjoy visiting Arrowhead because of the great variety of plants there. But the quality is hit or miss. Just bought three cephalotaxus in gallon pots this spring. But when I planted I saw that two of them had just just been potted up from quart size pots. All three were planted in the same area. The two that had quart size roots began to die immediately. The third is looking beautiful. Arrowhead had a no refund rule. In fact if you read their catalog, it basically tells you to bugger off if you have any complaints. I called them about my cephalotaxus, but they didn't make an exception for me. I had a similar bad experience with a serbian spruce in 2005. I will continue to visit arrowhead. But if I purchase anything, it will be a low cost item that is not going to be a major feature in my yard. Positive judith Clarksville United States (3 reviews) April 26, 2007 My best friend gave me gift certificates to two nurseries for Trillium. I chose Arrowhead Alpines and Paul Christian Rare Plants for the particular plants I needed. Both orders arrived and both sets of plants looked good. The big difference was that the AA plants bloomed! When one, a picotee sulcatum broomed out a gorgeous purple red instead of picotee I photographed the plant and send a copy to the webmaster with a note. I did not complain, since I also own a nursery and I know all too well that in the Spring Rush S**t Happens. In a very short time a packaged arrived, a pot containing an absolutely lovely blooming picotee Trillium sulcatum. Thank you Arrowhead Alpines for excellent service. Judith Knott Tyler Negative thecollector Farmville, VA (3 reviews) April 18, 2007 I hate to be negative about anyone, especially a nursery that offers so much that is unavailable elsewhere. And, despite my bad experience, I do continue to order from Arrowhead year after year. They have stuff you just can't get elsewhere and there is always something new. But that said.....One of my complaints is the highly unpredictable quality of plants recieved. For example, in last year's order I got several ferns that were incredibly large and robust plants for the price. But some of the most expensive items were disappointingly small and weak. For the price charged, they might have kept the plants for another year or two and grown them on to a viable size; then charged even more and gotten customer satisfaction. These small plants were often ridiculously overpotted and had spilled out of the pots along with plenty of partly composted bark in shipment. One plant in particular, which cost over $40 and was advertised in the catalog as "very large" and having 10-25 growing eyes, arrived in a 4" pot and careful exploration revealed only 5 viable growing points. I thought I should call about that one. Well, I was treated with extreme rudeness by the owner, which, reading the catalog, I should have expected. The acid remarks in the catalog regarding "stupid" customers and heaping scorn on those who dare to shop at Arrowhead telegraphs the attitude. I was astonished to read the comments by visitors to the nursery and others who have talked to this "Bob" person on the phone. He sounds as if he has rather serious mood swings. Finally, the catalog. Some of the "descriptions" of plants are entirely uninformative. The attempts at humor are nearly always lame and often offensive. I've written articles for gardening magazines reviewing catalogs, and the Arrowhead catalog scores very low on all counts. But "Bob" is obviously very proud of his efforts. We could put the blame on Tony Avent, the originator of the wise-guy catalog, but Tony is actually a nice fellow, who, running a much bigger operation than "Bob," always has time to be courteous to his customers. So the bottom line is--this place is only for advanced gardeners who have a high tolerance for truly awful customer service. Positive Chills Saint Clair Shores, MI (Zone 6b) (17 reviews) April 15, 2007 I went to the nursery this weekend and it was everything I expected. The selection was nothing short of phenominal and everything looked healthy and well tended. I met the owner and his wife and they were gracious and genuinely interested in making sure my visit was worthwhile and productive. I would recommend waiting until their shipping season is over, and the weather warms up a little as there is too much to completely explore when you are being rushed along by numbing fingers and toes. I will be making another drive out later in the season and I can't wait to see how the nursery changes once they have put out all the material they keep in production areas while they fill all mail orders. ~Chills Positive declfi Fenton, MO (Zone 6b) (29 reviews) March 18, 2007 Great Service and fast shipping/ No Problems Neutral thistlepunk East Lansing, MI (3 reviews) July 03, 2006 I live nearby, relatively speaking, and was quite excited to visit. The selection of rock garden type plants is quite excellent, the rest is good for an independent nursery. A man who seemed to work there, possibly, was quite belligerent, and yelled and scowled a lot. Eventually he started yelling at me from some distance away, I cannot imagine why, and I hesitated to take my plant to the register. Happily, a friendly woman took over the register, but I still left a bit disconcerted and have yet to return. Positive oncoiris Jackson, MI (1 review) May 22, 2006 My wife affectionately calls me a 'plant geek'. This plant geek is here to tell the world that Arrowhead Alpines is a place like no other. I've benefitted so much from Bob & Brigetta's knowledge of plants I don't know where to begin and have nothing but praise for them. I've bought both from the catalog and from the greenhouse bench and have NEVER been disappointed. If you are ever in the area stop in and see for yourself. There's always something unique or 'cool' that will catch your eye. U might even get a chance to talk to a certifiable 'plant geek'. Cheers Positive imacgreg South Monroe, MI (2 reviews) April 28, 2006 Mail-ordered for the first time after visiting the nursery in person several times in the last few years and always coming away with something unusual and interesting. The plants were carefully packaged and arrived in great shape. Unmatched scope of offerings and refreshingly iconoclastic approach to conventional gardening wisdom. Positive patlutal Ypsilanti, MI (1 review) January 19, 2006 I have been a customer of Arrowhead Alpines for over 6 years. I have to say that I have nothing but respect for Bob and Brigetta. They have far more knowledge about plants than I will ever have and it is great socializing with a business that doesn't tell me I can't grow something. I suffer from zone denial and I really need to try things for myself. I have always appreciated the candor about plants and the "learning" aspect of frequenting their nursery. While some are intimidated when visiting, if you share a true interest beyond the plants you find at Lowe's, Walmart, HD or that other 'Mart, this is the place to visit. I am familiar with their mail order plants and know that the small plants that are sent have the biggest and healthiest roots I have ever seen. I also know all of their stock to be exceptionally healthy. I can say that I have bought more than my fair share of plants at Arrowhead and they never disappoint. I am not talking about $100 a Spring, I am at multiple thousands per year and never disappointed. I have met other plantsmen over the years visiting Arrowhead and it is a lifestyle. Join the club it is fun to socialize; share experiences on plants; and really get to know your hobby. This is all possible at Arrowhead. For those that have had a bad experience I would say try it again. I have been at the nursery when it is 90+ degrees or -15 degrees and I don't smile much than either. I have a respect for people's business, gardens and plants much like my own home...they will never disappoint if you do the same. They have the largest collection of perennials, bulbs, shrubs, trees and conifers that I have ever seen in one place. I also get to find my less hardy interests such as camelias, rare magnolias, exotic vines, carnivorous plants, and the asiatic counterparts to our natives. I either croak them or feel sorry for them and put them in my greenhouse. Yes Bob gets a little miffed at me if I deliberately try something that he has told me won't live outside. While you won't get a zone rating they will tell you if they think it will survive outdoors and show you an example in their own garden if you are from Mossouri and need to verify the hardiness. I like having those choices in MI and that is rare at most nurseries. Relax a little with them and they will show you plants you have never seen. It is worth the trip out to their ever growing collection. Don't be afraid to bring some bagels, snacks or fire up a BBQ with them. It goes a long way. Positive BonsaiMike Lansing, MI (1 review) July 30, 2005 For me, Arrowhead Alpines is a short 20 minute drive on a freeway, so I have no experience with mail order and only on rare occasions have I ever purchased plants via the mail. Visiting this nursery is a real treat and while I know that some do not have this luxury Arrowhead Alpines should definitley not be overlooked for that special plant whether you visit or need to mail order. That being said, my experiences with Arrowhead Alpines over the past 4 years have been incredibly positive. I am usually on the hunt for the rare and unusual to satisfy my 'chorophyll addiction' and Arrowhead is one of the very few places where I can get my "fix". Bob and Brigitta, the owners, have been very helpful and necessarily so because as many have said their selection is vast. Without the combination of their knowledge, books and the Internet, the novice might be easily overwhelmed at a place like Arrowhead. It is not for the average beginner and the phrase "caveat emptor" should be everyone's mantra rather than a tool to shed personal responsibility and cast blame. My plant education has expanded exponentially since going to Arrowhead. I have acquired plants that have challenged me and rewarded me beyond anything that I could have purchased at most other nurseries. Have plants died? Of course, but the cause has always been the result of mismanagement on my part. Mid-Michigan is a difficult place to grow many things. Hot summers and often times extremely cold winters challenge even the most hardy of plants. I regularly ask for the advice of the Arrowhead Alpines owners regarding plant selection, but ultimately its up to me what I purchase. What can I say? I prefer the exotic and rare and I'm willing to experiment. Arrowhead Alpines is one of the few places I can satisfy that preference. One final word, if you are looking for the average "stuff" you can find it also at Arrowhead and from what I've seen it is big and healthy! Neutral dave12122 East Haddam, CT (39 reviews) July 08, 2005 Arrowhead Alpines is somewhat of an enigma to me. I think the basic problem is if you take most genera, there are only a few really representative species/good doers; the rest may be of horticultural interest only or similar to the representative species. Draba, Acantholimon, and many bulbous genera come to mind immediately. However, Arrowhead basically lists everything, never mind if it's a poor grower, undistinguished, or just like another species listed. This is especially true of the minor bulb section, where many of the offerings are not on the general market for a good reason... they are weak growers, not hardy in the north, or otherwise unsatisfactory. Speaking of hardiness, zones are not listed, which weakens the catalogue and just reinforces the fact that the plants are grown in cool greenhouses, and thus may acclimate poorly to the garden. Most of the South African material is very dubiously hardy in an eastern zone 5-7, and there are even a few houseplants thrown in!! Heat hardiness is extremely important as well, and this topic is rarely broached. Arrowhead seems to believe if it's rare/rarely offered/monotypic it has to be good. Well, that is simply not true. Many rare plants are about as boring as watching paint dry...at least Arrowhead is honest about its "monotype fetish". I don't know what is so fascinating about a monotypic species myself, but there are certainly remote ones here for the taking, again never mind if they are any good. From my last order, Ipomea leptophylla promptly shriveled up (cool winds of May? it was grown in a greenhouse!), Indigofera pendula fried in the first minor dry spell (usually Indigoferas don't need a whole lot of water!) and Dionysia aretoides "Gravetye" browned up on a freak 98 degree day in June. I'm not saying that any of this is directly Arrowhead's fault, just pointing out how difficult it is to reestablish plants that have been grown "soft" in greenhouses. Certainly Arrowhead is not the only nursery to do this, but it is hard to make informed, intelligent decisions about plants when they haven't been truly hardiness tested. The species lilies they sent, by the way, were the smallest I've ever seen...no exaggeration to say they were about an inch high. Two of the stems had broken off at the base due to a large, heavy Yucca baccata being placed directly on top of them. In all fairness, these were replaced in my next order, with a note saying the broken ones would regenerate from the root. (guess what...they haven't) Even the new lilies are in suspended animation, and recently have begun to yellow, getting to a grand height of 2 inches their first year. I have no problem when seedling lily bulbs are offered, IF they are marked as such. The particularly lilies I ordered were quite expensive, and for the price I paid I would expect well established, blooming sized bulbs. What was sent to me wasn't even close to blooming size, and my guess is will take a few years to bloom...we shall see. I think I would respect Arrowhead Alpines so much more if they utilized the "three year rule" before selling any plant....three years in the open garden with no protection or pampering in a cool greenhouse to see if the offering is a good doer or a weak species/hybrid not worth growing. I don't think it's asking too much to request that a nursery do its homework, rather than let the buyer "experiment" at his own cost. Look at the horticultural disasters that have infiltrated the market in the last 10 years...Coreopsis "Limerock Ruby", advertised as hardy to zone 5 yet a zone 7b plant!, Delosperma floribunda "Starburst", totally intolerant of a cold, wet, winter, yet incredulously advertised as hardy to zone 4! Arrowhead's catalogue contains a lot of weak growers, including many Saxifragas that would never in a million years do well in anything but a cool shady greenhouse with a lot of misting. If you have such a setting, go for it, but to try those very same Saxifragas in the "open garden" is tantamount to putting them directly on the compost pile. And so it is with rare Daphnes, some hardy orchids, etc. They are extremely fussy and have very exacting cultural requirements. Arrowhead would emerge as a much stronger nursery if they would pare down their offerings to AT MOST 1,000 species and get away from the "if it has chlorophyll we'll list it" mentality. More is certainly not better in the plant world, and the more you garden, the quicker you realize how few species are really fabulous/unique/worth growing. One would have thought that basic fact would have dawned on Arrowhead by now, but watch, next year's catalogue will have even more species to tempt the unsuspecting with...Caveat Empator! On March 30th, 2008, dave12122 added the following: I just placed a recent order with Arrowhead, hoping they have improved since my last order. Alas, my extensive earier comments have been further substantiated to such a degree I feel compelled to give a new report. I ordered three forms of Cyclamen coum which the catalog descriptions were quick to point out were indeed quite different. What I received were two forms that were wholly indistinguishable, even to a Cyclamen expert, and a third that was a smidgin different (more green in the center of the leaf). Here, Arrowhead only needed to list one form...the other two would probably only be of interest to that hapless collector that has to have everything. And one could go through just about any genus listed and "slim down the pickins' with ease. Most of the Acantholimons listed are extremely close, being spiny cushions with pink flowers, the Primula allionis are virually indistinguishable when not in flower, and even the flowers on some hybrids are extremely close, etc.etc. The color of the plants was that "greenhouse green", specimens that have obviously been grown in a soft, overfertilized manner. The soil appeared extremely rich and was entirely unsuitable for the Lewisia rediviva they sent, which only grows in sand beds in the East. The plants were very "ahead" of where they would be in the open ground, so it is going to be a real chore to acclimate them. Some may never recover from the shock of wind, rain, dew, and frost, in other words, the real world. In one case, a Roscoea humeana (?spelling), two of the dormant roots had rotted away and needed to be seperated from healthy tissue. Who knows if it will grow or not...time will tell. I think any intelligent person gets the idea. Arrowhead lists far too many species that are similar to others, probably in an effort to get the die hard collector type to spend more money, gives the plants a very cushy life in a cool greenhouse, and practices very poor quality control. The person who wrote "the quality of Arrowheads offering is inconsistent" has my considerable respect, certainly more than a nursery that just wants to amass a laundry list of offerings, many of which are of dubious quality and poor doers in many gardens. Positive hottubguys Ferndale, MI (1 review) May 24, 2005 We have been going to Arrowhead Alpines for a few years now. It's an hour drive, so we obviously consider it well-worth while. They are one of the premier nurseries in the country-and we've been to several. The plants are always healthy, and well worth the money. It's not a typical nursery, because they don't sell typical plants. We always take the catalog and an encyclopedia, because we always encounter something new and exciting that we want to reference. We consider ourselves accomplished gardeners {by no means experts} but we have a broad enough knowledge to know the good stuff when we see it. We have always found the service the same as anywhere else of quality---if you are polite, you get treated politely. We look forward to our trips, and our only complaint is that we don't live closer to visit more often. Positive dangbert Hartville, OH (2 reviews) May 11, 2005 I visited arrowhead alpines in early may 2005. The first thing I saw was the staging area for their mail order plants. They all looked first rate - alive, blooming, and healthy. I wish all the plants I get via mail order looked that good! The staff was attentive and friendly (even the nursery cats, they ride along with you in your cart!), they made numerous trips getting plants for me that hadn't been put outside yet. The owners were friendly, real people. They are incredibly knowledgeable and readily answered all my questions. This nursery is amazing, but not necessarily for the novice. If you're looking for generic perennials, you might want to try someplace like Lowe's. Arrowhead offers a huge variety of specialty plants from all over the world that aren't available ANYWHERE else. It's like a horticultural candy store! Was it worth the four hour trip there? YOU BET! I'll be back. Positive pacegardens Clio, MI (Zone 5a) (1 review) April 21, 2005 I went to Arrowhead Alpines today and spent a large amount of money. Both Bob and Brigitta were very helpful and more than happy to answer any questions I had about the plants I was looking for and/or buying. Their Nursery is layed out in multiple greenhouses that are full of healthy, well established plants potted in the typical 3, 4, and 6 inch pots as well as one gallon and larger continers for the larger trees and shrubs. When I was there I had four different people ask me if I was finding everything I was looking for. I wanted a Polygonatum "Passion Purple" which was in their propagation houses (off limits to the general public), Brigitta wasted no time in retrieving the plant for me. This is not the nursery for you if you are looking for a Petunia or Marigold, but if you are looking for the unusual, hard-to-find, or even a truly rare plant, this is the place to go. I have been buying plants from this nursery for six years and have never lost a plant purchased from them. I would gladly recommend Arrowhead Alpines to any experienced gardener who is serious about what the grow. Negative chilepepper99 (2 reviews) April 21, 2005 I live in the general area of their nursery, so I thought I would stop by an take a look around. Boy what a waste of time. They have a great selection and their nursery is beautiful, but they really, really need to work on their customer service. I wandered around for about a half hour and was totally ignored by everyone that worked there. When I did finally find someone and asked a question, they were extremely rude and treated me like I was more of a bother than anything else. One other thing; You had better know the scientific name of whatever you are looking for, because there are no common names on anything. Now I consider myself to be fairly knowledgeable about perennials (no expert by any means) but I probably couldn't tell you the scientific name of anything in my garden. I won't be going back this summer. There are better and nicer nurseries in the area that are more than happy to answer my questions and help me out. I'll be spending my money at those other nuseries instead of Arrowhead Alpines. Negative bostonbound Boxford, MA (2 reviews) April 18, 2005 Owner arrogantly refuses to give any useful hardiness and cultural information. I feel he is confortable that most plants he sells will never survive a year. 30+% of plants die immediately; because they are too small and weak to survive in the outdoors. $8.00 for a lily seedling in a styrofoam cup with a 1 1/2 inch leaf?? It would be wise to avoid ANY seller selling Pink Lady Slipper (C. acaule); as doing so indicates contempt for the enviornment and high contempt for the customers. On the other hand some of his plants are viable and can't readily be found elsewhere. So if there is something you can't get elsewhere and you really want to, take a chance with this seller . . .for just a few things He *is* arrogant, just read his comments in the catalog Negative seedpicker_TX (Taylor) Plano, TX (Zone 8a) (4 reviews) March 25, 2005 Great selection of plants, but received only part of my large online order. I was charged for the entire order. When I called and pointed out their mistake and requested my credit card be refunded for the out of stock item, I was told I was interrupting his coffee break!!!!!! and to call back later!!! How rude! I DID call back later. Several times, in fact, and he just kept saying he'd "get to it later", and later never came. He was rude and still owes me a plant...the nerve... -T Positive Rachip Wheaton, IL (2 reviews) January 28, 2005 Have ordered twice in the last two years. Great variety and I have been disappointed on only a couple of plants (too small for $24 Calycanthus). The one thing that bothered me was I did not notice that there is a volume discount which I did not take when filling out the order form. They completed the order without telling me I overcharged myself. My mistake but I bet there are other places that would have corrected my total. Positive Kevin_5 Elburn, IL (Zone 5a) (5 reviews) January 27, 2005 I have ordered from Arrowhead several times over the years. The order process takes some time as you must do your research on the rarities in the catalog, but it's well worth it. I have found the owner extremely helpful on the phone, and more than willing to share what he knows about the plants he sells. I am working on this year's order at this very moment. Positive bogman Cleveland, OH (2 reviews) October 15, 2004 I've ordered from Arrowhead on several occasions. At times their plants are small, but I expect that from a (predominantly) mail order business especially one that offers as many different species as arrowhead does. The plants have always come in healthy and ready for the garden. I've also on occasion spoken with Bob who answered my questions politely and patiently. I look forward to their catalog each year so I can pour over the entries AND read the comments they can be a scream! One of these days I'm gonna have to get up there to visit the nursery (it's 2 1/2 hours one way) They get a big thumbs up from me! Positive alwaysplanting Northville, MI (2 reviews) October 14, 2004 I made several trips to Arrowhead this summer. I loved their selection, and enjoyed wandering through the greenhouses and gardens. Bob and Briggita were exceptionally helpful and nice, and I came home with some wonderful and unique additions to the garden. Negative Wings Newport, MI (1 review) September 25, 2004 I had placed an order with Arrowhead Alpines and received a partial shipment and billed accordingly. Then, on September 12, 2001 I received a HUGE shipment of what I thought I'd never receive because no mention of it was made with the shipment I received in May. A direct withdrawal from by bank account was made. I called the company and told the man who answered the phone that I had not been expecting this shipment and didn't want it, I had wanted it in May with the others to complete my landscaping. Since I didn't get them then, I purchased them somewhere else. He said to me, "What do you think I am, some kind of mind reader? I'm supposed to know that you didn't want them?" Mind you, this was the DAY AFTER 9/11 and everyone ELSE on the planet (everyone but HIM and the TERRORISTS) were being extra nice to people. I took a breath and decided to be nice to him, perhaps he hadn't heard of the World Trade Center, etc. incident. He told me that I had 48 hours from the time he shipped them to return these items. Well, I think it took at least 48 hours to deliver them! I decided that I did not want to deal with him ever again. I've just received a 15% off notice and though it's tempting, I STILL would rather not deal with him. Especially after having read that it wasn't an isolated incident or he was just having a bad day. I was taking care of my neighbor's farm and animals because the day before he received a call that his brother, a pilot, was killed and flown into the World Trade Center. He had to drive to Massachusettes hauling a trailer because it was harvest time at his brother's 150 acre farm there. And now I'm talking to a JERK who, compared to a lot of people THAT day, had no reason to be so! IT IS a good idea to keep this guy in the house and OFF the phone. This alone would raise sales and customer satisfaction for the company. Positive redwing48910 Lansing, MI (4 reviews) June 23, 2004 i have been to arrowhead 3 times in the past month. my wife and i have purchased over $200 worth of plants in these trips. i have just returned from buying more plants today and had the opportunity to meet the owner. after reading some of the negative comments, i was a little reluctant about meeting Bob, but i have to say that he was very helpful. i could not locate some plants in the nursery, so he immediately went and personally gathered them up for me, he asked if he could assist further, and rang my sale up. i have never had a bad experience there, and all employees have offered assistance. the plants seem reasonably priced, and all have been grown well and are doing fine. i will return often and do reccommend them- also, i find the catalog to be helpful(and funny). Neutral DanickiThom (1 review) May 04, 2004 I have visited their location & bought plants there at least twice over several years. These visits followed review of their extensive catalog and were quite frustrating, as I feel their operation is primarily set up for mail order business, not in-person visits. While they are quite accomplished growers, I would not say people skills are Bob's forte. This place is most suited to the educated buyer who already knows the specifics about the particular plants she is interested in purchasing & deals with the company by mail. If you need company personnel to hold your hand while shopping for plants, you'd better go elsewhere or you'll very likely be disappointed. Positive bendrl Oakland, CA (9 reviews) April 08, 2004 Ordered 6 Thuja Occ. (Bowling ball), and a couple of other conifers. I received the order fairly quickly, and the packaging was good. The size of the Thuja Occ was a bit smaller than expected, but the roots were fine. The other 2 conifers were in good shape. Overall a good experience. Positive m20361 Fayetteville, NC (3 reviews) January 26, 2004 Excellent specialist nursery. Incredible selection, with many rare, challenging offerings not available elsewhere. Probably NOT a good choice for the beginner gardener, as the catalog assumes the reader has a certain amount of knowledge (which is okay in my book). Plants are often small (usually because they're small plants!), and many require special care to re-establish. Still, an amazing nursery and one of my absolute favorites. Neutral davidrt28 Columbia, MD (Zone 7a) (5 reviews) October 31, 2003 They have a mind boggling selection. Generally the quality of the plants is average-to-good for mail order. In a couple cases though, I received plants they were way to small to ship. Once I carefully prodded around in the pot to be sure, and is was obvious that what had been sent out was a seedling that could not have been more than a few months old. It needed another year on the bench. The straw that finally broke this camel's back, however was ordering the long-sought Clematis X texensis 'Gravetye Beauty' which should be red, and getting a mislabeled pink variety, probably the more common Etoile Rose. Since they can't be emailed, and are hard to reach on their non-toll free number, it's just not worth the hassle of trying to arrange a replacement. In the future I will only order from this nursery if they have something I absolutely can't imagine finding somewhere else or being able to propagate myself. Positive kobeive23 (2 reviews) May 23, 2003 I live only 30 minutes from Arrowhead Alpines and heard about it through H and H Botanicals owner John Hargrove. I have bought several plants from this nursery and have always been happy with the results. If you know anything about the plants and how rare they are, the sizes they offer are rather LARGE. I have never had a bad encounter with the owners mainly because I respect all of their rules, don't bombard them with useless questions that could easily be answered with a little investigation of my own, and by not getting easily offended by their jokes. You can't go to someone who knows nothing about you, tell them you would like to see your native plants, and expect him to compile a monsterous list of plants for you. The fact is, he doesn't know whether you are from just down the street or if you live in Arizona. I joke around with Bob and Brigetta and they have treated me fine. They have an amazing variety of plants most of which are very healthy. SHOP HERE ITS WORTH IT! Negative LauraJ Northville, MI (9 reviews) February 20, 2003 I live in southeastern Michigan and saw an ad for Arrowhead Alpines in the local paper in spring '02. I was impressed by the list of plants and noted that the ad mentioned native plants specifically, so off I headed to Fowlerville (1 1/2 hours round-trip) to look for some native plants that are on my list. I shopped around the impressive displays for a while, then sought out the fellow that was hanging around the cash register. I guess I asked a stupid question -- "I'm interested in native plants, wonder if you have them in any particular place, can you direct me?" and was met with this reply: "Native to what? This area? Michigan? The U.S.? The world?" Well I should have left right there, but I showed him a list of things I was interested in anyway (mostly berry shrubs). He declared that he didn't have anything on my list ("Jerusalem artichoke? we have that growing on the property but we certainly don't sell it"). Again, I should have left, but I'm persistent, and I looked around a little more, found some maidenhair ferns, and took them to the cash register. Well this fellow literally ignored me for 15 minutes while he poked around nearby watering some things. When he finally sauntered over to let me pay, he was terribly rude (again) and shortchanged me ("don't carry change for a $20"). What a jerk!

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