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I have ordered two different seasons from Raintree. Both times the transaction was easy, and healthy well sized plants were sent at the proper planting time. I'll definitely order from them again.
On Jul 8, 2009, sunnynparadise Tacoma, WA (Zone 8b) wrote:
I have done business with Raintree for years and consider them the reason why I am so interested in edible landscaping. I have never had a problem with the plant material either mailed to me or picked up at the nursery. I have failed to water plants as much as they needed and the one time a plant mysteriously died it was replaced. They also have awesome events during the year especially the cider squeeze. Sam Benowitz the owner is very environmentally concious and the nursery is in an amazingly gorgeous area. I recently purchased blueberries from an out of state orchard and it was a dismal failure. I did this because Raintree was sold out of the variety I wanted. I will not do that again. (Willis Orchards - Dismal Experience) I give Raintree and staff 5 stars!
My experience with Raintree has been very positive. This year (2009) I ordered 4 fruit trees (peach, red tart cherry, 3 in one plum, apricot) and a gooseberry bush. I received everything I ordered. They also shipped when promised. All trees/shrubs are doing great! Several years ago I ordered a serviceberry and it too is growing fine. I just placed an order for a lemon and lime tree. Also, their selection of fruit trees and fruiting shrubs is excellent.
On May 22, 2009, RemyO Tonawanda, NY (Zone 6b) wrote:
I pre-ordered a 4 in 1 Asian pear tree late last year since I know these types of items tend to run out from companies. At the time they offered a free item with any order over some dollar amount for ordering early, and I qualified. So I picked a cranberry viburnum.
This spring they shipped the week I specified and sent an email reminder to me. The pear tree looks great. The trunk is wider in diameter than I expected and all the grafts look good. The viburnum was a big surprise. I was expecting a little twig. I got a nice shrub! It is at least 2 1/2' tall planted and is going to look really good very fast.
On Apr 24, 2009, vossner Richmond, TX (Zone 9a) wrote:
I was a little hesitant about ordering as 20% of feedback left was negative, but I went ahead an ordered anyway.
My fig was taller than I expected, shipped promptly and when I asked to speak w/ the horticulturist before placing my order, I was promptly connected. Order taker and horticulturist were helpful and polite.
Many of their prices are lower than some of the prices on fruit trees I could get locally. I have saved their catalog and it will be required reading next winter when I plan my fruit tree purchases. Will not hesitate to buy from this company in the future.
My original order with Raintree took place last year, spring of 2008. I placed an order with them because they had an exellent selection of hard-to-find edibles, particularly Alpine strawberries, of which I ordered a whole case of 18, in order
to recieve the quantity discount. ($100 seems rather costly for only 18 strawberry plants, but believe me, they are worth it.)
The majority of my order was very satisfactory, and arrived in exellent condition......the one exception was the case of Alpine strawberries. They had been overwatered and tightly sealed in plastic, with predictable results: The plants were steamed to death in the bags.
I notified Raintree right away, and they agreed to replace my strawberries the following spring, (2009.)
The replacement plants arrived today, looking as if I had picked them up at a local nursery! The trip from Washington state to Tennessee is a long one, and I am quite pleased. They did not even charge me for the shipping. After the mixed results last year, I am now confident to give Raintree a positive rating.
On Apr 11, 2009, MigratoryMargie Caballo, NM wrote:
Raintree was the only place I could find that had the fig I wanted, Violette de Bordeaux. I also ordered an Eversweet pomegranate. Both were very well packaged, arrived in excellent condition and had lots of roots. I agree with other user comments that the company could be more prompt about emailing the status of your order but I am happy with the plants and would order from them again.
On Mar 25, 2009, goatster Pine Mt, GA (Zone 7b) wrote:
My very first order from them just arrived. 3 Sunshine Blueberries. The plants are larger than expected and look healthy. I have no complaints with shipping, plants or service.
Ordered a Rosa Rugosa Alba. Just received it yesterday, was totally amazed at the size of the rose bush and the very healthy roots on it. The bush is 3 feet tall, and very strong looking. Arrived in perfect timing for spring planting in my area. Just perfect, can't wait for my first rose hips tea :-)
Raintree ROCKS! I'm impressed with the appearance of everything we got. Ordered from several different nurseries last year and Raintree's plants were packaged carefully, labeled, and trees were ready to bud soon after planting. Great selection of unusual edibles, good information and support too. We're doing a huge orer this year.
A few years back, I ordered some roses and maples and pea shrubs. They all made it except for one vine maple that was constantly pruned by a neighborhood seven year old who used to try to hurdle a six foot bed regularly. I figured this was no place, even for a maple, so I gave the vine maple away to a friend. It's been almost ten years and the vine maple is doing great as a specimen plant with great long lasting color in the fall. I encourage anyone who is interested in vine maple's to plant them out in the open rather then up against a wall, although they do well as an understory. This almost sounds like a plant review so I will get on with it.
The Pea Shrubs are doing well.
The roses were the Frau Damar Hastrip Rose. These are incredible as well. They are fast growing and make a nice hedge or barrier. I hedged them out and they can be controlled with not much labor. They resist most everything. They have a nice flowering period and the hips are long lasting. They really bring the bees in !
I ordered 4 grafted paw paws from Raintree. I received them as promised with good packaging. The trees look healthy and have been planted for about 3 weeks and are even trying to put on some new leaves. I exchanged some emails prior to ordering with their customer service department. It took a few days to get an initial response, but follow ups were quick.
I have ordered from this company a couple of times and been extremely happy. I purchased blueberry bushes, raspberries, and blackberries during the past 4 to 6 years. All the plants grew vigorously and were very healthy. The postman had banged them up some, but the plants were hardy and weren't fazed by it. I was even sent a couple extra raspberry and blackberry plants with my order. I will continue to order from them.
On Jul 31, 2008, pagosagarden Pagosa Springs, CO wrote:
I ordered three semi-dwarf apple trees from Raintree in 2007. When the trees arrived I was pleased with the care taken to package them for shipment. I planted them the next day and was happy. Unfortunately one of the trees, a Liberty apple did not survive. I e-mailed Raintree July 2007 with a request for a replacement tree. I recieved a prompt response from them telling me I would recieve a replacement tree next spring. I recieved a new Liberty apple tree this spring as no cost. I planted it the day it arrived. The tree has already grown 8 inches since I put it in the ground. My other two apple trees are also growing faster than I expected. Thank You Raintree for your excellent products, and customer service.
I have ordered from Raintree the last 4 yrs(approx. 50-60 various fruit trees) While I had sev. trees die in 2007 it was due to the severe dry spell we had from early June until Sept. and not the fault of the nursery stock. Everything I have rec'd. from Raintree has been healthy, strong, and well formed. I will order fruit trees from no other company.
Ordered sweet cherry tree on gisela rootstock and a dwarf apple tree. Both of them arrived on time, well packed, and in excellent condition. Both trees are doing wel.. The tree and plant selection they have is excellent, and cannot be beat by the local nursery. Got 25 tristar bare root strawberries as bonus with order, and they are just producing great strawberries (though not as sweet as I would have liked)
I have ordered from Raintree several times over the past 2 years. I've also had a relative pick up several large orders from them. They have always been polite and helpful. They were willing to work with me regarding ship date, which had to be very specific. The plants arrived in good shape. I've had a couple that didn't make it (empress tree, walnut tree), but it easily could have been the environment they were planted in. I appreciate that they carry many different types of blueberries and huckleberries.
I've been ordering from Raintree for many years. Not every plant has been perfect, especially late in the season when supplies dwindle, but overall they've been one of the very best companies that I've dealt with.
This year I ordered multiple plants of several raspberry varieties and a mountain huckleberry, and they had terrific root systems and thick stems.
I've always found their customer reps. to be courteous and helpful. Sorry to read of other folks bad experiences. I've dealt with many mail order plant companies and over time, I've received the occasional less than perfect plant from all of them. I've found Raintree and Stark to be among the best.
I am very pleased with my first order from them. Received a nice sized comice pear, still dormant. Packaging was good and bare roots were kept safely inside a plastic bag filled with moist, shredded newspaper. I will definitely order from them again.
On Apr 27, 2008, CMoxon Urbandale, IA (Zone 5a) wrote:
This was my first order from Raintree. I purchased several currants and gooseberry bushes. They arrived in excellent condition. A couple of the currants were already leafing out a little bit. They had good roots and were a nice diameter at the base of the plants. The packaging was very good - a nice triangular shaped box and packaged such that they would not shake around inside it. They came in damp shredded paper wrapped around the roots, and then bagged. The plants have been in the ground for a week or so now and are all looking well. I am very pleased with the plants I ordered and would order from Raintree again in future.
I ordered from them 3 times. All the plants were very well packed, healthy and all have budded out. The blueberries I ordered in January are in the ground and are covered with berries. Other blueberries that I ordered from a different nursery are just twigs with buds and little leaves on them.
The arona bush has put on 6" of growth already. The black mulberry was forming fruit a week after I got it as a 10" stick.
Very satisfied indeed. I especially like them shipping UPS which treats its drivers well, pays benefits etc. Other nurseries use Fedex which pulls the "independent contractor", you buy your own truck, insurance, take all the risks" number on them.
Fiji water, isn't that owned by Resnick, the guy that's going to spray the entire Bay Area?
On Apr 18, 2008, ceresone Willow Springs, MO wrote:
At this time, only a month into planting, I dont know how my fruit trees will grow, but the shipping was excellent, (worth the high priced shipping) Trees were tall, sturdy, leaved out upon planting, and service, when I called was excellent. Never have I seen such nice trees!
Only downside is that I cant afford to send another order THIS spring.
On Apr 9, 2008, ByndeweedBeth scio, oregon, OR (Zone 8a) wrote:
I just got a large order of lingonberries and they arrived in great packaging and looked good. They web site said they wouldn't be shipped until the right planting time so I didn't expect them immediately. They didn't charge my CC until the time they shipped and their communication was good.
Well, where to start! I have had excellent quality from this nursery in the past few years I have been ordering! They were always well packed and the plants were always there in all of their glory.
I have had a few failures in the past, but after careful consideration I decided that it was my own fault. Of course when I stated it to the customer rep on the phone last year, they simply replaced it! Amazing! I could not believe the luck!
What really took the cake was the weekend that I had come down to pick up my plants. I had come into the store, talked to mia behind the counter about some plants and she directed me to Theresa. There she answered all of my questions and I made my order.
All in all in all I love Raintree to pieces and would recommend this company to everyone....In fact, I do!
On Feb 7, 2008, kathy_ann Judsonia, AR (Zone 7b) wrote:
I've had some good experiences with this company inthe past, ordering several times, all the plants were healthy and are still now healthy and growing nicely. Shipping is high but their on the other end of the US so I expect to pay high for shipping costs.
service was nice, emails were answered promptly.
packing wasn't so great, it would cut down on shipping alot if they didn't ship the plant in the gallon pot full of dirt. All my plants did arrive healthy but I haven't a clue as to why when their packed theway they were packed in my order.
I ordered sweet cherries Kristin and Black Gold, along with a sweet plum Kuban Comet, several grape vines, and a honeycrisp apple.
The trees were of excellent quality, thick trunks and branches, leafed out quickly and did well.
The grapes were similarily healthy and of good size.
Service was very good. One tree was out of stock and they e-mailed me promptly. They also answered my e-mail questions within 1-2 days. I will be ordering from them again.
On June 4th, 2008, bernie3 added the following:
Because of my good experience at Raintree last year, I ordered nine more trees this year, sweet cherries, plums, pears and apples. The quality was very good again this year, safely packaged. The root systems are the biggest I have received from any nursery selling bare root trees.
I really like their selection of multiple grafted trees, which is the largest selection of these items you'll find from any supplier. I believe this really improves pollination, and saves yard space.
On Jan 14, 2008, IldikoThomas Mercer Island, WA wrote:
We've placed 3 orders with Raintree so far and have always been thrilled with the quality of their stock. We've ordered hardy fruit trees and bushes for zone 3 and, even though we live in zone 7, they were very understanding and were the only one of several nurseries we ordered from who got the ship date correct. In addition, their trees and shrubs have always arrived still dormant, with none or very few breaks in the branches, and with excellent packaging and instructions accompanying them. Plus, their customer service reps are very helpful on the phone!
We love Raintree and recommend them to all of our Northwest friends!
On Oct 18, 2007, Baxter_Md Chevy Chase, MD (Zone 7a) wrote:
This nursery was one of the few that carry low bush blueberries. The plants arrived in good condition. They were well packed. They were also much bigger than I expected -- always nice. I will order from them again.
On Jun 2, 2007, HOPEFULLGARDNER Crescent City, CA wrote:
My experience with this company is absolutely wonderful! They kept me informed via email of shipment, etc.. The plants I ordered came well packed in their own contaniners with names, directions on planting and the plants are very healthy!
I will definately order from them again!
On May 19, 2007, AYankeeCat Fairfield County, CT (Zone 6b) wrote:
I bought several plants and trees from Raintree and the order arrived today in good shape. I have got to say the the grafted oriental pear is huge and I am very impressed. Things fared well for being shipped across the country - a paw-paw lost some leaves - but it will get more, I'm sure. I ordered once before and they called me to tell me they were out of one of the trees I wanted and that the cornus I ordered needed a pollinator - which I didn't know. I decided not to order then because they were out of the saturn peach - but I remembered their kindness in contacting me and placed an order. I'm pleased and will buy form them again.
Positive feedback is long overdue for this company....
Given my poor experience w. receiving live plants in the mail before, I was hesitant to try again. After thumbing through the Raintree catalog and seeing the 2x1 peach/nectarine combo tree, I figured I'd roll the dice again.
The bareroot tree arrived less than two weeks after I ordered it; timed perfectly for planting in my zone. It is in a whiskey barrel next to my back porch, and thriving in it's second year. I was concerned that w. temperatures getting down as low as -10° last winter, the tree would be damaged as it wasnt mulched, but it came back w. a vengenance this spring. In fact, I will be ordering a 3x1 cherry tree from them next week for another barrel planting.
Raintree has changed my perception on mail-order plants. Their stock is beautiful, healthy, and guaranteed to grow .
If you order from this company, prepare to be 'wowed' in a good way!
Ordered six varieties of fig trees. All were received in good condition well packed.
My only complaint is with their website and administrative procedures. I received an acknowledgement of the order by email, but it didn't list the items in my order or say when it would ship. The site indicated shipment would be mid-month (April) but nothing more specific. I had to contact them twice by email to get a tracking number for the shipment.
It's not that big a deal, but I don't like for packaged plants to sit in the sun (where the delivery guy leaves things) if we're not home when they arrive.
