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My experiences with Edible Landscaping have been mixed.
One shipment contained, along with the stuff I had ordered (by telephone), several items I never ordered, including an apple tree and apple tree scions (I have never grafted so much as a blade of grass and barely knew what a scion was). When I telephoned (long distance, at my expense) to ask what I should do, the woman I spoke with (Janet, I suppose) insisted that her husband (Michael, I suppose) "never makes such mistakes," and we actually got into a bit of an argument over it. She finally reluctantly agreed to have me rewrap the items and said she'd arrange to have them picked up by UPS for the return voyage to Afton. That was fine, but I went away from this experience feeling that it was somehow all my fault, when what I was actually owed was a gentle apology for having to box that stuff up again and deal with UPS and wait for the credit to show up on my credit-card account. So much for the customer always being right. I guess that graceful concept is dead in America.
Another shipment contained a jujube tree that had a large gash in the lower trunk from the rubbing against it of the pot containing another plant. This time I didn't complain but just put it in the ground with a little prayer. That Janet had me trained!
A third shipment included grafted che fruit trees. Wrapped very tightly around and around the grafted area of each tree was a lot of plastic. I didn't know whether to remove it or whether it was somehow necessary to support the graft. There were no instructions telling me what to do, either. So with trepidation I called the company and spoke with the man called Michael. He himself didn't know quite what I should do, or even quite what I was talking about; his general attitude seemed to be that I was either stupid or crazy to be asking such a question! I finally thanked him for his "advice" and just removed the plastic, a very difficult and delicate operation.
ON THE OTHER HAND, I like what Edible Landscaping offers. They have a wonderful catalog, just a terrific selection, and their general philosophy of what things people should be planting closely agrees with mine. Almost all of the shrubs and trees they have sent me were in good or great condition. Most things are adequately and safely wrapped, although a couple of items were on the dry side (and both the company and I are located in the same state). The materials were shipped when they said they would ship them. Edible Landscaping sends send interesting (although not always accurate or complete) information with the plants. (One glaring omission concerns the need to keep pawpaw trees shaded for at least the first year; the information sent by Edible Landscaping conveys the erroneous idea that the seedlings need only be "hardened off" for a few days. Unless pawpaw trees are kept in a tree shelter or under 60-70% shadecloth for at least one and possibly two years, they are likely to die.)
The prices are on the high side---better deals on some items are available elsewhere, such as through Nolin River Nut Nursery.
Overall, if it hadn't been for my negative experiences with the service side of the operation, I'd be inclined to give this company a positive rating.
I've placed several orders with Edible Landscaping over the last few years, which included bush cherries, purple leafed bush plum, blueberry, lingonberry, cranberry, wintergreen, american filbert,and paw paw. All arrived very well packaged and in good condition. They've substituted twice, once for a different cultivar of cranberry and once for a smaller sized paw paw as they were out of what I had ordered. I've found them responsive and helpful on the phone.
On Jun 12, 2004, belle_michele Shakopee, MN wrote:
This is a 'qualified' positive.... This was my first experience with this company so I wasn't quite sure what to expect.
I ordered two figs (chicago hardy & LSU purple) and received them this past Friday.
They were both VERY healthy, green, leafed out, the chicago hardy even has a few little figs. The packaging was very good (I think they'd be better off shipping US postal-I think it would get here sooner than the 7 days for UPS).
I was surprised at the size--I did think the figs, even for 'quart' size were small. On the plus side, they are very healthy.... All in all, I am happy with them. I will definitely be ordering another fig from them next year.
I think next time I order from them (they have several other plants I'm coveting) I will call first and find out the actual size being shipped so there's no surprises...
On Apr 25, 2004, LouisianaSweetPea Mount Hermon, LA (Zone 8b) wrote:
In March, I ordered a Seckel Pear tree in a five-gallon container. My order arrived in a timely fashion.
I am pleased that the tree was shipped in a container and was very well packaged. Not a leaf lost! I am also pleased with the size and condition of the tree.
I found that shipping was quite reasonable also ($13 for the five-gallon-sized tree, which is approximately six-plus feet tall).
On Mar 26, 2004, EnglishJasper Franklin, MA wrote:
I purchased several grafted trees (2 Paw Paws, mulberry, heartnut and lemon plus other plants). One Paw Paw arrived with an old trunk injury and in poor condition and died. The mulberry's graft died and the lemon had scale and was poorly pruned with horrible form. The heartnut also had a trunk injury and hopefully survived the winter. I emailed about the Paw Paw and Janet refused to replace it. I told her she would lose me as a customer if she did not replace or credit. She refused. The lingonberries and cranberries were fine. I have received much better bare root trees for less money from Miller and Stark.
Catherine Gooseberry
St. Fiacre Gooseberry
Hardy Chicago Fig
Sweet Pomegranate
What was alive when their package arrived? Only the Catherine gooseberry made it as they did not water the package thoroughly enough (or at all?) before sending it on a 7 day journey through UPS. The St.Fiacre Gooseberry was not only dead, but the plant was half the size of my pinky, which for $10 is a rip-off from any nursery. I know how easy gooseberries are to propagate, so there is no justification for sending a tiny, rooted cutting for what they charge. The dead fig was also very small for $20, basically it looked like a $10 fig from our local nursery (i.e. another rooted cutting).
They sent replacements for the fig, pomegranate and St. Fiacre, and all were better sized, but the St. Fiacre's buds were quite dry looking. As of last week they still hadn't leafed out (whereas my other 6 varieties had). Sure enough, it was dead.
Perhaps if you live close enough, you can check out the health of the stock first, but I would look at One Green World, Raintree, and Burnt Ridge before choosing a plant from here.
On March 23rd, 2004, gorgeguy added the following:
They (Janet) got in touch with me regarding my dead gooseberry. She said they had replaced my original pinky- sized gooseberry with a 3 gallon plant. The 3 gallon plant had a large obviously dead stalk, and 2 small but rather long branches shooting out from the base that had no laterals. It looked weird, and as I said the buds were dry from the start.
A 3 gallon plant at any nursery in Portland would be rather large, have numerous scaffold branches, and would be bearing fruit that year. The plant I received was weak.
Everyone who has had a positive experience with them is either A) Lucky; or B) have not had experience with any of the aforementioned other quality nurseries.
I have bought about nine fig trees from Edible Landscaping. I received them timely and in great shape. The size of the plants were appropriate to the container (with the possible exception of one--but that may have been due to the type of fig tree it was; I'm unfamiliar with that variety). The LSU Purple produced the first year (only a few, but still...). I loved their selection of fruit, and I was delighted with the plants I received (very healthy). I will be ordering more fig trees and other fruit from them. I order from them online...my only somewhat negative comment is that I had trouble with their online ordering form a time or two.
Overall a good company and great people. I've ordered from them many times, and have occasionally had to call to push an order out early, (I live in N.C., where it gets hot sooner), but the plants are always very, very well packed, and in EXCELLENT condition when they arrive. And their customer service is very good; they'll do what they can to accomodate you.
One of their plants, (Crandall Currant), had flowered and fruited in the pot when I got it.
I've ordered several times from this company. I have blueberries, lemons, raspberries, and hardy kiwi all from them. Sent my father in IL a pinon pine that arrived in excellent condition and when specified.
I have the luxury of only being four hours from them and have visited them twice - picking up the large quantity of blueberries. I even planted one of the blueberry orders on the hottest day of the year, over 103 deg F, and it survived remarkably well esp. since I kept forgetting to water it!
They have always been extremely helpful and knowledgeable. Real plant people.
i've ordered from this company 2x. i felt they were very helpful and patient with my many questions. they have a good selection of edible plants, and ship in a reasonable amount of time. a real plus is, as the best source east of the missippi for unusual things, i feel their plants are more well adapted to my area. i did have one plant die, which at my request, they replaced the following fall. i love the fact that the plants are sent in pots- much less damage! not to mention, no immediate need to scramble to get them soaked, planted, etc. i would definitely recommend them.
On Jun 3, 2003, Horseshoe Efland, NC (Zone 7a) wrote:
I've ordered from these fine folks for over 5 yrs now. Each time I've rec'd excellent plants. People who see them are surprised at the size of them when I open the box. I've bought plants ranging from fig bushes to persimmon, serviceberry, lemon, kumquat...that's just what I remember off the top of my head.
Their website offers clear concise descriptions of their products and even offers a "Care" page (how to manage your plants, feeding, debugging, etc).
As their name implies, everything they offer (trees, bushes, vines) offer something edible. I'm sure I'll be shopping with them in the future.
I ordered a couple of 'Sunshine Blue' blueberries back in February by phone. It took them a month to confirm my order.
The blueberries were scheduled to arrive the first week-end in May. The plants arrived 2 weeks late.
I ordered the 3 gal. pot size and they could have easily fit into a 1 gal. container.
I don't know what else could have gone wrong. I would not order from this nursery again.
Very helpful and user-friendly: my exact product was sold out for this year but they suggested a great alternative. Great packaging and solid communication. The color catalog is awesome. I will be a repeat shopper.
Far and away the very worst service I have received. The person who identified himself as "Michael" and "as the owner," was unable to answer even the most basic of questions. In addition to that the general poor attitude was very apparent as the answers to nearly all the questions were "I don't know" with no follow up info. The Lemon I rec'd was a Eureka Lemon, not a Meyer Lemon (I kept it anyway, and has done well), The Moro Blood orange has never bloomed and there is no obvious graft. It most likely is NOT a Moro orange. Further I ordered the Moro in May and rec'd it in late September, just in time to induce dormancy so I could place it in the house. I planted the Pawpaw immediately in a pre-prepared area and it died in 2 weeks. Needless to say that this was my last order with Edible Landscaping.
On Apr 11, 2002, strangebob Conway, SC (Zone 8a) wrote:
I've ordered from Edible Landscaping for several years. Thus far I have ordered their Sunshine Blue Blueberries, Calomondin Orange, Kumquat, Limequat and Meyer Lemon. All were well grown with good solid Rootstock. Last year I ordered their Sweet Pomegranate. Again another solid plant.This year the leaves are comming out (about 3.5 feet tall now) and I'm hoping it will start producing soon. I rate this company a solid winner. PS all of the citrus trees have fruit on them.again this year.
Great selection of plants, and enjoyable catalog, with even more growing information on their website...however, I am currently doing first order with them with presently unsatisfactory customer service results that are both frustrating and time-consuming. On a two-part order (one, gifts to family member in another state, and part two, to me) Edible Landscaping sent wrong plant to family member and wrong plant to me. Family member has made over four calls to them, and I've done more than four e-mails, trying to get them to correct their errors. Someone there doesn't pay attention to what they read or hear. It took over four contacts with them before one person finally said sorry. I hope they get everything fixed by the end of the next frustrating week; despite their wide variety of plants, I no longer plan to order from them again due to poor and unprofessional customer service.
They have a wonderful catalog of all sorts of trees and shrubs that produce edibles, from the mundane to the exotic. Also they are quite helpful and patient with questions on care, planting, etc. I have bought several dwarf citruses from them over the past few years and am quite happy with them. Only problem I've had is when I ordered some habanero plants to be sent to my brothers as gifts; it was winter though and they had to be sent during a major cold snap, so it's no surprise the plants didn't survive thereafter. Obviously not their fault, so I will continue to buy from them and to recommend them to others.
Edible Landscaping has a WONDERFUL catalog. I bought my first garden plants from them: Five elderberry bushes, one of each they offered :). In this case, the smaller sizes were better, the larger were almost too large to ship well. Hey, can't beat the better ones being the cheaper, too! All arrived in good shape. Shipping was prompt, and the plants of high quality. They sell all their plants in pots, and ship all through the summer, a real plus for avoiding those "150 bare-root plants to plant" spring blues!
