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On May 10, 2012, imagerep Westlake Village, CA wrote:
I first placed an order then read this blog with so many negatives. I thought I had made a mistake and expected the worse. My experience was very good. I ordered 2 of the Basjoo, 2 of the Musella L. and 100 Sikkimensus seeds. I received my order in about a week. So far all 4 banana plants are growing well in small starter containers. Doing some research on the seeds, I see that these can take 1 to 12 mos to germinate so we'll see. The jury will be out for some time while I wait to see any form of sprouting. If I can find any fault with this company is their lack of informing via email that the order shipped and of the tracking number. Always nice to know your order is not held up (which turned out not the case for me). I would buy from them again.
I've ordered couple of banana trees from them. I've got an email saying my order is being processed. A week or two passed i didn't get any status on that. But since it was mentioned in the site that the shipping of the plants may take up to two weeks depending on the availability, i waited till that time and sent them an email asking when my plants will be shipped. Immediately i got a mail from the company saying, my order is processed. The mail was not so clear whether or not the plant is shipped. Anyway i got the rhizomes in mail in a week or so. After one month in the pots, one of them is showing some signs of life and another one is all dried up , but still there is hope since banana will survive in most cases just with the bulb. Still waiting to see new growth and eager to see whether or we got the right species. Think it will take more than a year to find that out. Anyway i'm happy with the order and they are very reasonably priced.
I did not order palms and banana trees. I ordered Bletilla because their price seemed to be very good. They did not have these for a while. But once I placed an order, the package was delivered very quick. And I was very pleased with the quality of plants as well. Actually, it was far exceeding my expectation, so I was pleasantly surprised.
On Oct 24, 2008, lesplantlady Camano Island, WA (Zone 8a) wrote:
I ordered 21 types of seed about 3 weeks ago after reviewing Garden Watchdog comments. Prices were excellent. Within a few days of my account being charged, I received my order. The seed looks great and I consider the 3-week time frame very reasonable. The seed packets all have planting information which, given the "exotic" nature of some of the seeds is helpful. I will definitely order from this company again.
I have ordered twice from bananatree, and both times received the complete orders, and seeds were all viable. I am very satisfied and delighted. Just because seeds don't grow for you doesn't mean the seeds were bad- so many reasons why seeds won't grow. Be reasonable. Also, don't bother trying to call them- whoever that crabby old guy is obviously doesn't want to talk to you! The seeds will come in a couple of weeks- those people are just not good communicators- who cares- they have unique seeds at the best prices on the internet. If you want to be treated elegantly, then don't buy from them; if you want to get some fabulous seeds, then swallow your pride, shut up and order from them!
I found banana-tree.com through a google search for passiflora seeds (I LO0O0VE passionfruit !!). I got super excited by the prices, quantities and variety of not only passiflora but other tropical plants and fruit. I soon had 23 items (all seeds) in my shopping cart! I couldn't find better prices after spending an hour or so searching. Then I decided to check for reviews and found most on this website (davesgarden). I was disappointed with all the negative reviews because I really wanted these seeds! I buy a lot of things from the www, I think reviews are a great help for everyone and I usually listen to them! This time, however, I was too excited with my 7 different fruit-bearing passiflora and other fruits and plants in my shopping cart, that I decided "what the hey" and I placed the order. I decided I would order from the next cheapest web-page I found if the seeds didn't arrive in a couple of weeks. Today, just over a week later I was excited and nervous to find a package from banana-tree. I opened it and everything was included, correct and even packed in the order on my shopping list - too easy! I'm sorry for the others that had negative experiences but mine was perfect. Now, to the backyard...
Very fast order processing. Seed quality and their package was good. This merchant have nice prices (about $5 for 100 Neem seeds) and shipping charges was only $2 to Israel.
I placed order in Banana-Tree and I certainly recommend Banana-Tree.com
On Jun 12, 2007, go2glenn Suwanee, GA (Zone 7a) wrote:
I ordered one Musa basjoo (spelled several ways) or Japanese Fiber Banana (hardy). After over a month, I received a small banana "bulb" which is what I expected. The bulb was planted per BT's instructions and has grown very nicely. The only problem is it is the wrong species. The plant is a dwarf variety with red and green leaves. Two e-mails to BT remain unanswered. Two phone calls went unanswered. Given all the negative postings about BT and my less than satisfactory experience, I have made these conclusions. BT's customer service is very poor. And I note that sending out the wrong plants or seeds seems to be a common occurence at BT (see other postings). There are several supplies of tropicals on the web who provide better, more reliable service.
On June 24th, 2007, go2glenn changed the rating from negative to positive and added the following:
I sent one additional e-mail to this company which they answered in two days. They apologized for sending me the wrong species of banana tree and stated they would send me the plant I ordered in two days. They also sent me an e-mail that the plant was in the mail. I received a healthy (and correct) plant in four days. I am pleased with the manner in which this company corrected it's error. As in many cases, the main problem here was with communication. It is evident to me this company is working hard to improve it's customer support.
On May 19, 2007, banananut Eureka, CA (Zone 9b) wrote:
I've been ordering seeds, and plants from these guys for about 5 years, and I don't have a single complaint(I usually do). They seem to have the best prices for alot of different types of seeds(nearly whole sale pricing on small packets), and the plant prices aren't bad either. They also seem to get in rare Musa seeds at the same time they are being offered by other companies, but at better prices.
On Mar 28, 2007, cgarvin Cottage Grove, OR (Zone 8a) wrote:
I recently ordered about 50$ worth of seed from there website, as was posted by many there was no "its in the mail" email which would be nice, but they did send and email confiming the order. so far germination is so so, but I ordered difficult and unusual seed, so I wasnt expecting 100%. the seeds all appear to be the correct species, but until they are grown out who knows. I was leary of ordering from them at first because of the so so rating here, but would do so again as my experience this time was good. Caleb
Although their customer service is rough around the edges, I am extremely satisfied with Banana-Tree for the quality of rhizomes I received. I do wish they would send you an email stating that the order has been shipped, so I could prepare planting my order when it arrives.
On Aug 19, 2006, raydio Bessemer City, NC (Zone 7b) wrote:
I ordered three items form BT this year and two are not what they are supposed to be.
Knowing form past experience with seeds purported to be Ipomoea purga, before my order shipped, I sent an email stating if they could not guarantee that the I. purga seeds were just that, to cancel my order. They never responded and the seeds are in fact another vine.
The second incorrectly shipped item was ordered as Alpinia galanga and what I received was Curcuma zedoaria, though it was tagged as the former. That the plant was not A. galanga was immediately apparent as C. zedoaria has a bronze stripe down the foliage which the other doesn't.
I can only hope that the third item, Curcuma longa, turns out to be that.
What bothers me most about this is that I only wanted the vine seeds, but they have a $20. minimum order, so if I wanted them, I had to buy more plants. Then, one of them, at $9.95, turns out to be an item they didn't (don't?) offer on their website.
I know plants get misshipped, mis-identified when sent to a distributor like BT. One hopes they would test what they get for verification, especially very hard to find items that are already considered as having questionable authenticity, as with I. purga.
2 out of three isn't good at all.
I will be contacting them about my order. We'll see what happens.
Robert.
On August 19th, 2006, raydio changed the rating from negative to positive and added the following:
I stand by the negative rating for the order, but give Banana-Tree a positive rating in resolving the issue.
They will be crediting my account for the seeds and are sending a C. longa as originally ordered. I am to keep the seeds and zedoary.
That's good customer service!
With that said, I would shop form B-T again. Mistakes happen and a solution can be found.
I ordered back in March and am having outstanding results. My 2 banana trees (basjoo & chinesis) have REALLY taken off the last month or so. I ordered an agave and 3 lithops, which are also doing good. It took about 3 weeks for my order to arrive...another month before the bananas showed any signs of life, but are really making up for it now. My basjoo has just started a side-bud, so it looks like another tree on its way.
It is a shame that others are not having this same experience. My experience was terrific, however. I'd take the chance again with another small order of banana trees next spring.
Ordered 200 Carambola seeds .... ZERO sprouted! I've grown these before, so i know it was not my fault. I contacted them about this, and that I would pay shipping if they wanted to replace them (with more worthless seeds) but all I got was RADIO SILENCE. I'm switching to seedlings, seeds suck! More $$ down the drain. When will I learn. (If they replace my order with VIABLE seeds i MIGHT change feedback to Positive) I have pics to prove seeds swelled & rotted.
On August 23rd, 2005, amorning1 changed the rating from negative to neutral and added the following:
On August 26th, 2005, amorning1 added the following:
Palm seeds I just recieved are decent, I wish they'd replace those lousy Carambola seeds.On August 29th, 2005, amorning1 changed the rating from neutral to positive and added the following:
They have contacted me and they offered to replace the carambola seeds next spring with fresh seeds at no charge.
I've been ordering from BananaTree for a number of years. Never had any problems, plants arrived in tip-top shape, and packaging was in great order.
Their prices are decent..Even when I ordered a Banjoo Musa Banana, they wrote back explaining about the care of this plant, and if I planned on planting outside, it'd need protection. Toni
On May 21st, 2006, Toni05 added the following:
Ordered several packets of seeds and all but one arrived promptly. I phoned Banana Tree about this lost pack and they apologized and send the packet out ASAP.
The Banana-Tree was very fast to proceed my order : 1 week from my internet command to delivery here, in Tokyo (I'm leaving in Japan). Seed quality was good, with high germinating rate. And on top of that, they have quite nice price. I certainly recommend them.
On Feb 17, 2005, jenf Qualicum, BC (Zone 7b) wrote:
I figured since the prices were so good I would take a chance. The order arrived promtply, the seeds appeared in good condition. To top it off, I have 3 different types of palm seeds sprouting within a month. This is much faster than the more expensive seeds, I purchased at the same time. I will definitely order again.
On Oct 1, 2004, Green_England London United Kingdom wrote:
I recently ordered several tropical and sub-tropical species from Banana-tree.com and was very happy with the seeds. They were all full, fat and healthy looking. My order arrived in only five days, and that’s all the way over here to England! Viability was excellent. I believe we have to make sure we have the adequate knowledge, experience, and equipment to geminate the harder species, and those that may have a long/tricky dormancy, before we jump to blame others for our own lack of experience or knowledge, and especially with the more stubborn species. I’m constantly ordering plants and seeds from all over the world, and I am very happy with the speed of delivery and quality of the seeds I received from Banana-tree.com and would definitely use their services again.
On Apr 1, 2004, MadGecko13 Corpus Christi, TX (Zone 9a) wrote:
Well, I had good luck with this company. I ordered some seeds I'd not found anywhere else. I found the packaging quite acceptable and they arrived promptly.
Germination so far has been quite good. Especially since these are seeds I haven't seen anyone else growing!
I'm about to put in my second order here- my first having been last year. I received good, viable seeds, and was quite happy. I even had good germination with a couple types of cycad seed, which I understand are rather highly perishable. (The plants have continued to do well.) I got some other houseplant seeds, some vegetable seeds...had good results with all.
It's been a while since I've ordered but I remember having had good experiences with them in the past. Magnificent selections of seeds, corms and plants. Just wish they had kept their large selection of bananas.
This is an excellent company - I have ordered seed from them on two occasions and received them promptly and well packaged. They can count on me for repeat business. The seed they offer is not the easiest to germinate and I imagine that it is for this reason some people had issues with seed germination.
I've been buying from The Banana Tree for years now and havefound them to be the best quality and price out there. I figure they're good because they where from the best of my knowledge the first company to be selling tropical plants and seeds and I've been running a green house for over 20 years now.
i got seeds from banana tree many times ,always got them within a week ,i got thousands of seedlings growing like mad .verry good prices ,and the best service you can get. fruittree micco florida .....
Generally I'd say they are good. Prices are nearly as good as some wholesale places. I've only had one batch of bad seed, not bad considering all that grew well.
I placed an order with Banana Tree.com for a Dwarf Cavendish Banana. I spoke with them on the phone and they were very courteous and helpful. My banana plant arrived promptly and in good condition. It is growing very well. I am a satisfied customer.
I was rather surprised by all the bad comments people have about Banana Tree. I ordered some seeds of Pride of Barbados, Baobob, Bottle Brush, Elephant's Foot and Mexican Blue Palm. The Pride of Barbados germinated immediately. All the seeds appeared fresh and didn't have that old dark look to them. Most of these seeds are reported to take between 2 to as long as 18 months to germinate, so perhaps most people just lose patience with them thinking they are bad. The seeds came clearly labeled with growing instructions in a padded envelope. Sounds as if not all customers are treated the same.
I have placed and received several orders from the Banana Tree over the past several years (plants and seeds). I have NEVER had any problem getting their seeds to germinate and grow. I've ordered a lot of different types of seeds and have had great success with them. Each time I've received seeds from them, regardless of the amount ordered, they have always arrived in a padded envelope. I have never received crushed seeds from them either. Every time I've called there to place an order, the man I talk to is very nice. I've never had any problem with him being nasty or rude. I've been very pleased with the orders I've received from The Banana Tree, and I will continue to order from them in the future.
I have ordered two or three times from Banana Tree, Inc. It was a bit of a let down to get the seed after reading such an informative catalog. However, I have not experienced any problems with the quality of seed. I have not run any controlled germination tests though either. Packaging could be improved and perhaps handling fees reduced. I will continue to order from Banana Tree, Inc. but will be more selective in my requests.
