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I have been ordering from Bluestone since 2009 and I have to admit that last year I was a bit disappointed with the size of the plants. All but 2 made it through the winter. I placed another order this year for some perennials I could not find locally and they arrived today. I was extremely happy. I ordered 16 plants and all 16 arrived in excellent condition. I think they were the largest plants I have ever received from Bluestone and everything looked healthy. I thankfully got all of them planted before the rain came and I look forward to them blooming later in the summer. I was so impressed by the high quality of Bluestones plants this year that I am placing another order tonight. Thank you Bluestone!
On May 22, 2013, jvw Clinton Township, MI (Zone 6a) wrote:
I have ordered from Bluestone for at least 5 years now. Their customer service has always been top notch. Any time I had a problem with any order they rectified the situation immediately and pleasantly. I am sad they are not in the Top 30. For the most part I have been very happy with their plants. There are a few plants I had repeated trouble growing, but I wrote it off to my conditions. Also, I enjoy taking a road trip and going directly to the nursery to shop.
It took me a bit to adjust to the new coir pots/single plant system. I have learned I get better results if I remove the coir pot entirely immediately when I get the plants. Often I do not plant my gems right away and they would dry out too fast in the coir pots for me. And if I planted with the coir pot I found it did not break down fast enough and the plant suffered in the ground. Clearly though it works great for growing the plants as effidenced by the two orders I received from them this year. WOW! Gorgeous healthy plants. I am so very pleased!
Posted on May 15, 2013, updated May 19, 2013
Posted on May 15, 2013, updated May 15, 2013
Posted on May 14, 2013, updated May 15, 2013
Posted on May 21, 2012, updated May 14, 2013
Posted on April 17, 2012, updated May 21, 2012
Posted on April 17, 2012, updated April 17, 2012
Posted on April 29, 2011, updated April 17, 2012
Posted on October 12, 2010, updated April 29, 2011
Posted on May 21, 2008, updated October 12, 2010
I have just received my 4th order from this company. I was quite disappointed as the Astibles were in terrible bent over and broken condition due to the packing peanuts. I wrote the company and they immediately shipped out a replacement order without further questioning. You cannot beat that for customer service. I would highly recommend buying from this company. I will most surely continue buying at Bluestone.
On April 24th, 2009, stormcloud added the following:
2009-update
Bluestone Perennials remains one of the best online nursery's in customer satisfaction as well as fairly priced plants of high quality. In my opinion and I have ordered from many !On October 12th, 2010, stormcloud added the following:
BLUESTONE is the best....you can count on them to always be reliable and stand behind their products without giving anyone a hardtime. On April 29th, 2011, stormcloud added the following:
I placed an order here mid winter and it arrived as scheduled in early April.
Apparently shipped too early as some teeny tiny seedlings were crushed,and broken. The quickly replaced them with hearty looking plants so they are as good as their word regarding their guarantee.
Their packing is just terrible and things arrived dumped and broken when you finally get thru the peanuts to locate the plants.
I DO THINK THEY ARE THE BEST ONLINE NURSERY TO ORDER FROM AND I WILL CONTINUE.On April 17th, 2012, stormcloud added the following:
Yesterday my Bluestone order arrived and was I ever shocked ! Opened the box quickly since it was very hot here....the little plants are just as full and perky as can be,
The new packaging is fantastic and well worth paying more for.NOW ALL I HAVE TO DO IS HOPE THEY GROW !! LOVE THIS COMPANY !On April 17th, 2012, stormcloud added the following:
P.S. With all the poor companies online, and I have had my fill of them, I cannot imagine why anyone would give a negative rating to Bluestone.On May 21st, 2012, stormcloud added the following:
I received another terrific order from Bluestone !! Went ahead and placed yet one more since there were coupons in the box with the order.
The first group are in bloom already !! I just love these new pots....top soil did fall out during shipping but added a few spoons of soil until I got to planting..This has been a great experience for me as I am handicapped and do most all of my ordering on line. I have received so much junk and so many problems from several online nurseries and am just delighted with what I have received from Bluestone !! MANY THANKS FOLKS !On May 14th, 2013, stormcloud changed the rating from positive to neutral and added the following:
I am no longer happy with Bluestone perennials. Not a one of the plants I ordered and planted last year (2012) has returned this Spring. Each of my other perennials is up and thriving. I was so pleased with the coir planter pots when they arrived but I am so disappointed now.
What has further happened is i wanted Dorothy Rose Aquiligia and nowhere cold I locate them except at Bluestone. So I took a chance and ordered 3 and they arrived last night...Another great disappointment !
One of these tiny little plants has the main stem broken off. They are each 2 leaved plans and a total disgrace at $9.5 each plus $9.99 shipping I thought I could expect a reasonable order to be delivered. NOT SO.
I do not know what has happened to this former top 30 garden center.On May 15th, 2013, stormcloud changed the rating from neutral to negative and added the following:
Unfortunately I feel the need to post NEGATIVE on my feedback now.
I wrote to the company about the defective plant I was sent along with other issues....
They have not responded to either my personal e mail or my neutral post on here. I am so disappointed...what has happened to this once great company ?On May 15th, 2013, stormcloud changed the rating from negative to neutral and added the following:
OK..perhaps I changed my original rating too quickly, however they do say to notify them as soon as possible if plants arrive damaged.
I am terribly aggravated over all the dead and not dissolved plants from last year .
I will wait until the new plants arrive and then may upgrade once again. Original email was sent on the 13th.
Thank you for responding here.On May 19th, 2013, stormcloud added the following:
Bluestone is a reliable honest company. They have replaced the the 3 Columbine they originally sent with reasonable plants. However, I am not changing my rating from neutral because I do not think it should be necessary to go through all this in order to get something reasonable for their high prices. The new plants are more than double the size of the original ones which should never have been shipped in the first place.On May 19, 2013, Bluestone Perennials responded with:
"On May 15, 2013 1:30 PM, Bluestone Perennials responded with:
We received the email you sent last night when we opened this morning, and the office will be responding directly via email to resolve your shipping damage with either a reshipment or a refund, at your request. Also, we were notified of your change in our ranking this morning, and I have every faith we will be able to regain your trust in us. We are the same company we have been for 40+ years, and we stand behind our plants - guaranteed! Note: the office advises me we are reshipping your Aquilegias today."
On May 14, 2013, mariaverderamo Townsend, DE wrote:
Posted on December 19, 2007, updated May 14, 2013
Bluestone is fabulous! They sent me a replacement order this past September for cyclamen that did not grow; unfortunately I never received it (I think someone took it out of my mailbox), and they credited my account immediately. Awesome.
On May 14th, 2013, mariaverderamo changed the rating from positive to neutral and added the following:
Bluestone sent me a refund check for the cost of the clematis, so I am changing my rating from negative to neutral.
Ordered perennials this year. Bigger pots, which I like,and the plants look great. The achillea are huge. Like the fiber pots as I can put them straight in the ground. Have ordered from them before and will continue to do so. I've never had a problem with a plant from them.
On May 8, 2013, lemurianne Ida Grove, IA (Zone 5a) wrote:
Posted on May 14, 2008, updated May 8, 2013
I received my very first order from Bluestone Perennials today, and I'm a little disappointed. I did take advantage of their recent sale, and most of those sale items look great, BUT I also ordered a viola (Etain) at $15 for 3 that is in just awful shape. It looks like something you'd find in a clearance bin in mid-July! All yellow and spindly with no blooms.. very disappointing. I love violas and was so excited to have this unique plant, but that excitement has turned to disgust. I have written to Bluestone to ask for a refund for this particular item, but have not heard back. If I do receive a response and refund I'll gladly change this to a neutral, but I really wish they'd not bother sending out these spent plants, especially at these prices!
On May 14th, 2008, lemurianne changed the rating from negative to neutral and added the following:
I received an email from Bluestone today that states they'll credit me for the violas AND send out more next week at no charge. I will update again when I receive the new violas.. if by some miracle they are in good shape I may change this to a positive -- Clearly this company wants to keep its customers happy, which I do appreciate.On May 24th, 2008, lemurianne changed the rating from neutral to positive and added the following:
After having complained about the state of a plant shipped to me, I received a refund and a free re-shipment of the same plant the following week. Though I still feel that the plant in question (Etain Viola) should be in much better shape for the price, I appreciate the service and have to admit that the other, CHEAPER plants I ordered look great so far! I will most definitely order from Bluestone Perennials again. The fantastic customer service makes up for the annoying packing peanuts and spindly, yellow-foliaged violas.On May 8th, 2013, lemurianne added the following:
It has been several years since I last left feedback, but I do think I have ordered something from Bluestone Perennials each year since and been pleased. When I was a just starting out as a gardener, I loved BP for their incredibly cheap prices and sets of 3 that would fill in a space quicker than one plant alone. But now, as a slightly more experienced gardener, I appreciate their new format -- bigger, healthier single plants for more money, but still very reasonable. I don't pay more for the plant + shipping than I would if I was buying something this size from my local nurseries this time of year. And the selection at BP is so much bigger! I received an order today and couldn't be happier -- everything is big and healthy and arrived undamaged.
I will say that I always remove the coco pots because they don't break down fast enough in my gardens' soil. The few time I did put them in the ground the plant became root-bound and died, but since I've been removing the pots I've had no trouble :) I will continue to order from Bluestone Perennials.
On May 8, 2013, revclaus (Judith) Denver, CO (Zone 5b) wrote:
Posted on February 12, 2012, updated May 8, 2013
Posted on April 9, 2004, updated February 12, 2012
Last summer I ordered a couple of sale plants from Bluestone, and they arrived quickly and in great shape. Even though planted in June, they bloomed throughout the summer, and are getting ready to bloom now.
This year I ordered a few more things: daisies, ornamental grass, lobelia and a hosta, and they arrived exactly when I asked them to and in great shape. The plants promise to do as well as last year's sale plants. I would definitely order from Bluestone again.
On May 21st, 2009, revclaus added the following:
Nothing but glowing comments for my Bluestone orders this year. They've increased the size of some of their plants -- much appreciated -- and they're always packed extremely well. My newest plants are up and growing, beating out all the competition (except for Rosy Dawn coleus plants!).On February 12th, 2012, revclaus changed the rating from positive to negative and added the following:
I loved Bluestone and was thrilled to see the new coir pots. But when I checked into the website earlier this year and discovered the pricing that went with the new pots I was crushed. I'm a widow on a small fixed income and can no longer afford to buy from Bluestone. As with many of the other negative comments about the price change, the value at Bluestone was the ability to buy three perennials at a low price even if I did have to wait a year for the plant to catch up to the pricier plants at other garden centers and online sources. So now I'll be shopping locally where I can still get smaller plants at a lower price.
I'm sure they've invested a lot of money in their new system, so I don't think they'll have any way of reversing course given the negative feedback from so many long-time users. It's a shame, because they filled a niche market need. But now only the well-off can purchase there.
Last year's plants were awesome and did very well. I'm sad that Bluestone can no longer serve my needs.On May 8th, 2013, revclaus added the following:
I bought a clematis in 2011. When it arrived it was dry and falling out of the pot. Bluestone sent me another. It did not do well, so they replaced it again. They didn't have to do that so I was appreciative. But it was a much smaller pot like they used to send. It did all right last year but this year not so much. Weather related: we had two days of 9 degree weather and three blizzards in late April and early May. Everything on the vine died but there are some shoots coming up. I had also bought gaillardia plants which were awesome last year and the year before. Also some campanula which are doing well. Bluestone is the place where I will buy perennials, but that will always be smaller than if I buy them locally. The beauty of Bluestone is the variety available.
I purchased several perennials. They were planted in coir pots that could just be planted, pot and all. The packaging was corrugated. Not a plastic pot or styrofoam packing peanut i sight. Thanks so much, Bluestone, for your environmentally sound materials.
My first order with this company. Plants arrived as scheduled, nicely packaged. Healthy and a nice size. Coco pots are great, will not be my last order.
On May 7, 2013, Terry Murfreesboro, TN (Zone 7a) wrote:
Posted on November 26, 2001, updated May 7, 2013
Plants are rather small, but very vigorous growers, and great prices. Nice selection of perennial plants.
On May 2nd, 2002, go_vols added the following:
The three-pack of Lamium that I ordered last year has become two very large clumps, filled with beautiful flowers - lots of compliments on them, and surprise when I tell people they started out as three little plants. Ditto for the Sedum 'Matrona'; the only disappointment is one of the Clethra I ordered isn't showing any signs of life :(
Overall, I would still order from them again in a heartbeat..On April 10th, 2003, go_vols added the following:
I placed another order with Bluestone this year, and once again, was very pleased. This time my order was for shrubs and a clematis, and the size and vigor of the plants compare favorably to other mail-order sources for similar plants (for example, I ordered two deciduous Magnolias, one from Bluestone the other from a different nursery. They are comparable in terms of size, fullness and leafing out, and the Bluestone plant was significantly less expensive.) Way to go Bluestone!.On September 18th, 2004, go_vols added the following:
I just wanted to say thanks - my order arrived right on time yesterday (despite Hurricane Ivan) and was in great shape - as usual. On June 7th, 2007, Terry added the following:
Another great order - I took advantage of their spring sale to pick up several three-packs of perennials and a Clematis. Everything arrived looking fresh and perky. A couple of the plants weren't *quite* as well-rooted as I would have liked, but I think a little extra TLC (necessary anyway due to the high temps and dry conditions we're experiencing) will help them settle in and do well, as their plants normally do.
New since my last order - they used a box that was exactly the size to snugly hold a standard plant flat, which they included with my plants, making it easy to carry everything outside to the border bed Thanks!!!!On May 7th, 2013, Terry added the following:
I haven't ordered from Bluestone in a few years, but now that we're settled in our new home and my gardens are taking shape, I took advantage of a recent offer for a free plant with $75 purchase. I'm glad I did! Love the new coir planting containers, and as always, the plants arrived well-packed and ready to go in the ground.
On Apr 27, 2013, DonnaMack Elgin, IL (Zone 5a) wrote:
Posted on June 2, 2012, updated April 27, 2013
Posted on May 7, 2003, updated June 2, 2012
First, I must thank all of the people who took the time to recommend this great company. Because of the detailed feedback, I confidently ordered, and today received my first order from Bluestone. I purchased 33 plants and the quality is excellent. They are smaller that the plants one would purchase at a nursery, but I would say that they are the same size as the far more expensive White Flower Farm plants. I usually grow my own plants from seed, only buying what I cannot grow, so I am accustomed to robust plants, and these are. And some of the varieties I purchased, such as Heuchera Firefly and Heucherella Bridgett's Bloom, are usually quite expensive. And the prices! Taking advantage of some specials and 3 for 1 offfers, I paid $98.75 for 33 plants - including shipping - less than $3.00 a plant! Receiving an e-mail and a UPS tracking number was an unexpected plus. Another bonus - did anyone notice that the plants are hardened off when you receive them? They note that they can be exposed to temperatures as low as 26 degrees. What a great company! They are my first stop from now on.
On August 1st, 2003, DonnaMack added the following:
After I printed the above I ordered additional plants from Bluestone, and continue to be impressed. Of the total of 49 plants I put in, 49 took! I put in arabis, a spring blooming plant, and it bloomed in summer, and has spread considerably. The verbena Homestead Purple, Heucherella, Tiarella, and most of the others actually bloomed. Some look like mature plants, blooming with no restraint. I installed all of them in May and June!
I'm working on my fall order. These guys are incredible.On May 14th, 2007, DonnaMack added the following:
I have ordered annually each year since my above review, and have been pleased with my orders, but my most recent experience with the company was the best thus far. I was having trouble entering coupon codes, so I called and spoke with a wonderful representative who explained to me the numbers on the codes and then offered to take my order over the telephone. This was very much to my advantage, because she (I'm so sorry I did not get her name) repeatedly brought specials to my attention of which I was unaware. The result was that I received 12 free plants. My order came yesterday and every plant was healthy and viable. I also received a HUGE primula Japonica (much larger than my favorite local nursery) as a replacement for a plant that was mistakenly labeled as such last year. Better yet, I was given a delivery confirmation from Fed Ex, and my plants were delivered as promised on the afternoon of May 12, the day before Mother’s Day (what a tough day to keep a delivery commitment!). And our last frost date in zone 5a is May 15. Perfect.
I cannot imagine how this entire transaction could have been better. On June 2nd, 2012, DonnaMack added the following:
I had hesitated to purchase from Bluestone this season, given the comments and the higher prices. But they sent me an email about discounted items, and I could not resist trying them again, so I ordered a few plants.
I must say that I was very pleased with the quality of the plants. I found that the roots were somewhat embedded in the coir so I could not remove it, but the fact that they had grown into and in some places through the coir is a good sign.
I also had a free shipping code from three years ago - and they honored it!
I will be back.On April 27th, 2013, DonnaMack added the following:
I must say that I am very happy with Bluestone this year. I ordered all half price plants in January: 3 Campanula Bellringers, 2 Penstemon digitalis 'Husker Red', a panicum and 2 Fothergilla Mt. Airy shrubs. The plants are just excellent. The qualuty is very high. They are of nice size. I remove the coir immediately because I have trouble cutting it away - and the soil was dry. But the plants are perfect!
On Apr 26, 2013, Vashur Wichita, KS (Zone 6b) wrote:
Posted on May 12, 2005, updated April 26, 2013
Nice plants that all arrived in good shape... I HATE peanuts but I guess they do what they gotta do to keep the dirt in the pots at least. :)
On April 26th, 2013, Vashur added the following:
I received an order today with the new packing. I really really like this packaging. These are the best packed plants I have ever received. Thanks. :)
On Apr 25, 2013, virginiarose Portsmouth, VA (Zone 8a) wrote:
Posted on June 1, 2012, updated April 25, 2013
Posted on May 7, 2012, updated June 1, 2012
Posted on November 2, 2011, updated May 7, 2012
I ordered 4 plants on 10-31-11 and received them 11-02-11. Very fast shipping and plants are fairly small but not unusual prices for starter plants. I noticed the good packing and soil was still moist. I have never gotten Coconut fiber pots before. Hope they work out because it's good for the environment. Millions of these plastic pots end up on the landfills.
See pictures on the Hosta forum. ( Mail order experiences good or bad ) Thank You!
On May 7th, 2012, virginiarose added the following:
Just a warning,The Hosta Great Expectations, started off great. I planted the whole thing into a large pot and it thrived. Now suddenly it started going down hill while the other hosta's were thriving. It was the coco pot. It did not decompose, it was tuff as ever and the plant was root bound. Maybe we should at least rip off the bottom, I had the same problem with the peat pots, the plants just won't grow. On June 1st, 2012, virginiarose added the following:
I do not know about the previous price list. A company does what it has to do to stay in business.
Compared to other web-nurseries I found them to be normal as far as prices go. I love the packing and not too keen on the Coco pots, but I just remove the pot and plant them.
I was really happy to get some shrubs at their 50% off sale, I've been waiting all year for these winterberries. Yes, winterberries for 7.77 each. They were ten times as big as some Caryopteris shrubs I bought from another popular company. I also got a huge Echinacea @ 4.47 it is by far the biggest and healthiest I have ever gotten. And best price, also got two baptisia that were both 12 inches tall at least and for all these plants the shipping was only 9.95.
I think this company is worth a second look, I will certainly keep ordering from them happily, and will recommend them to my friends.
I compare prices all the time and I have been happy with this company, even for small plants but sometimes they surprise me. :))On April 25th, 2013, virginiarose added the following:
Received another wonderful order from BS. They twisted my arm with that 10% off and the free plant thing. I love this company, the website is very user friendly which means a lot to me. If I see something I like I can put it in my shopping cart or wish list and it stays there. Smart Company! :))
I love the sales and the selection of plants and the prices. They have a little of everything it seems. The Coconut fiber is good for the environment and there is no plastic on the landfill. I just re-pot to a bigger size anyway.
There was a little dirt missing in a few of the pots. 'This end up' means, let's play volleyball!!
I needed many plants this year, ordered from Totally Tomato, Bluestone perennials, NH hostas, American Meadows, Classy Groundcovers, & Dans Dahlias. I will comment on each site as the orders come in.
My largest order, I ordered 56 perennials in 2 orders from bluestone.(first time ordering with Bluestone)
start with I found their website and catalog to be better than average. packaging is outstanding, some plants did dry a bit in the 3 Days shipping, coco pots i find a plus, plants for the most part came in good condition, my Pulmonaria i need to keep an eye on right now (transplant shock maybe?). orders over $75 you receive a free plant but this can be missed on their website and they will not inform you that you missed it. after missing it the first order i e-mailed about this and a quick responds and my free plant was in the order, some time later i put in a second order
and watched to where i put in for the free plant. ordered the plant
but i didnt feel it recorded on the website and when the order came in i found that to be true. i found this to be minor and didnt bother bluestone about it but it may be an issue with others at Dave's garden.
all in all a good experience with Bluestone.
On Apr 24, 2013, sunny70 Ringwood, NJ (Zone 6b) wrote:
I've had 2 seasons and over 50 plants now from Bluestone, and my experiences have all been positive. In fact, I have come to prefer them over any other online vendor. The coco pots are genius, especially for some of the more fragile perennials. For the first time, I was able to successfully grow lupines and delphiniums - and they came back this spring in zone 6. I planted several perennials in the fall, and they too returned. Customer service is excellent - friendly, prompt and helpful. I wanted to add some plants to my order after placing it and although it was too late, they offered to send me the plants with no extra shipping costs. Selection is also excellent. I highly recommend.
On Apr 13, 2013, nevadagdn Sparks, NV (Zone 7a) wrote:
Posted on April 1, 2003, updated April 13, 2013
This is another company I'd rate a solid "B", somewhere between positive and neutral. The plants are small, and I freely admit that I ordered plants that turned out to be growing wild in the woodlot behind my house in Kansas. I felt quite the idiot for paying money for stuff I could have dug up and planted for free, but Bluestone isn't to blame for my ignorance.
I prefer plants in the 3-6" pot size, because they seem to perform best for me, needing the least care and coddling to survive and reach maturity. Again, that's mere preference on my part, and my only complaint with Bluestone is that they aren't completely clear that the plants they ship are in smaller containers than I like. That could be remedied with a photograph in the catalog.
The plants I have received over the years have been healthy, and not excessively expensive. I just wish (and don't we all?) that they were larger.
On May 11th, 2005, nevadagdn added the following:
This year's order was much better than the orders I received 10 years ago. The pot size is a little larger (no more 72's, I assume), and the plants are also correspondingly larger. They arrived in good condition, even though picking out styrofoam peanuts is a pain. My order this year consisted of 12 chrysanthemum plants (the football mum and quilled/spoon collections). I ordered from Bluestone because I couldn't find this kind of mum except through one other source, and I didn't want quite as many plants as they offered.On May 26th, 2005, nevadagdn added the following:
I have to add another non-complaint--Bluestone sent a packet of all these great coupons for my next order. But I already HAVE all the varieties of the specified plants that I want and/or have room for! I wish Bluestone grew more unusual plants more to my unusual tastes, but to be fair, there are other companies that cater to the plantlover in search of the extremely unusual. Bluestone fills its niche admirably and I can't justify asking them to change because I'm a plantoholic.On September 15th, 2005, nevadagdn added the following:
With all the coupons I used and a half-price sale on selected bulbs, I can't complain about my most recent order. Some plants were a bit small, or a bit anemic-looking, but overall they are healthy and I'm sure all will grow just fine. The mums I ordered in May have done beautifully. Overall, good value for the money.On April 3rd, 2006, nevadagdn added the following:
Can I complain because I FORGOT where I planted many of my bulbs and plants and it's still too early for many of them to emerge? Naaah...that would be silly!On November 1st, 2007, nevadagdn added the following:
An order of half-price bulbs from the recent sale is completely satisfactory; they aren't the largest bulbs available, but they are still excellent value for the money. Ordering, communication and timely order processing/delivery were excellent as usual. The asters I thought were a bit anemic in 2005 have survived and grown beautifully.On April 3rd, 2008, nevadagdn added the following:
I placed a very large order this spring, just received. The 3-pak plants range from small to good-sized, all perfectly healthy and vigorous and ready to either go straight out in the garden or be moved up to 4" pots. I have no complaints.On June 7th, 2008, nevadagdn added the following:
My end-of-season sale order was exactly as I expected. Very nice.On April 13th, 2013, nevadagdn added the following:
I can't decide if I like the new coir pots or not. The plants themselves look really nice. Prices seem to still be reasonable for what I got.
I ordered a clematis "Royalty" a year and a half ago, and it died. Bluestone sent me a replacement last spring, and the poor thing is struggling so badly, I almost want to put it out of its misery. It is still less than 6 inches tall. Meanwhile, the clematis I ordered from Brushwood Nursery grows like a weed every year. I am done with Bluestone - their quality is just not as good as it used to be.
On Apr 8, 2013, Bluestone Perennials responded with:
We are so sorry to hear that neither of the Clematis Royalty that we sent did well for you. If you would be in touch directly, we can refund your money, or send any other plant selection of your choice. We would like the opportunity to regain your trust. Please give us the chance to do so? 1-800-852-5243 or helpdesk@bluestoneperennials.com
On Apr 16, 2013 4:10 PM, Bluestone Perennials added:
Thank you for being in touch and allowing us to resolve this per your wishes."
Posted on June 21, 2012, updated April 7, 2013
Posted on May 2, 2012, updated June 21, 2012
Posted on April 4, 2009, updated May 2, 2012
Received my first order from BSP and was very happy with
the plants and the way they were packaged. I will be ordering
again soon!
On June 7th, 2009, Patt52 added the following:
Just received another order from BSP. This time ordered by phone and the lady in Customer Service was very polite and helpful. My order came very fast and the plants were still moist and fresh. Thanks Bluestone for providing us with great plants and service! Looking forward to ordering again soon. On June 7th, 2009, Patt52 added the following:
Just received another order from BSP. This time ordered by phone and the lady in Customer Service was very polite and helpful. My order came very fast and the plants were still moist and fresh. Thanks Bluestone for providing us with great plants and service! Looking forward to ordering again soon. On May 2nd, 2012, Patt52 added the following:
Ordered 3 plants and received them a few days ago! They are smaller than what I get from other companies but seem to still do very well. When I opened the box a lot of dirt had fallen out of 1 of them, but I think it will be fine. I planted all 3 yesterday and can't wait to see them in full bloom! Thanks Bluestone!!On June 21st, 2012, Patt52 added the following:
Ordered 3 more plants from BSP Spring Sale. Received in good condition except for the Blue Paradise Phlox, which was too tall for the box and broke upon taking it out. Got in touch with them and they quickly send a replacement! Thanks so much, it's nice to know when you order plants through the mail that you can rest assure that this company has great service!!! On April 7th, 2013, Patt52 added the following:
Just received my first order of this year from BSP and everything was great, from the service to the plants. Even got a free plant because I ordered the max amount required. Thanks again Bluestone!!!
I ordered three plants: 1 Clematis & 2 Hydrangias. They arrived healthy & well-packed. The pots might have been a bit small (maybe 3" size) but each plant was tall & had strong stems. I liked that the pots were obviously bio-degradable - I can plant the pot & all - a nice touch. They have a beautiful catalogue which is a little confusing to use at first, but the plants that arrived matched the healthy look of their pictures. One additional note: the clematis I ordered is one for which I had been searching for over 15 years! The costs were reasonable. I will buy from them again & recommend this nursery to others.
On Apr 6, 2013, gdpmgary Highland Acres, DE (Zone 7a) wrote:
I recently purchased a number of perennials from Bluestone Perennials. The plants received were meticulously packed with excellent usage of green materials. The coco pots are not only green + functional but they ensure the consumer never receives rootbound plants from Bluestone as the Coco pots are so highly biodegradeable that the likelihood they will last for any appreciable amount of time is almost impossible. Having a fairly new property, the time savings in being able to simply dig a small hole and plant - pot and all is a real consumer pleaser. I give Bluestone Perennials two enthusiastic thumbs up. Everything about the company oozes quality! Gary from Lewes, Delaware
On Apr 4, 2013, LandscapeDAWG Vicksburg, MS wrote:
I am giving them a positive review because:
1. Plants came in ahead of schedule.
2. Plants were in great shape.
3. Potting was excellent with the new packaging they use.
The only thing that could have been better was the size of the plants. There was lots of headspace in the boxes so I was thinking the plants would have had plenty of room to be bigger. That being said, I realize that it is April and the plants have not had that much time to mature.
All in all a great mail order experience and would order from them anytime.
On Mar 24, 2013, curlyjoe1967 Marshfield, WI wrote:
Posted on June 3, 2008, updated March 24, 2013
I have ordered from this company three times now. I have always been satisfied with their plants. They've all grown well and most have bloomed the first year. None of their plants have ever died on me either, except for the one that the cute little chipmunk chewed off. Oh well!!! This is good company. I will certainly order from them again.
On March 24th, 2013, curlyjoe1967 added the following:
It's about time they make it back on the Top 30. They deserve it. They have great plants, good prices, and excellent customer service.
I have ordered from Bluestone Perennials since 2008. I would estimate that a third of their plants would die, especially those from the 3 packs. I quit ordering for a year because of my disappointment. But I went back to them in 2012 due to the new coconut pots. Just in case, I ordered sale items in order to keep the price lower. By the end of the summer everything I had ordered in 2012 was still alive! That was never my experience with Bluestone in previous years. I can't wait to see if the 2012 plants made it through the winter and if they will thrive in 2013. In any case, I placed another order last week. If you gave up on Bluestone, try again.
Posted on April 26, 2011, updated December 14, 2012
Posted on April 28, 2006, updated April 26, 2011
They used to be better. I've gotten stuff from them for years and the last two have been the worst. It used to be buy 2 get 1 free. Then it was changed from that to 25%.and this year it's 20%. On top of that that the plants they sent last spring were all out of their pots & everthing was all over & dried out. They sent replacements but this year the same thing happened. dried out plants out of their pots & dirt all over. On top of that the replacements that they sent were even worse. The replacements were in worse condition that the original ones this spring. I'm waiting to see if I'll get a refund for all this trouble as I was told, but Bluestone's not as reliable as they used to be.
On May 4th, 2006, woof12 added the following:
On May 2nd. Bluestone replied to this rating & my comment of April 28th., but for now I'm keeping it as is. I've contacted the company and now I'm just waiting for the refund. But I still don't see it as being the carrier's fault as they suggested. I've gotten other plants thru various mail order places & never had problems like these. I still think Bluestone has a problem with the way their plants are packed and shipped. The plants arrived totally bone dry & all over the carton out of their pots. That's not the carrier. That's how they were probably packed up in shipping. On May 9th, 2006, woof12 added the following:
The refund from Bluestone finally came thru but I I still stand with the original rating & I see I'm not the only one with this problem. Also, since Bluestone will see this it would be nice if they did something about their shipping & handling department. There's no excuse for what happened!On April 25th, 2007, woof12 added the following:
Geez! Another so-so order. A few plants were okay but some were too small and got weighed down by all those stupid peanuts. One was so small it shouldn't been shipped, at least not yet & not at those prices. Also, some of the plant pots/cells were broken. in shipping. On April 26th, 2011, woof12 added the following:
Another loser of an order. Out of everything ordered ony 3 plants were any good. The rest were either dead or dried up. They replaced the dead & dried up ones, but some replacements had the same problem. On December 14th, 2012, woof12 added the following:
Just got their spring 2013 catalog & don't like anything about the new system they have forsing their catalog. now they sell just one plant in a plantable pot for double what the old way cost. I still think the old way was better.On Dec 14, 2012, Bluestone Perennials responded with:
"
On May 2, 2006 3:09 PM, Bluestone Perennials added:
Bluestone here: Sorry to hear that your order is not surviving transit. If once carrier is more gentle in your area than another, we can assign a method of shipping to your order of your choice. We can't tell who you are from this site, but we hope you have contacted us directly for a full refund. Our apologies.
On Apr 28, 2011 10:25 AM, Bluestone Perennials added:
We are glad that you have been in touch regarding a refund on your order, as this is always an option with our 100% guarantee. We are as disappointed as you are that your plants arrived in poor condition."
Posted on February 4, 2012, updated October 20, 2012
Just made an order of 6 Hardy Sugar Cane. Pricing was exceptional! $7.50 per plant with the 3+ discount. This is the first order I have placed with them so I dont know what the pricing was last year. Considering that the other company offering them is Plant Delights Nursery- they are selling for $20.00 a plant! They are both highly recommened so for me it was a no brainer. With shipping my order was $55.00 vs. $120.00 from Plant Delights. Will post updates with my order.
On October 20th, 2012, kazen added the following:
Well since my last post my Hardy sugar cane arrived in the coco pots looking fantasic and healthy. When I recieved them they were about 12" high, in one growing season they are now with flower and 6' tall!!! I was concerned about the coco pots not allowing for root growth but now looking at my huge and still growing grass,I'd say they did well. This company has been phenomenal and I will be ordering much more from them in the future!!
On Oct 5, 2012, daffodil_lover Nova, OH (Zone 5a) wrote:
I found Bluestone last year only because of also finding Dave's Garden. Many people had great things to say about Bluestone. I ordered some plants last year and they were great. I am writing today because I ordered some end of season specials this fall. In just two days these 5 lovely plants were on my doorstep. Nice plants and fantastic service. They also have a wonderful selection of plants. I will definitely buy plants from them in the future.
I ordered from them a few years ago and was happy with the quality of the plants. I ordered some hens and chicks, bulbs and oriental poppies. I moved and had to leave the plants behind. Since I moved, I've been ordering from a few companies this spring and fall to stock my new place. I commend this company for their awesome shipping/FedEx notification policies and the great plant material I received. I ordered from the other companies before I placed my 2 orders with Bluestone this fall and I am still waiting for the other companies shipments. I called the other companies and they tell me they cannot even give me an estimate for delivery. It's a little hard to plan planting without any info. The Bluestone material is already planted and looks ready to take off. These guys are the best I've seen in years, that is why I am taking the time to recommend them.
Posted on June 7, 2009, updated October 1, 2012
I have been using this company for several years now and am quite happy with them. Once in a while in the order a plant may arrive in bad shape and all you have to do is call and it is quickly replaced no questions asked. Yes, the plant arrives smaller then most of the other mail orders, but they mature to beautiful plants. Sometimes something you order may not thrive, but that is more because of the zone, the soil or something else not pertaining to Bluestone.
On October 1st, 2012, dlewisny added the following:
Since my last posting, Bluestone started using new potting which makes planting so much easier, and now they do not seem to send a pack of 3 small plants in lieu of one nice sized one. Selections include plants that you sometimes are hard to find elsewhere.
I only utilize 2 mail order companies and they are one of the two. I have used them for years and always look forward to their mail order catalogue.
Should a plant be DOA, they will replace happily. Surprised they are not part of the top 30 in Garden Watchdog.
On Sep 26, 2012, JonSchneider Fleming Island, FL (Zone 9b) wrote:
Posted on September 26, 2012, updated September 26, 2012
Posted on October 26, 2007, updated September 26, 2012
One of the very BEST internet garden sites I have ever dealt with... great plants with excellent packaging. Customer service goes the extra mile in working with you if there is any problem with any of the plants. They deserve to be in the top tier!
On September 26th, 2012, JonSchneider added the following:
Once again, I have ordered from Bluestone and have received excellent quality plants in their new coir pots. The customer service as always is excellent and they saved me shipping costs by combining several orders that were (ordered) months apart.
I am surprised to not see them in the top 30... from my experience over many years with internet gardening sites, they surely deserve to be in the top tier!On September 26th, 2012, JonSchneider added the following:
Once again, I have ordered from Bluestone and have received excellent quality plants in their new coir pots. The customer service as always is excellent and they saved me shipping costs by combining several orders that were (ordered) months apart.
I am surprised to not see them in the top 30... from my experience over many years with internet gardening sites, they surely deserve to be in the top tier!
On Sep 8, 2012, wantlotsofflowers Middlefield, MA wrote:
This company is fantastic. I ordered from their winter sales (you get cheaper plants, they get money in the winter, a win-win) several times last winter & all orders were combined with combined shipping charges & shipped together in the spring. I ordered close to 100 plants. The office staff is extraordinarily helpful & friendly. With so many plants there were a very few problems which were solved instantly. Their packing is wonderful, the plants were healthy. I had heard from others not to plant compostable pots because the plants got root bound before the pot decomposed. Not these pots - the coconut fibers allow the roots to grow out through it. Now in fall, all the plants are still doing beautifully. Also, I had never ordered plants by mail before & I love it! Cheaper plants and you eliminate most of the impulse buying which is so tempting in a nursery. I give Bluestone 5 out of 5 stars!
Posted on June 29, 2012, updated September 3, 2012
Posted on June 9, 2012, updated June 29, 2012
Posted on June 5, 2012, updated June 9, 2012
After seeing Bluestone reviewed here multiple times, I decided to place a "test order". Due to the large selection and the end of season sale, my little test order grew! After submitting my initial order of 47 plants, I realized that I had omitted 9 evergreens. I emailed Bluestone and they updated my order (thank you, Pat, you're fantastic!!!). I received my 56 plants yesterday - some traveled well, some arrived dry and wilted, and one is basically DOA. I have emailed Bluestone and I am comfortable that they will address the DOA Callicarpa. Although I did not receive a shipping notification (fortunately I was home when the boxes arrived) and despite the fact that a few of the plants are rather bedraggled (plus the issue with the Callicarpa), I am giving them a positive review as
- customer service is fantastic (again, thank you, Pat!!)
- the plants were shipped securely (great inserts)
- my order arrived in a timely manner
- they have a wonderful selection and, with the sale prices, everything is attractively priced
- every plant is good-sized, well-branched with full root systems
- I believe that they will respond to my email.
At this point, I would definitely order again.
On June 9th, 2012, Old_Gardener added the following:
Pat at Bluestone has been great. I did send pictures (Bluestone did not request them - I sent them as it was easier for me to show them the plants in question rather than trying to describe their condition) and replacements are on the way. As another reviewer said, problems occur - it is the response that counts and, in this area (as well as others), Bluestone has excelled. I would definitely order from them again.On June 29th, 2012, Old_Gardener added the following:
I did receive the replacements quickly and they looked wonderful. As of today, all of the Bluestone plants are actively growing and doing exceptionally well. I would definitely recommend Bluestone.On September 3rd, 2012, Old_Gardener added the following:
Last spring, I ordered a lot of plants. Unfortunately, one did not recover from shipping and I was told it would be replaced this fall. I was happily surprised when I received a ship notice last week from Bluestone letting me know that they had not forgotten and my plant was on the way. I received it Friday - well packed and good-sized. Thank you, Bluestone, for such great service!
On Aug 31, 2012, asdragon Brooklyn Heights, MO (Zone 6a) wrote:
I just received an order of several fine, healthy plants. As usual it was extremely well packaged and the plants arrived in excellent shape. Among them was a replacement for a plant that arrived in next-to-dead condition. Although the damage appeared to be the result of negligence by the shipping service, Bluestone replaced it for free.
Since I tend to order on a sporadic basis, I like that they combine orders so that the plants arrive in a single lot at the appropriate planting time.
On Aug 14, 2012, mc003 Crown Point, IN (Zone 5a) wrote:
I'm not posting about a specific order but my overall experience. I have placed quite a few orders the last few years, both large and small and it has been nothing but a positive experience. I love the new coco pots. Do I miss the smaller plants that were priced in threes for the most part, yes. However, all the plants that I have ordered since they changed packaging and pricing structure have been far more robust then when they came in threes, plus they are still small enough and priced competitively that I'm still able to plant a whole bed at a time and not go broke. I just recently did five different shade gardens with plants purchased from several orders this past spring. All are doing fabulous even though we had the hottest July on record and abnormally dry conditions. I'm lucky enough to live in one of the parts of Indiana that hasn't been experiencing the extreme drought conditions. I hope this company thrives and lives just as well as the plants they sell! Thank you!
Posted on July 17, 2012, updated July 21, 2012
placed a large order,recieved damp pots with soft mushy leaves.Husband planted them,none grew even with babying them.Not wanting to admit defeat Ilet them struggle with fertilizer.and water.I lost my packing slip;by this time hubby was very upset.I sent Emailexplaing situationand saidI would be willing to buy from them again if they could check my order recordand offer a csecond chance discount. Of course no response.All I wanted was to let them know half dead plants in wet pots wrapped in plastic do not grow;at least free shipping?
On July 21st, 2012, aaflyr changed the rating from negative to positive and added the following:
I easily change my rating to Positive! After speaking with rep.Pat,she helped understand my confusion as to how Bluestone shipsetc.She made right with the plants that didnot bloom.I will contiue to reccomend and purchase from thi top quality grower;Don't miss a chance to plant the best.Buy BluestoneOn Jul 21, 2012, Bluestone Perennials responded with:
Could you please give us a call at your earliest convenience? We reply to every email we receive, and would have offered you a reshipment or a refund without question. I am puzzled - Our plants are not wrapped in plastic (with the exception of a 3/4" removable band at the top of the coconut fiber pot) and they are shipped in a cardboard carrier (again, no plastic). Is it possible they came from another nursery? Let's get to the bottom of this. Call 800-852-5243 or email me directly helpdesk@bluestoneperennials.com We look forward to hearing from you and resolving the situation.
"
On Jul 13, 2012, WoodlandLisa KILLINGWORTH, CT wrote:
Posted on July 10, 2012, updated July 13, 2012
I had made 3 purchases from Bluestone Perennials and up until the 3rd order, I had been satisfied. It was upon receipt of my 3rd order when I opened the box to find 1/2 of my plants (barely seedlings) sickly looking and half dead. I took pictures of them all along with the plant ID cards, and then I emailed Bluestone Perennials the pictures, complete with the order number and advised them of the plants' conditions upon arrival, expressed my severe dissatisfaction and asked them to kindly respond. I never heard a single word back from them in response... not by email, phone or USPS mail. I understand things go wrong in shipping -- anything can happen. But when a customer reports a valid complaint and the company ignores it? Unacceptable. I got no apology, no explanation, no acknowledgement, no attempt to make things right. Of the order, there were 3 of each of following: foxglove, sweet woodruff, zing rose dianthus, and 3 different types of campanula. After planting all 18, only 10 survived. After this, I have never and will never order from them again. I still get the catalogs and merely use them for reference... when I find something I like, I spend my hard earned money elsewhere.
On July 13th, 2012, WoodlandLisa changed the rating from negative to neutral and added the following:
Addendum/update: Bluestone Perennials responded to my post w/ apologies and explanation for why they never received my original email. While I never received any kind of system notification indicating that my email was returned and/or undeliverable to Bluestone, I have since spoken w/ Bluestone and they were extremely pleasant, apologetic and willing to remediate the problem to my satisfaction - either by refunding my money or shipping new plants.
I have elected to have new plants to replace those that died sent to me in the fall. For now, I am keeping my status for this company as neutal until I receive the new plants and see the condition that they are in. As I indicated in my original post, all my plants in that order were not healthy looking and for this reason, I am not fully confident giving a postive status. I will gladly update this post in the fall once I receive new plants.On Jul 13, 2012, Bluestone Perennials responded with:
Sorry to hear that your email was lost in transit. Our server will refuse emails with large pictures or many images, so that may have happened. Please be in touch by phone, or try sending your images individually. We answer every email we receive within 2 days. Let's get this resolved right away to your satisfaction. We can reship or refund at your discretion. Please be in touch, and never hesitate to call if you have not heard from us - we are standing by to help!"
I have ordered from Bluestone the past 2 years. I love their selection and quality of information on their website. I am new to gardening and don't really like the coco pots, but my experience could very well be a product of my inexperience--ended up removing the majority of them from the pots because they seemed to get dry so fast, when I did everything did much better.
I have ordered from Bluestone many times in the past because I loved their "3 small plants" pricing structure. I emailed them and complained to when they announced their change to the new coir pots and increased their prices. They said the plants would be significantly larger than they used to be in the 3 packs. But I ordered this spring, and they're not. Now, Bluestone is charging as much for small plants as I pay for significantly larger plants at my local nurseries. So I won't be ordering from them again unless I find something really unusual in their catalog. It's too bad -- they're reputable, nice people. But they've lost a good customer.
