Rating | Author | Content |
Negative | Nansy Wynnewood, PA (1 review) May 22, 2018 | My gardener had me choose hellebores from the Pine Knot Farms catalog. He planted them in the fall of 2017. When they bloomed in 2018, instead of having a variety of 4 different bright colors, as shown in the catalog, there was a vast predominance of one color — maybe two. And the color was so dull, that the plants were actually unpleasant to look at — nothing like the cheery colors shown in the catalog. I had my gardener write to the company, showing them photos of my plants. Mr. Richard Tyler responded to my gardener, saying that the colors of my plants are accurate, that the photos we sent were of “weeks old blooms not exhibiting their peek of color,” and that he could not give us a refund. Well, in fact, the plants reached their peek of color a few weeks *after* the photos were taken. The dull color is only *half* the problem. The worst part of the problem is that the plants are all the SAME color —a dull, dark purple. Hardly any variation. This fact was shown clearly in the photos. The plant-labels that came with the bulbs had DIFFERENT color-names written on them, but the actual plants were mostly all the SAME color. So disappointed... |
Neutral | lamamabotanica Pasadena, CA (1 review) December 15, 2017 | Fantastic plants and selection but communication was absent.
I was delighted to find such an amazing selection and really decent prices for hellebores. Also really happy that they still ship even though it's getting cold in many parts of the country (but perfect planting weather here in Southern California). I placed an order, then read about two other varieties I really wanted to try. I emailed to see if it was possible to add to the order. No reply. I figured I'd just place the order for the additional plants anyway. I put a comment in my order to please combine them and it would be nice if there was a reduced shipping cost. I got no answer. I received the box with both my orders. I paid the full shipping costs for two orders. It doesn't say how they calculate shipping on their website (or at least I couldn't find it). It's entirely possible it would be the same cost regardless of whether they shipped them together or not (though I doubt it). Even then a response would have been appreciated. I'm more interested in quality plants than in good customer service but frankly I was disappointed to not get any response at all to my two communiques. The plants look great though! |
Positive | glendower West Park, NY (3 reviews) May 10, 2017 | I ordered a flat of 36 seedlings from Pine Knot Farms. They were delivered when I asked and were well packed. The soil was still wet when I opened the box. The seedlings themselves were all beautiful and healthy, most of them with quite dense root balls. The more roots, the better. And you can't beat the price! $99 for 36 hellebores. I'll shop here again, for sure. |
Positive | Spacefarmer Highland Park, NJ (1 review) May 17, 2016 | Great quality Helleborus plants, large selection, very good packing and quick shipping. Shipping may appear to be a bit expensive, but the packaging is really done well and the per plant prices are excellent. The website could be slightly more user friendly with respect to navigation, so be diligent to explore it in order to see the very large selection they have. |
Positive | crazy4brugs Kansasville, WI (Zone 5a) (18 reviews) April 7, 2016 | Posted on May 21, 2015, updated April 7, 2016
Great looking plants that were very well packaged. Excellent customer service. A great source for Hellebores. On April 7th, 2016, crazy4brugs added the following:
Another order from Pine Knot Farms and the quality is outstanding. Nice size plants for the money. |
Positive | bobec Chapel Hill, NC (1 review) May 1, 2015 | I have been growing Hellebores for the past five years and became intrigued by the double flowered varieties. One day I way doing some online searches and came upon the Pine Knot Farm Hellebore nursery in Clarksville, VA site. They had every color double flowered Hellebore that I wanted. After buying 17 of their small plants and 7 of their larger sized plants I was excited to have found Pine Knot Farms as a source for Hellebores. I planted my new small plants in a prepared raised bed. Some of these had no new leaves yet but had 2-4 small old growth leaves still holding on. After a month or so seven of the small plants did not break dormancy and showed no signs of doing so. I contacted Pine Knot Farms by e-mail and explained the situation. In a short time I received an e-mail reply that they would replace the seven plants that did not break dormancy. I received the placements by UPS in a few days . They were packaged well and arrived in excellent condition. I could not be more pleased with Pine Knot Farms and their quality plants and service. |
Positive | Clove Union City, NJ (17 reviews) May 22, 2014 | I ordered six Hellebores which I received right away. Pine Knot Farms excels on all counts: Excellent customer service--excellent packaging & shipping to New Jersey--and excellent hellebores. The plants are extremely healthy & beautiful. I will definitely order from Pine Knot Farms again. |
Positive | Patty57 Wake Forest, NC (Zone 7b) (27 reviews) March 29, 2014 | Each year I make it a point to attend Pine Knot Farms Hellebore Festival in February. It's a lovely experience and I have gone home with such beautiful plants that have grown so well in my garden beds. Would highly recommend this Nursery. |
Positive | jlghertner Sodus, NY (2 reviews) April 28, 2012 | Perfect retailer. Their hellebores are of superior quality and much more hardy than I have received from many other places. I have been dealing with this family for several years. They ship when I request and have replaced any plants that do not survive (probably three plants out of ~40) the worst weather in the Continental US (my opinion, of course): upstate NY on Lake Ontario where we get heavy snows, extreme cold with common temperature changes of 50 degrees in a matter of hours, severe ice storms, drought and heavy rains, all of which can occur in one spring season. |
Positive | AuntieFlo Philadelphia, PA (2 reviews) March 6, 2012 | I’ve never ORDERED from Pine Knot Farms but I bought plants in September 2010 when they were an invited vendor at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society members' day.
It was so hard to choose from all of the plants they offered. The owner spent a lot of time talking to me about the plants and their care. The plants did ok the first year, but this year several of them are already covered with blooms. I’ll be looking to buy from them again when they travel up to southeastern PA.
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Positive | BobPlant Melrose, MA (12 reviews) August 11, 2010 | Ordered from them twice. Excellent experience. Judith is professional and quick to respond. I am now in possession of several very healthy and substantial Hellebores. Well packaged and fine on arrival. Good value. Highly recommended. |
Positive | Ashley99 Gloucester, MA (2 reviews) March 20, 2010 | Great service, immediate response to my email and lightning fast turnaround. Plants look robust. A+ |
Positive | avacon Somerville, MA (2 reviews) July 25, 2009 | I ordered a number of hellebores and some hosta from Pine Knot Farms. They showed up amazingly well-packed and in great condition. The plants are also of a great size, and they had a good selection. I would certainly recommend them to anyone looking to order hellebores.
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Positive | skaggs88 Spicewood, TX (11 reviews) January 18, 2009 | I was searching for a particular iris in the early fall and had only found it listed in a very, very few online nurseries. However the plant was always sold out, but then I saw Pine Knots had the iris listed on their website so I called the company. The gentleman who answered was so pleasant. He told me he would go "down" and see if he still had any remaining. I told him that I would love to have as many as five plants if he had them. I gave him my credit card info and he said that he would charge the card appropriately.
Within the week I received the 5 plants and the invoice indicating the correct charges.
It is now early January and these iris really indicate the vigor of very healthy plants. I have ordered from many companies and Pine Knots plants and customer service are exceptional. |
Positive | 4estspyrit Otis, OR (1 review) January 1, 2009 | I ordered a Mrs.Betty Ranicar Hellebore from Pine Knot last summer to plant on my Kitty's grave. The gentleman who answered the phone and put my order through was so kind and helpful! He helped me choose the variety for my area (Mid Oregon Coast) and it arrived in wonderful condition, lovingly packed. It is growing very well and just came through a week of snow! I will definitely order from Pine Knot Farms again. |
Positive | juanwillis Winchester, MA (Zone 6a) (28 reviews) April 30, 2008 | I've ordered hellebores twice from Pine Knot Farms; once in the Fall with their 1.5 gallon sizes, and once in the spring with their 1 quart sizes. Both times the plants were of terrific quality and size--it was really impressive to open the box and see what's inside. The owners have been very friendly on the phone as well. I'll look forward to ordering from Pine Knot again. |
Positive | wyldeflwr Laurel, MD (Zone 7a) (15 reviews) April 23, 2008 | I received plants from the co-op hosted by flowrgirl1 and could not believe how large, how healthy and well developed the root system was on the plants. These plants are excellent and I would recommend them to anyone. |
Positive | MollyD1953 Columbia, TN (Zone 7b) (3 reviews) April 23, 2008 | Participated in flowrgirl1 co-op with them. Hellebores I received were excellent! Really great value for the money. |
Positive | flowrgirl1 Winston-Salem, NC (Zone 7a) (4 reviews) March 20, 2008 | I am doing a co op with Pine Knot as I write this and i must say they are great! Judith answers my emails everyday, quickly! The prices are great as well. I will post more when the co op is finished.
On April 16th, 2008, flowrgirl1 added the following:
I received the hellebores today and couldnt be happier! They are very large and healthy for one year old plants. Excellant packing as well. I would and will recomend pine knot to all who are looking for first class treatment and hellebores. A+++ |
Positive | kkirschbaum Newburyport, MA (Zone 6b) (29 reviews) November 29, 2007 | I just received my first order of hellebores from PKF and am pleased to say that the service was perfect. All the plants are sturdy and healthy, the sizes seem larger than the "quarts" other mail order nurseries have sent me, and the shipment arrived quickly and very well packed. The owner is extremely knowledgeable and seems very willing to share information about the plants even before an order is placed. All in all, highly recommended for service, and they have a wide and unusually broad selection of hellebore species and cultivars not necessarily easily found elsewhere. |
Positive | declfi Fenton, MO (Zone 6b) (30 reviews) March 19, 2007 | Nice plants and fast shipping |
Positive | ladyisle Bohemia, NY (Zone 7a) (34 reviews) March 7, 2007 | I just received my hellebores today and am very happy with their size and condition. The pots are larger than the "quarts" and "gallons" that other mail order nurseries use. Buying from the grower was a great experience as they know what they are talking about when they describe their stock.
A few years ago, I ordered "Pine Knot Strain" hellebores from another mail order company. They arrived in 3" pots and were more expensive.
I just want to say thank you for the beautiful plants and the great service. I will be ordering from you again. |
Positive | tbuff Nellysford, VA (Zone 6a) (38 reviews) November 8, 2006 | The owner was extremely helpful and a wealth of information on hellebores. He helped me decide upon the best varieties for my collection-and what variety! The plants were very well packaged and healthy. I would definitely order from this company again. |
Positive | rosephan Hopatcong, NJ (12 reviews) April 27, 2006 | SUPER plants. Plants arrived in 3 days to my NJ location with the best packaging I have ever seen. Three were BLOOMING. Even their small size plants are huge compared to what you get from other places. Very healthy green plants with huge root systems. Would not hesitate to order from them again. |
Positive | AS (Zone 7a) (46 reviews) September 14, 2005 | The plants were fresh, very healthy, and packed well enough to survive abuse by UPS. I was afraid of what I'd find when I saw the box - it was slightly smashed, the tape had come partly off, and there was a little dirt around the top. But the plants came through it all just fine and look like I picked them up at the nursery. On July 26th, 2007, AS added the following:
I highly recommend their seedlings. The seedlings I bought two years ago were obviously healthy and have done splendidly. They bloomed this spring, and I like them even better than the blooming-size plant I got (which was nice, too). |
Positive | smilingpoppy Groveland, MA (3 reviews) May 7, 2005 | I placed my first order with Pine Knot Farms this spring based on the positive reviews from other gardeners on this site. Judith was such a help with all of my questions and she was willing to hold my order for me while I waited for our record breaking snow to melt. I was thrilled to see the quality and size of my hellebores upon arrival. They have settled in quite nicely and I am happy to recommend PKF to anyone who may be interested in growing these beautiful flowers. |
Positive | purplepinkpolka Leesburg, VA (14 reviews) October 21, 2004 | Just got my order from Pine Knot. PKF did a tremendous job (specially shaped cardboard boxes, lots of rubberbands)with packing and the plants are all very healthy. I spoke to Judith, the co-owner, and she was very nice and very responsive. I'd definately buy from PKF again. |
Positive | slubberdegulion Roanoke, VA (Zone 7a) (33 reviews) September 22, 2004 | I'm astonished by the size and quality of the helebores I've received! The packaging was very good (almost too good, after a hard day of weeding...very securely packed!) and would have easily made a much longer trip than across the State. I can't wait to see them bloom, their leaves are already becoming. |
Positive | dckate (1 review) January 6, 2004 | this small company truly impresses me, and not just for its remarkable hellebores. in september, after getting expert advice from a member of pine knot's staff, i ordered boughton beauty and ashwood white hellebores. one plant failed to thrive, but since the rest of the order was so glorious i forgot about it until four months later, when i had the free time to email the company. the owner, judith, responded immediately and graciously, and within two days i had received a spectacular replacement--a far superior plant to the one i paid for. |
Positive | Shirley1md Ellicott City, MD (Zone 7a) (4 reviews) May 18, 2003 | I organized & ran the Helleborus Co-op during the Spring 2003 season. In my opinion, Pine Knot Farms, is a 1st class Nursery, and rates an A+ for the quality & size of their "deep 36 cell-starts" for the Hellebores "Piccadilly Strain", that were ordered through the co-op.
It was a pleasure working with Judith Tyler, co-owner of the Nursery, along with her husband Charles. She made the process of ordering 720 Hellebores easy, their packing & shipping was 1st rate, and I received their "starts" (which looked like 1yr. old plants) in a very timely manner.
Shipping the Hellebores to co-op participants was a lot of work, but done so with loving hands and with my excellent assistant Jody! Participants commented that the Hellebores looked as if they had been dug up in one part of my garden and moved to the other side of my yard. The majority of plants travelled very well to the co-op participants due to the excellent quality of deep cell starts from Pine Knot Farms!
I would NOT hesitate to highly recommend & use them again in the future!!! I just hope that they will consider different varieties of Hellebores to sell wholesale in the future! |
Positive | Cheryl_IL (Zone 5b) (6 reviews) December 7, 2001 | Full-line perennial growers specializing in Hellebores.
Hellebores are a new perennial for me so before I ordered, I asked plenty of questions. All my questions were answered patiently, promptly, professionally, and friendly. Delivery time was exceptional and so are the hellebores. Planting instructions were even included. I can't wait to plant the seeds too.
I'm thrilled with the service and with the plants. I'm hoping to order more hellebores in spring and possibly crossing other perennials off my "wish list" On April 2nd, 2003, Cheryl_IL added the following:
Ordered again in Spring/Summer 2002 and forgot to post more feedback but I have to because I'm so pleased (again). The service was great as I expected it to be and so were the plants. In fact, my hellebores from 2002 have lots of buds already! |