Where to buy from online?

twopenny

I've always been reluctant to buy plants online but with garden centers now selling only new varities from the same supplier I'm being pushed making a garden from scratch.
Looking for winter honeysuckle. Crocus.co.uk comes up.
Also old roses.
Are any companies more reliable for good plants than others?

WeAreGhosts

If you're buying quite a lot then there's Parkers wholesale - https://www.dutchbulbs.co.uk
They sell a lot of plants at a small size, so I tend to grow on in pots for a while. For example, winter honeysuckle is 5 plants for £12 in 9cm pots.

I've also used the regular Parkers business - https://www.jparkers.co.uk

Also, I've never had a problem with Mail Order Trees - https://www.mailordertrees.co.uk They do more than trees. Postage can be a bit steep.

David Austin roses are lovely. I bought one last year for a special birthday and was very impressed with the size and condition - https://www.davidaustinroses.co.uk They're not cheap, though.

I tend to stay away from the big businesses Thompson & Morgan, Suttons etc. Not been very impressed with the stock.

ka7e

The Secret Gardening Club is very good for starter plants - 9cm pots for £1.99. I have not had any problems with YouGarden, J Parkers, David Austin or even Gardening Express (they got some bad press during lockdown). Ashridge Nurseries for trees and hedging.

Paspatur

I have had great success buying through companies who sell on Ebay but don't know if I am allowed to name them on here?

Fosterdog

I've not used them myself but have helped with planting up a garden where most of the plants came from Woolmans and the quality was exceptional and definitely somewhere I'll buy from in the future, the elderly couple I helped with the planting have previously won awards for their show garden when they could manage to do more so they know what to look for and wouldn't settle for less than the best quality.

I've used FarmerGracy for most of my bulbs the last couple of years and they've been better than anywhere I've ordered from previously, there's always some sort of promo running from a % off certain flowers to free delivery, I've not seen honeysuckle on there though.

twopenny

Thank you all so much. That's more than I hoped for and names I haven't come across. Logical I suppose as I've not looked to buy online before.

Until the pandemic I had a wonderful nursery that stocked the good stuff. Sadly it's closed.

It's a small garden Weareghosts so while I love the idea of so many in one go it's not practical. I am willing to pay extra postage for the plants I want because being small, each plant has to work for it's place through the seasons.

Stater plants may work, it's what I would usually go for, just there was no garden here and I'm faced with a lot of fence and ugly stuff and looking at it for the last 2yrs being stuck in a lot.

Paspatur, I'll have a look around at the suggestions over the next few days and if I'm still lacking I'll be in touch.

Fosterdog it rings a bell. I don't suppose that couple would come and give me advice lol

Don't mention bulbs!! Daffs, normally 2 a penny for months were just a rare, expensive whisper this year. Just when I wanted to do a front display to keep up with the neighbours.

MysteryMe

For roses I would recommend Harkness and Cants. Both are long established rose growers selling good quality stock you can order online.  The roses are not cheap though.

twopenny

Thank you Mystery. I seem to remember Harkness but not a name I've heard for a while.

While I'm a money saver sometimes you have to cough up the cash to get the things you really want.

I've found the old roses really good value for disease resistance, leaf retention, fragarance and growth so worth the extra.

Fortunately the garden is small and once I have the bones of it finished I can return to cheaper fillers in.

How many times have gardeners said that I wonder until you see some must have wonder?

Jaybee_16

I bought three plants through Crocus a few months ago. Plants arrived relatively quickly and well packed. Will probably use them again if I cannot get plants locally. 

Silvertabby

Hayloft and Crocus. 

twopenny

Lovely thanks. I'm almost there with enough plants.

Well as much as there are never enough and more will surprisingly arrive.

Just the special few to get.