Hi,Be prepared to get incorrect varieties even when they are in a sealed packaged with a variety name and a picture. If you don't expect everything to be correct then you will be happy. It happened to me a few times. I like to plan things out(ok I'm picky,lol), so I don't buy them anymore.
Remy

I'm a firm believer that you get what you pay for, so I always shop at the absolute best greenhouse in our area, which happens to be an awesome place. They don't sell toilet seats or two by fours - they sell plants because they are plant experts. The box stores sell the two by fours because they are experts at that.

No they are not the best two by fours but if they are not cheaper why shop there? The same with plants, if you are on an unlimited budget, why shop for price? For those of us living on a retirement income, we are glad for any savings on the plants we buy. Al

I agree completely with Al. If you don't care if it is misnamed or possibly the wrong color and the price is right, go for it!

I have some wonderfull clumps of Asiatics that I bought at either Lowes or W-M. They are wonderful. I just succumbed again and bought a helenium, a bag of Asiatics, a bag of glads, a bag of dahlias (huge things!), and another bag of some bulb (the name escapes me). I needed to fill in a new bed. When they bloom, if they need to be moved to another location, I will.

I love know the correct names of things, but sometimes my budget constraints dictates that I take a chance.

Al and Gldno made my point, too. For numbers and fillers, it doesn't matter. I was slightly annoyed when the box of 'Juanita' and 'Barrett Browning' daffodils from Sams was something else entirely. They weren't part of an overall plan that was spoiled; I just expected the correct flowers.

On the other hand, 'City of Haarlem' hyacinths were just beautiful. My feeling is, if you are determined to have EXACTLY what you think you're buying, order from a reputable bulb dealer who will replace misnamed cultivars when you send a photograph of the 'bad' buy. If you just want volume and pretty flowers, it's fun and economical to see what comes from those boxes and bags.

I still try to work from a plan and not buy 'just because they're there and cheap.' My plan is flexible enough to make instant substitutions. (Any yellow Asiatic instead of 'must be Grand Cru.')

Nell

I agree with most of the posters above--getting the variety you expected from the label from a box store is dicey. But when you just want about a bazillion daffodils, and want small bulbs because you are going to put them in a meadow/orchard/rough grass, then the big box stores can't be beat. I also use the big box offerings to fine-tune my cultivation skills. I don't get nearly as upset if I kill a three dollar dahlia with my incessant experimenting as I would with a six or ten dollar dahlia from a reputable supplier. I don't kill ALL the big-box "experiments", but when I'm pushing the envelope for the first time, I'd rather pay a bit less.

Lisa

I just bought 3 pkg of local "box" stores mixed lilies on 1/2 price sale. Would dearly have loved if the package was really some of what were pictured, a mix of trumpet, asiatic, oriental, & species lilies. From the look of what is in the package I got a total of about 15 oriental lilies & 61 asiatic . Of course, I'm no expert on bulbs, so I might have something else in there too. I do hope there are different colors, but 76 bulbs for less than $12 suits me. They've sprouted a bit, but look quite healthy. Usually what you find at these stores are pretty common types anyway. I have rarely received the wrong bulb, but for the price, I don't mind.

One thing to consider is that the box stores don't necessarily have the best price. Example, I bought two picotee begonia tubers from Home Depot for $4.98. Before I could plant them I saw at a retail nursery (Lexington Gardens) the same begonia tubers for $2.20 each, totaled to $4.40. The difference was at Lexington Gardens the tubers were huge (at least 4x bigger) and healthy and I got to select my own. So I ended up returning the HD ones. The retail nursery also had all named varieties, no red begonias etc.

This year however I was impressed by Home Depot's selection. I ended up getting some caladiums there. They also seem to be carrying more named varieties which is good.

I have to say that everything I've ever bought at a big box store has worked out fantastic, and I totally agree with lgrmiller about how I feel better about trying a new thing for cheap! Maybe I've just been really lucky, but I can't resist those good deals!

Ditto above. I've had good luck, and bad luck. Last year I bought a bag of Wyoming canna, and not a single one grew. It only cost me four dollars, not a big deal. I will pay more this year because I really want some. You get what you pay for.

I agree you get what you pay for, but here's one small thing to consider.

The proper nurseries and small growers have to make a living, they supply the rarer and more unusual bulbs, some of which can take 7 years from seed to flower, most take 3 years. This costs money.

The smaller growers are also responsible for producing many new varieties of the plants that are not as widespread and quick to bulk up like daffodils and Asiatic lilies.

If you never want to try something a little more unusual then keep buying from the box stores (over here in the UK they're called supermarkets) as the smaller, dedicated growers will go out of business, they can't compete. The huge numbers of daffodil and other 'fast to bulk up' bulbs will be all that's available. When these huge concerns have the monopoly on the market, what do you think they are going to do with the prices? they're going to go up - it's happening here already.

I'm not saying you should all pay more for bulbs, but maybe just put one order a year a out to a specialist grower/nursery. Use them or lose them.

If it helps to know, deeds1, I do that too :) There are some "just gotta have em" flowers/bulbs I get every year. I just can't afford lots at one time, but keeps me planning for the next year.

I shop mail order, local nurseries & the big guys & agree that for out of the ordinary of a got-to-have-it, the big guys probably aren't the first choice, but I'm currrently enjoying half a dozen amaryllis that I picked up on sale in '04 at Home Depot & have replanted (indoors of course) for the second season. They've gotten bigger each year and have up to 8 blooms on each plant. Not bad for less than a dollar each! Closeout sales are great to try something different!

deeds1, I wouldn't worry that much. Many of the very best suppliers deal in smaller volumes in the first place, and would be overwhelmed by box-store/supermarket demand.

If I were to make one suggestion, it would be for avid gardeners and specialist garden suppliers to start pestering Tony Blair at every turn to get the United States to relax its plant import regulations so that individuals can purchase bulbs and seeds easily from the UK again.

I buy from UK specialists (they have so many truly wonderful bulbs and seeds for me to try) when I'm able, but several wonderful suppliers won't even ship to the United States because of the regulations. Had I known that things were that bad when I was in the UK in 2004, I would have done my best to smuggle bulbs and seeds back to the United States in my overcoat pockets. Since I didn't know that, I returned home with a forgotten conker in my pocket and Jaffa Cakes in my luggage. I declared the Jaffa Cakes.

Lisa

I've ordered from several of the widely-used catalogs over the years, with varying results, BUT the absolute BEST bulbs I've ever purchased have been the ones I find in grocery box stores in my area which are packaged under the name of "Netherlands Bulb Company." Tulips are six-eight per package, and the largest and most robust tulip bulbs I've ever seen, and they have also been totally mold free. The ones I've grown have been true to type and the most vigorous, with the largest blooms by comparison with identical varieties I've bought from either catalogs or goods and hardware box stores. Other bulbs and corms are offered, from Acidanthera to Zephranthes, which all look large and in very good condition. I planted lots last fall.

Maybe this source is the exception to the rule that "you get what you pay for"?

cranebill

I forgot to mention that the grocery store bulbs from the Netherlands Bulb Co. cost only $2.00 per box, and that many of the other kinds of bulbs and corms I alluded to have as many as ten per package. Quite a bargain for such super bulbs. I pay at least three times more on average from any other suppliers.

cranebill

I grabed big box bulbs, 2 kinds of daffs at 75% off sale price in Dec, had to hold them a week before planting cause of bad weather. They all are coming up and have buds Don't know if they will be true to type cause don't remember what they were. I figured at that price, hand't lost anything if they didn't come up.

Hi ljrmiller, I know exactly where you are coming from. I have a small nursery specialising in rare bulbs (hime grown - lots from seed), and I get enquiries all the time from the USA and Canada, and can't supply. Not only because of the cost, but the time taken for the inspections that have to be done to get the paperwork (at least two visits - each taking at least 1 - 2 hours).

The UK is still fairly insular in many ways, they make it very difficult for small growers to even export to Europe as the banks charge huge amounts for accepting foreign currency payments too.

Hope you enjoyed the Jaffa Cakes, they are one of my favourites.

I've worked at two garden centers. The live plants, bulbs, etc. are often the same source as those found in the box stores. Especially the bulbs, etc.

In fact, who do you think gets the first choice and best service when they make an order: the buyer from Home Depot who is making a 5 million dollar order or the garden center owner who is making one for 5 thousand?

Don't be fooled by by labels and pots. Large distributors contract out to a variety of greenhouses, bulb farms, etc.

There is a good coment above about the box stores not always being the least expensive. The biggies often average out their prices so the customer pays '4.99' (or whatever). This makes normally more expensive bulbs and plants more of a bargain and less expensive ones less of a bargain.

There is an issue with what happens to the plants after they arrive at a box store. I'm sure this varies across the continent but Walmart is AWFUL...in contrast home Depot usually has trained horticulturalists.

At the end of the day I'm willing to spend a bit more (up to 20%) to support a local garden center but not a lot more.