*** Everyone I know has eventually reached that conclusion.

Jeri

I used to order from Hortico. A couple years ago I ordered Outta The Blue. It was obviously mislabeled. The rose is pale lavender and looks nothing like my other OTB. When I contacted them...no replacement. I have not ordered from them again.

Like you I've ordered roses from Hortico that were hard to find elsewhere. None were truly a grade 1 rose, closer to a grade 1 1/2. Quality was mixed with many showing lots of harvest and obvious storage damage. All have grown the first year and none I received were mislabeled but the smaller size and low quality of the plants caused some to not survive the first winter.
I agree with your critique of them.
Like most other nurseries, their business doesn't depend solely on the Rose Forum's members. They probably get enough from other unknowing buyers but eventually their attitude and poor quality will catch up to them.

The first time I ordered from Hortico was in 2007. I didnÂt read their directions for planting as IÂve been gardening for close to 30 years and have planted numerous bare root plants without any problems. I only ordered 5 roses that year but two of them died (both Rugosas) right after I planted them. I called them and they told me they werenÂt going to replace them and that I needed to follow their instructions. So last year when I ordered more roses I followed their instructions to a tee. All of the roses survived, but one of them that is supposed to be a species looked very un-species like. I deceided to wait until it bloomed to make sure it wasn't what I ordered. It bloomed this year and turned out to be an unknown Damask. They offered some suggestions as to what it is based on what Damasks they sell, but IÂm going to have to do more research to figure it out. This last spring I ordered four more roses from them and planted them per their instructions. Two of them have grown well, the third lived but isnÂt doing much at all and the fourth (Acapella) died right after I planted it. I emailed them requesting a replacement and never heard back from them. I've decided that three strikes and you're out, so I won't be ordering from them again.

If you keep after them, and do all communicating by email so you have a record and can just say "what about this" when they forget to follow up, they will replace failed roses. I got almost a whole batch of failures last year (very late in the season, after I had emailed a cancellation of the order), so this year, I got (yesterday as a matter of fact) 15 replacement bareroots.

You also neeed to give them a few alternates for the replacements, variety wise, or you may just sit on the "backordered" list forever.

But the key is keeping after them -- once every two weeks is not too much -- and doing it by email.

Kathy

When I had placed my order last December, the gal at Hortico emailed back and forth as to availability, even saying theyÂd attempt to source a variety not in their listing, so I was pleased with that. Come April, the Palatine and Pickering orders arrived healthy and on time, as they always do ... though, I awaited upon Hortico and soon thought I should drop them a line. The reply I had gotten was "DidnÂt you receive my email? ... none of the roses you ordered are available" ... WHAT the heck ? ... they took my depoist, but no roses were shipped. Now, IÂm locked into placing another order, though I donÂt know if I even want to again deal with this company ... cause, in the past IÂve had mixed results with their quality.

Hortico might have a very large selection, though one takes their chances with both quality and whether roses will prove to be true to name. BUT, in all honesty, would it kill anyone if they forego a particular rose or roses being offered by this company???

Ptgrose makes reference above to Hortico's planting instructions. Many experienced rose growers know that those very quirky instructions run counter to instructions provided by other suppliers of bare root roses. I've concluded that when it comes to their off-the-wall instructions, there's a method to Hortico's madness: The instructions are one of the ploys that Hortico invokes to let themselves off the hook (while keeping your money) when the product they ship to you is either dead on arrival or croaks soon thereafter. It's a ploy that they've certainly used successfully on me.

No, Markrjc, it won't kill anyone to forego a rose, but that's hardly the issue. What is an issue is foregoing good money and attempting to deal with a company that, time and again, has demonstrated total disregard for basic customer service and fairness.

On the Antique Roses Forum there's a recent lengthy Hortico thread, linked below for anyone who has an inclination and the fortitude to acquire additional info about that outfit's record . . .

Here is a link that might be useful: More Hortico Woe

"What is an issue is foregoing good money and attempting to deal with a company that, time and again, has demonstrated total disregard for basic customer service and fairness." ... Jaxondel, that was indeed the point I was attempting to make!

WOW usually I see just a blurb on a paticular rose selling company in the hands of a off knowing grower or two but holly cow you guys I am so gald I stoped in on this thread.. Having some awareness that not just Horico wanting your money but dayumm this is sometimes consitant from others as well. I am thankful I had no dealings with Hortico in the past rest assured these comments will make sure I never shop with them. from me to all of you this is Triple B rose sales with the very best of reviews Yes a well ernt thanks from me for this info. Very sorry it had to happen to you .

There are some more rose dealers out there that want nothing more then your money buyer beware from Spam to Scams roses are not exempt.

I too have received roses from Hortico that look like the rose's jont1 has described. I also called for a replacement and was told they will replace the one rose that arrived with cranker when I place another order, and that they will send it along with the new order. Well I just gave up. I agree with everything you are all posting, they do have a great selection but, I can live without certian rose's then putting up with rose blackmail.
Carrie

Hortico's reputation has always been bad. I used to defend them all the time, mainly because of the scope of the roses they offer that no one else has. But this last season was not a good one for me. I lost several that never broke dormancy; several were mismarked (or possibly rootstock) and some simply were different roses with the same names as the ones I had ordered.

They need to fix the descriptions to coincide with what the roses really are. Many of the roses have totally different colors listed than their own pictures show. They just don't seem to know exactly what they do have. At least now they don't list a humongous batch of roses that they don't really have and never will. That's what was frustrating.

On a lighter note, I received my latest order a few days ago, and the plants were well hydrated, decent size (for their plants), and budeyes showing. They are soaking now, and hopefully next season they will bloom true. Guess we'll see then...

Beth!!! They're soaking now, & you're lollygagging on Gardenweb??? Remember, Hortico mandates a 20-minute soak for all its roses -- no more, no less. I don't care what time it is in your zone right now, I suggest you get right out there and get those roses planted posthaste. Hurry.

I'm also finished with Hortico for good. Lackluster service,plants dying without breaking dormancy, money is wasted,etc. Fortunately the last was a small order and I'm an infrequent and now forever former customer.

Vendors like Hortico reinforce how important quality is. For me,it is preferable to get a second choice from a respected seller with nicer stock or just go in another direction plant wise. As opposed to taking low percentage gambles for a first favorite you'll probably never get or receive in inferior condition.

Have you ever heard the old adage, "...if the snake bites you once, it's the snakes fault!"...

Bob

LOL Jax! You're right! I forgot! OMG.... I better get my a$$ out there and get 'em planted ASAP! Thanks for reminding me! BRB...

I've ordered twice from Hortico and I won't order again. I don't see the point of dealing with a vendor that I haven't had good luck with when there are so many really good vendors out there. The first year Hortico sent me three roses (not the three that I ordered originally but the ones that were in stock when it came time to ship) and two roses lived and one died. All were very small, but I did get a discount as two were 1.5 grade but the 1 grade rose had canker so ended up just as small as the others. The second year I ordered the replacement and since I still had to pay shipping I ordered a few other roses that were in stock. Then when they actually shipped a week later I had to find a substitute for the one that went out of stock during the week. Again, all were small, and two roses lived and one died. I did not bother getting a replacement as I did not want this cycle to continue.

Now I ignore Hortico as if they didn't exist and order my roses from places like Palatine where I've had incredibly good roses every time. Even Heirloom's roses which start out small have lived and done well for me. Sure, I may never get Rose des Cisterciens (or however that is spelled) but I'll get plenty of other nice roses that will be just as good.

I remember ordering from Edmunds (before they were sold) about 6 months before I wanted a delivery...I specified an exact date...never checked again, never phoned, never emailed, and 6 months later, the correct roses arrived on the exact date I asked for, fresh, plump, and high quality.

That was customer service!!