Where to buy roses in Canada

9 years ago

Hi everyone. It has been awhile since I have posted much here, life has been good and busy.

I have moved again and of course will be planting lots of roses. When I went to Pickering to order I see that they are not selling this season, boo hoo. Palatine is my next favorite supplier and I have ordered 5 roses from them. I checked Hortico and am not sure about their quality. Corn Hill has two roses that I have had and would like to replace. Other than that I don't know of any other Canadian rose suppliers. I have order from USA but the certificate to import is $25, that just isn't in my rose budget this year.

I would love to hear about your experiences ordering from other rose nurseries.

Thanks in advance.

Valerie

Featured Answer

lynnette

9 years ago

Palatine is the best for quality. Hortico is better than it used to be, but you take your chances. Hortico has the best selection of the older shrubs roses and the hard to get hybrid teas. Palatine is making a collection of some old roses but they may not be available the year after. I will be very surprised if Pickering continues to sell roses as I think Joel is fed up with all the problems he has had. I was not impressed with Cornhill and three of his roses may not make it. They were supposed to be ones that were 3 years old. The roots were frail and were twisted into a tight circle. I have no doubts that the roses were what they said they were as he is a writer on the hardy old roses so it could just be my order.

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Comments (10)

redwolfdoc_z5
9 years ago
I got some pretty nice minis from The Heather Farm - they operate out of BC. Easily found online.

I've had troubles with Hortico, but after enough pestering they are trying to make it right. I would hesitate to order from them again though.

Pickering's website says they're closed until at least 2016, unfortunately. I'm a big fan of Palatine. Botanus out of Vancouver is a general nursery - they seem very nice and gave me outstanding customer service and excellent bulbs last fall. They've added a handful of roses to their catalogue, but they're a bit pricey.
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jjpeace (zone 5b Canada)
9 years ago
I have never bought roses online yet. I usually buy from Sheridan Gardens, Loblaws garden centers and some local garden centers. The other big box stores are a miss for me because I bought roses from Walmart and Home Depot that does not survive after the first winter.

I am not familiar with Nova Scotia so I can't recommend anything near there.

I did come across a wholesaler online called Van Noort bulb who distribute across Canada but not to the public I think. I was thinking of emailing them later to ask them which garden centers they deal with in my area. They have some nice online catalogue as well and they are the official David Austin roses distributor according to their website.
garcanad
9 years ago
I ordered roses from Hortico many years ago, and they were great then. I started ordering roses from them again last couple of years. Last year their reliability had become quite hopeless. I suspect their business is in some transition (hopefully not to disappear like so many other speciety suppliers).
Since there are so few rose suppliers for Canadian, I started looking at sources outside Canada that would ship here. Here are a few possibilities that I have come across so far but I have not tried them yet. Any feedback from Canadians who have tried will be appreciated:
1. David Austin Roses
(https://www.davidaustinroses.com/american/advanced.asp?PageId=2224)
2. Peter Beales
(http://www.classicroses.co.uk/products/roses/)
(I am very tempted to source Blomfield Courage and Rambling Rector from them this year to try)
3.Regan Nursery
http://www.regannursery.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/home.home/index.htm
fduk_gw UK zone 3 (US zone 8)
9 years ago
You could also try C.K. Jones - they export outside the UK/EU, by individual arrangement.
Their delivery charges (in the UK) are reasonable, and I've had big, healthy bare roots from them this year. They don't specialise, mostly popular roses, but they offer a reasonable range, and the prices are good. http://www.jonestherose.co.uk
anntn6b
9 years ago
Did anyone continue Lois Hole's greenhouses in Alberta?
onewheeler
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I need to sit down here some night and comb the internet for rose suppliers. Time is a premium right now. I should have started looking in November when life was quieter.

I just moved into this house last Jan. I was able to go to my old garden and dig to my hearts content. I managed to bring at least 25 roses with me and have tried to start some cuttings but of course the rose lust never ends. I have grown at least 500 roses in the last decade and I still have not tired of their beauty.

Valerie
DandyLioness (CA 9, SZ 14)
8 years ago
Regan Nursery is relatively nearby so I've bought directly from them, though I've never ordered. The roses I've gotten were vigorous and well cared for.
mcnastarana
8 years ago
Does anyone know the current status of Pickering? Are they officially out of business altogether? Not that I would blame them if they were.
rosecanadian
8 years ago
As to Hole's, they changed their focus about 5? years ago. They call their store The Enjoy Center. I live about 3 hours from there, and the last time I went there (about 5 years ago) their plant selection had gone way down in selection. They only sold hardy roses, and very few of them. Their focus is on shops, etc. inside - groceries, etc. I don't think Lois Hole (if she were still alive) would be very happy with their vision.

Carol