I've also had difficult-to-find plant orders. Sometimes I've had to cull through an entire list of nurseries to find one that either 1) carries the plant or 2) has the right connections to order the plant. The few times I've ordered plants online, the plants arrive really tiny compared to buying from the local nursery. They also aren't acclimated to our local climate and in some instances have died. That said, I have a whole wall of passion flora that I ordered online because I wanted a variety of that particular plant, and the easiest source for it was online. Also, I ordered two Australian natives. One died, the other thrives. I've ordered hanging succulents online -- they weren't hardy and all died. Ordering online is a mixed bag. It really depends on what you're ordering.

I have very specific plants lists and often have to source them from a variety of nurseries. Even with my main nursery, I place the order and often have to wait weeks at a time for all the plants to come in.

How about ordering some seeds and starting from scratch?

what sunset zone are you in and what types of plants are you interested in?

I would make friends with a garden designer and have them broker plants from the wholesalers for you.

Where do you live? Maybe someone will give you recommendations in your area.

SF peninsula, I have a front entryway border garden that needs to be re-done - I planted bush germanders which are beautiful but thriving... too well. They are over 5' high even with trimming, and want to be equally wide... in a narrow border which is our front entry. So they are currently sheared back into a hedge which doesn't suit them. I need to start over with smaller plants (these said on the nursery tags 2-3' HxW).

I haven't made a list yet but planning on groupings of russian sage little spire (compact) and some other, smaller plants. It gets very hot and is full sun in that front garden, and I will stick to low water use plants - but prefer cottagey look, not succulents. Lavenders, salvias and germanders have done great out there but are too large.

I see Monrovia allows orders online for pickup at a local nursery that may be a good compromise.

You might take a look at Annie's Annuals, which is a nursery in Richmond. They sell a lot more than annuals and they also do a mail order business. I have not visited the nursery (it is apparently quite the trip to get there) but I did order a few plants and they arrived in good shape--as you might expect given how close it is to my home in the east bay. I think they were actually delivered the same day as they shipped. I am tentatively planning to use them to source my fall planting needs.

https://davesgarden.com/products/gwd/top.php

This is where I check out mail order vendors.

I just noticed the links there are not working but if you type in the name you will still go to there site.

Annie's annuals does have shrubs and trees available online. I have not been to the nursery, but the reviews seem to indicate that they sometimes have more varieties available in person than online so I would be surprised if they don't also stock the shrubs and trees in their bricks and mortar location.

Oh, sorry, my mistake. That's good to know! Kewl!

Thanks for all the suggestions! There are Summerwinds locations in Mountain View and Sunnyvale I frequent, it just seems like lately the selection is not great and the staff is always so busy, trying to get their attention long enough and finding one actually knowledgeable about the plants has been difficult. Roger Reynold's - I think that's the one only open strange hours and I've never been able to go. I may check out Wegman's though, and then if no luck I'll try online.

Same problem here in Southern California. Two things I want. Blue Plumbago. Perfect spot for it. No can find, but driving through town, I see it everywhere! Then, I like that annual, Statice. Can't find that either.

Where in SoCal are you Suzi?

Nil13, if you know where the Ramona Bowl is, we are East of it in the foothills overlooking Hemet. Riverside County, county property. 1.5 acres of lovely hillside boulders. LOL! Our sloping frontage has a blank spot, with tons of gazanias, agapanthas, various sages and a wild rose flanking that spot. I would love a couple Blue Plumbago.

The statice is pure jealousy. I visited a friend near San Diego, and she had tons of it. She said it self seeds. It's just so pretty and would look great among our boulders.

Do you know a source for these?

Strongly urge you to make the trip to Annie's. Not this weekend, as the Bart tube is closed and traffic will be horrific, but sometime soon. The drive is not bad 80 to Richmond or 80 to 580 to richmond and it's just a great place. Just don't go at rush hour on a weekday and best to go earlier in the day on the weekend. But it's a really fun nursery. You can also make stops at Berkeley Horticultural Nursery in North Berkeley, good selection and very helpful staff and East Bay Nursery also in Berkeley, on San Pablo. Flora Grubb in SF is fun but very expensive. They are helpful and will order for you. Their main business is helping the newly wealthy landscape their x million dollar 4 x 4 foot yards:)

I strongly agree with what Debbie said but should not miss Richard Ward's 'Dry Garden' in North Oakland the plants on sale daily at University of California Botanical Garden.

Happy hunting.

Richard