With a vendor like this, what you receive is pretty much a toss up. Your order could be perfectly fine.....or it could have major problems. It seems like the complaints with Holland Bulbs runs the gamut from misidentified/mislabeled plants to dead or seriously damaged plants to dismal or non-existent customer service.

The last would be my biggest concern. With a reputable or highly rated vendor, any problems with an order are quickly addressed and corrected. With HB, it appears one has little recourse.......you get what you get and tough toenails if it's not right!

#1, don't buy live plants from bulb vendors, #2 as you said, read reviews before ordering

Call or email and cancel the order.

I received the order. It's not good. The clematis were put in plastic bags with a draw string. The draw strings opened up during shipping and dirt spilled over the inside of the box. I was supposed to get 4 potted plants and ended up with effectively 4 bare roots. The tops on 2 look like they died, but the roots look alive. I planted them and if they're alive, I expect to see new top growth in a month or 2. I could have done better getting the cheap boxed ones sold at home depot or Wal Mart.

Sorry for your bad experience........but if roots are alive, they will probably start growing. I have a very tiny one I got from a vendor I knew didnt send good sized plants but I liked several they were offering. This one is taking its sweet time but I see tiny green budding leaves so know its alive. It will just take a long time before it can be planted out. Speaking of the cheapies at big box stores......I bought 6 in January. Potted them up right away.......Henryi has 2 blooms on it and Carnaby has 4 that will open soon. They are all sprouting great new growth - and am sure they will turn into really nice plants. Trick is to get them when they are first offered and repot. I bought some from Hirt's. They were small but they have really taken off! The minute I potted them they started growing like Jack & the Beanstalk. I would not hesitate to buy from them again. Good luck with your plants.......hope you are pleasantly surprised.