What's been your experience buying rose plants online?

Question

I have been looking at http://www.heirloomroses.com and thinking of ordering. When you get the plants in the mail- is it basically roots and dirt in a bag with a stick coming out?

Answer 1

I've purchased about 5 roses from Heirloom roses and I absolutely love them. They are small, but they have canes and leaves and mine budded and bloomed within a month of being in the ground. However, I lopped the bloom off to provide the roots with all the energy. I also have 4 English roses on order for March from David Austin. Both of these breeders specialize in own root roses that come either bare root or in small containers. They are disease resistant, hardy, and come disease free unlike the roses that come from garden centers. Also, my Heirloom roses have more than tripled in size since early summer. David Austin guarantees their roses provided you allow them to ship the roses when they feel the best time for planting in your zone is.

If you are looking for good, healthy, beautiful, and disease resistant roses then I whole heartedly recommend Heirloom roses.

Here is the site for David Austin if you are interested:
http://www.davidaustinroses.com/american/

EDIT: The only roses worth purchasing from Wal-Mart are the knock-out roses because they are "Earthkind roses" and nothing can hurt them. As for all the others they are Hybrid teas that have been grafted and usually already have blackspot before they get to Wal-Mart. They are short lived and disease prone.

If you are interested there is a whole list of "Earthkind Roses".
they are the hardiest of roses and most disease resistant. Also, according to this study from the University of Texas you don't have to water them because they are drought tolerant and you don't have to fertilize them. Several of the Earthkind roses are David Austin roses. I have several "Earthkind" roses and I do nothing to them what so ever and they are just beautiful. One even got black spot and it went away on its own.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/EKroses/EKbrigaderoses.html

Answer 2

I've bought several roses from heirloom roses. They are little tiny plants and they have all grown well (some better than others). My experience is that they are small plants for several years and (if they survive my gardening and the dogs) they really gain in size after that.

The Austin Hardy roses have worked well here in Oklahoma.

Answer 3

Hi I have order for many years roses off of QVC they have a co. they particularly use called Cottage Farms - Also I have purchased their Jackson & Perkins brand also. They always come bare root. I plant as soon as they get here and then i make to use some rose food and i build a well around them and slow drip them for awhile.

Answer 4

Some growers feel this is the only way to start roses. Most reputable companies guarantee their products. Witherspoon and Jackson and Perkins are a couple that have a good guarantee. Anything you want to know about growing roses ,American Rose Society, and"the rose forum" are excellent resources. Good gardening~bmore

Answer 5

Yes thats what you get. want a cheap killer rose garden?
wait til after the season and go to walmart and buy the dead plants...dig a hole and completely bury the rose bushes..yeah their dead but they will come back up and this always works. i know a pro landscaper who does this all the time. i myself have about 20 or more rose bushes ive spent only about 8 dollars. just dont plant them too close together!

Answer 6

Ok brecks.com is the best, i order from them all the time. yes you get the bare root, however they warrenty all of their products that if they dont grow they will replace them..