Hi Susan,

I suggest you steer clear of buying irises on Ebay....Please see link below.

I tried to email you but I must have something blocked because I couldn't find the "send" button.

I hope to dig some irises later this summer. If you might be interested drop me an email. Some are named and others are NO ID, but I have pics of most all of them.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Deceitful ebay sellers

Bluestone Perennials is excellent. I would not hesitate to buy from them.

About Ebay: Be ready to spend time, and you might get a deal.
Some plants sold on Ebay are much larger than what nurseries sell. Some are unusual and lovingly raised before being sent out

There is one seller, SoHappy, that sells very small plants in starter flats, but discounts heavily especially if it is not a complete flat, and I've had wonderful luck with him.

On the other hand, you might get scammed.
There are deceitful sellers that will sell you a barely rooted dried out stick and call it a tree. Or will sell brown, dead plants. But over the course of many years, Ebay seller protection has worked well for me in the occasional case of buying duds. (Of course, you lose the season by the time you go through everything).

Take careful note of feedback left about a seller, and naturally steer clear if you see lots of negative feedback. There are also other sites on the internet where you can get feedback on plant sellers from buyers.

Thanks, Chemocurl and Lucille. Sue, thank you so much for the offer, but I didn't meant to say I was shopping for iris on eBay. I just looked because I love them. But I have more irises than I need because my flower beds were invaded by a groundcover weed that I haven't been able to eradicate. I'm trying to figure out how many of my existing iris I can save.

I need to divide some next month too. I usually give extras to a friend who has a store on our town's Main Street. He plants them there, and I enjoy seeing them in their new home.

I was considering eBay for a limited number of other plants, though. Thanks for the tips, Lucille. I'm an experienced eBay buyer and seller, but not with plants. So far. :-)

One of the good things about Bluestone is that guarantee their merchandise. If it doesn't do what you think it should, you get a credit to your account or your money back. Unfortunately, a couple of years ago, when they changed their packing/containers, I lost almost everything I got (within 2 months). I had been a regular customer, spring and fall, for many years.

Hey I am open to any irises you want to give away. I will even pay shipping costs. We just moved in this house a year ago and haven't been able to do much landscaping so I am looking for irises and most other kinds of plants...Please Pretty Please

Bluestone fans here, too. I've not even tried Ebay....it would take too much time and patience to sift through the sellers to try to decide who's good or who isn't.

I do know that there are great sellers offering real bargains but it's just not for me.

I purchased a Brugmansia cutting on Ebay...paid about $2. All I did was root it in water and it's an easy plant to grow. Success!

I just ordered several packages of Columbine seeds today, $1.99ea....not on Ebay...but from Swallowtail garden seeds. They're new to me, first time purchasing from them...

Nicole, thanks for telling us about Swallowtail Garden Seeds. I hadn't heard of it; it reminds me of the extensive selection Park's offered years ago. I will be ordering from them next year, starting with zinnias. They have 105 varieties (!) including several Benary's, which are often hard to find, and State Fair, one of my favorites.

They also have seeds for the giant variety of nicotiana, which I've been missing. Haven't seen it in years.

I'd be concerned about soil organisms or diseases which might ride in on a plant from ebay. Best to stick with Bluestone.

Good point, Susan.

Like everything else on Ebay, you have to do your homework. But if you seek something not commonly found in a local nursery, it can be a great source to rare items.

I have bought African violet leaves off Ebay and had exceptional results. There are violets out there that are very rare, especially the Russian varieties. ONE leaf just sold on Ebay for $63.00.

I've had a couple of leaves sent from Great Britain, and one potted violet sent from Poland. No problems at all. Most serious growers who do business on Ebay have 100% feedback and will replace or refund if the plant arrives dead. But mine have always arrived fresh and perfect.

As to the soil issues, socks has a point. I quarantine my leaves and pots in a separate area before I introduce them to the rest of my plants.

If you are seeking a specific variety then I wouldn't hesitate to buy on Ebay. Just make sure you check the feedback.

BTW Alisande, your irises are spectacular. Have you thought about joining any Iris lovers Facebook groups? I have found the African Violet groups to be hugely helpful. I've learned so much from other input.

Here is a link that might be useful: Blueberry Butterfly African Violet

I've bought unusual varieties of pepper seeds for my dad and a pink dogwood tree from eBay. No problems at all and even with shipping the small tree was cheaper than I could have got at a nursery. The tree is about 5 years old now and doing well.

I've bought plants on ebay, but I concentrate on plants I know very well...like waterlilies. I have also bought unusual tropicals.
I've had good luck with them, but I make sure they are plants that I can't get locally or are good enough value to make it worthwhile to buy them from ebay.

Thanks, Tally. A FB iris group would have been fun during the years when I was buying and planting, but I'm afraid my irises are in trouble at the present time due to a combination of a difficult groundcover weed and my diminished energy. I'm trying to figure out the best way to help them--and me. :-)

Put them in containers!! I have Calla lilies in big pots. They do really well. Alisande, try it. You can save those bulbs.

This post was edited by tally on Sun, Jun 8, 14 at 1:15

Thanks, Tally. A FB iris group would have been fun during the years when I was buying and planting, but I'm afraid my irises are in trouble at the present time due to a combination of a difficult groundcover weed and my diminished energy. I'm trying to figure out the best way to help them--and me. :-)