Lady of Shalott

I recently purchased five David Austin roses from PrettyPetals and, unfortunately, my experience was quite disappointing. I chose the delivery option, but the roses arrived in poor condition—packaged in plastic bags with soil spilled throughout the box. Unlike other nurseries, they did not come in their original David Austin pots, which I expected as a standard presentation.

What concerned me most, however, was the quality of the plants themselves. The roses I received were extremely small and weak—far below the standard I’ve seen at other nurseries I’ve visited. It was disheartening to see such underwhelming specimens after paying a premium.

Additionally, while PrettyPetals advertises itself as offering some of the best prices, I found them to be among the most expensive retailers of David Austin roses. Overall, this purchase did not live up to expectations, and I would be hesitant to order from them again.

I ordered two potted roses, which were packed in a box designed to be transported horizontally, with the plants laid head to toe. Unfortunately, the delivery was handled upright, causing one of the pots to be turned completely upside down. As a result, many young branches with flower buds were badly broken. It was truly heartbreaking to open the box and find them in such a damaged state.

There were no labels or signs on the box to indicate the correct handling or orientation. Perhaps if clear instructions had been provided, the courier might have handled the package with more care.

Hope it will survive its first winter here in the prairies.

I ordered a LOS before ever seeing the rose in person. I received healthy bareroot from Aleea in the spring of 2024 and planted it in the ground. As expected, it's a beautiful rose that looks even better in person. PrettyPetals.ca has great customer service. What's more amazing is that some of the profits help support meaningful causes.