Reviews show a clear pattern: many customers receive healthy, well-packed plants and find the website easy to use, but a substantial number report poor customer communication and problematic deliveries. Several reviewers describe dead or damaged specimens and difficulty obtaining refunds or replacements. If you shop here, keep delivery photos, order numbers and correspondence, and check the company’s stated claims/returns process before ordering. Those prioritising fast responses and reliable refunds may want to weigh these mixed reports when deciding.
Examples from available reviews (Nov 2021 – Feb 2026).
Climber plant matched description; delivery quick and communication exceptional.
“Customer service and communication was exceptional.”
Received a half-dead plant and refund guarantee was not honoured.
“This shabby company sent me a plant that was half-dead on arrival”
Plants arrived damaged and one missing; claims process was difficult.
“I received NOT the 3 I ordered.”
Plants arrived healthy but outer boxes were ripped by couriers.
“each cardboard box the plants were in was ripped.”
Delivery and order handling show a split picture: many customers report on-time delivery and careful packing, while many others cite missed dispatches, courier damage or delayed resolutions.
A small number of reviewers explicitly mention value: some call specific trees and bamboo very good value, but these comments are limited in number.
Website navigation, ordering and packing are frequently described positively: reviewers often find the site easy to use and parcels well packed and protected.
Many customers report healthy, well-sized plants on arrival; however a notable number report dead, damaged or incorrect specimens, indicating variable quality.
Numerous reviewers report little or no response to emails and complaints. A small set of reviewers, however, praise prompt customer communication.
Overall impressions are mixed: several repeat buyers report consistent good results, while many others report broken or dead plants and unresolved issues.
For each review, the core experience based on original source reviews.
Sources: Trustpilot (40) · Reviews (20) · Reviews (1) · Quotes shortened · As of: February 2026
Mini greenhouse arrived quickly and was easy to erect.
“It arrived within a few days and was easy to erect.”
Ordered plants arrived months late and mostly dead; claims mishandled.
“Most of them were dead roots.”
Trees arrived in good condition; customer service informed me after contact.
“customer services were good at keeping me informed once I had spoken to them.”
Some plants suffered in transit due to packaging and late delivery.
“The packaging did not inform the carrier it was live plants or which way up the package should be kept”
Courier damaged plants and claim process required an impossible photo checklist.
“they sent me an impossible checklist of photos I needed to provide before they could look into my issue.”
Customer service replied quickly and tree fern exceeded expectations.
“Quick and informative reply’s from customer service team”
Plants arrived well packed and in good condition.
“Plants arrived well packed and in good condition”
Ordering was easy and plants arrived perfectly, with updates.
“the plants arrived in perfect condition”
Plants were good quality and value, but delivery was often slow.
“Delivery can take quite a while.”
Reviewer left only the comment 'Everything!
“Everything!”
Good value and quality, but delivery timing can vary.
“value and quality.”
Repeat customer praised value, products and prompt communication.
“Great value, wonderful products, well parceled and protected.”
Easy to buy plants at competitive prices; will use again.
“Excellent easy way to buy plants at a competitive price”
Plants arrived in excellent condition and were ready to grow.
“plants are in excellent condition and ready to grow.”
Hellebores arrived in poor condition and customer service refused refund.
“I inspected the root balls to find they were rotten”
Reviewer wrote only 'Excellent as always'.
“Excellent as always.”
Some primroses were out of pots and looked dry on arrival.
“top small plants in box primroses were out of there pots!”
Long deliveries; would have appreciated a text explaining delays.
“Never has a delivery arrived in under 14 days contrary to what is suggested”
Generally great service and products, would continue buying.
“we will continue buying from you.”
Plant was a good specimen and price; delayed delivery but bulbs appreciated.
“The plant was a really good specimen and size and a great price.”
Order undelivered since December and customer service unresponsive.
“SCAM‼️Order placed on 26th December and still not delivered.”
Tree smaller and wonky; long email exchange with unhelpful responses.
“It arrived and was only 1.3m high.”
Tree arrived damaged and company refused collection, insisting on return at customer's cost.
“Received a tree with broken branches and horrendous packaging”
Reviewer described the purchase as very stressful and terrible.
“It was very stressful and terrible experience.”
Holly trees were smaller than advertised and returns were refused without refund.
“they asked me to send them back at my own expense even though they were substandard.”
Two out of twenty plants were dead and replacement requests were ignored.
“I ordered 20 plants. Two were dead.”
Acer arrived in poor condition and customer service subsequently ignored follow-ups.
“I've sent 4 follow up emails and not had the courtesy of a reply to any of them.”
£700 order had no status update and customer support was non-existent.
“customer support is non-existant”
Complaints about plants failing to develop were ignored by contact service.
“I have used their contact service several times but they have completely ignored me.”
No communication and a dead plant arrived, emails unanswered.
“Appalling customer service.”
Plants arrived damaged and one missing; claims process was difficult.
“I received NOT the 3 I ordered.”
Bamboo were better than expected, well packed and good quality.
“incredibly good value and actually much better than I expected.”
Received a strong young tree in great condition and reordered.
“I received a strong tall young tree in great condition”
Website easy to navigate; timely delivery and careful packing.
“Very ready website to navigate and buy...”
Peach tree arrived on schedule, well packaged and in top condition.
“The tree was well packaged and in top condition.”
Plant was beautiful, well packed and delivered on time.
“Beautiful plant, well packed and delivery was on time.”
Climber plant matched description; delivery quick and communication exceptional.
“Customer service and communication was exceptional.”
Plants were well wrapped, taller than expected and will buy again.
“The plants were well wrapped.”
Plants arrived on time and were healthy and good sized.
“They were healthy, good size”
Random 'houseplant roulette' items arrived tiny and half-dead.
“the houseplant roulette was disgusting.”
This page combines submitted experiences with public reviews from platforms such as Google, Trustpilot, etc. Recurring points are summarised without changing the content of reviews.
Gardening Express is an online UK retailer specialising in mail-order plants, trees and shrubs for home and garden use. The site offers product pages with descriptions and image galleries and ships orders by courier across the UK. Customers research plants, delivery options and return policies online before ordering. This summary is intended for people looking for aggregated review insights about Gardening Express.