Many reviewers describe recurring problems with order fulfilment and customer service. Several mention marketing emails continuing after they unsubscribe. Plant condition on arrival varies widely, from healthy, well-rooted specimens to dry, undersized, or rootbound items. Alongside the complaints, some reviewers note low-price bulb offers and successful replacements.
Examples from available reviews (Sep 2022 – Mar 2026).
They sent marketing emails twice daily and lacked unsubscribe option.
“This company will bombard you with marketing emails TWICE a day.”
They took payment but did not deliver or respond to queries.
“They take your money and dont send anything.”
71 of 72 plants arrived healthy and grew well.
“71 of the 72 plants were in excellent condition with very good roots.”
Plug plants arrived dry and rootbound and failed to recover.
“Plug plants arrived dry and totally rootbound”
Service complaints appear in multiple reviews. Customers describe payments taken without dispatch, repeated delivery delays, and refusals to honour guarantees on purchases made via third-party offers. A smaller set of reviews also describes fixes, including a free replacement shipment.
Views on value depend on how the products arrive. Reviewers praise bargain bulb deals and some strong-quality deliveries, while damaged, incorrect, or dead plants lead others to call it poor value.
Some customers report strong results, with garden-ready plants producing notable displays. Others describe frustration and time lost chasing refunds, replacements, or delivery updates, which spoils the experience.
Plant quality reports vary widely. Multiple reviewers say plants arrived healthy and well rooted, while others report tiny, leggy, dry, or rootbound items, as well as incorrect varieties.
Communication issues show up often and repeatedly. Reviewers mention frequent marketing emails, messages continuing after unsubscribe requests, and promotional offers they describe as misleading.
Sentiment splits between satisfied and dissatisfied buyers. Reviews include both quick corrective actions and unresolved problems that left customers seeking refunds or replacements.
For each review, the core experience based on original source reviews.
Sources: Trustpilot (21) · Reviews (1) · Quotes shortened · As of: March 2026
Plug plants arrived dry and rootbound and failed to recover.
“Plug plants arrived dry and totally rootbound”
They continued sending many emails despite unsubscribe requests.
“Still receiving emails. Now over 30 despite unsubscribing”
Received many emails despite unsubscribing and poor responses.
“21 emails in 13 days despite unsubscribing.”
Begonia plants arrived in excellent condition and well packaged.
“My begonia plants were received in fantastic condition”
They sent marketing emails twice daily and lacked unsubscribe option.
“This company will bombard you with marketing emails TWICE a day.”
Repeated unsubscribe requests were ignored and emails kept arriving.
“I have been asking them over and over again to stop sending me emails.”
They took payment but did not deliver or respond to queries.
“They take your money and dont send anything.”
Order was not dispatched as promised and still has not arrived.
“the order has still not arrived.”
They send misleading offers and persistently ignore unsubscribe requests.
“bombarding me with cheap offers that don't actually exist.”
One tree failed and company refused guarantee due to Groupon purchase.
“CS don't want to know because i purchased through groupon.”
They sent duplicate common potatoes instead of the rarer variety ordered.
“we got double the quantity of the more common variety.”
Plants delivered during frozen conditions and company offered poor advice.
“they replied the weather was not under their control.”
Company sent free replacement shipment after initial bare roots failed.
“to receive a brand new shipment of the same plants free of charge.”
Giant jumbo plug plants were far smaller than expected.
“normal plug plants must have been the size of a seed”
Bought bulbs at great price and had excellent results.
“Great offer again - bulbs for £3 a pack”
Garden-ready plants produced a spectacular display despite limited time.
“thanks to garden ready plants from Van Meuwen I have the most spectacular display of hanging baskets”
71 of 72 plants arrived healthy and grew well.
“71 of the 72 plants were in excellent condition with very good roots.”
Reviewer warns others to avoid due to poor service and value.
“Shoddy company. Please don’t waste your time and money on them.”
Order delayed twice and company unresponsive to refund requests.
“my order has been delayed twice & trying to contact them for a refund is impossible.”
Company wouldn't change delivery date and plants arrived dry and dead.
“The plugs were posted through the door and I returned from holiday to find them totally dry and dead.”
Plants arrived damaged and tiny after long-term decline in quality.
“They arrived leggy, barely alive and I kept them under lights to nurture them.”
I recently purchased several plants, seeds, and fruit trees from Van Meuwen and I must say that my experience was nothing short of exceptional. From the easy-to-navigate website to the speedy delivery, everything went smoothly.
One thing that stood out to me was the wide variety of products they offered. They had so many different options for each category of plant or seed, which made it easy for me to find exactly what I wanted. The quality of everything I received was top-notch as well - all of the plants were healthy and robust, ready to be planted right away.
Another aspect that impressed me was their customer service team. When one item arrived slightly damaged in transit, they quickly replaced it at no extra cost and with little hassle on my part.
Overall, I am extremely satisfied with my purchase from Van Meuwen and would highly recommend them to anyone looking for high-quality plants or seeds. Their excellent selection, product quality, and top-tier customer service make them a standout among gardening retailers.
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.
Van Meuwen is a UK mail-order horticultural retailer selling seeds, bulbs, plants, and trees through its website and printed catalogue. Its range covers ornamental and edible varieties, including bedding plants, plug plants, and seasonal bulb collections. It also sells gardening supplies such as compost and plant foods alongside plant stock. Customers place orders online, and parcels are delivered across the UK.