I really had my heart set on a Lupine, I goggled it and the only online nursery that carried it was 'WHITE FLOWER FARM' So I went there even though several people mentioned that they are too expensive, which was my opinion also. I registered and picked out a Lupine and a couple of other things. Then I logged off which is my habit to leave stuff in shopping carts, sometimes for months and months. I went back an hour later and my stuff was gone! I was mad and initiated an online chat which went nowhere, so I said good bye and deleted them from my bookmarks. So then out of curiosity I went to 'WATCH-DOG' and found out that in the past year they have eleven negative comments and two or three positive. They are bad news and they will delete your stuff even if you register. * * * * *

I ordered from them once because they had a plant I could not find. What I got were plugs for the price of a 2 gallon pot at a garden center. Susan if you live near a Walmart check this summer the one by me always has quite a few Lupine and cheap.

Thanks so much Bob, I was told by someone that they don't like humidity. I don't know if I would be able to grow them, I sure wish I could. They have that wow factor that I like!

Same here with Walmart ... and I have packets of Lupine seeds (cold stratify for 7 days prior to planting). They are short-lived perennials though. But inexpensive and WM here has been doing rather well with their plant selections ... if you get to them before they are over or under watered.

Here is my list of bad experiences with mail order nurseries.
American Meadows
Parks
Van Bourgundien I dont even care if the spelling is right
White Flower Farm
There are probably a couple more but cant recall. I am so cautious when I mail order.I always check WD .

I was real worried when I ordered from the Hosta Farm .I read the WD after placing order and they had more bad then good reviews. But I ended up surprised when they sent some pretty nice plants for the money.

Well, I was looking around this morning for a Lupine that would grow in Virginia and I found a list of native plants from the 'Regional Plant List' and they said 'Wild Lupines' would grow in virginia. So then I found the only people selling them is AMERICAN MEADOWS. They sell it as a wild flower so I would have to buy a 1/4 pound. The WD reviews were not that good, but not that bad. I think they might be doing better than they were. Still I really don't want a quarter pound. I did really like the list I stumbled upon I posted it under another thread but here it is for you all. Hope you find it as informative as me.

http://www.plantnative.org/rpl...

I do not do business with Michigan Bulb company after they sent me cultivars that do not exist. And Great Garden Plants because they always send a bad plant and I have to get a refund. Plus they do not pack the boxes. They have sticks in the plants and sit them in the bottom of the box and tape it up. Hello what kinda sence does that make? All the dirt in is out of the pots. The only thing holding it in is a flemsy rubberband. It won't hold. That is why I always end up with a dead plant. They are nice and always give me a refund but I would rather not deal with it. I bought a viburnum shrub and it was 8 inches tall, This cost me 16.99! I got my refund and went to a local nursery and bought one 3 feet tall for 15.99.
susan

Susan a company called Earthcare Seeds sells them on Amazon $1.70 for 25 seeds.

Thank you Bob, I never heard of Earthcare, I will check them out.

http://www.prairiemoon.com/see...

Don't know if this is what are looking for but it is a reputable company to buy from.

Wild Seed Farms, in Texas sells bluebonnets - wild lupine.
http://www.wildseedfarms.com/
http://shop.wildseedfarms.com/...

They're pretty easy to grow from seed; I ended up with more than I knew what to do with last year! But then they grow wild in this area, too. The seeds keep reasonably well, too. I grew a bunch from some seeds a friend harvested off one of hers that were about 4 years old.

Thanks Claudia and kathleen

woofie are you talking about the Lupines?

I should have mentioned that I've had very good luck with Wild Seed Farms. I have a lot of lupines here and some moderate humidity, and I've never had any trouble with them.

I dont mean to be a wet blanket but isnt this the BAD SOURCES FOR PERENNIALS?
I get lost easily

You are fine, we got off subject because I had a bad experience trying to buy some Lupines and so I was getting some advice.

Kathleen, Did you grow your lupines from seed? Anyone grow from seed? I read on the native plant list that Wild :Lupines are considered native plant for Virginia.

http://www.plantnative.org/rpl...

Yes, I was talking about growing lupines from seed. I DO have a small greenhouse, which may give me an edge getting them started, tho.

Are they perennials? I was wondering so after I get some started will they come back every year or self sow?

There are supposed to be perennial varieties, but, so far, I haven't had any come back the following year. You're in a warmer zone, so you might have better luck.

ge1836 said:I dont mean to be a wet blanket but isnt this the BAD SOURCES FOR PERENNIALS?
I get lost easily

Boy do I know about that!!

It is so hard to keeps all On Topic isn't it!