Usually Parkers is OK for bulbs, but this year I am still waiting for Iris bulbs ordered in August, one of my Amaryllis was undersized but has been replaced, and one of the packs of ten tulips only has 9 in it. I am quite pleased with what I got from LIdl.
I've been doing quite a bit of research recently on Miscanthus for a plant for the front garden and kept coming across Indian Summer, but like mentioned earlier on the thread not for sale on the more well known Grass sellers like Knolls / plant preference . From what I could find I think Miscanthus Graziellia is being sold under another name of Indian Summer.
I bought some Bulbs this year from Parkers wholesale they arrived 2-3 weeks ago , they all seem in good nick and I am happy with them .
Maybe I'm being suspicious but putting an offer in a newspaper at this time of year looks like trying to get rid of excess stock rather than keeping it going through the winter. Miscanthus are apparently best planted in late spring https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/types/grasses/ornamental/growing-guide
Personally I've had reasonable service from J Parkers - no problem with bulbs, several times the wrong thing sent when I've ordered perennials, but they've always replaced them or given a refund when notified of their mistake.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Maybe I'm being suspicious but putting an offer in a newspaper at this time of year looks like trying to get rid of excess stock rather than keeping it going through the winter. Miscanthus are apparently best planted in late spring https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/types/grasses/ornamental/growing-guide
Personally I've had reasonable service from J Parkers - no problem with bulbs, several times the wrong thing sent when I've ordered perennials, but they've always replaced them or given a refund when notified of their mistake.
I don't think the Mirror would have approached Parkers.
More likely the other way round. The deal has to be a good deal for both of them and the quality of the offer has to be good enough and at a fair price for people to take it up.
In turn a grower may have offered the plant to Parkers.
Who knows?
Perhaps the OP might take up the offer and let us know what they think?
That's what I meant - Parkers (or a grower who supplies them) possibly trying to shift stock before winter so that they don't have the expense of looking after them until spring.
If I wanted to buy miscanthus for my garden I'd be looking to buy them in April or May, or to order them for delivery then. Even here with well-drained soil and less rainfall than some parts of the country, I think they might struggle to get established if planted this late in the year.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
My oldest daughter bought 2 Flamingo Salix in pots from The Mail online, Gardening Express,£19.99 they are really lovely plants,over a MTR high. Have had roses from The Sun,no problems. A very expensive Brugsmansia from a specialist supplier which took 18 months and they were rude,a newish rose variety this year from one of the biggies,they kept telling me it was coming,it did eventually. Have had the odd tatty plant from T &M,but usually the pay postage only,so not too bothered. I have a go to chap on e bay who grows his own.
In the Which? survey I mentioned earlier, Gardening Express was 32nd out of 32 for plants (Beth Chatto Nursery was top) and 22nd out of 22 for plug plants (Brookside Nursery was top).
T&M were 31/32, 21/22 and 14/14 for seeds (Real Seeds was top).
Gwen, you can have variable quality and service regardless of the reputation of the online nursery, I think it’s been particularly mixed this year as so many nurseries have struggled during covid times. If you really want that variety and you are confident you can overwinter it in a pot - I think you said earlier you were going to keep it in a pot for now - it’s probably worth a punt.
I suspect it’s a new variety, plant breeders sometimes launch trial deals with specific retailers before launching them on the general market. If you don’t want to take the chance, it looks very much like Miscanthus Sinensis Ghana to me, famed for it’s winter colour, RHS award of Garden Merit and probably more widely available in specialist grass nurseries near you 😊 I am not a great lover or grower of grasses, but I have been eying up Ghana:
Posts
https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/81760/j-parkers-let-down/p1
The title of the thread will not encourage a balance of respondents but 8 spoke in favour of the company while 20 felt let down.
I bought some Bulbs this year from Parkers wholesale they arrived 2-3 weeks ago , they all seem in good nick and I am happy with them .
T&M were 31/32, 21/22 and 14/14 for seeds (Real Seeds was top).
I suspect it’s a new variety, plant breeders sometimes launch trial deals with specific retailers before launching them on the general market. If you don’t want to take the chance, it looks very much like Miscanthus Sinensis Ghana to me, famed for it’s winter colour, RHS award of Garden Merit and probably more widely available in specialist grass nurseries near you 😊 I am not a great lover or grower of grasses, but I have been eying up Ghana:
https://www.gardenia.net/plant/miscanthus-sinensis-ghana-maiden-grass