Top 20 online plant nurseries
The internet has transformed gardeners' shopping habits, with everything from bamboo to perennials to trees available to buy online. Here, Val Bourne picks out the best online plant nurseries...
Brilliant all-rounders
Crocus
Crocus made mail-order fashionable when two plant lovers (Mark Fane and Peter Clay) started the website in 2000. The Rolls-Royce of mail-order nurseries, it offers 4,000 plants, including many unusual ones.
0844 557 2233; crocus.co.uk
Beth Chatto Gardens
This nursery lists a traditional range of first-rate perennials. Its well-grown plants are modestly priced, beautifully packed and all the plants feature in Beth's garden – so they perform.
01206 822007; bethchatto.co.uk
Binny's Plants
Binny's Plants has more than 2,000 plants, including the largest list of peonies in Britain. It also sells irises and an excellent range of bergenias, astilbes, bamboos, hostas and New Zealand ferns.
01506 858931; binnyplants.co.uk
The Duchy of Cornwall Nursery
The Duchy of Cornwall Nursery has a wide range of every type of plant, specialising in magnolias, camellias, rhododendrons and fuchsias.
01208 872668; duchyofcornwallnursery.co.uk
Best for trees
Ornamental Trees
This nursery in Herefordshire sells a range of shrubs and trees. Bare-root specimens, dispatched from November until March, can be half the price of container-grown trees.
01568 708016; ornamental-trees.co.uk
Three for fruit
Blackmoor Nursery
When it comes to fruit trees and bushes this nursery has the largest range and the quality cannot be beaten. Its website is attractive and informative.
01420 477978; blackmoor.co.uk
Keepers Nursery
If you want heritage varieties of fruit local to your area this is the one for you.
01622 726465; keepers-nursery.co.uk
Reads Nursery
For something more exotic (citrus, figs, lemons, oranges and peaches), try this green nursery in Norwich that uses peat-free compost and biological controls.
01508 548395; readsnursery.co.uk
Choice woodlanders
Long Acre plants
Long Acre Plants in Somerset is a plantsman's paradise for ferns, epimediums, erythroniums, and snowdrops.
01963 32802; plantsforshade.co.uk
Edrom Nurseries
Based on the Scottish borders, Edron offers collections of mainly woodlanders and alpines. The plants are listed on the web, but varieties vary according to availability. There are double Japanese hepaticas, arisaemas, roscoeas, fritillarias and trilliums on the list.
018907 71386; edrom-nurseries.co.uk
Super specialists
Ashwood Nurseries
Ashwood Nurseries can send out award-winning hellebores in January, February and early March. It aims to keep service personal so there is no online payment. Either telephone or download the relevant form, then pay by phone or send a cheque. Specialities include cyclamen, hepaticas, lewisias, auriculas, alpines and heathers.
01384 401996; ashwoodnurseries.com
Woottens of Wenhaston
If you like tempting offers to arrive via email, Woottens offers auriculas, pelargoniums, irises and hemerocallis by mail order.
01502 478258; woottensplants.co.uk
Fibrex Nurseries
This family-run nursery offers a fabulous range of hardy ferns and the best advice.
01789 720788; fibrex.co.uk
Crûg Farm Nurseries
Crûg Farm Nurseries is tucked away in North Wales. The nursery sells unusual plants collected by owners Bleddyn and Sue Wynn-Jones from 30 countries in Asia and South America.
01248 670232; crug-farm.co.uk
C & K Jones
When it comes to traditional roses of all types, the Joneses have a strong range of first-rate performers.
01829 740663; jonestherose.co.uk
Thorncroft Clematis Nursery
Clematis are the perfect companion for roses and Thorncroft helpfully subdivides clematis into groups such as late-summer viticellas, the spring Atragene group and The Raymond Evison Collection, among others.
01953 850407; thorncroftclematis.co.uk
Vegetables
The best vegetable plant supplier I've found. It offers a full range that varies from month to month, as well as pick and mix packs for the smaller garden.
01354 740553; organicplants.co.uk
The best of the rest
Knoll Gardens
Knoll Gardens has the widest range of grasses and its website is full of inspirational pictures.
01202 873931; knollgardens.co.uk
Hayloft Plants
This nursery helpfully colour codes its catalogue and website. It specialises in penstemons, tender plants (such as gazanias) and choice perennials.
01386 562 999; hayloft-plants.co.uk
Thompson & Morgan
Thompson & Morgan has a superb range of young plants.
0844 248 5383; thompson-morgan.com
Jekka's Herb Farm
Famous for unusual herbs, all grown organically.
0845 2903255; jekkasherbfarm.co.uk
