I am a big fan of roses and have many beautiful ones in my garden, so for Valentine’s Day I decided to surprise my partner with a special gift - a standard tree rose.
I was choosing between two nurseries and eventually selected Henry Street, even though it was almost twice the price (£57.99 vs £34.95 at British Roses). I assumed the higher price would reflect better quality.
The delivery was fast and the plant was well packaged. Unfortunately, once I inspected the rose carefully, I became very concerned about its condition.
The main stem above the graft appears to have been snapped or cut off, and the wound is rough and splintered rather than a clean pruning cut. This strongly suggests accidental damage rather than proper pruning. The graft union looks stressed and exposed wood indicates the top growth has been lost. While there are a few side shoots lower down, the ball-shaped crown that should define a tree rose is simply not there.
I contacted the nursery and initially received no reply for a week. After calling them, I was told the rose was healthy and that it came with a two-year guarantee. However, my concerns were dismissed and no proper explanation was provided. I also requested a replacement plant (with three grafts instead of two), but received no response, no apology, and no follow-up.
This was meant to be a Valentine’s Day surprise for my partner. Instead, it turned into disappointment and frustration. My plans were ruined and I was left upset after spending a significant amount of money.
In hindsight, I regret not purchasing the less expensive rose from the other nursery, as I likely would have received better service for a fraction of the cost.
Overall a very poor experience - especially for a special occasion.
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