Proven mail-order favorites that likely won't disappoint

Q: My gardening friends tell me I should order plants by mail, as I'm searching for some unusual shrubs and vines. The one time I've tried a mail-order nursery, only about half the plants lived because they were so small and not packed very well. What do you suggest? Can you recommend mail-order nurseries you've found dependable?

A: Despite the many fine nurseries in our area, sometimes it isn't possible to find all the plants you're looking for locally. Small specialty nurseries around the country offer choice plants that aren't available elsewhere, and sometimes you can get the best prices ordering by mail. If you're really worried about mail-order, cultivate friendships with buyers at good local nurseries, and see what they can order for you.

Some of the disadvantages to mail order are the small size of the plants (be prepared to grow them in a nursery bed for a year or so), and not being able to choose just the specimen you'd like. If you decide to order from a catalog or online, go with the firms that have the most complete descriptions of the plant, and don't be hesitant to call or e-mail with questions to determine just what you'll be getting, and when.

Also, be sure to unpack the box as soon as it arrives so the poor, bundled-up plants can get their roots into soil and water right away. Just never deceive yourself that the fully-flowering, mature plant you see in the photos will be anything like the twig that will arrive in the mail — for a few years, anyway.

Ordering seed or bulbs from catalogs offers fewer surprises, so that might be a good way to venture into mail-order plant buying.

I've generally had very good luck with buying from catalogs and online. Here are a few proven favorites to get you started:

• Forestfarm, Williams, Ore., offers trees, shurbs, vines, perennials and roses (541-846-7269, www.forestfarm.com).

• Heronswood Nursery, Kingston, has more cool plants than you've ever dreamed of (360-297-4172, www.heronswood.com).

• Siskiyou Rare Plant Nursery, Medford, Ore., offers alpines, dwarfs, woodland plants, ferns, bulbs (541-772-6846, www.siskiyourareplantnursery.com

• Joy Creek Nursery, Scapoose, Ore., ships hydrangeas, vines, perennials (503-543-7474, www.joycreek.com).

• Canyon Creek Nursery, Oroville, Calif., has select perennials (530-533-2166, www.canyoncreeknursery.com).

• Plants Delight Nursery, Raleigh, N.C., offers every trendy perennials you can imagine and more (919-772-4794, www.plantdel.com).

• YuccaDo Nursery, Hempstead, Texas, is an organic nursery offering hardy palms, subtropicals, and desert plants (979-826-4580, www.yuccado.com).

Valerie Easton also writes about Plant Life in Sunday's Pacific Northwest magazine. Send questions to her at P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111 or e-mail planttalk@seattletimes.com. Sorry, no personal replies.