I have been a customer for several years now for Chamlee's, along with a few other online nurseries. I hope that they all survive. With $10 per rose, the profit margin must be razor thin. Now bigger producers seem to be moving to own-roots/potted roses (e.g., Jackson & Perkins)

I had been wondering the same thing about Chamblee's, it appears they are losing selections of roses a breeder at a time. I wonder if licensing related...I suppose for $10, they can't afford to pay much in licensing.

Concerning the Kordes varieties: K&M also told me that Earth Angel, Summer Romance and Mme Anisette were removed by Kordes themselves due to poor performance in the South. Someone else said it was only for Fortuniana-grafted plants of these varieties. But if Chamblees was also required to remove those varieties, the sale restriction must be regardless of rootstock.

Farmerduck, you are right, for better or worse, own root roses seem to be taking over the rose producers. More skill is placed on the home gardener, especially on liner size own root roses, but the trend seems to be gathering momentum.

Texas Ben, thanks for clarifying the reason for the removal of those Kordes roses from K&M's rose line. I wonder if all nurseries that sell patented Kordes roses will follow suit when their stocks of those designated roses are exhausted.

Moses.

Has it been confirmed that these roses are being dropped, or is it just that they aren't appearing for sale now on the website? I've noticed a sort of seasonal ebb and flow to the number of varieties listed, and it seems that as we get into winter they start adding to the list so that by mid-winter ordering time they're fully-stocked up again and have 10 or 11 pages of roses instead of the 7 they have now. I sure hope that's the case.....

Newflora mentioned a few months ago that Chamblees was dropping them for the above stated reason which they and others felt was a pity as they need time to develop from the young starter plants Chamblee sells. Chris said it would be 2019 before there were enough MA to sell again so current stock was being sold to depletion. Or something like that! What a shame if they are actually dropping Quietness.

I was wondering If chamblees was fading away as well. I can understand dropping the Austins. This year they stopped using / selling gift cards and sent a message asking them to be used up. Every year for Christmas my mom gets me a chamblees card so I was sad to hear that. I've also been checking to see what's new that they will have and haven't seen much . I also have thought they could do a better website job. I know that's probably expensive but their photos and layout could be better . Someone new to roses may not be very drawn into their offerings. I feel that way about roses unlimited too, but they at least have tried to change theirs .

I certainly hope we don't lose chamblees! As Moses said you can't beat $10 for a rose! All of mine have always done well . They don't really need much babying from me.

Lilyfnch,

When I spoke to the order taker this week about their upcoming new introductions I was told that information would not be available until February, 2018! That's a little late for planning/planting for our warm climate folks, isn't it?

Not only do the gallons go for about $10.00, you often get multiple rooted starts per gallon. I have gotten four nice starts in a gallon, teased apart, and repotted individually, it ends up being $2.50 a new rose! In fact, I am convinced the multiple cutting gallons planted as they are, don't flourish as well as when separated and grown individually.

Moses

I've shopped Chamblees for years and always found it a delight to visit their greenhouses and clearance house where all the roses are $2.50 to $5. From what I've been told when I visited in person and asked about the roses being discontinued- it all boils down to dollars and cents. More specifically, they can't continue to carry products that do not sell. I remember in years past they carried a large selection of Bucks & antiques, but they were not selling. I feel for any individual in the retail nursery business - a very difficult way to make a living. Profit margins are razor thin and even more challenging for niche sellers of specialty plants and roses. Big box stores continue to grab nursery market share from individually owned businesses, coupled with the ongoing decrease in consumer spending on plants and roses. The big box stores treat their garden centers as loss leaders and often have the growers sell on consignment and eat the losses. Unfortunately, rose aficionados like everyone here are a minute fraction of consumer spending on roses with knockouts being the main offering at big box and chain stores.

Tell me about it.... I went by my local Home Depot a few days ago to see what they had and there were easily 120 knockouts and off to the side was one sickly Francis Meilland. That was it. Sad.

Every time I look at their offerings online, there are fewer and fewer things I am interested in. I'm guessing I'm just not their market anymore.

Oh no! I'm worried about Chamblees. The fact that they are no longer selling gift cards, and sent out a message asking that current gift cards be used up is a bad sign. I had a similar message from Sports Authority about their gift cards before they went under. I hope this isn't the case here. I did notice a few days ago that they sure didn't have much inventory. We really can't afford to lose them. Rogue Valley Roses is having a hard time with the owner ageing, and no one to take over. We won't have much to choose from if we lose both of these nurseries. Lisa

Though I "liked" this ^ post, I was not pleased by the news it conveyed. It is simply a very good post.

They added QuickSilver recently, hopefully more varieties will be added. Their website isn’t fancy but it lets us create wishlist and gets the job done. Something fancy would lead to price increases.

Modestgoddess,

I saw their recent addition of Quick Silver too, so I suppose we have some hope.

If anyone needs/wants Quick Silver, get it now from Chamblee's, for $11.95/gallon plus postage, before they're gone.

Of course, other sources, through mail and locally, should have Quick Silver, but not at a gallon size for $12.00.

Moses

As to their dropping Austins, I remember that when Pickering closed there was some discussion about DA requiring nurseries to pay for all buds received, whether they grew into sellable plants or not. Chamblees may have decided that the DA company is more trouble than it is worth. Long time Chamblees customers might want to suggest the possibility of adding some of the DA off patent roses for which there is still some demand.

Hello, I was wondering what shipping is like there? Getting ready to please my order, I need this Quick silver : )

Shipping depends on where you are. Add the roses you are interested in to your online cart then the site will let you estimate shipping

Diana,

Just call during the week, give them your order over the phone. They will give you a total, with shipping, according to the zip code you provide them. It's that easy.

You can pay by credit card, but I send a check after I am given the total due when I call. Paying by check saves Chamblee's the charge card fee they pay the card company.

Moses

February is fine for release time. They don't typically ship until March anyway, even in Texas.

I think they are just trying to stick with the roses thay make them money and that people are hapoy with. They are dropping poor sellers.

If they are in financial trouble they are still supporting research efforts fully.

You sound like someone that we would like to hire. We don't have any educational requirements, just a valid drivers license, a vehicle and no felonies.

Have you considered starting your own nursery? It's a good time to get into internet sales. Prices are high and supply is low.