Chris Bowers & Sons Reviews 

1,844
TrustScore 3 out of 5

3.2

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Looking at 167 reviews, most reviewers were somewhat happy with their experience overall. Consumers frequently appreciate the wide catalog of fruit varieties, gorgeous packaging designed to protect the plants, and swift delivery times for many orders. Many buyers find that their new fruit trees arrive in wonderful condition and thrive very nicely after being planted in local gardens or orchards. However, some reviewers noted issues with slow communication and a complete lack of response when attempting to reach customer support. A few other people also mentioned receiving severely damaged items, dead specimens, or incorrect plant varieties that did not match their original purchases.

What people talk about most

Product

Consumers find product quality and variety to be a mixed experience, with many reviewers praising the prompt... See more

Quality

Users describe ambiguous interactions with quality, as many customers are highly satisfied with promptly... See more

Order

Customers consistently note ambiguous experiences with order fulfillment, highlighting a distinct division in... See more

Delivery service

Reviewers highlight ambiguous aspects of delivery service, as experiences with the couriers vary... See more

Response time

Reviewers express deep frustration regarding response time, noting that multiple emails and phone calls are... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Ordered some grapevines and they arrived today, not within the 7 working days they advertised but still not too long - about a week later. Plants look ok when they arrived. Agree with others the commu... See more

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Quick, positive update to the tale below. I've had a refund on my credit card after raising a dispute, plus, a very nice replacement vine has arrived from Chris Bowers. Still no contact from t... See more

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

We received 4 fruit trees as a gift for my husbands birthday. Two of the trees were exactly what we expected, the other two weren't healthy. I spoke with Elisha, who was very helpful, gave advice o... See more

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

I bought a espalier selected for training on 19th august. First thing to go wrong they gave carrier wrong address sent it to adress 2 miles away so i got it 3 days later. Having bought 2 £12.5... See more


Company details

  1. Wholesale Plant Nursery
  2. Garden Center
  3. Tree Farm

Written by the company

The Chris Bowers & Sons nursery has been cultivating fruit trees for over 30 years. Our stocks are grown here on the nursery. The quality of our fruit trees is raised from the roots up and cultivated with expert knowledge and skill developed over many years. Our website also has a comprehensive guide to fruit tree care.


Contact info

3.2

Average

TrustScore 3 out of 5

2K reviews

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1-star

No recent history of asking for reviews

This company hasn't invited customers recently, so reviews may not be representative

Hasn’t replied to negative reviews

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3.2

All reviews

(1,844)

163 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Poor quality

Ordered two bare root flowering cherries but received pot grown trees. The were undersized and not the standard trees I was told they were going to. When I complained and said I wanted to return them, I was told to give them to charity and they would send two more trees. The trees received were poor quality and undersized barely 50cm when the website says 125 to 150cm. Again got in touch with Chris Bowers about returning the trees for a refund and got a very rude, curt email saying "they were freebies you return them" and that was all. Will never order from them again.

28 October 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Fruity Trees

I have purchased various fruit trees from this supplier. I particularly like how they pack and deliver them in a quick safe way. The products are also really healthy and good root system. My last suppliers products just died. They were no where near as good. I have no complaints with any of the plants and I have had quite a few

27 October 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A good experience

A very straightforward company to deal with. Products, in this case apple trees, are accurately described and the website is easy to use. Delivery was punctual and the trees look healthy. So far so good.

20 September 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great service, top quality plants.

Everything about the service from Chris Bowers has been excellent. Really easy to navigate the website, fantastic information about each different plant and great guides to each type of fruit tree.
My order arrived safely and in really super quick time and the customer service follow up has been great. The plants were packed beautifully, really healthy and are now planted out. I can't wait for the fruit to start.
Many thanks for everything.

27 September 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Pear tree died in fairly short order

Pear tree died in fairly short order. Despite having proof of purchase invoice, which is all the law requires, because I hadn’t kept the ID number on an email sent at time of purchase, the company totally refused, quite rudely, to honour their guarantee. Shoddy company. Would never use again

25 April 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

So far - so good...

So far - so good...
Ordered a Red Falstaff apple tree, which was delivered in suitable packaging with plenty of straw for protection.
The tree itself is probably taller than I was expecting... but that's no bad thing in my mind.
So, I'm now very excited for next year when I hope to see some growth.
Finally, it was lovely that Gemma from Customer Service reached out by email to ask if all was well with the delivery etc

24 October 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Pear tree

The pear tree arrived very well packaged, real old school using straw padding for protection. It was in good condition in a plant pot and I planted it in the garden 2 months ago. It is healthy and growing nicely. A nice touch was Gemma getting in touch to ask if everything had gone well with the order and offering advice if needed. I would use this company again,

12 October 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Bare root fruit trees have not done well

Ordered two fruit trees (Jubilee plum and Red Falstaff apple) way back in 2018. I expected delivery around October - November, so when I still hadn't received them by the following January I emailed the company and received a rather terse reply saying that due to frozen ground they had been unable to dig these up (the ground had only been frozen for about a week due to some unexpectedly cold weather so I don't know why they'd waited so long).
The trees were bare root and arrived in their dormant phase so I could not assess overall health but I did notice that the trunks were quite bent, particularly the apple tree. I was forced to tie it in quite rigidly to a stake in order to straighten it up.
I wanted to give the trees a fair chance to perform before writing a review, but I feel like 5 1/2 years is long enough. Suffice it to say during that period I have not had a single plum and only had apples (3) for the first time this year. Other fruit trees in my garden are performing well so I don't think the problem is at my end.

12 October 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great customer service

Easy to order from the website and great communication regarding the delivery. Plant arrived well wrapped and in very good condition. After service is also excellent.

27 September 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Good range and items were exactly as…

Good range and items were exactly as described. The only reason its not a 5 star review was the delivery was slightly longer than expected. However, better its right than rapid and wrong.The follow up aftercare was not required but is a nice touch. Would happy use them again

11 September 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Best team out there

My husband and I are new to gardening. The Chris Bowers & sons team website is easy to follow and understand. The price point was the best we had come across and delivery was quick. The team have plenty of tips and guides on their website to help all customers make the most of their purchase. We are incredibly happy with our purchase and thank the team for their help.

5 September 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Tree guarantee - all talk no action

I bought about 5 trees from Chris bowers. They aren't cheap but thought they looked good value and were backed up by a guarantee. I've previously played about 100 trees and 1000+ hedges so I'm no beginner.
Of the 5 I bought only 2 survived despite constant care.

I contacted them twice in the last few months to get some help but both of my emails were ignored and I've given up now.

I wouldn't recommend their quality or customer service.

1 September 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

No response to problems and queries

I ordered a specific variety of whitecurrant. It arrived with a generic plastic label saying 'Whitecurrant', with no variety specified. I queried this by email and received a curt response telling me that the variety would be as specified on the packing slip. I checked through the packing materials, which I had kept to recycle, and found no packing slip and no printed material of any kind. I let them know this 2 weeks ago and have received no response to this or a follow-up email.
An earlier query on blueberries also received no response.
I'm disheartened to see so many negative reviews here pointing to carelessness and low standards.
Definitely won't be ordering again.

20 September 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Lovely company, great produce

I ordered a beauty of Bath apple dwarf tree. Ordering was simple, delivery was prompt and well packed. My tree is in a container and looks healthy. They have just emailed me to ask if alls well, and answered my question on mulching for the winter. Great customer service offering future help. Will definitely use them again and whole heartedly recommend them.

4 September 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent plants and customer service

Ordered plants for my strawberry bed. They arrived promptly and in great condition. After a few weeks they are now getting their feet down and looking strong and healthy. Even got a follow up email checking that everything was ok.

1 October 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great service

What a superb experience! Excellent quality, superb packaging, great delivery, what more could you ask for. Brilliant company with same standards.

29 September 2025
Unprompted review

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