About Us

Established as a producer of tulip and daffodil bulbs in 1973, Van Meuwen diversified into mail order in 1977. Today Van Meuwen is a horticultural mail order specialist, working hard to ensure you receive the best quality plants and bulbs, delivered direct to your home at affordable prices. Our range includes familiar, well-established favourites as well as exciting new varieties: our buyers are on a constant search for new and exclusive ideas from all parts of the world, so you'll find something different every year.

Reasons to buy from Van Meuwen

1. You can order from the comfort of your own home.
2. 100% customer satisfaction guarantee (see below).
3. FREE cultural instructions provided to help you gain the best from your plants.
4. Constant introductions of new, and often exclusive products.
5. We offer many great savings with our collections - see our Special Offers page.
6. All orders are acknowledged with specified delivery dates ensuring optimum product performance.
7. Our horticulturalists provide invaluable information for the entire tried and test product range.
8. We have numerous suppliers both here in the UK and in Holland who understand and adhere to our strict quality requirements.
9. We carefully prepare and pack your bulbs and plants.
10. We have a plant for every situation, in the garden, on the patio or balcony, hanging baskets, shady spots, wet spots, even dry places.
11. With our large plant and bulb collections you can establish your garden quickly and effectively.
12. You can subscribe to our newsletter to receive regular special offers and new variety information.

Our 5 Star Promise to you

1. If any items do not come up to your expectations when you receive them, we will offer a replacement (subject to availability), credit, or refund the purchase price. Just notify us within 14 days of receipt of the goods.
2. If your plants show no signs of healthy growth after potting or planting, providing you followed exactly the instructions supplied, we will replace, credit or refund the purchase price if you notify us within 30 days of receipt of your order.
3. If any item supplied in a dormant state (eg bulbs, bare root perennials) fails to flourish the next season, let us know and we will endeavour to replace the product (at the appropriate time), credit or refund the purchase price.
4. Any plant or bulb that fails to grow true to name will be replaced, credited or refunded.
5. Larger shrubs and trees hold a replacement guarantee

Horticultural expertise at Van Meuwen

Aart Alders, the founder of Van Meuwen

Born and raised in Holland, Aart went to a unique Dutch college to train as a horticulturalist, specialising in the bulb, plant and shrub industry as we know it today.

In the mid 60’s he moved to the UK and joined a large nursery specialising in bulb forcing, tomato and paeonia growing and other general nursery work, gaining valuable hands-on experience.

In 1973 he progressed to set up his own business as a flower-bulb grower in the Spalding area, with many acres under cultivation. He soon expanded into other areas of horticulture, adding roses, shrubs, dahlia, gladioli, begonias and many others to his range, all of which further increased his horticultural knowledge and experience.

When he branched out into mail-order in 1977 the Van Meuwen business we know today was born, offering its popular range of unique and novel products, as well as established best sellers.

Gardening expert Carly Dillon

Carly has always had a keen interest in plants and natural landscapes. Growing up in Devon gave her access to some of the most beautiful and innovative gardens and landscapes in the country, including Dartmoor, The Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan.

It seemed a natural step to attend nearby Bicton College, where she completed a Foundation Degree in Horticulture, before going on to complete a full honours degree in Horticulture at Writtle College in Essex.

A passionate gardener in her spare time, Carly enjoys growing her own vegetables and is very keen to garden organically. She loves the challenge of designing or re-designing the garden each year, taking inspiration from all gardens or nurseries she visits - and often going away wishing she had more space! She finds Prince Charles' garden at Highgrove particularly inspirational, along with RHS Garden Rosemoor in North Devon.

Carly joined Van Meuwen in spring 2010 to offer horticultural advice. She now holds a fortnightly Q&A session on Van Meuwen's Facebook page where she offers help and advice to all gardeners, from beginners to the more experienced.