Sourcing

Sourcing

James loves independent garden centres. In this lesson, he teaches you what to look out for when sourcing plants both online and in person.

Lesson Summary

• I recommend visiting independent garden centres because they have plants and items you can't find anywhere else. Staff are enthusiastic and knowledgeable, providing good, sound advice.
• Small garden shops are open to ordering plants, especially for you. They also filter out gimmicky plants that often don't work.
• Market stalls are also great for discovering plants. I recommend the Columbia Road flower market in London. Buying from market stalls can be a lot cheaper too, particularly at the end of the day.
• Don't go to these places if it's very cold or very hot weather. This is because these plants will have been exposed to damaging strong sun, heat or cold.

Online

• eBay, Etsy and Amazon have revolutionised how we buy plants online, but beware of photoshop trickery.
• Look carefully at the pot size because you could be tricked into thinking it is larger than it is.

Illegal Trading

• If you're buying a plant from abroad and it doesn't highlight at any point that you need to legally have a phytosanitary certificate, or an import certificate, then do not buy it.
• An image of a plant dug with a spade in the ground is usually a tell-tale sign of an endangered or illegal plant. Endangered plants are often sold at a price premium because they're rare so this is also another key sign.
• If you're buying plants online, make sure they're coming from the same country you're in, or at least the same trading block. If they're coming from outside the block, they've got to come with a certificate.

Independent Garden Centre Guide

London

• N1 Garden Centre
• W6 Garden Centre
• Petersham Nurseries
• Camden Garden Centre
• Alleyn Park Garden Centre
• Alexandra Nurseries

South East

• Coolings
• Grovewell Garden Centres
• Clifton Nurseries
• Priory Farm Nursery
• Perryhill Nurseries

South West

• Andy's Air plants
• Roseland House Nursery
• Bowdens
• Little Groves
• Hoo House Nursery
• Somerset Plants
• Derry Watkin's Special Plants

East of England

• Monksilver Nursery
• Daisy Roots
• Homestead Nurseries
• Hattens Farm Nurseries

East Midlands

• Tissington Nursery
• Piecemeal Plants
• Mendle Nursery
• Coton Manor
• Norwell Nurseries
• The Herb Nursery

West Midlands

• Newent Plant Centre
• Mynd Hardy Plant
• Hazles Cross Farm Nursery
• Durno's Nurseries
• Pacific Nurseries
• The Gobbett Nursery

North East

• Polemonium Plantery
• Harperley Hall Farm Nurseries
• Bide-A-Wee Cottage Gardens and Nursery
• Perennial Favourites

North West

• Barton Grange Garden Centre
• Gordale Garden and Home Centre
• Manor Garden Centre
• Trebaron Garden Centre Ltd
• Bud Garden Centre

Yorkshire

• All Plants North
• Hoyland Plant Centre
• Lavender Blue
• Bents Green Nurseries
• Dark Star Plants

Wales

• Seven Oaks Garden Centre and Cafe
• Caerphilly Garden Centre
• Crûg Farm Plants
• Camlan Garden Centre, Farm Shop & Cafe

Scotland

• Mill Garden Centre
• New Hopetoun Gardens
• Abriachan Nurseries, The Garden On Loch Ness
• Caulders Loch Lomond Garden Centre & Restaurant

Northern Ireland

• Mahon Garden
• Mid Ulster Garden
• Dundonald Nurseries
• Hillside Nursery Centre
• Inver Garden Centre

California

• Armstrong Garden Centers & Pike Nurseries
• Calloway's Nursery
• Sloat Garden Center
• SummerWinds Garden Centers
• Roger's Gardens

Texas

• Ruibal's Plants of Texas
• Enchanted Gardens
• Smith's Gardentown
• Calloway's Nursery

Florida

• Tallahassee Nurseries
• Lukas Nursery & Garden Shop
• Mariposa Nursery & Garden Center

New York

• Urban Garden Center
• Plant Shed
• Natty Garden
• Gowanus Nursery

Australia

• Oxley Nursery
• Swane's Nursery – Dural
• Gehl Garden Centre
• Burnetts On Barney Landscaping Hub & Garden Centre

Sourcing

Here are some useful websites to help you with your plant sourcing.

Europe

• araflora.com
• tropiscape-orchids.com
• dutchrana.nl
• bens-jungle.com

UK

• dartfrog.co.uk
• andysairplants.co.uk
• aquariumgardens.co.uk
• riverwoodaquatics.co.uk

US

• aquariumplants.com
• aquariumplantfactory.com
• airplantsupplyco.com
• plantbid.com

Suggested Reading & Listening

Reading

• 10-a-Day the Easy Way: Fuss-free Recipes & Simple Science to Transform your Health
• The New Terrarium: Creating Beautiful Displays for Plants and Nature
• How to Eat Better: How to Shop, Store & Cook to Make Any Food a Superfood
• RHS Grow for Flavour: Tips & tricks to supercharge the flavour of homegrown harvests
• James Wong's Homegrown Revolution
• https://www.rhs.org.uk/

Listening

• The HousePlants Podcast
• Bloom and Grow Radio
• Gardeners' Corner
• On the Ledge
• Gardening with the RHS
• Unearthed