Work Hard, Plant Hard

Planty Places Travel Guide

This is a running list of public plant-filled places I've been and those I'd like to visit, including botanical gardens, nurseries, conservatories, plant shops and even restaurants, coffee shops, and buildings. Please email me at workhardplanthard@gmail.com if you have suggestions for the list, or tag @plantyplaces or #plantyplaces on Instagram if you have suggestions or photos to share. I hope we can inspire each other with our plant travels! I add more all the time, so check back. Starred places are on my bucket list - haven't been yet. They are alphabetized first by states in the United States (I don't mean to be US-centric but it's where I live and have the most information on), and then by countries Internationally. Recently added online plant shops as well. Enjoy!

Online Plant Sources

Some online plant sources also have brick and mortar shops and are mentioned in the Planty Places list below, but I thought I’d compile a separate list here. Referenced by Instagram handle. You can click on the handle to go to their website. Please note, I am not endorsing or guaranteeing any plant seller in terms of the quality of the plants which can be variable. Always inspect for pests when you receive plants in the mail, and monitor for a month or so for them to pop up. Have a suggestion to add? Feel free to email it to me: workhardplanthard@gmail.com.

United States

Arizona

California

San Diego County (current hometown, hence why there are so many!):

Central County

  • San Diego Botanical Building at Balboa Park. Free gorgeous botanic house located on the grounds of Balboa Park near downtown San Diego. Balboa park is also home to many museums, restaurants, and the zoo.  

  • San Diego Zoo - a Botanic Garden as well!

  • Eden plant shop @eden.sd. Darling small plant shop in the University Heights neighborhood.

  • North Park Nursery. Sister nursery to Eden plant shop. Lots of succulents, houseplants, and darling pots. @northparknursery

  • Pigment. Plants, succulents, and gifts. Check their active IG feed for more. @shoppigment 

  • *Wild Island Collective in Normal Heights @wildisland.collective

  • Mission Hills Nursery @missionhillsnursery

    (Tip - the above 5 spots are very close together and make a nice mini plant tour close to downtown San Diego!)

  • *Green Gardens Nursery in Pacific Beach. @greengardenssd

  • Botanica Home and Garden in Ocean Beach  @botanica_home

  • Walter Anderson's Nursery - San Diego and Poway. Large family owned nursery with lots of succulents and landscape plants, plenty of pottery, and though small some really good houseplant finds like hoya and calathea varieties.

  • Twin Peaks Mall Poway, CA. Large succulent living wall in the shape of a wave. #TwinPeaksGreenwall

South County

North County

  • Solana Succulents @solanasucculents Jeff Moore owns and operates this darling nursery filled with succulents and cacti, some quite rare species. Jeff is incredibly knowledgeable about his plants! Also a great simple pottery selection. Kids enjoy playing hide-and-seek in the nooks and crannies.

  • Barrels and Branches Nursery. Encinitas nursery offering many succulent varieties, vegetables, houseplants, airplants, and more. My go-to for modern pottery near my home. They also host great workshops and you can rent the beautiful space for events. 

  • Weidner's Gardens. Wholesale and resale nursery. Lots of succulents and landscape plants. Good houseplant and airplant selection as well, with some cute pots.  

  • Anderson's La Costa Nursery, Large selection of succulents, cacti, landscape plants, gardening/plant gear, pots, and a very large houseplant greenhouse. I've found some rare plants here too!  

  • Cordova Gardens nursery. Large selection of succulents, hanging plants, pottery, and huge houseplant collection. Many peperomia and hoya are usually available. Fiddle fig forest on my IG feed. 

  • Sunshine Gardens. Lots of landscape plants. Small but darling houseplant selection. Large aquatic plant selection. Great place to take the kids - they have goats to visit and carp to see!

  • Landmark Plant Company. Curated plant shop in Leucadia with a second location in Oceanside. @landmarkplantco.

  • Leucadia Floral @leucadiafloral Make your own potted succulents, find some cool houseplants (I found my rope hoya and parachute plants here). Cute terra cotta pottery.

  • Andy’s Orchids. By appointment only. Over 7000 species of plants including orchids, rhipsalis, Hoya, peperomia and more. Many quite rare. @andysorchids

  • Thread Spun boutique. Darling little must stop shop in Leucadia. “Making + selling handmade goods for the better good.” This includes some beautiful pottery. @threadspun

  • San Diego Botanic Garden. Recently added incredible Conservatory. Beautiful outdoor botanic garden in the hills of Encinitas.  

    (Tip - the above 10 spots are within 10-15 minutes of each other. Makes for a good long plant tour!)

  • Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library. Succulent garden with labeled plants outside the library.

  • Leo Carrillo Ranch in Carlsbad. Historic ranch with beautiful grounds, holds special events. Beautiful Euphorbias! @leocarrilloranch

  • *Honey Plant Co Mobile Plant Vehicle and online site. @honeyplantco

  • California Pacific Orchid Farm. Close to the spots above. They sell beautiful, mainly Phalaenopsis orchids and will also house your orchids in their "orchid hotel" between blooming for a small monthly fee. They repot and call you when it's ready to pick up!

  • The Succulent Cafe 505 Oak Ave, Carlsbad, CA 92008. @succulentcafe_carlsbad. Succulents and coffee/food. Small but great non-succulent houseplant collection as well. They usually have string of hearts (Ceropegia woodii) and many varieties of Hoya in stock.

  • Liv 3 @shopliv3 San Marcos, CA. Plants, gifts and clothing. Lots of little cacti and hanging hoya with beautiful planters to put them in!

  • Green Thumb Nursery San Marcos, CA, one of multiple locations. Very close to Liv 3!

  • *Grigsby Cactus Garden in Vista

  • Moosa Creek Nursery in Hidden Meadows @moosacreek

  • North County Roots Nursery in Vista. Very large wholesale/resale succulent nursery with excellent prices and finds - not usually open on weekends FYI but check! Instagram @north_county_roots_nursery

  • Rancho Soledad Nursery. 30 acres of plants all for sale. Lots of landscape plants, but many succulents and tropical for sale. You can ask to be escorted around in a golf card and load your goodies as you go! Ask about the exotic plants greenhouse.

  • *Waterwise Botanicals Bonsall, CA (north SD county) @waterwisebotanicals

Catalina

Los Angeles/Long Beach/Orange County areas

Inland from LA - Riverside/San Bernardino Counties

Palm Springs

  • Moorten Botanical Garden. Privately owned botanic garden in the heart of Palm Springs with a dreamy cactarium, many cacti and desert succulent species some very unusual. They do sell some plants and pots here, too!

Central California

  • *Grow Nursery www.grownursery.com @grownursery in Cambria

Sacramento

  • *Public Land @publiclandstore www.publiclandstore.com

San Francisco/Oakland/Bay Area

Santa Cruz/Half Moon Bay area

  • *Dig Gardens https://diggardens.com/ @diggardens (thanks to @kolokea for this rec!)

  • *Half Moon Bay Nursery. @halfmoonbaynursery

    More in Half Moon Bay listed here: https://www.visithalfmoonbay.org/northern-california-nurseries

  • *The Garden Company & Gift Shop @thegardencomp

  • *The Dry Garden Nursery @the_dry_garden_nursery

Connecticut

  • *Sam Bridge Nursery @sambridgenursery www.sambridge.com

  • *J+L Orchids @jlorchids www.jlorchids.com

Colorado

  • *Creekside Garden Center Fort Collins http://tbhaynie.wixsite.com/creekside

  • *ReRoot. Curated plant and flower shop in Denver. @rerootgardens www.rerootgardens.com

  • *Green Lady Gardens in Denver. @greenladygardens www.greenladygardens.com

  • *Little Lula Rose @littleluladenver www.littlelularose.com

  • *Amethyst Coffee Co. Lots of plants including flying Pothos! @amethystcoffeeco https://www.amethystcoffee.co/

Delaware

*Inland Bays Garden Center

District of Columbia

  • *Little Leaf Shop https://www.littleleafshop.com/ @littleleafshop

  • *Ginko Gardens http://ginkgogardens.com/

  • *National Botanical Garden https://www.usbg.gov/

    Smithsonian Museum has some garden areas!

Florida

  • *Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (Miami area)

  • *Fancy Free Nursery (Tampa area)

  • *Miami Beach Botanical Garden

  • *Local Gardens by Margo @localgardensbymargo in Tarpon Springs.

  • *Till Plant Company @tillplantcompany - darling vintage trailer pop-up plant shop in the Orlando area.

  • *Florida Cactus nursery north of Orlando. @florida.cactus

  • *Craft & Common - coffee shop in downtown Orlando with plants from @landofalicestudio. @craftandcommon

  • *Costa Farms wholesale grower www.costafarms.com @costafarms

  • *Thrive Water and Garden in Tampa @ThriveGardenandWater https://www.facebook.com/ThriveGardenandWater/

  • Kanapaha Botanical Garden Gainseville, FL. http://kanapaha.org/ Among many other beautiful sightings, see giant "Victoria" lily pads in person.

  • *Wild Roots in St. Petersburg. @wildrootsstpete

  • *Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg. @sunkengardensstpete www.stpete.org/sunken

  • *Perfect Choice Nursery @PerfectChoiceNursery

  • *Porch Therapy in Orlando. @porchtherapy http://www.porchtherapy.com/

  • *The Heavy in Orlando. @theheavywp

  • *Land of Alice in Orlando @landofalicestudio, shop open by appointment only.

Georgia

  • *Flora/Fauna ATL - Plant Boutique in Atlanta @florafaunaatl http://florafaunaatl.com/

  • *The Victorian Atlanta. “A Creative Plant Shop.” @thevictorianatlanta www.thevictorianatlanta.com

  • *Two Urban Licks restaurant in Atlanta. Large living wall! https://www.twourbanlicks.com/

Hawaii

  • Kauai - Limahuli Garden and Preserve. Incredible botanic garden on the North Shore of Kauai. If you like tropical plants then this is your spot!  https://ntbg.org/gardens/limahuli

  • Maui Kaumahina State Wayside Park https://hawaiistateparks.org/parks/maui/kaumahina-state-wayside/

  • Oahu - Lyon Arboretum https://manoa.hawaii.edu/lyonarboretum/gardens/

  • Oahu - Paiko plant shop. www.paikohawaii.com. IG @paikohawaii. Workshops, build your own terrarium or succulent potted mix, and pick up some very nice plant accessories.

  • Oahu - Ginger13. Wonderful houseplant and pottery selection. Grab a beautiful piece of custom jewelry while you shop for plants! ginger13.com @ginger13hawaii

  • Oahu - Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden

  • Oahu - Foster Botanical Garden

  • Oahu - Lili'uokalani Botanical Garden

  • Oahu - Moanalua Gardens

  • Oahu - Wahiawa Botanical Garden

  • Oahu - Waimea Botanical Garden

  • Oahu - *KCC Cactus Garden

  • Oahu - Koko Crater Botanical Garden

  • *Once Again Hawaii succulent shop - @onceagainhawaii - call first! They are not always open during their listed hours. They do pop-ups elsewhere on the Island as well. 

Indiana

  • *Grounded Plant & Floral Co @groundedplantfloralco www.groundedplantandfloral.com

Illinois

(I was born in Chicago and I think I went to the first 2 when I was young, which is why they aren't starred. Can't wait to go back though!)

  • Garfield Park Conservatory Chicago, IL https://garfieldconservatory.org/

  • *Morton Arboretum @mortonarb www.mortonarb.org

  • *Gethsemane Garden Center in Andersonville @gethsemanegardencenter www.gethsemanegardens.com

  • Chicago Botanic Garden https://www.chicagobotanic.org/

  • *Plant Shop Chicago @plantshopchicago and plantshopchicago.com/

  • *Sprout Home Chicago www.sprouthome.com and @sprouthomechicago

Iowa

Des Moines

  • *DSM Botanical Gardens http://www.dmbotanicalgarden.com/

  • *Art Terrarium https://artterrarium.com/

  • *Harvey's Greenhouse http://harveysgreenhouse.flywheelsites.com/

Kansas

  • *Family Tree Nursery. Multiple locations. @family_tree_nursery www.familytreenursery.com

Maine

  • *Snug Harbor Farm in http://snugharborfarm.com/ @snugharborfarm

  • *Mahoney’s Garden Center http://mahoneysgarden.com/, @mahoneysgarden

Massachusetts 

  • *Sylvan Nursery in Westport http://sylvannurseries.com/

  • *Niche Urban Garden Supply in Boston http://www.nicheboston.com/

Michigan

Minnesota

  • *Como Park Zoo and Conservatory St. Paul, MN http://www.comozooconservatory.org/ @comoparkzooandconservatory

  • *Tonkadale Greenhouse https://tonkadale.com/

  • *Mother Earth Gardens @motherearthgardens http://www.motherearthgarden.com/

Mississippi

  • *Courtney Farms in Ocean Springs. @courtneyfarms https://www.facebook.com/Courtney-Farms-333264274084/

Nebraska

Nevada

New Orleans

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Portland (former hometown):

  • Pistils. If you are a plant person on Instagram, then I don't need to tell you! For everyone else, Pistils is a plant shop in North Portland selling beautiful plants and plant accessories. Some of their plants are not for sale but beautiful to visit nonetheless. @pistilsnursery  http://pistilsnursery.com/

  • Solabee. Not far from Pistils, Solabee is a plant and flower shop in North Portland also home to amazing specimens. They sell great plant accessories as well. @solabeeflowers,  http://www.solabeeflowers.com/

  • Appetite. In Southeast Portland, a shop specializing in vintage (furniture, home goods, etc) and plants including many cool cacti. They have already potted plants as well as mix and match. They also make their own foliage printed curtains and canvas cache pots.  https://appetiteshop.com/

  • Portland Nursery. Great spot in Portland for all kinds of plants, many sizes and shapes available!  https://portlandnursery.com/

  • Japanese Garden. https://japanesegarden.org/

  • Rose Garden https://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/finder/index.cfm?action=ViewPark&PropertyID=1113

  • *Pomarius Nursery http://www.pomariusnursery.com/

  • *Thicket @thicketpdx

  • *Fang & Feather Pet and Garden Supply @fangpetandgarden www.fangpetandgardensupply.com

  • *Birds and Bees Nursery

  • *Arium Botanicals @ariumxintent www.ariumbotanicals.com. Northeast Portland plant, coffee and tea shop started by @urlocalplantboy.

  • *Local Branch @localbranch www.yourlocalbranch.com

  • *Hammer and Vine hammerandvine.com

  • *The Potted Elephant - appointment only - outside Portland. @thepottedelephant

  • *Cistus Nursery on Sauvie Island http://www.cistus.com/

  • *Gurton's Plant Shop in Hillsdale @gurtonsplantshop https://www.gurtons.com/

  • *Talise Garden @talisegarden

  • *Uflora Plant House in Newberg (outside Portland) @ufloraplanthouse and https://www.ufloraplanthouse.com/

  • *Lovejoy Workshop in Tanasbourne @lovejoyworkshop - @cleverbloom often has potted plants for sale here!

  • *Fieldwork Flowers https://www.fieldworkflowers.com/ @fieldworkflowers

  • *Starflower www.starflowerpassion.com @starflowerpdx

  • *Pierce Street Gardens in Eugene. @pierce.street.gardens www.piercestreetgardens.com

  • *Historic Deepwood Estate in Salem https://www.historicdeepwoodestate.org/

Gervais

  • *Rita Lees Nursery @ritaleesnursery - a small family owned gem of a nursery!

Ashland (Side note, I love this town!!! Went to the Shakespeare Festival with my hubby pre-kids and stayed in an amazing B+B. Highly recommend visiting Ashland!)

  • *Bestow & Bloom https://bestowandbloom.com/ and @bestowbotanicals

Pennsylvania

  • *PA Orchid Exchange @pa_orchid_exchange www.paorchidexchange.com

  • *Rhoades Garden @rhoades_garden www.rhoadesgarden.com

  • *Longwood Gardens www.longwoodgardens.org

  • *Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh. @phippsconservatory www.phipps.conservatory.org/

Rhode Island

  • *Peckham’s Greenhouse http://peckhamsgreenhouse.com

South Carolina

  • *Abide a While https://abideawhile.com/, @abideawhile

Tennessee

Texas

Austin

Dallas

  • *Ruibal’s plants. Multiple locations in Dallas. @ruibalsgardenshop. www.ruibals.com

Houston

Fort Worth

San Antonio

  • *San Antonio Botanical Garden

Utah

Salt Lake City

Virginia

  • Sunnyside Nursery http://www.sunnysidenurseryva.com/

Washington State

Seattle area

  • *Plant Shop Seattle  www.plantshopseattle.com and @plantshopseattle

  • *Urban Sprouts Store www.urban-sprouts.com/ and @urbansproutsstore

  • *Swanson's Nursery www.swansonsnursery.com/ and @swansonsnurseryseattle

  • *Cultivate Propagate. Online and brick and mortar store in Seattle, rare plants! @cultivatepropagate https://www.cultivatepropagate.com/

  • *Greenhouse @gwgreenhouse

  • *Molbak’s Garden and Home in Woodinville @molbaks

  • *The Spheres. Conservatory (over 40,000 species of plants!) and work space in downtown Seattle. @seattlespheres https://www.seattlespheres.com/

  • *Volunteer Park Conservatory https://volunteerparkconservatory.org/

  • *Flower World www.flowerworldusa.com/ and @flowerworldusa

Wisconsin

  • *Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison. @olbrichgardens http://www.olbrich.org

  • *Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville. http://www.rotarybotanicalgardens.org/

International

Amsterdam

  • *Hortus Botanicus

  • *Hotel Jakarta Amsterdam @hoteljakarta.ams www.hoteljakarta.amsterdam/

  • *Het Oosten. Huge nursery! http://www.tuincentrumhetoosten.nl/assortiment/kamerplanten/

  • *Berry Coffee Shop @berryamsterdam

Australia

  • *Hass & Co plant shop - Perth

  • *Bar Botanik plant shop - Perth

  • *Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria - Melbourne and Cranbourne @royalbotanicgardensvic https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/

  • *Wollongong Botanic Garden - New South Wales http://www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/botanicgarden/

  • *Oxley Nursery @oxley_nursery www.oxleynursery.com.au

  • *High Swan Dive in Newcastle @highswandive

  • *On the Side - boutique pots, plants, home goods in Victoria www.onthesidehome.com @ontheside_

Belgium

  • *The Plant Corner @theplantcorner

Belize

Canada

Costa Rica

Finland

France

  • *Leaf Paris @leaf.paris

  • *Atelier Green Factory

  • *What the Flower https://whattheflower.com/ and @whattheflower_paris

  • *Jardin des Serres d'Auteuil http://equipement.paris.fr/jardin-des-serres-d-auteuil-1780

  • *Le Cactus Club @lecactusclub and www.lecactusclub.fr/

  • *Ikebanart in Paris. @ikebanart. www.ikebanart.com.

  • *Paper Plane in Nice @paperplanenice An organic, vegan restaurant with beautiful planty decor.

Germany

  • *The Botanical Room. Plant shop in Berlin. @thebotanicalroom www.thebotanicalroom.com

  • *House of Small Wonder Berlin (also with a Brooklyn location). @houseofsmallwonderberlin https://houseofsmallwonder.de/

  • *Botanical Garden in Munich http://www.botmuc.de/

  • *Botanischer Zoological-Botanic Garden https://www.bgbm.org/en/home

Hong Kong

  • *Flower Market http://www.flower-market.hk/

  • *Salisbury Garden https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salisbury_Garden

Hungary

  • *Marc Zika Bonsai Studio. This looks like a botanical garden that also sells in store and online. Use google translator if needed, to navigate the site! https://www.bonsaistudio.hu/ Address: 2030 Érd, Napvirág u. 4-2. 4-2.

  • *Wild Flower Bar http://www.wildflowerbar.com/

Ireland

Italy

  • *Bosco verticale in Milan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosco_Verticale

South Korea

  • *Yuma Urban Greenlife in the Mapo district of Soeul.

  • *Ilsan Lake Park's Cactus Greenhouse

Malaysia

  • *Mulu National Park in Sarawak http://mulupark.com/

Mexico

  • *Rosetta Restaurant (Restaurante Rosetta) in Mexico City. @restauranterosetta.

  • *San Angel Inn Mexico City

  • *The Orchid Garden in Chapultepec Park. Mexico City.

  • *Bistró 83 Roma @bistro83roma. Restaurant in Mexico City.

  • *Blend Station coffee shop in Mexico City. @blendstation_

  • *Chaya B&B Boutique in Mexico City. @chayabnb. www.chayabnb.com.

Netherlands

  • *Wildernis @wildernisamsterdam https://wildernisamsterdam.nl/

  • *Plantaardig Middelburg @plantaardigmiddelburg www.plantaardigmiddelburg.nl/

  • *Berry Amsterdam - an eatery with planty decor. http://www.berryamsterdam.nl/ @berryamsterdam

Nigeria

Philippines

  • *Qach Lifestyle Garden @qachlifestylegarden

  • *Pianta House in Pampanga @pianta_house

Portugal

  • *Lisboa Jardim Botanico

Romania

  • *Cluj-Napoca Botanical Garden. Famous for their huge lily pads and much more! https://www.ubbcluj.ro/ro/structura/sport/gradina_botanica

Saudi Arabia

  • *Sultan Garden @sultangarden

Scotland

  • *Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Singapore

Spain

Taiwan

Thailand

UK