Buchanan's in the Heights is a great place to get familiar with native plants.
In Houston, when it comes to ideas for where to purchase native plants, the first place that comes to mind is Buchanan’s Native Plants in the Heights. It is definitely worth a visit regardless of where you live, but it is by no means the only place to go. With that in mind, I thought I would put together a brief reference list for anyone who is new to Houston, new to gardening, and/or simply used to living in isolation in his or her own little corner of this vast city.
Now, before I list these, please keep in mind that these are primarily the ones with which I am familiar and have visited in person. I have not included some that I have visited, simply because my experience did not motivate me to recommend them. Still, I am aware of plenty of other locations that do get high marks from other gardeners, but I am yet to get around to paying those locations a visit. Ultimately, if you feel I am leaving someone out who should be added to a highly recommended list, then let me know, and I will be delighted to do a follow up article in the near future.
I have broken these down by geographical location:
Central
Buchanan’s Native Plants
Joshua’s Native Plants and Garden Antiques
*I haven’t actually visited this one, but since it is also in the Heights, has “native” in the name, and I have heard lots of good things about it, I decided to make sure it got a mention.
West
Nelson Water Gardens and Nursery
Southwest
Enchanted Forest and Enchanted Gardens
Southeast
Maas Nursery
Northwest
Cornelius Nursery
North, Northwest, and West
Houston Plants and Garden World
*This is a rare mention of one of the bigger, chain nurseries, and I have only shopped at the Katy location on the west side. Nonetheless, the vast selection, courteous service, and the annual 70% off sale (currently underway) makes this a good choice, especially for someone looking to fill a landscape on the cheap while learning about local plants.
For those above with links to their websites, I recommend you visit the sites to get a feel for the unique things each has to offer. As I said before, even if you are not quite ready to buy, each of them are worth a visit, making for a nice stroll through some exquisite professional gardens. And, for those of you outside of the Houston area, some of them do have mail order and online purchasing available.
Well, here’s hoping your garden also makes for a delightful stroll, even if it’s not in the professional realm.
As always, feel free to contact me directly at gregshelley@comcast.net.
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