ALL THUMBS WELCOME
New to houseplants? Nursery stalwart? These 35 plant shops are here to elevate your L.A. plant experience
FROM LONGTIME family-run plant stores such as Mickey Hargitay Plants and Sunset Nursery to recent startups including Latinx With Plants and Tansy, plant stores capture the essence of L.A. — a surprising, welcoming, multicultural mix that imbues every neighborhood in the city with goodwill. ¶ Plants have given us comfort after we sought refuge at home during the coronavirus pandemic, so it should come as no surprise that plant sales have skyrocketed and garden stores are more popular than ever. ¶ The latest shops offer fresh takes on traditional nurseries, such as the Plant Chica — an auto shop turned plant store in West Adams — and Lost Books, the used-book store in Montrose where you enter through a magical tunnel of live plants and can shop for fiddle-leaf figs alongside copies of “All Quiet on the Western Front” and the bestselling cookbook “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat.” Here are some of our favorites.
ALL TIME PLANTS
When All Time Plants established itself as a plant pop-up inside the coffee and bottle house Commodity, it was a hit. So the two businesses joined forces permanently and blew out a wall to also include Amigo Modern, Eric Trine’s line of furniture and home accessories. The open storefront is now a hybrid coffeehouse-plant storehome store where visitors can shop for plants and home goods while enjoying a latte or a glass of wine or beer. 1322 Coronado Ave., Suite B, Long Beach, @alltime.plants
AVALON NURSERY & CERAMICS
South Los Angeles’ only enduring nursery feels more like a botanic garden than a thriving business on a busy corner. In addition to trees, shrubs and colorful ceramics, the nursery features a “green room” where most of the houseplants reside. 5334 S. Avalon Blvd., Los Angeles; (323) 234-6762, @avalonnurseryla
ENCACTUSAR
The COVID-19 pandemic gave artists Jackie Amezquita and Julio Toruno the opportunity to turn their hobby into their own nursery, a small business at their Boyle Heights home. Toruno makes arrangements with cactuses, and they both make ceramic plant pots. Open Saturdays and Sundays only. DM them on Instagram to make an appointment: @encactusar
FIG EARTH SUPPLY
In addition to organic edible and medicinal plants, owner Conor Fitzpatrick stocks a wide variety of houseplants, including fiddle-leaf figs, philodendrons and calatheas. Fitzpatrick also presents regular classes — virtually and in person — spanning houseplant basics to cannabis cultivation. 3577 N. Figueroa St., Highland Park; (323) 224-3938, figearthsupply.com
FOLIA COLLECTIVE
Every plant at Folia Collective, from Peperomia ferreyrae to staghorn ferns, comes with a care card written by owner Danae Horst, author of “Houseplants for All: How to Fill Any Home With Happy Plants,” detailing its specific needs. Staff will ask you questions to help you pick the perfect plant and offer tips. Horst stocks houseplant accessories and gifts and, before the pandemic, hosted book signings and occasional cutting swaps. 5052 Eagle Rock Blvd., Eagle Rock; (626) 787-4957, @foliacollective
FOLIAGE LONG BEACH
Foliage Long Beach owners Nicoletta Meza and David Allen offer rare and uncommon plant drops once a month. They also offer their own line of candles, pottery and amendments. 205 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach; (562) 435-5029, @foliagelb
GREENWOOD SHOP
In addition to houseplants, Jaime Curtis stocks ceramics, candles, home decor and apothecary items in her Studio City shop. Curtis also offers design services to help you transform your space according to light, environment and maintenance needs. 12063 Ventura Place, Studio City; (818) 5053282, @shopgreenwood
HOUSEPLANT NATION
This family-run store in Huntington Beach started as a water shop that sold rare plants (variegated Monstera ‘Albo,’ anthuriums,
Epipremnum ‘Albo,’ Syngonium ‘Albo’ and rex begonias). Owners Tammy and Joe Ha recently opened a second store in Garden Grove, 9757 Garden Grove Blvd., No. 9, which features a stunning aroid living wall. They also sell handmade macramé and pottery. 17045 Newland St., Huntington Beach; (714) 3301579, @houseplant.nation
IN BLUME
Jimmy Hartman’s full-service florist offers fresh flowers, handmade bouquets and houseplants. 3429 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank; (323) 505-5360, @inblumeLA
JACKALOPE POTTERY & PLANTS
This longtime North Hollywood garden center offers fountains, pottery and indoor and outdoor
plants, including unusual varieties (aquatic plants, trees and drought-tolerant plants), sourced locally from responsible growers. 10726 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood; (818) 761-4022, @jackalopeNH
THE JUICY LEAF
Houseplants, succulents, cactuses, tillandsia, designer terrariums, planters and macramé hangers — you can find them all here. You also can create your own arrangement or attend one of owner Felix Navarro’s weekly live workshops hosted on Instagram @thejuicyleaf (items are delivered to your door or you can pick them up at the store). 2614 Arthur St., Suite B, Glassell Park; (310) 907-5019
LA BELLE PLANT NURSERY
This nursery features a wide variety of indoor plants, including
cactuses, succulents and air plants; decorative containers in Italian terracotta and Mexican red clay; and Chinese ceramics and glazed ceramic cylinders. 3113 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica; (310) 399-1145, @labelleplant
LATINX WITH PLANTS
Latinx With Plants founder Andi Xoch says plant sales started booming as L.A. began sheltering in place. Her weekend pop-up events were so popular that she opened the Latinx With Plants store on César Chávez Boulevard on Aug. 1. She believes a plant shop can provide a sense of comfort in an unsettling time. 2900 E. César E. Chávez Blvd., Boyle Heights; (213) 466-2123, @latinxwithplants
LEAF AND SPINE
This tiny store specializes in plants that are hard to find. “We wanted to form a specialty in plants that are really unique,” says owner Dustin Bulaon, who is a collector. Keep an eye on the store’s Instagram for rare plant sales: @leafandspine. 5440 York Blvd., Highland Park; (323) 257-5323
LOST BOOKS
Walk into Lost Books in Montrose and you’ll be greeted by an amazingly verdant and jampacked plant tunnel installed by Yuko Watanabe of Yuko’s Kitchen. (She pivoted to selling plants in her restaurant during the pandemic.) With custom bookshelves dotted with calathea, fiddle-leaf figs, pothos and dracaena and a ceiling covered with dried reindeer moss, the used bookstore has the feel of a miniature, magical literary jungle. 2233 Honolulu Ave., Montrose, @lostbooksLA
MICKEY HARGITAY PLANTS
Mickey Hargitay’s nursery has been a Hollywood fixture for more than 30 years and is the kind of place where staffers will carry your Monstera deliciosa to your car for you while offering care tips. “We have done our best to keep some of the hardto-get plants such as Monstera adansonii, Rhaphidophora tetrasperma, string of hearts, various varieties of hoya, Peperomia polybotrya, many varieties of calathea,” says Hargitay. Potting services are generally free, depending on the plant’s size. 1255 N. Sycamore Ave., West Hollywood; (323) 467-8044, @mickeysplants
PEACOCK & CO.
Stephanie Garcia Saharopulos’ Long Beach plant shop offers tropical plants, cactuses and terra cotta planters. 306 Cerritos Ave., Long Beach, @peacockandcompany
PLANTA
Dan Goshin and Jose Chavez’s nursery features an extensive selection of houseplants, some exotics such as Nepenthes, unusual species such as Sansevieria kirkii and potted succulents. There are large monsteras ($95), baby cactuses ($12.50 apiece) and potting services starting at $3 (even if you didn’t buy the plant there). The store hosts regular plant swaps and a zero-waste program where customers can pick up free leftover grower pots, spray bottles, saucers and other items. 6012 York Blvd., Los Angeles, @plantanursery
THE PLANT CHICA
Sandra Mejia transformed an old auto body shop in Jefferson Park into her own urban greenhouse and plant shop. Mejia started her business by selling plants around her neighborhood and through Etsy and now specializes in unusual plants. Over the last year, she has opened her store for kids’ events because she wanted something more impactful and uplifting in her community. “The kids who are from this neighborhood — it’s so important for them to see that the owners look just like them, whether they’re Black or brown, it can happen, you can be a business owner,” Mejia says. 4522 W. Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, @theplantchica
PLANT MATERIAL
Terremoto landscape architect David Godshall, who cofounded Plant Material with business partner Matt Burrows, likens the nursery’s aesthetic and spirit to “a punk rock plant shop.” Find indoor and outdoor plants, natives and gardening accessories here. 3350 Eagle Rock Blvd., Los Angeles; (323) 474-6842, @plant_material
PLANTIITAS
Kevin Alcaraz and Anthony Diaz’s shop features tropical houseplants, stylish planters and hand-crafted goods. 4003 E. 4th St., Long Beach; (323) 4567890, @plantiitas
POTTED
Open for more than a decade, this Atwater Village boutique sells indoor and outdoor plants, planters by local artists, extensive home decor and fountains. The store also hosts regular DIY workshops, lectures on houseplant care and book signings. 3158 Los Feliz Blvd., Atwater Village; (323) 665-3801, @pottedstore
POUR VIDA ART & PLANT HOUSE
Sadie Gilliam’s Venice boutique offers plants, plant-related gifts and locally made products including crystals, cards, jewelry, candles and fresh floraland-sage smudge sticks. Watch the calendar for artisanal classes curated by Denise Ambrosi of These Hands Maker’s Collective as well as a mobile plant shop. 2124 Lincoln Blvd., Venice; (310) 804-9337, shoppourvida.com
QUEEN
When the coronavirus pandemic hit, Amorette Brooms pivoted her fashion business and now offers houseplants, designer pots and interior plant styling out of her tiny storefront on Pico Boulevard. She recently started hosting occasional “Plants After Dark” nights with plants, drinks and live music. 5011 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles; (213) 434-7113, @queen_losangeles
ROGER’S GARDENS
The popular gardening and outdoors supply store has made a name for itself for its themed garden displays and elaborate holiday pop-ups. The garden center features extensive indoor and outdoor plants, drought-tolerant native plants, planters, furniture, housewares, gifts and gourmet foods. 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road, Corona del Mar; (949) 640-5800, rogersgardens.com
ROLLING GREENS
The garden and home design f lagship in Culver City, which covers two acres, offers indoor and outdoor plants, succulents, planters and home decor. Owners Greg Salmeri and Laurie Resnick travel the world to shop for home and garden goods. Customers can create their own arrangement at the store’s Arrangement Bar. Also at 7505 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 934-4500. 9528 Jefferson Blvd., Culver City; (310) 5598656, @rollinggreens
SANSO
Rare and unique plants from private collections in handcrafted ceramics by Yunice Kang. Sanso (Korean for “oxygen”) in Lincoln Heights is open on Saturdays and by appointment with curbside pickup available. 618 Moulton Ave., No. E, Los Angeles, @sanso_la
SARAHCOTTA PLANTS
Sarah Bazik stocks houseplants both familiar and exotic in her Glendale boutique, as well as planters and plantrelated accessories. She also has a “take-one, share-one” community board where customers can share their plant cuttings with other plant lovers. 401 N. Verdugo Road, Suite A, Glendale; 818-245-6505, @sarahcottaplants
SARI SARI PLANTS
This Filipino-owned plant gallery and nursery offers a wide range of plants, containers and baskets curated by owner Alwin Anicete. 5009 York Blvd., Highland Park; (323) 274-4766, @sarisariplantsla
THE SILL
The popular plant boutique and online seller carries houseplants, planters and gifts. Plants are displayed according to lighting, water and pet needs and start at $5. The store offers classes on houseplant basics and kokedama, a plant care bar and potting table as well as a Plant Parent Club. 8125 W. 3rd. St., West Hollywood; (323) 8799720, @thesill
SUNSET NURSERY
This longtime family-run nursery features houseplants, succulents, California natives, edible plants, and pots. 4368 Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake; (323) 661-1642, @sunsetblvdnursery
TANSY
Owners Shawna Christian and Colette Fowler offer bohemian home goods at their Burbank store, including plants, home decor and pots. On Sept. 25 and Oct. 30, Tansy will host an outdoor marketplace with local artists and businesses, music and 20% off all plants. 2120 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank; (800) 580-0541, @shoptansyla
THE TROPICS
Since opening at the Hollywood swap meet in 1972, the Tropics has grown to a 20,000-squarefoot showroom featuring thousands of tropical plants, trees, orchids and decorative accessories. Owner Ryan Hroziencik offers plants for both home and business staging, including real estate and film projects, and the showroom serves as a location itself. It’s a fun place to look at plants but can be frustrating too. There are no price tags, and admission is by appointment only. 7056 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood; (323) 469-1682, @thetropicshollywood
WILD FLORA
This full-service florist shop also offers houseplants, succulents, tillandsia, terrariums, home decor such as pillows and candles, and gifts. There is also a location at the Original Farmers Market, 6333 W. 3rd St., Stall No. 708; (323) 452-9339. 12313 Ventura Blvd., Studio City; (818) 754-1188, @wildfloradesign
WYLDBNCH PLANTS
Pop Annemarie Chan’s plant shop is nestled in the Container Yard of the DTLA Arts District and offers plants, planters, accessories and gifts. The store offers curbside pickup and private shopping. 613 S. Central Ave., Los Angeles; (323) 2839950, wyldbnchplants.com
Did we miss your favorite place to shop for houseplants and related goods? Email lisa.boone@latimes.com.