Unique Gardening Centers and Native Plant Shops Around Spokane
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Funny how, “I’m a dog mom,” has quickly turned into, “I’m a plant mom!” With the COVID pandemic and people being forced inside, home renovations, DIY projects and bringing the outside indoors have all been trendy activities over the last year and a half!
For some, that’s meant gardening in Spokane, while others have brought plants and flowers indoors. Adding a touch of nature to your home purifies the air, livens up your space, transports the tranquility of nature into any home, and has been proven by science to help you stay healthier and heal quicker.
If you’re looking to add some lush greenery to your home, garden, or yard, we’ve put together some of the most unique places to find plants around Spokane! In this time of great need, it’s super important that we support small and local businesses (like Ritters Nursery!) before spending money at big box stores. Every time you purchase a plant, soil or pot from one of these lovely local vendors, they surely do a “happy dance.”
While sometimes we all may doubt our ability to have a “green thumb,” these friendly and hyper-local Spokane plant stores have all the knowledge, education and information in order to make your journey to plant-parenthood as smooth sailing as possible.
If you’ve been wondering where to find the best local plants, flowers, learn from master gardeners and more, make sure to bookmark this page and return often!
Unique Gardens Around Spokane
Desert Jewels Nursery
Location: 9809 East Upriver Drive, Spokane, WA 99206
Desert Jewels Nursery phone number: 509-893-3771
Diane Stutzman, owner of Desert Jewels Nursery, has 20 years of experience as a botanist and ecologist for National Forests, and the Bureau of Land Management. 16 years ago, she opened a nursery that specialized in offering the perfect plants for people who wish to save water while maintaining a scenic yard – and talk about a unique garden!
Heard of Xeriscaping? This is a landscaping style that requires little to ZERO irrigation. She also does a lot of landscape design for low-water landscapes for local clients.
Desert Jewels suggests native plants that thrive in Spokane surrounding areas with a focus on flowering plants that have adapted to Western droughts to help you make a unique garden for yourself.
Here, you can find an abundance of “Reduced Water Plants” that originate from the American prairie. It’s possible to create a colorful garden and landscape using much less water than with non-local plants.
In addition, they start many of their own desert shrubs and local native trees from seed. By seeding themselves, they can offer the widest array of differing plant species.
Hardy, locally adapted, drought tolerant, ground covering, rocky-soil-thriving species that bring beauty while using minimal resources is what they grow. Call them to set up an appointment.
Fern Plant Shop
Location: 309 W 2nd Ave
Spokane, WA 99201
Fern Plant Shop phone number: 509-850-4921
Owners Amy and Alex “are partners in business and life.” Their love of plants, beautiful spaces, and community brought them to open one of the finest foliage shops the Inland Northwest. They’ve now opened in three locations. With help from the knowledgeable and friendly staff at Fern, you can create an at-home sanctuary featuring high-quality houseplants, modern pots and trendy terrariums. Transplanting and installation is provided for local purchasers.
Fern offers some excellent workshops in the studio at their Browne’s Addition shop. Talented staff members will guide you through learning, laughter and the process of designing with plants. See the variety of all-inclusive workshops they offer on their website, or even schedule a private party for a group. The workshops are a wonderful for friends, kids, family and workplace outings.
Ritters Garden & Gift
Location: 10120 North Division Street, Spokane WA 99218
Ritters phone number: (509) 467-5258
Ritters email: [email protected]
Ritters Garden & Gift has been a floral shop for 75 years. In 2008, the Wyman family purchased it from the Ritter family. Many people know it simply as “Ritters” or “Ritters Nursery” in Spokane, WA – but needless to say, it’s a Spokane institution!
Ritters is family-owned and operated, and they strive to ensure everyone that walks through their door is treated like family. “We strive to provide the best customer service, expert, and are committed to carrying the highest-quality products at a fair price.”
Any questions you may have, be sure to ask one of Ritters qualified staff members. If they don’t have what you’re looking for, they will make suggestions for similar species.
On top of perennials, seeds, soils, trees, shrubs, and houseplants, local wine tastings and a glorious gift shop—oh my! Unique Bonsai trees, ornate pottery, gorgeous cut-flowers, and other gifts of all kinds can be found at Ritters Garden & Gift.
Ritters delivers, offers planting services, does custom landscaping, and can provide a “personal shopper.” With a personal shopper, you share your shopping list and they do the rest. They gather the items, call with a quote and can deliver on the spot!
The Plant Project
Location: 1908 W Northwest Blvd Suite B, Spokane, WA 99205
The Plant Project phone number: 509-383-8020
The Plant Project is unique because multiple local mostly women-led businesses share the space. It’s a co-op of sorts, aimed at helping each other grow and succeed!
The ladies at The Plant Project have cacti, succulents, carnivorous, rare and tropical plants. Specializing in their hand-mixed potting soil blends, they aid your plants with maximum drainage, enhanced root health, and reduced pesky plant pests.
They are a Washington-based online plant retailer who can provide in-store pickup as well as shipping options to customize each shopper’s preferred experience. You can enjoy shopping in the safety and convenience of your own home or stop in for a treat. They are excited to offer no-contact delivery for Spokane, Liberty Lake, and Spokane Valley customers.
You will be given plenty of care information from people with years of professional love of plants in order to keep your plants happy and healthy at home. “With the stresses of life these days, we all need to unwind and enjoy a little treat for ourselves. We think plants should be your little escape!”
Rosarium Garden Center
Location: 9405 S Williams LN, Spokane, WA 99224
Rosarium Garden Center phone number: 509-448-4968
Perhaps my personal favorite of the pack, “take a trip off the beaten path…” to the Rosarium Garden Center. A stroll through their unique Display Garden is such a joy, featuring over 2,000 roses and unique garden features.
They offer FAR more than just roses with their fountains, statues, metalwork, fertilizers, critter houses, and giant planter pots galore. “Our goal is to give customers ideas and inspiration while strolling through the garden.” Passing by thousands of roses, trees, perennials, benches, arbors, trellises, fountains, bird baths, and sculptures along the path, everywhere you wander is sure to delight your senses.
Visiting the Rosarium is a delight even if you don’t leave buying anything (although I doubt you’ll be able to leave without buying something!) There are several places to stop and rest in the shade, plus enchanting fountains in this unique garden space. While it can be a little off the beaten path, if you persevere, you’ll be rewarded!
The adventure began when Carol and Terry Newcomb purchased the Rosarium in 2005 and transformed the project into a full-service garden center. The couple’s lifelong love of growing plants continues to this day on their pristine 5-acre family-farm property near Spokane. They boast year-round greenhouses, master gardener-trained staff, educational seminars, and special events for locals.
For the last 20 years, they have tried to carry everything that will make your garden look its very best. They strive to provide the highest quality plants, fertilizers, soil amendments, tools, art and hard to find plants. Their Display Garden beautifully illustrates how products from their Garden Center can be used in someone’s home.
In Spokane, we have four distinct seasons: intense summer, freezing temperatures, blistering winds, and a temperate rainy spring. The Rosarium Garden Center’s Display Garden tests all their plants against the trials and challenged of these weather changes, ensuring that these plants will work for you.
Gardening in Spokane
Interested in learning more about gardening in Spokane, water-hardy plants and more? Take a listen to our interview with Josh C., aka the Spokane Garden Coach. We talk about organic gardening, gardening in the Pacific Northwest and Spokane region, and Spokane’s Waterwise program: Episode 10: A Conversation with Josh, the Spokane Garden Coach, About Organic Gardening, and More
There’s a garden or plant shop for everyone in Spokane, and many are hidden gems. Don’t hesitate to ask questions while you’re visiting these gorgeous plant shops, gardens and nurseries – the plant and gardening community here is strong and wants to see you succeed, too!
For more information about planting, gardening, farming and more, take a look at these articles: