Southlands Nursery

This is a bit out of my way, however, lately I prefer to go to nurseries vs. flower shop for selection and prices. It’s not much cheaper than a flower shop, however, they have a different selection that is more up my ally. I have a lot of friends who are gardeners. therefore, I can get something with a bit more care. I am impressed with this place, their morals and just the whole vibe and approach of the place.

This place is the Ritz of garden centres. Featured by Martha Stewart as THE garden shop to visit when in Vancouver, the prices certainly reflect that. But don’t let that discourage you. The area is beautiful, very close to Kerrisdale and once you’re inside there are some plants you’ll be sure to find at a fair price.
The last time I was there I bought a unique succulent I had never seen before and it was only 4 dollars. A couple months later it’s doing amazingly.
Their tropical greenhouse is wonderfully detailed with rustic charm. Really like the air plants and arrangements. Great succulents too in a few sections of their setup as well. Great to visit when you check out KJM Country Gardens down the street.

Twas a sunny Sunday and I decided to take my mom out to the nursery for the afternoon. I also had a couple of Groupon offers to use for the both of us and it was off to the greenhouses!
Nestled in the swanky neighbourhood of SW Marine Drive and Balaclava St., this place offers the standard plants that one would find at most nurseries and then some imported exotics that are pretty rare in our neck of the woods. You can also find water plants, larger trees (Japanese maples), vegetable plants and pottery.
I ended up buying about 4 annuals, some smaller plants for a rock garden and a couple of perennials to form the base of a planter box.
My purchases via the Groupon went smoothly and the workers were quite informative and helpful.
Most of all, my mom and I had a wonderful afternoon together.

For those of you who are actually emotionally invested in your gardens — if you haven’t yet been to Southlands, you probably should. Hands down, the best nursery in Vancouver.
Maybe the world.
The nursery thrives in what can only be described as Vancouver’s oddest neighbourhood, Southlands, an urban patch of land filled with horse ranches, polo clubs, and golf courses on the Southernost edge of the city that borders on the Fraser river. It’s trippy, in a good way.
Southlands’ variety of plants — seasonals, tropicals, succulents, trees, shrubs, etc. — is mind-​boggling. Wandering the main store is a treat for the senses. The expected houseplants (spider plants, crotons, ivies, etc.) can be found scattered among an incredible range of colourful vegetation the likes of which you will not find at Home Depot or Rona. Furthermore, the plants just seem bigger, cheerier, happier.
I have been told that unlike some outlets that sell plants Southlands makes a point of not over-​fertilizing plants but caring for them with love and time instead, yielding a creature that is more likely to thrive (as opposed to something that’s strung out on fertilizer just to look pretty and make you buy it) rather than wither and wilt when you take it home (plant detox). Bottom line: they’re healthy and reliable.
They are also more expensive. But only marginally, if at all.
While the rapture didn’t destroy the planet, it did destroy my lovely balcony flower box — damnable aphids. My beautiful pansies and violas, purchased about a month ago from Southlands, had been absolutely charming until the bloody aphids. After cleaning house with a good chrysanthemum-​based insecticide, I had reason to go back there today for more. Late May and their selection was impeccable — osteospermums (gorgeous, huge, fantastic colour selection $ 3.99), New Guinea impatiens, nemesia, superbena have now taken hold in my little box. Truly, I had to restrain myself.
The staff is highly educated about plants and are keen to offer advice. On the weekends they have members from local horticultural groups on-​hand to offer very specific knowledge about, say, vegetable gardening. In addition to plants they do sell accoutrements — soils, plant holders, seeds, tools, bags of ladybugs (!), etc.
Bottom line is that for both the hardcore gardener (that actually has, say, a proper garden), the wannabe apartment-​dweller (like yours truly, who just likes to have pretty colours on their balcony in the summer), or someone looking to brighten another’s day with a new plant-​pal, a trip to Southlands Nursery is guaranteed to please.