The best plant shops and nurseries in Melbourne

This Preston store offers healthy, happy plants and in-the-know experts ready to guide you through your new plant purchase. The inner north’s Plantsmith has an enviable selection of rare and common species, primarily sourced from Victorian growers, that you’ll be buzzing to add to your personal collection. As strong supporters of local growers and plant care education, Plantsmith is a treasure trove of knowledge for experienced growers and newbies alike.

Lush, stylish and crafted with sustainability in mind, The Plant Society’s aim is to build a flourishing gardening community. You’ll feel it when you enter their warehouse space in Collingwood and peruse through a medley of classic and unusual specimens, with some from small batch local ‘backyard’ growers. Their styling and design chops are on show too, with a unique selection of pots and plant accessories to keep your indoor forest looking fresh. 

You wouldn't think that the small shopfront of this Lygon Street nursery leads into an outdoor oasis home to impressive-looking shrubs, seedlings and edible plants. Lygon Street Nursery's stock of indoor plants are equally gorgeous – get your hands on hanging plants like devil's ivy or Boston ferns. Got plant care questions? Owner Michael Khalil is a professional landscaper who will happily arm you with info on how to care for your indoor and outdoor plants.

Botanicah bills itself as the biggest plant warehouse in Melbourne's south, and with 350 square metres of floors space dedicated to plants and pots, it's easy to agree. The business began when flora-loving friends Harris Mashood and Bowen Walker decided to turn their passion into a business. Botanicah sells a curated range of indoor and outdoor plants, for a range of conditions and gardening abilities, with cacti to monsteras up for grabs.

The Garden of Eden is a great way to describe this sprawling nursery in Albert Park. The Dahan family has run the nursery for over two decades and they're experts on all sorts of greenery from landscaping foliage to indoor greenery for lazy homeowners. They're also big on environmental gardening practices so quiz them on the best ways to keep your plants alive sustainably. Take a look at the homewares section for gifts or to complete your new green interior with stylish pots, woven baskets, and other hand-crafted pieces. 

This adorable little greenhouse is located in the Rose Street Market in Fitzroy. Pop on over and say hi to owner Han Nguyen, who takes pride in the ways her shop builds a sense of community through the love of plants. Recently 100 per cent of the profits made from selling succulent-filled terrariums went towards an organisation assisting families in and around Kabul. If you're after quirky and weird greenery for your home that will also help to make a social impact, look no further.

Fitzroy Nursery on Brunswick Street is a haven for plant lovers, stocking everything from terrariums to mature trees that are ready to plant in the ground or in pots. Check out the cacti and succulent section and the indoor plant section with lots of air-purifying plants (it's a thing) like ferns, devil's ivy and peace lilies. The outdoor nursery, laid out like a garden, is a great spot to browse for your next plant project, whether you're after vegetable seedlings or blooms for the balcony.

Whether you live in an inner-city apartment or a squashy suburban sharehouse, you can grow your own food – you just need to know where to start. The Little Veggie Patch Co is all about spreading knowledge of all things planting, composting and pest control. Don't have a garden? No worries, you can buy your own little veggie patch from the nursery and fill it up with some heirloom vegetable seeds in time for the growing season.

Nestled in Queen Victoria Market, Folia House is a beloved Melbourne destination for all things green. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a nursery as established and well-stocked as this elsewhere in the CBD. Perfect for a lunchtime browse or after work pick-me-up, Folia House is known for its healthy, cared-for foliage, helpful staff and quick deliveries – perfect if you don’t have time to dash in-store yourself.

You're probably familiar with CERES's community farm, but you won't regret a visit to the CERES Permaculture and Bushfood Nursery (restrictions permitting, of course). This nursery has everything a good nursery should have, but we're more excited about the vast range of potted fruit trees and bushfoods seedlings. Add some lemon myrtle or some Warrigal greens to your veggie patch – just ask the staff to choose the best bushfoods for your garden. While you're there, stock up on mulch, compost and worms to keep your garden healthy.