Growing Memphis: The Best Nurseries In Town

Got yourself a green thumb? Or dreaming of developing one? Now’s the time to get planting in Memphis! With plenty of months of outdoor enjoyment ahead of us and an abundance of local nurseries, the city has plenty to offer when it comes to the beauty and education of landscaping. 

Gardening Outside the Loop

If your idea of Memphis living involves a larger plot on the outskirts of town, there are several spacious nurseries that offer huge varieties of plants and lawn ornaments on the outer side of the 240 Loop.

Digger O’Dell sits in Fayette County just inside of Oakland and features sprawling acreage replete with large plants and trees as well as shrubs, annuals, and perennials. Handy signs send you exactly where you need to go to fill your large red wagon with all the plant babies you need, and the educated staff will steer you in the right direction as you determine what you need to grow and how to help each plant thrive. The General Store is stocked with extra planting supplies, staff, and check out counters and serves as a base for your visit. Perhaps the best feature of the nursery is not just their truly impressive selection but the expertise of their staff. They can handle your gardening conundrums or give excellent advice about what you need for your lawn. As their tagline touts, they really are a nursery worth the drive.

Country Gardens Nursery is found inside the Agricenter at Shelby Farms and offers a convenient location for city dwellers and suburbanites. This family owned nursery provides a terrific variety of shrubbery, foliage, and even exotic palms as well as a boutique and gift shop for additional perusing. The nursery also offers blooming plants and ferns, a kind staff, and arguably some of the best prices in the area. 

Gardening Inside the Loop

There are several notable nurseries inside the city that can beat out your average Home Depot trip any day of the week.

Dan West is a city favorite and has been since its founding in 1952. With two locations (the original still on Poplar Avenue, and their newer Eads storefront) Dan West continues to provide professional service and a knowledge of landscaping that is second to none. As a midtowner, I’ve dropped in to the nursery more than once with a picture of my sad tea olive tree (rose, etc.) and received excellent advice on how to improve its care. While the space and offerings may be more limited, you can still pick up healthy varieties of plenty of shrubs and blooming plants at Dan West. And the efficiency of the shopping experience, parking, and speed is definitely a pro to visiting.

Midtown Nursery on the corner of Poplar and North Parkway is a seasonal pop-up affair that has quickly become a reliable, reasonable place to drop in for a gorgeous hibiscus, potted arrangement, or a lovely pot. This location covers a city corner with a beautiful offering of healthy plants, and its small staff is readily available for questions and advice. I recently found black petunias here, which is reason enough to go…who doesn’t love some exotic blooms? Midtown Nursery even rents out large palm trees for your outdoor summer events.

Lastly, a city nursery visit must include a trip to Urban Earth on Flicker Street. This surprisingly large nursery nestled right in the middle of the city feels like a secret oasis filled to the absolute brim with outdoor and indoor plants, the most gorgeous pots you’ve ever laid eyes on, and a wide selection of trees, shrubs, and even water plants. Spend a few minutes walking the grounds before you determine what you really need. The staff is available and friendly and even though the prices may feel a little more steep than elsewhere, you’ll be inspired and no doubt walk away with something unique and gorgeous for your own yard or home. My favorite feature at Urban Earth is their outstanding selection of David Austin roses. Worth every penny of the investment.

Memphis may be full of its own magic but a trip to two or three of these nurseries this summer will ensure that your little plot of the city is full of just as much enchantment as anywhere else.