It’s fascinating how the phrase “I’m a dog mom” has evolved into “I’m a plant mom” at a rapid pace! Over the past year and a half, people have been engaging in trendy activities like home renovations, DIY projects, and bringing the beauty of the outdoors inside.
In Spokane, gardening has become a source of solace for some, while others have adorned their homes with plants and flowers. Adding a touch of nature indoors not only purifies the air but also brings life and tranquility to your living space. Scientifically, it has been proven to contribute to better health and faster healing.
If you’re looking to infuse your home, garden, or yard with lush greenery, we’ve curated a list of the most unique places to find plants around Spokane! In these challenging times, supporting local businesses, including gardening centers in Spokane like Ritters Nursery, is crucial before turning to big box stores. Each time you purchase a plant, soil, or pot from these delightful local vendors, you’ll surely bring a little joy to their hearts, making them do their very own “happy dance.”
Desert Jewels Nursery
Location: 9809 East Upriver Drive, Spokane, WA 99206
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.
Ritters Garden & Gift
Location: 10120 North Division Street, Spokane WA 99218
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!
Rosarium Garden Center
Location: 9405 S Williams LN, Spokane, WA 99224
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.
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 challenges of these weather changes, ensuring that these plants will work for you.
The Plant Project
Location: 7413 E Trent Ave, Spokane Valley, WA 99212
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 Plant Project formerly lived in Spokane, but has since moved to a location in Spokane Valley.
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.
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!”
Fern Plant Shop
Location: 1526 W Riverside Ave
Spokane, WA 99201
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 Plant Shop has now expanded into Liberty Lake, as well, so if you’re looking for even more plants, make sure to visit them there as well.
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!
Alena Horowitz
Alena Horowitz is a world traveler, story-teller, entrepreneur, designer, teacher and universal creative—a Jill of all trades. As a writer, she’s authored articles for Spokanetalk.com, the HuffPost, and has several scholarly essays published by the Society of Architectural Historians. For Alena, writing is an incredible means of connecting with community, bringing people together, building each other up and exploring the absolute artform of the English language. She is happy to be part of the Everyday Spokane team and excited to highlight Spokanite-life from her cheerful and upbeat artistic-writing style.