My Favorite Plant Nurseries in Maine
In my opinion, the best industry secret is to shop for annuals and perennials the week BEFORE Mother’s Day. Greenhouses across the state of Maine will be ramping up their inventory for arguably the busiest retail Holiday weekend. Every plant nursery specializes in something different- so it’s important to try out each one. You know how the best coffee place, doesn’t necessarily have the best breakfast food, too? It’s the same thing. The following Maine plant nurseries (in my opinion) have the friendliest, most knowledgable/helpful staff and the best stock:
O’Donals Nursery in Gorham has a great selection of unique and hard to find perennials. Go early in the season to get the best plants— a lot of people shop there!Broadway Gardens in South Portland has an incredible houseplant selection (great for shade gardens/pots!) and often some hard to find annuals and perennials. They have a lot of inventory and are the nicest, most down to earth people. (I know this because I used to work there!)Estabrooks in Yarmouth has a selection of healthy plants which are properly hardened off in the early spring. Their selection of perennials is exceptional and they sell a variety of great looking houseplants. Their inventory seems to grow every time I go back. The staff is knowledgeable and their houseplants are great, too!The Garden Spot in Pownal is family owned and off the beaten path. They sell unique annuals in the spring that are much further along than anywhere else— the only thing you need to worry about is slowly acclimating your plants to the outdoors so they stay strong. They move inventory so quickly that they often don’t have time to harden things off. Snell Family Farm in Buxton is owned by the sweetest family of farmers. They grow a great selection of annuals and also sell fresh produce and baked goodies. Check them out at their farm or at the Portland Farmer’s Market during the growing season! Barley Joe’s in Warren has immaculate greenhouses and they sell some tried and true perennials and annuals but also some unique plants. They’re worth checking out. They are only open for a few months in the growing season, so be sure to mark your calendar. Moosewood Crossing in Waldoboro is a massive source for annuals, perennials and shrubs. I have a neighbor who hasn’t owned a car for 30 years but somehow manages to get himself to Moosewood Crossing every spring to shop for plants. Plants Unlimited in Rockport has a great selection of hard to find perennials and shrubs. If you can't find it, they can get it!I’ve worked at nurseries and garden centers since I was first starting out. The most important thing to consider when buying plants are their health. Look for a good root system (but not root bound!), lots of healthy green leaves and signs of new growth. If the plants are dropping leaves or have brown tips at the end, it probably means they’re stressed- either from too much/too little water or from the wrong light exposure. This could cause rot or attract pests- you don’t want either.Plants aren’t cheap, so spend your money wisely and only buy healthy plants.Still have questions?