Poppy’s Potting Shed, Kirkstall

An immersive ‘indoor jungle’ situated in the eclectic inner city suburb of Burley, Poppy’s Potting Shed is owned by former personal trainer Anna Garbutt. Green-fingered Anna began to grow her plant business during the first lockdown in 2020. At a time when soil and seeds were in short supply, she became aware of the increasing demand for them and started to source her own from wholesalers to give to friends and family. By the summer, she was running pop-up plant shops at her partner’s gym and shortly after she opened her first permanent retail store in Armley. As the Potting Shed went from strength to strength, Anna found herself needing a bigger premises. The new shop in Burley spans an impressive 1000 sq ft and is still named after Anna’s adorable young niece, Poppy. You’ll find a vast selection of indoor and outdoor plants here, including colourful flowering houseplants to brighten up your home with. The shop also hosts regular events like the ‘plants and prosecco’ evenings, where you can browse after hours with a complimentary glass of bubbly.

The Plant Point, Ilkley

Known for its lush window displays, The Plant Point stocks a carefully-curated selection of houseplants. The shop opened four years ago and currently sells some of the trendiest trailing and hanging varieties, like String of Hearts, String of Pearls, Lipstick Plant and Hoya Linearis. You’ll find pet safe plants and air purifiers here, alongside ‘low light’ species that can thrive in darker spaces. The Plant Point also sells sweet miniature terrariums, which would make a wonderful gift. The welcoming staff here are always happy to share their knowledge and you’ll discover many helpful plant care tips on their website too.

TANDEM, Meanwood

Founded by designers Hannah and Hatty, lifestyle and homeware shop TANDEM sells everything you need to style your home to perfection. From jewellery, cushions and candles to incense, soaps and greetings cards, there’s much to browse here and you can even stop for a break at the shop’s own coffee bar. TANDEM’s plant selection is focused on easy to care for varieties, and you can pick up intricately patterned Maranta and Ferns here – both of which make a great green treat to brighten up your day with. The shop also stocks a wide range of ceramic plant pots, both hanging and freestanding, in many different colours, patterns and finishes. The team behind TANDEM regularly run workshops and take part in local events, like the Belgrave Music Hall’s Plant Swap back in April. Dogs are welcome at this modern, bohemian plant shop, so feel free to bring your four legged friend along when you visit.

M & D Flowers, Kirkgate Market

Run by a talented team of florists, the M & D Flower Stall in Kirkgate Market specialises in creating floral bouquets and displays for special occasions, however, you can also buy indoor and outdoor plants here. Their stock includes popular houseplants like Cacti and Bonsai Trees, Aloe Vera, Yucca, Ferns and Lilies. You’ll also find some rarer varieties, such as Ruby Necklace, String of Dolphins and String of Bananas. M & D’s prices are modest and the stall’s location makes it a convenient place to pick up a plant as a gift. Visit in December to buy your Christmas tree here, or choose from festive favourites like glorious red poinsettias.

The Plant Room, Saltaire

A ‘botanical design studio’, The Plant Room offers garden and installation planning as well as creative floristry for weddings and events. When their Aire Street studio is open to the public, and at their popular pop-up shops in Saltaire, you can purchase a variety of indoor and outdoor plants and seeds, as well as Japanese gardening tools, pots and vases and home accessories. The business often teams up with local companies to collaborate on gifts for special occasions. Last Mother’s Day they joined forces with Sarah and Cake to produce a beautiful hand-tied bouquet accompanied by six delicious cookies. The Plant Room also runs workshops such as wreath making, flower drying and Ikebana – the ancient art of Japanese flower arranging.

The Perfumed Garden, Chapel Allerton

Located in the village-like suburb of Chapel Allerton, The Perfumed Garden is a family-run plant and flower shop that first opened its doors in 1997. The friendly staff here are renowned for their creative and relaxed floral designs but the shop also sells a wide range of houseplants. You’ll find a whole host of different varieties for sale and there’s even a service through which you can send a plant as a gift, as an alternative to a bouquet of flowers. You can order online through their website, choosing from several different categories, including succulents, cacti, flowering indoor plants or a plant arrangement. The experienced florists will then choose the perfect plant and deliver it directly to the recipient’s door, gift-wrapped and presented in a stylish pot. The Perfumed Garden is also home to a great plant-based coffee bar, so you can stop and enjoy a drink while shopping here.

The Green Yard, Headingley

Situated in the courtyard at Headingley Enterprise and Arts Centre (HEART), The Green Yard is a hidden gem of a plant shop, run by Rebecca and Antony Aning-Brown. The couple founded their flower farm and floristry business ‘Silver Grey Foliage’ in 2019, after moving back to Mirfield to bring up their young family. A year later they took over The Green Yard and have been sharing their expertise and passion for plants with the people of Leeds ever since. The perfect place to spend a hot afternoon, the yard is always packed with greenery to relax among, with many exciting plants to discover including some more unusual succulents such as Mistletoe Cacti. You can also enjoy a workshop here, or simply pop by for some gardening advice.

The Plant Collection, Cross Gates

Run by Fiona Myers, The Plant Collection is a plant shop and cafe selling only houseplants that are easy to keep and maintain. Fiona had dreamed of starting her own plant cafe ever since visiting similar businesses in cities in Europe. When a former tanning salon came on the market in Cross Gates, she seized the opportunity and bought it together with her partner, Tom Mason, who helped to transform the interior. You can buy colourful Begonias and Calatheas here, as well as two of Fiona’s favourites – Prayer Plant and Blue Star Fern. The Plant Collection’s brilliant coffee shop serves coffee from Leeds roasters North Star, as well as a selection of cakes and sweet treats from nearby bakeries.

Photos: The Perfumed Garden, The Plant Pot, Poppy’s Potting Shed.