Now that the winter frost seems to be gone for good and warmer weather has settled in, many of us are looking at our yards and gardens with renewed interest. While blooms are appearing on trees and perennial plants, flowers, and bulbs come to life each spring with a little encouragement from Mother Nature, other aspects of our landscape need a bit more coaxing from us. Thankfully, there are plenty of nurseries and garden centers throughout Richmond that are staffed by experts, filled with the tools we need, and have ready-to-plant flowers and greenery to spare.
If gardening and landscaping are on your mind thanks to the sunny spring weather, there’s no better time to get started. But if you’re thumb isn’t naturally green, you may want to take a little extra care in finding the right nurseries or garden centers for your spring planting. To help you get going, we took a look at some of Richmond’s top-rated nurseries and garden centers and chose five that stood out.
To make our top five, the nurseries and garden centers we reviewed needed to offer:
- A wide variety of plants, flowers, and greenery
- Expert staff to help with questions
- Reasonable prices and offerings
Needless to say, the following five nurseries and garden centers more than met our requirements! If you’re ready to get your yard and gardens spring-ready, then these one-of-a-kind nurseries are the perfect place to start.
Take a look at our list, and if you have a go-to nursery or garden center that we might have overlooked, be sure to let us know! You can contact us anytime here.
1. Sneed’s Nursery
What began as a family general store in 1933 has since bloomed (pun intended) into one of Richmond’s greatest gardening gems. Sneed’s Nursery has been a staple of the Bon Air community since it first started as “The Family Tree” in 1976 after being developed by the Sneed brothers as a sideline to the general store. Since that time, the Sneed family has fulfilled their vision to provide the highest quality plants, trees, shrubs, flowers, and more to the community – making gardening more than just a hobby, but truly a family affair.
Why we love them: Sneed’s Nursery is so much more than just a place to find plants. In addition to their great selection and reasonable pricing, they offer services that go above and beyond just pointing you in the direction of the right plants. Plus, in addition to a beautiful garden setting complete with gazebos and free-roaming chickens, Sneed’s offers a garden center, a flower shop, and a landscape center, ensuring that your needs are met across the board. Lastly, with their exclusive We Plan, You Plant service, you can receive up to an hour of customized, expert advice on what to plant in any specific area of your yard. Learn more about it or book online here.
Contact:
8756 W. Huguenot Rd, Richmond, Va 23235
(804) 320.7798
[email protected]
Hours: (March – Mid-December) Monday – Saturday, 9am – 6pm; Sunday, 12pm – 5pm; (January – February) Monday – Saturday, 10am – 4pm; Sunday, closed
2. The Great Big Greenhouse and Nursery
Another family-owned staple of the Greater Richmond community, The Great Big Greenhouse and Nursery has been serving its customers with quality care for more than 40 years. At their three and half acre nursery in the Huguenot Village Shopping Center, you’ll find one of Richmond’s largest selections of plants, tress, shrubs, flowers, and more. From tropical and specialty plants to gardening supplies and tools, The Great Big Greenhouse and Nursery has earned their reputation for excellence by being more than just a greenhouse, but a resource for the community.
Why we love them: The Great Big Greenhouse and Nursery truly provides a one-stop shopping experience. Whether you’re looking for advice, need help planting larger trees, need tools and gardening supplies, or are looking for decorative home and garden items, they have it all. You’ll even find a year round farmer’s market, open every Thursday 10 am – 2 pm. Check out their weekly sales, consult with an expert, browse their blog, use their online plant finder tool, or better yet, head to The Great Big Greenhouse and Nursery yourself to find everything you need to achieve your gardening goals this spring.
Contact:
2051 Huguenot Rd, Richmond, VA 23235
(804) 320-1317
Hours: (Spring) Monday – Saturday, 8am – 7pm; Sunday, 9am – 6pm
3. Strange’s Florist, Greenhouse, and Garden Center
Strange’s has long been known as one of Richmond’s premier florists, offering flower arrangements for any occasion. In fact, Strange’s has consistently ranked among FTD’s top 25 florists in the nation. But Strange’s is much more than just flowers. Since Gideon A. Strange began raising flowers and plants in his yard and selling them at the 6th Street Market in the early 1930s, Strange’s has grown to become one of Virginia’s largest greenhouse growers, and one of the largest retail garden centers in the United States. And the good news? We have access to all that Strange’s offer right here in our own backyard (so to speak).
Why we love them: It’s always good to hear a success story – especially when it happens in our own community. But, we all know that at times, success and growth can come at the cost of quality and service. Fortunately, that’s not the case at Strange’s. Over the years, as they’ve continued to expand, they’ve used their growth as a means of increased buying power, allowing them access to the highest quality products that they can then pass on to the Richmond gardening community. Today, Strange’s continues its dedication to customer service and quality, just like they have from the start.
Contact:
3313 Mechanicsville Pike, Richmond, VA 23223
(804) 321-2200
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 8am – 6pm, Sunday, 10am – 5pm
12111 West Broad St, Richmond, VA 23233
(804) 360-2800
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 8am – 7pm, Sunday, 10am – 6pm
4. Azalea Garden Center
This small neighborhood nursery is now celebrating it’s 25th year. As a local, family-owned business, Azalea Garden Center has earned its reputation by providing top-quality plants and flowers at reasonable prices. But the best part is the expert advice they offer. Even if you’re new to gardening, the staff at Azalea Garden Center will help you find the right things to plant based on the season, setting, and desired aesthetic.
Why we love them: In a world of big box stores where you can find everything from gardening to groceries available, it’s easy to overlook quality. But at Azalea Garden Center, their focus is finding the best plants to ensure growth and greenery all season long. And that’s a feature that goes a long way in the gardening game!
Contact:
1320 Westbrook Ave, Henrico, VA 23227
(804) 266-3119
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 10am – 3pm (hours subject to the weather)
5. Cross Creek Nursery and Garden Center
Cross Creek Nursery and Garden Center has been serving Richmond for four decades, providing a full array of gardening and landscaping services. Located on their 24-acre property, you’ll find thousands of trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, aquatic plants, and vegetables and herbs (most of which have been grown on their 100-acre Nottoway County farm). Plus, you’ll discover a wide array of stone statuary, outdoor ceramic pottery, and bagged or bulk mulch for pick-up or delivery. And of course, there’s the greenhouse where you’ll have access to countless tropical houseplants, hanging baskets, a gift department, home decor, a full service florist, and all the supplies you need to create your dream garden.
Why we love them: Cross Creek Nursery is more than just a place to find plants, it’s a place for the community to gather. With ongoing special events, they have created a space that is an oasis in the midst of our busy, urban lives. Bring the family out for activities like their annual Easter egg hunt, take part in one of their free gardening seminars, or join their free garden club with member’s only sales, event notices, workshops, free classes, garden alerts and more. You’ll not only love the selection, quality, and monthly sales available at Cross Creek Nursery and Garden Center, you’ll love the sense of family they provide.
Contact:
501 Courthouse Road, Richmond, VA 23236
(804) 378-0700
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 7am – 7pm, Sunday, 10am – 6pm
For more amazing shops, services, activities, and resources in the Richmond area, be sure to visit our entire Best of Richmond series – only on Richmond Mom!
