Portland is one of the great gardening cities in America. Its mild, damp climate grows almost anything, and the city rewards that with an exceptional density of nurseries, from a sprawling, iconic garden center to lush houseplant boutiques and specialists in plants bred to thrive in the Pacific Northwest.
Whether you are planting a shade garden, hunting for a rare houseplant, or filling pots for a balcony, there is a Portland nursery for you. Here are ten of the best, with addresses, phone numbers, and hours to help you plan a visit.
Before you go
Nursery hours, locations, and details change with the seasons and over time. The information below was accurate when this guide was compiled, but please confirm current hours, address, and stock on each nursery’s own website or Google listing before making a trip.
How we chose these nurseries
This is a researched roundup of well-regarded Portland-area nurseries, chosen because they appear consistently across local recommendations and reviews and have strong reputations among Portland gardeners.
We have favored independent, locally owned garden centers and plant shops known for quality plants, climate-appropriate selections, and knowledgeable staff over big-box stores. A few of the best are just outside the city core, in Lake Oswego, Tualatin, and Beaverton, and we have noted each location so you know what to expect.
The 10 best plant nurseries in Portland
1. Portland Nursery
The iconic one. Portland Nursery on Stark Street is the city’s beloved flagship garden center, with a 4.7 rating across more than 850 reviews and a huge selection of everything from seeds and vegetable starts to shrubs, trees, and houseplants.
Reviewers call it their “happy place” and an “escape,” praising the enormous, well-stocked selection and consistently knowledgeable, friendly staff. Several mention staff holding a specific plant aside for them, labeled and ready, the kind of personal service that keeps people loyal.
It is a genuine Portland institution and the natural first stop for any gardener in the city.
- Address: 5050 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97215
- Phone: (503) 231-5050
- Website: portlandnursery.com
- Hours: Mon to Thu 8am to 6pm, Fri to Sun 8am to 7pm
- Rating: 4.7 stars (850+ Google reviews)
2. Cornell Farm
The most beautiful nursery in Portland, by many accounts. Cornell Farm, on SW Barnes Road, pairs a stunning, beautifully staged selection of plants and trees with a peaceful on-site cafe, making it as much a weekend destination as a shop.
Reviewers describe it as possibly the most beautiful nursery they have ever visited, with the best selection of rare conifers in the area and staff who let you explore at your own pace, one recounts employees Kenna and Daniel going above and beyond to select and arrange delivery of a magnolia tree.
It is the priciest option here, by reviewers’ own admission, but the plants are healthy and the experience is special.
- Address: 8212 SW Barnes Rd, Portland, OR 97225
- Phone: (503) 292-9895
- Website: cornellfarms.com
- Hours: Daily 9am to 6pm
- Rating: 4.4 stars (370+ Google reviews)
3. Garden Fever
A beloved northeast Portland neighborhood garden center, with a 4.7 rating, tucked into a residential area on NE 24th. Garden Fever packs a fantastic selection of plants, natives, exotics, and hard-to-find varieties, into a friendly, unassuming space.
Reviewers describe it as a “wonderland for plant lovers” with better prices than the bigger nurseries and consistently helpful, knowledgeable staff. They also carry pottery by local Portland artists, seeds, tools, and a changing veggie and herb selection. One reviewer drove from Central Oregon just for the selection.
Parking can be tricky given the residential setting, but regulars say it is worth the hunt.
- Address: 3433 NE 24th Ave, Portland, OR 97212
- Phone: (503) 287-3200
- Website: gardenfever.com
- Hours: Daily 9am to 6pm
- Rating: 4.7 stars (160+ Google reviews)
4. Pistils Nursery
A lush, beautifully curated houseplant and garden shop on N Mississippi Ave, with a 4.6 rating, that reviewers say will “turn you into a plant lover if you aren’t already.” Pistils is known for an exceptional, often rare houseplant selection and a fun terrarium bar.
People rave about the curated selection of unique and rare plants and the genuinely passionate staff, one reviewer describes a birthday terrarium-building session with a staff member named Rachel that was the highlight of the visit.
It is the kind of design-forward shop that suits houseplant hobbyists and gift-shoppers alike, with later hours than most nurseries.
- Address: 3811 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR 97227
- Phone: (503) 288-4889
- Website: pistilsnursery.com
- Hours: Mon to Fri 11am to 7pm, Sat to Sun 10am to 7pm
- Rating: 4.6 stars (240+ Google reviews)
5. Xera Plants
The specialist’s choice, a small SE Clay Street shop with a stellar 4.8 rating, focused on plants specifically chosen and bred to thrive in the Pacific Northwest climate. If you want plants that will genuinely succeed in your Portland garden, this is the place.
Reviewers, many of them experienced gardeners, call it the best nursery in the city, praising owners Greg and Paul for outstanding growing advice and plants that come already hardened off, so they need no extra babying before planting out. Several say they have never had a failure from anything bought here.
The one catch reviewers note is the limited days and hours, so check before you go.
- Address: 1114 SE Clay St, Portland, OR 97214
- Phone: (971) 346-2286
- Website: xeraplants.com
- Hours: Seasonal and limited, confirm current days and hours before visiting
- Rating: 4.8 stars (89 Google reviews)
6. Dennis’ 7 Dees Garden Center
A well-established Portland-area garden center group, with this Lake Oswego location earning a 4.8 rating. Dennis’ 7 Dees is strong on indoor plants, bonsai, planters, and seasonal color, with genuinely helpful, knowledgeable staff.
Reviewers single out team members by name, Joe the senior landscaper for broadening their plant knowledge, and Joe and Rachel for an excellent shopping experience, and praise the indoor-plant and planter selection as better priced than some competitors.
It is a dependable, full-service garden center with a personal touch, with several locations around the metro area.
- Address: 1090 McVey Ave, Lake Oswego, OR 97034
- Phone: (503) 636-4660
- Website: dennis7dees.com
- Hours: Daily 9am to 6pm
- Rating: 4.8 stars (340+ Google reviews)
7. The Garden Corner
A wonderful neighborhood garden center in Tualatin, with a 4.7 rating, known for beautifully organized grounds and warm, helpful service. The plants are arranged by color and light needs, with a relaxing, boardwalk-like feel to the displays.
Reviewers describe it as peaceful and thoughtfully laid out, with a huge, fairly priced selection and a “dangerous” indoor-plant greenhouse full of plants, macrame hangers, moss poles, and pots for collectors. One recalls staff member Kathy answering every question and even making her a hot chocolate to enjoy while she browsed.
It also does event and wedding florals, and reviewers consistently highlight the friendly, family-run feel.
- Address: 21550 SW 108th Ave, Tualatin, OR 97062
- Phone: (971) 512-2688
- Website: thegardencorner.com
- Hours: Daily 8am to 5pm
- Rating: 4.7 stars (130+ Google reviews)
8. Farmington Gardens
A large, long-standing garden center in Beaverton, with a 4.6 rating, that reviewers describe as having “everything,” a huge selection of plants, shrubs, and trees, demonstration gardens, classes, and a coffee bar.
People love strolling the beautifully laid-out property, complete with a relaxation garden, and praise helpful staff “from barista to tree expert,” plus a generous store rewards program. The demonstration gardens in particular draw praise for inspiration and ideas.
One honest note: a reviewer or two felt a sale was smaller than advertised, so check the fine print on promotions, but the overall sentiment is very positive.
- Address: 21815 SW Farmington Rd, Beaverton, OR 97007
- Phone: (503) 649-4568
- Website: farmingtongardens.com
- Hours: Daily 9am to 6pm
- Rating: 4.6 stars (470+ Google reviews)
9. Solabee Flowers & Botanicals
A charming flower and plant shop on N Killingsworth, with a 4.7 rating, beloved for gorgeous floral arrangements alongside houseplants, pots, soil, and gifts. It is part florist, part plant shop, and a neighborhood favorite for both.
Reviewers rave about the stunning, artistic floral work, custom arrangements for weddings, celebrations, and even a celebration of life that “lasted a whole month”, and the welcoming neighborhood feel. Their elopement and event floral packages come up often.
In fairness, one longtime customer felt service had slipped on a recent visit, so as with any small shop, experiences can vary, but the floral talent is widely praised.
- Address: 801 N Killingsworth St, Portland, OR 97217
- Phone: (503) 307-2758
- Website: solabeeflowers.com
- Hours: Mon to Fri 10am to 6pm, Sat to Sun 10am to 5pm
- Rating: 4.7 stars (140+ Google reviews)
10. Potted in Portland
A delightful, woman-owned (and sister-run) houseplant shop on SE Clinton, with a near-perfect rating from its smaller but devoted review base. Potted in Portland is loved for a curated houseplant selection, quality pots, and genuinely caring service.
Reviewers describe the owners as delightful and creative, praise the easy-care, healthy plants and seasonal variety, and highlight personal touches like at-home plant consultations and office plant services. Several name it among their favorite local shops for gifting plants.
Note it has fewer reviews than the big garden centers and keeps limited days, and reviewers mention a location inside Schoolhouse Electric, so confirm the current address and hours before visiting.
- Address: 2627 SE Clinton St, Portland, OR 97202 (confirm current location)
- Phone: (503) 482-8496
- Website: pottedinportland.com
- Hours: Limited days, confirm current hours before visiting
- Rating: 5.0 stars (smaller review base; confirm current details)
Tips for shopping Portland nurseries
A few things help you get the most from a Portland nursery trip. Lean on the local independents and specialists like Xera for plants suited to the Pacific Northwest, wet winters and increasingly dry summers, since climate-adapted and hardened-off plants establish far more reliably.
Portland’s mild climate gives a long, forgiving planting window. Fall planting lets roots establish over the gentle, wet winter, while spring is the busiest, best-stocked shopping season, so you can plant successfully across much of the year.
Ask the staff for advice tuned to your specific light and drainage, since Portland’s microclimates and clay soils vary, and locally knowledgeable employees are one of the biggest advantages of an independent nursery over a big-box store. And always inspect a new plant for pests and healthy roots before buying.
If you are bringing home new houseplants from any of these nurseries, my houseplant care guides can help you keep them thriving once they are on your shelf.
Which Portland nursery is your favorite, or is there a local gem we should add to this list? Leave a comment below and let me know.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best plant nursery in Portland?
Portland Nursery on Stark Street is the iconic, beloved all-rounder, while Cornell Farm is the most beautiful destination nursery. For houseplants, Pistils and Potted in Portland are favorites, and Xera Plants is the specialist for climate-adapted plants. All are highly rated.
Where can I buy houseplants in Portland?
For houseplants specifically, Pistils Nursery, Potted in Portland, and Garden Fever are local favorites with strong, often rare indoor-plant selections. Portland Nursery and Dennis’ 7 Dees also carry good houseplant sections.
Which Portland nursery is best for native and climate-adapted plants?
Xera Plants specializes in plants chosen to thrive in the Pacific Northwest climate, sold already hardened off. Portland Nursery and Garden Fever also carry strong native and regionally adapted selections.
What is the best time of year to plant in Portland?
Fall and spring are both excellent in the mild Pacific Northwest. Fall planting lets roots establish over the wet, gentle winter, while spring is the busiest shopping season. Portland’s climate gives a long, forgiving growing window.
Why buy from a local Portland nursery instead of a big-box store?
Local nurseries stock plants suited to the Pacific Northwest’s wet winters and dry summers, often already hardened off, and their staff give advice tuned to the local climate. That regional knowledge is hard to get at a national chain.
