These interesting nurseries in Johannesburg can set you up with everything from hardy house plants to native shrubs and top-notch gardening accessories. Especially the last few years saw Joburgers really flexing their green thumbs and creating some fantastic indoor and outdoor oases in the urban space. So it comes as no surprise that garden centres and nurseries have been flourishing, offering everything from potted flowering plants to fruit trees and from hedging to garden ornaments, water features, and garden furniture. 

In this guide, we spotlight some of our favourite, must-visit nurseries in Johannesburg and its suburbs. And if you don’t have a green thumb, don’t worry – the staff at these local garden shops can offer you advice as well as recommendations on the best gardening accessories so you don’t kill your new plant babies. 

Herb Land – Permanently closed

Herb Land

Herb Land nursery in Midrand is not your average garden shop—it’s a place where people of all ages can dive into the fantastic world of herbs. You get to learn the ropes of growing and using these green wonders for a healthy lifestyle.

The Herb Association of South Africa, led by the amazing Janet Visee, picked Herb Land as their go-to training spot and headquarters. The team is all about spreading the herbal benefits for everyday living. They hosted the first-ever Herbal Happening in April 2009—a three-day bash packed with herbal education, cool products, and total well-being.

You can browse a wide range of house plants for your interiors, gardening tools and other essentials to shop, or chat with one of the experts on how to troubleshoot growing pains for your greens. 

When: Wednesday to Sunday. Breakfast from 9am to 11:30am; Lunch from 12pm to 4pm
Where: Herb Land, 264 Summit Rd, Bridle Park, Midrand, Johannesburg

Read more about Herb Land in Midrand

Stodels

Stodels have the art of gardening down to a T having launched way back in 1962 by Robert Stodel from humble beginnings. They’re experts on all sorts of greenery from landscaping foliage to indoor greenery for lazy homeowners. Take a look at the homewares section for gifts or complete your new green interior with stylish pots, woven baskets, and other hand-crafted pieces.

Their free gardening club is a great resource for tips and special offers, plus all members receive a free plant gift every month.

When: Daily, from 8am to 5pm
Where: Johannesburg – 278 Main Rd, Bryanston, Johannesburg | Pretoria – Thomas Edison Street, Menlo Park, Pretoria

Website: stodels.com | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 011 463 5773

JFF Plant Shop

This adorable little plant shop is located at 44 Stanley in Braamfontein Werf. Pop on over and say hi to owner Ashleigh Machete, who takes pride in the ways his shop builds a sense of community through the love of plants. Ashley also runs regular terrarium workshops where he teaches small groups how to create their own mini garden display. If you’re after quirky and weird greenery and potting soil and supplies for your home, look no further.

When: Daily, from 8am to 4pm
Where: 44 Stanley, 44 Stanley Ave, Braamfontein Werf, Johannesburg

Email: [email protected] | Tel: 083 895 2271

Montrose Nursery

Onsite coffee shop: Yes

If you are looking for gardening inspiration, make a beeline for this family-run nursery in Johannesburg. Founded in Morningside over 40 years ago, Montrose Nursery’s core idea has always been to provide extensive plant and gardening knowledge for a unique natural gardening experience.

But you’ll also find an abundance of gardening tips, tricks, and tools in the shop and the gardens themselves. Learn what plants will work best in your climate zone or how to get the most out of your veggie patch through companion planting.

When: Wednesday to Sunday, 8am to 4:45pm
Where: 66b South Rd, Morningside, Sandton

Website: montrosenursery.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 011 783 1252

Random Harvest Nursery

The indigenous garden plants at Random Harvest Nursery are displayed throughout their plant nursery in an informative and unique way to inspire. 

As you move through the garden-like setting, there is ‘in situ’ inspiration and advice for the landscaper, gardening enthusiast and layman alike. This nursery in Johannesburg specialises in an extensive indigenous plant catalogue and will also give you detailed information on all the plants and how to keep them alive.

Furthermore, within the beautiful nature setting, see mature tree specimens to give you a practical guideline of how they will look in a garden environment.

When: Daily, from 8am to 4:30pm
Where: 57 College Road, Muldersdrift, Krugersdorp

Website: randomharvest.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 011 957 5354

GardenShop

You’re probably familiar with GardenShop in Parktown North, a beautiful green lung in the city. This nursery in Johannesburg has everything a good gardening shop should have. Think potting essentials, tools, and accessories are available amongst the large collection of healthy indoor and outdoor plants, trees, garden furniture and stunning home decor.

Their flower bunches are bound to take your breath away with their gorgeous array of fresh contemporary flower arrangements, and you can also relax with a cup of tea at Munch Cafe.

When: Daily, from 8am to 5pm
Where: 167 Jan Smuts Ave, Parktown North, Johannesburg

Website: gardenshop.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 011 465 6485

Anderson’s Nursery and Coffee Shop

Onsite coffee shop: Yes

If you live in Norwood with its gorgeous greenery and quiet charm, you’ll love Anderson’s Nursery and Coffee Shop for those days when you’re after a chilled switch-off.

Feast on freshly baked cakes, light lunches, great coffee, and new plant babies all in one trip. The space is unpretentious and you can find just about everything you could want for your garden including seedlings, ornamental trees, shrubs, tools, and expert tips.

When: Tuesday to Sunday, from 8am to 5pm
Where: 10 Grant Ave, Norwood, Johannesburg

Email: [email protected] | Tel: 011 483 0744

Ludwig’s Roses

Ludwig’s Roses, established in 1971 by Ludwig Taschner, is a specialist nursery that has grown from small beginnings to become the strongest rose brand in South Africa with many venues in Gauteng. The ‘mother’ nursery, north of Pretoria, is a spectacle of more than 1 000 roses in full bloom. Today, with more than 25 breeders from all over the world working with him, Taschner annually tests thousands of new varieties to see how they withstand our local climate. From these, a selection of new varieties is named and released every year.

Attractions besides the roses include an on-site cafe, which serves breakfasts, light lunches, tea and cake. Taschner, always willing to share his knowledge and passion for roses, offers talks and hosts annual events. These include summer, winter and finger-pruning demonstrations as well as soil and planting workshops.

When: Mostly from 9am to 5pm daily, click here for specific times
Where: Glenferness, Johannesburg | Irene, Pretoria | Pretoria North | Pretoria East. See all venue details here

Website: www.ludwigsroses.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 012 544 0144

Hillcrest Nursery

Onsite coffee shop: Yes

This family nursery in Sandton is all about making spaces more beautiful and creating joyful and peaceful environments at good prices.

Their wholesale nursery and shop are jam-packed with everything you need to achieve just that – you’ll have a lot to choose from to create your own garden or plant-driven interiors. You’ll find veggie and fruit seedlings, an excellent selection of cacti and succulents, native South African plants, a carefully selected range of exquisite homewares, and more.

When: Monday to Friday, 7am to 4:30pm. Saturday, 7:30am to 4:30pm
Where: 45, 46 2nd Rd, Linbro Park, Sandton

Website: hillcrestnursery.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 074 112 3008

Schäffler’s Garden Nursery

Schäffler’s Garden Nursery is one of the most popular nurseries in Johannesburg and the go-to for enthusiastic and passionate gardeners. This family-run outfit also offers green services including professional garden design, landscaping, irrigation and tree felling.

Owner and Horticulturalist Anthony Schäffler has given his knowledge, passion and dedication over the last 30 years and created a proudly independent, diverse and charming plant lover’s haven. A wide selection of quality plants and long-standing, friendly staff who know customers by name and give expert gardening advice continually bring in regular and new customers. For serious gardeners, you will find a variety of collectors and unusual plants and an ‘if we don’t have it, we will find it for you’ policy.

Head to Under the Trees garden cafe and rustic outdoor pizza bar that is famous for our freshly ground, bold coffee, homemade chicken pie and thin-crust authentic Italian pizzas.

When: Daily, from 8am to 5pm
Where: 28 Johannesburg Road, Lyndhurst, Johannesburg

Website: schafflers.com | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 011 786 0242

Garden World

Onsite coffee shop: Yes

Garden World is an evergreen and magical gardening destination for the whole family. This gardener’s paradise creates fresh seasonal ideas with an annual Spring Festival to refresh the gardening palate. Their gardening expert, JJ van Rensburg, also gives advice on any gardening-related questions.

Their extensive retail & wholesale nursery is stocked with everything an avid gardener needs to enhance their home oasis, including plants of all shapes and sizes, as well as a wide variety of pest control-, plant nutrition- and garden care solutions from some of South Africa’s most trusted commercial and home garden suppliers. READ MORE

When: Wednesday to Sunday. Breakfast from 9am to 11:30am; Lunch from 12pm to 4pm
Where: Plot 114, Beyers Naudé Drive, Muldersdrift

Website: gardenworld.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 011 957 2545 or 011 957 2047

Lifestyle Home Garden

Since its opening in 1988, Lifestyle Home Garden has blossomed into a fully-fledged and flourishing garden centre for tradies and home DIY fans. This large nursery in Johannesburg often has really good nurseries that sell vegetable seedlings, fruit trees, outdoor foliage and indoor plants.

They’ll also have all the hardware you need (think pots and shovels) to plant your new green friends so you can be ready for that springtime bloom. You’ll find a nursery, pet shop, tea garden and animal farmyard at the venue.

When: Monday to Saturday, from 7am to 5:30pm. Sunday, from 7am to 5pm
Where: Ysterhout Dr &, Beyers Naudé Dr, Randpark Ridge, Johannesburg

Website: lifestyle.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 011 792 5616