As a child, I would dutifuly drag behind my parents as we did another Saturday loop around B&Q for potential additions to their garden. It was not my idea of a wild weekend. Skip forward 20+ years, and I’d quite happily spend my two days off browsing the (now very fashionable) independent plant shops of Edinburgh – throw in a cafe, and you might never see me again! So, come along for a little tour of the best plant shops in Edinburgh …
Green.Leith & Green.Meadows
Area: East Edinburgh (Leith) and South Edinburgh (Meadows)
If you’re looking for a plant shop experience with a big splash of personality, Green. is your jam. After the success of their large parent store in the Meadows, Green.Leith opened in June 2022, bringing with it a colourful breath of fresh air to the city’s up-and-coming Leith walk.
Owner Andrew has big goals for the stores; they’ve committed to planting a tree for every plant sold (at my last check-in, they’d already planted 687 trees!). As well as their plant project, the business has also teamed up with a number of plant pot suppliers that build their products from recycled materials.
To compliment one of the biggest selections of houseplants in Edinburgh, they sell Eco-friendly plant pots; many of their suppliers’ products are hand-crafted in women’s cooperatives in Kenya, Sri Lanka, and Ghana (to name a few), to support women’s employment.
Seb’s Urban Jungle
Area: East Edinburgh (Leith)
I love a plant shop with a cafe, so it comes as no surprise that half plant shop/half green café, Sebs Urban Jungle, has become one of my firm favourites.
Located towards the bottom of Edinburgh’s trendy Leith Walk, the team have spent a lot of time stripping back the 2000’s facias to reveal the old Leith brickwork, which only adds to the charm and character of one of Edinburgh’s newest plant shops.
Be prepared for a bubbly and enthusiastic greeting from their helpful team – as a fellow chit-chatter myself, I spent way too long getting lost in conversation with them before zoning myself back in and settling down for a vegan Biscoff brownie and oat latte amongst the greenery.
Grow Urban
Area: West Edinburgh (Fountain Park) and North Edinburgh (Stockbridge)
Another Edinburgh plant shop success story, Grow Urban began its journey within a beautifully refurbished corner tenement in the Fountain Bridge area. With owner Graham at the helm, the shop is a tranquil, green haven that allows you to forget the busy capital city world outside.
Building on their reputation for peaceful settings and knowledge staff, it came as no surprise that Grow Urban expanded with a second (larger) shop in Edinburgh’s ultra-affluent Stockbridge. They now offer low-fare plant delivery to many of the central Edinburgh postcodes, as well as national delivery for an additional fee.
Both stores have incorporated coffee and cake into their leafy experience, and there’s nothing quite as peaceful as a quiet morning sitting amongst the greenery and sipping on locally sourced coffee. They frequently have vegan cakes and goodies supplied by local bakers.
Leafy Love Affair (UPDATE: LEAFY LOVE AFFAIR IS NOW PERMANENTLY CLOSED)
Area: East Edinburgh (Abbeyhill)
Wonderful April had built an Instagram-perfect plant nirvana just up the hill from Edinburgh’s famous Arthur’s Seat. As well as stocking an exciting mix of colourful plants (ranging from specialist rareties to easy-to-manage favourites), she is always collaborating with other local businesses to host creative plant workshops.
On my last visit, April had installed a test tube wall full of small cuttings that she allows people to take in exchange for one of their own – a great way to experiment with new species. They offer plant delivery across Edinburgh, often hand-delivered by Ariel herself (or her helpful husband/Chief Tea Maker Marcus).
Don’t forget to snap a photo in their sugar-sweet selfie space!
Do you have a favourite that I’ve missed? Let me know in the comments
