Working for a Greener District of Columbia
LOCAL SOURCES
Behnkes Nurseries, with locations in Potomac and Beltsville, is known for its extra-large selection of perennials, and much more. (Busloads of customers come from neighboring states!)
American Plant Food, with 2 locations, both on River Road in Bethesda, APF is known for its almost-completely-organic approach and product line and good customer advice.
Ginkgo Gardens on Capitol Hill is a small but full-service garden center specializing in plants for urban gardens.
Frager's Hardware, also on Capitol Hill,
is another favorite source of plants. It
has no website so we'll direct you to its
1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E.
location and it's phone: 202/543-6157.
And here's a photo of the "Frager's
Gang."
Purple Mountain Organics in downtown Takoma Park, MD offers vegetable seedlings, tools, soils, worm composting equipment and other supplies.
Washington Cathedral's Greenhouse specializes in herbs.
Merrifield Garden Center has two large locations in Virginia - Merrifield and FAir Oaks.
Nature by Design in Alexandria sells native plants almost exclusively.
FARTHER AFIELD:
Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville, MD (off Route 50 toward Annapolis) is huge and gorgeous. Their customer education person is the beloved Gene Sumi, who spent many years in the same job at Behnkes and is a favorite speaker at garden clubs in the D.C. area.
Chesapeake Native Nursery, also in Davidsonville, MD, is owned by Takoma Park resident Sara Tangren. She sells only plants native to the Chesapeake Watershed.
Willow Oak and Herb Farm, about 25 miles north of D.C., sells both herbs and flowers. Looks from its website to be a fun, family-run business.
Lower Marlboro Nursery in Severn, Maryland is a source for native and beneficial nonnative plants. Primarily mail-order, visits in person are arranged by appointment only.
MAIL ORDER SOURCES (some faves)
Plant Delights is famous for its outasight catalogue and eccentric owner+plant explorer Tony Avent. Also, good quality plants.
Garden Watchdog provides customer feedback about mail order resources. Don't use your Visa card without it!
Carroll Gardens in nearby Westminster, Maryland has an awesome selection. Not retail-friendly, but we can vouch for the quality of its shipped plants. (Hey, why waste gas driving there?)
Hardy Plants has a huge selection of seeds, especially perennial seeds.
We-Du Nurseries is another great N.C. mail order source.
Bridgewood Gardens, an excellent source for hostas.
Earthly Pursuits is the Baltimore outlet for Kurt Bluemel, specialist in ornamental grasses.
Shooting Star Nursery in Kentucky sells plants native to the Eastern U.S. only.
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