Nurseries

  • Website:  https://www.advancednurserygrowers.com/

    Address:  1911 McLeod Road, Defuniak Springs, FL 32435

    Phone:  (850) 391-2228

    Notes: Their specialty is persimmons.

  • Website:  http://www.celebrationstheflorist.com

    Address: 717 N. 12th Ave., Pensacola, Fl. 32501

    Phone:  (850) 433-2022

    Notes: A garden gift shop, a full florist, a separate building with arrangements of orchids, stag ferns, air plants, and unique garden vases. Very inspiring! At Xmas they have a house behind filled with Xmas decor! I highly recommend this and also Duh, which has plants, especially in the spring, and garden furniture. Very unique shop located close and while there you should eat at Norma's restaurant. 

  • Website:  http://clay30a.com

    Address: 4808 E. County Hwy. 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, Fl. 32459

    Phone:  (850) 231-2150

    Notes: Wonderful plants and pots!

  • Website:  https://crestviewnurseries.com/

    Address: 5908 Houston Ln., Crestview FL  32539

    Phone:  (850) 231-2150

    Notes: 10 acres and over 20 greenhouses. Amazing plant selection! We love their bougainvillia, camellias, azaleas, and roses

  • Website: https://www.thegardenatpeachcreek.com/

    Address:  4401 U.S. Highway 98 East, Santa Rosa Beach, FL

    Phone:  850-830-0507

    Notes: Good flowering shrubs.

  • Address: 109 Black Creek Blvd., Freeport FL

    Phone:  (850) 326-0707

  • Website:  https://www.homedepot.com/l/Destin/FL/Destin/32541/6377/garden-center

    Address: 4385 Commons Dr West, Destin, FL 

    Phone:  (850) 650-4175

  • Website: https://ladybug-native-nursery.square.site/

    Address:  40 Robinwood Dr. NW, Fort Walton Beach, FL

    Phone:  850-374-2180

    Notes: This is a small nursery that is just starting up so you need to call to make an appointment to shop at this time.

  • Website: https://www.lowes.com/store/3166-destin-fl/garden-center

    Address:  4405 Legendary Dr., Destin FL

    Phone:  850-269-7040

    Notes: Ask for Ashlyn or her mother, Rhonda, during the week.  On the weekends Mary Ellen is in a supervisory roll and has access to information about what’s coming in.

  • Website: https://www.paradiseplantsandpalms.com/

    Address:  695 Valparaiso Pkwy, Valparaiso, FL

    Phone:  850-460-5154

  • Website:  https://sandhillsnativenursery.com/

    Address:  19326 Merritt Road, Fountain Florida

    Phone:  850-252-0120

    Notes: A native plant nursery; hands down the best nursery I’ve ever visited with regard to plant labeling and information provided for each plant.  They even provide QR codes for additional information on each plant;   They are not open every day of the week and their hours change seasonally so call before you go to make sure they’ll be open;  Also, they are located in the country.  The last block or two is on a sand road so don’t drive your lowrider.

  • Website: http://www.pinelandsfl.com

    Address:  8365 Highway 90 Milton, FL

    Phone:  850-632-0602

  • Website: https://tallahasseenurseries.com/

    Address:  2911 Thomasville Rd., Tallahassee, Fl.

    Phone:  850-385-2162

    Notes: They have events, some classes. Very large nursery! I found plants there that are in the Japanese Garden (Japanese kousa dogwood, Japanese Ann magnolia, satsuki wakaebisu Japanese azalea, Japanese iris. You will not be disappointed. The Destin Garden Club hired a bus and club members went to the Florida State Capitol on a tour, then had lunch, a lecture demo at Tallahassee Nurseries. So fun!

  • Website: http://www.wildwoodbyaranda.com

    Address:  6 - 10th Ave., Shalimar, FL 32579

    Phone:  850-797-3678

    Notes: Not a huge nursery but I have found great plants and garden gifts there. I purchased a large pineapple guava tree that has beautiful flowers there, found a non-invasive wisteria there, and other wonderful plants. The first two plants are in the Destin Library Butterfly Garden.

  • Website: http://www.camforest.com

    Address:  620 NC Hwy 54 W, Chapel Hill, NC

    Phone:  919-968-0504

    Notes: Large selection of camellias but they do sell other plants.

  • Website: https://gardeningwithcreekside.com/

    Address:  181 Pine Hollow Drive, Dallas, NC

    Phone:  828-203-6823

    Notes: This nursery specializes in plants that do well in southern gardens like ours. I ordered plants from them in early spring 2026. The plants were well packed. The hydrangeas I ordered suffered from frost damage although the Shasta daisies packed in the same box did not. There was a cold front moving through the region during shipping so I don’t know if the frost damage occurred before or during shipping. In any case the plants bounced back and are doing well. Creekside Nursery has a YouTube channel: Gardening with Creekside.

  • Website: http://www.greatgardenplants.com

    Address:  West Michigan

    Phone:  877-447-4769

    Notes: They have an excellent selection of perennials. They have one of the highest customer satisfaction ratings for online nursery sales.

  • Website: http://www.pepperjoe.com

    Phone:  888-660-2276

    Notes:  If you like to grow peppers here is the place to get seeds!

  • ONLINE NURSERY:

    Website:  https://rosydawngardens.com/

    Address: 58320 12 Mile Rd., New Hudson, MI 48165 

    Phone:  248-534-3322

    Notes:  They sell an amazing collection of coleus and nothing else;  Their plants arrived in excellent condition;  This is a very popular nursery with coleus collectors and they do sell out of popular varieties so don’t wait to order.

  • Website: http://www.totallytomato.com

    Address: Randolph, WI

    Phone:  800-345-5977 | 920-463-1092

    Notes:  Why grow the same 3 or 4 varieties available locally when you can try hundreds of new ones? They sell more than tomatoes.

Japanese

Garden

  • Astilbe, Astilbe chinensis, False Goat’s Beard, (3)

    Azalea-Autumn Chiffon, Rhododendron ‘Robled’ (4)

    Azalea-Rhodendron ‘Wakebisu’ (3)

    Azalea-Rhododendron ‘Vibrant’ (1)

    Camellia Shi Shi, Shi Gashira Sasanqua Camellia, (1)

    Camillia ‘Alene Rand’, Camellia japonica ‘Alene Rand’, (1)

    Camillia ‘Sara’s Star’, Camellia japonica (2)

    Camillia ‘Black Magic’, Cameilla japonica ‘Black flower’ (1)

    Carex oshimensis, Native to Honshu Island, Japan (42)

    Flowering Cherry Tree ‘Okame’, Prunus serrulata ‘Okame’, (1)

    Kwanzan Flowering Cherry Tree, Prunus serrulate ‘Kwanzan’, (1)

    Kousa Dogwood, Cornus kousa (1)

    Japanese Holly-Hybrid by John Davy (1)

    Giant Horsetail Reed-Liquisetum telmateia (1)

    Hollywood Juniper, Juniperus chinensis ‘Torulosa’, (1)

    Heuchera, Heuchera villosa hybrid, Caramel, (2)

    Heuchera, Heuchera villosa hybrid, Purple, (2)

    Hydrangea ‘Pop Star’, Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Ballmacsix’ PP33.703 (5)

    Japanese Holly, Ilex crenata (3)

    Japanese Iris ‘Purple robes’, Iris ensata ‘Royal Robe’, (5)

    Japanese Iris Collection, (5)

    Japanese Peony ‘Gay Paree’, Paeonia ‘Gay Paree’, (1)

    Japanese Peony ‘Butter Bowl’, Paeonia ‘Butter Bowl’, (1)

    Japanese Flowering Plum tree, Prunus domestica ‘Purple Pony’, (1)

    Louisiana Iris ‘Clyde Redmond’, (2)

    Blue Pacific Shore Juniper, Junipero conferta ‘Blue Pacific’, (5)

    Mint Julep Juniper, Juniperus chinensis ‘Monlep’, (1) “Cloud Tree”

    Japanese Magnolia ‘Ann’, Magnolia x soulangeana ‘Ann’, (1)

    Japanese Maple ‘Bloodgood’, Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’, (2)

    Japanese Maple ‘Orangeola’, Acer palmatum ‘Orangeola’, (3)

    Japanese Maple ‘Hanami Nishiki’, Acer palmatum ‘Hanami Nishiki’,(1)

    Japanese Maple ‘Shin hikasa’, Acer palmatum ‘Shin hikasa’, (1)

    Japanese Maple ‘Vetrees Collection’, Acer palmatum ‘Vetrees’, (1)

    Japanese Maple ‘Emerald Lace’, Acer palmatum ‘Emerald Lace’, (1)

    Japanese Maple ‘Ozan bola’, Acer palmatum ‘Ozan bola’, (1)

    Japanese Maple ‘Tixada Shidara’, Acer palmatum ‘Tixada Shidara’, (1)

    Rose ‘Lamarque’, Rosa ‘Lamarque’, (2) climbing (white)

    Ann Japanese Magnolia, Magnolia stellata ‘Rosea’, (1)

  • Torii Gate-passing under the Torii gate marks the progress of the Shinto worshipper from the day-to-day world outside to the sacred inside. Passing under it is part of the cleansing ritual common to Shinto and Buddhist worship. The Torii gate will often be a resting perch for birds, the birds will bring good luck to the temple, as they are considered to be messengers from the gods in the Shinto religion.

    Moon Gate-The moon gate is a traditional Japanese garden gate that represents the cyclical nature of life and is said to connect heaven and earth. The circular design of the moon gate symbolizes unity, wholeness and infinity.

    Buddha and his teachings are an important source of wisdom and authority, informing their beliefs and way of life. Buddhism and Shinto religions are important in Japan.

    Japanese Lantern-Originally used only in Buddhist temples where they lined and illuminated paths. Lit lanterns were considered an offering to Buddha. Their use in Shinto shrines and private homes started during the Heian period (794-1185)

    Japanese Pagoda symbolizes the path to heightened awareness and heightened perception. It is the most auspicious symbol, filled with wisdom, peace and harmony.

    Rocks in Japanese garden ae perhaps the most important aspect. They can symbolize a variety of things: mountains, the figure of Buddha, or a gesture of power and strength.

    Raked gravel is used in Japanese gardens, also known as Zen gardens or Japanese dry gardens, to create a sense of movement and harmony. The gravel is raked into patterns that resemble waves or rippling water; a technique known as samon. The patterns are raked every few weeks to counteract nature forces like wind and rain. Different patterns invoke different moods.

    Japanese Mandalas, also known as psychocosmograms, are cosmic diagrams that represent deities and sites association with the Japanese Shinto religion. They are used for meditation and to achieve Buddhahood.

    Symbols on tiles-Crane is a national treasure and symbol of good fortune and longevity. It is also associated with honor, loyalty, and peace.

    Phoenix-is a symbol of good fortune, rebirth and the cycle of life and death. It is also a symbol of nobility, peace and stability.

    White Turtle-Are a symbol of peace and prosperity. They are also said to grant the people they visit with a long life free from illnesses.

    Dragon-In Japanese culture dragons symbolize good fortune, wealth and wisdom. They are thought to be protectors and benefactors of humanity, shielding us from universal dangers and offering us strength and courage. Dragons are also associated with balance, immortality, and perseverance.