Product Code Database
A garden centre (American English spelling; U.S. nursery or garden center) is a retail business that primarily sells plants and related products for Home gardening. Gardening centers usually revolve around outdoor home improvement and décor, selling anything from plants to outdoor ordainments.
It evolved from the concept of a retail plant nursery, offering a broader range of outdoor products and additional on-site facilities.
Today, garden centres typically source their plants from specialist nurseries rather than propagating them on-site. In addition to plants, garden centres may offer a variety of other products and services, including homeware, Gift, and Coffeehouse.
The most popular products sold at garden centres include plants, compost, Fertilizer, tools, and landscaping materials. Many garden centres also sell pet-related products, home and interior products, and food and drink.
Garden centres are an important part of the British economy. They provide jobs for over 100,000 people and generate billions of pounds in revenue each year. They also play a role in promoting gardening and outdoor living in the UK.
In the early 20th century, garden centres began to become more popular. This was due to a number of factors, including the rise of the middle class, the increasing popularity of gardening, and the development of new technologies that made it easier to grow plants.
In the 1970s, garden centres began to grow in size and number. This growth coincided with the development of new Shopping center and the rise of national chains.
In the early days, garden centres were primarily focused on selling plants and gardening supplies. However, over time, they began to offer a wider range of products and services. Today, many garden centres also sell pet supplies, home and garden products, food and drink, and even clothing.
In addition to their product range, garden centres have also evolved in terms of their customer experience. In the past, garden centres were often seen as a place to buy plants and gardening supplies. However, today, they are more of a leisure destination. Many garden centres have cafés, restaurants, play areas, and other amenities that make them a popular destination for families and couples.
The evolution of garden centres in the UK has been driven by a number of factors. The increasing popularity of gardening has been one of the most important factors. Additionally, the development of new shopping centres has provided garden centres with new opportunities to grow.
The rise of national chains has also been a major factor in the evolution of garden centres in the UK. National chains have been able to achieve economies of scale, which has allowed them to offer lower prices and a wider range of products. This has put pressure on independent garden centres, and many of them have been forced to close.
Despite the challenges facing independent garden centres, there is still a strong demand for them. Many people prefer to shop at independent garden centres because they offer a more personal touch. Additionally, independent garden centres often have a wider range of products and services than national chains.
| +UK garden centre chains ! !No. of sites !2024 turnover !2023 turnover !2022 turnover !2021 turnover !2020 turnover !2019 turnover !2018 turnover !2017 turnover | |||||||||
| Dobbies | 53 | £279m | £304m | £252m | £166m | £148m | £151m | ||
| British Garden Centres | 73 | £162m | £161m | £162m | £125m | £49m | £32m | £29m | |
| Blue Diamond | 50 | £332m | £311m | £259m | £255m | £210m | £182m | £128m | £96m |
| Notcutts | 19 | £74m | £76m | £80m | £64m | £76m | £75m | £71m | |
| Squire's | 17 | £67m | £68m | £68m | £70m | £53m | £57m | £50m | £47m |
| Klondyke | 22 | £74m | £68m | £65m | £53m | £57m | £53m | £54m | |
| QD / Cherry Lane | 16 | £65m | £68m | £49m | £49m | £43m | £39m | £35m | |
| Longacres | 6 | £57m | £51m | £52m | £40m | £37m | £36m | £32m | |
| Hillier Nurseries | 23 | £69m | £55m | £51m | £38m | £37m | £33m | £23m | |
| Haskins | 5 | £45m | £44m | £51m | £38m | £31m | £32m | £32m | |
| Bents | 1 | £25m | £25m | £25m | £18m | £23m | £22m | £21m | |
| Otter | 7 | £33m | £32m | £33m | £26m | £26m | £21m | £20m | |
| Wyevale | 0 | £0m | £0m | £0m | £0m | £0m | £0m | £336m | £322m |
| Yorkshire | 7 | £25m | £23m | £15m |
Home improvement retailer B&Q, as well as variety retailers B&M, Home Bargains and The Range have their own garden departments, alongside the main store buildings.
Belgium and the Netherlands boast some of the most innovative garden centres in Europe, given their strong horticultural traditions. The Netherlands, in particular, is home to cutting-edge centres that incorporate advanced greenhouse technology and hydroponics, alongside vast selections of Ornamental plant, bulbs, and seeds. Popular names like Intratuin and GroenRijk set industry standards with large, eco-friendly retail spaces.
In Portugal, garden centres are smaller in scale but serve as key suppliers of native plants like cork oak and Succulent plant. They often cater to both locals and tourists looking to create sustainable gardens in coastal and arid regions.
In the Balkans, smaller garden centres typically act as community hubs, offering locally-grown plants and tailored advice. However, countries like Croatia and Serbia are seeing a rise in larger chains as urban populations grow interested in gardening as a leisure activity.
The United States retail garden center market contained roughly 16,000 independently operated companies in 2010, according to Research and Markets. The combined annual revenue for all of them is about $46.2 billion. Most garden centers are independently owned. There are some regional chains, but there is no national US garden center chain, unlike in the UK, where there are several. However, both of the largest home improvement stores in the US—Lowe's and The Home Depot—refer to their gardening departments as garden center and larger have "Lawn and Garden" departments.
Some of the items that can be found in US garden centers often called nurseries, include Annual plant and Perennial plant flowers, trees and shrubs, roses, container gardens, hanging baskets, houseplants, water gardening, seeds and bulbs, potting mixes, soil amendments and mulch, fertilizers and chemicals, pottery, garden tools and supplies, fountains and garden décor, much like their UK counterparts.
Many US garden centers have other departments including wild bird feeding, floral, gift, outdoor furniture and barbecue grills, home décor, landscape design, landscaping services, and pet supplies. Most garden centers have a large Christmas department during the holiday season. Some garden centers have added a café or coffee bar, but not like the restaurants found in some European garden centres.
Greenhouses are commonly part of a US garden center. Greenhouses protect the plants from late cold snaps, allow stores to keep houseplants in prime condition, and keep the customers dry on rainy days.
Garden centers employ horticulturists who can diagnose problems and make recommendations to . This is almost always provided as a free service in the store and some of the bigger garden centers have classes that are open to the public.
Many garden centers belong to a buying cooperative. The largest is Master Nursery Garden Centers with just under 800 members followed by Home and Garden Showplace (part of the larger cooperative the True Value Company) with 260 members, Northwest Nursery Buyers Association with 46 members and finally, ECGC with 14 very large garden center members.
The trade associations of independent garden centers in the US are the Garden Centers of America and the American Nursery & Landscape Association.
As urban populations increase, centres have begun catering to city dwellers with solutions for balcony and rooftop gardens.
A shift toward providing experiences—such as workshops, cafes, and community events—has helped garden centres attract a broader customer base.
Online platforms and e-commerce have become integral to the success of garden centres, especially in densely populated regions like Germany and France.
European garden centres face challenges including climate change, rising costs of imported plants, and competition from DIY stores and online retailers. Nonetheless, the sector continues to innovate, balancing tradition with modern retail strategies.
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