Botanic
Ian Jones, Food and Drink Editor
Botanic is an independent plant shop in York, just a short walk from York Castle Museum. Here’s where to head if you’re looking for all kinds of beautiful and unusual indoor plants.
Aimed at the stylish indie set, this intimate but well-stocked shop on Walmgate off the Foss Bridge, is a houseplant shop like no other, focused on providing the public with unusual and exotic plants from around the world. Avoiding the common problem of exotic plant dealers, Botanic is run with care so that any plant you buy will be healthy and long-lasting.
Visitors looking for the perfect plant to set off their home or business will find themselves in an ‘urban jungle’, surrounded by ferns, yucca, cacti and more. You can get expert advice from the friendly team, and Botanic also offers workshops on terrariums, kokedama and plant care.
There are two rooms, one packed with succulents and cacti, plus an ornate dresser that came along with the building and was transformed into a central feature when Botanic opened in January 2018. The second room is devoted to hanging plants. You’ll find them strewn artfully around the space, carefully designed to cause gasps of admiration from visiting customers.
More than just a place for purchasing plants, many locals nip by on their lunch breaks to breathe the fresh air and soak up the relaxing atmosphere. Plants have become hugely popular in recent years, and shops such as Botanic are at the forefront of this foliage revolution. Indeed, the staff have a reputation for being ‘agony aunts’ for plant-lovers, so if you have any botanical-related questions, they’ll be happy to help.
