Sussex is lucky to have so many independent and interesting nurseries - excellent growers of garden-worthy, unusual and sometimes rare plants.
This list is to highlight many of them because we actively encourage growers and gardeners to support the wonderful businesses on our doorstep.
EAST SUSSEX
ATHELAS PLANTS
Independent nursery with big, bold specimen plants plus usual and unusual traditional nursery plants.
• Straight Lane, Hooe, TN33 9HU
• www.athelasplants.co.uk
CADE STREET NURSERY
Family run: bedding, perennials, hanging baskets – at plant centre and online.
• Cade St, Heathfield, TN21 9BU
• www.cadestreetnursery.co.uk
CHALK FARM NURSERIES
Traditional, family owned plant nursery: grows their own from seeds, cuttings and plug plants. A good
source of plants to grow on. Larger stock sourced from various suppliers.
• Coopers Hill, Willingdon, BN20 9JD
• www.chalkfarmnurseries.co.uk
CULINARY HERB COMPANY
Nursery grows 350 varieties of culinary and medicinal herbs, perpetual salads, vegetable plants and edible
flowers – for sale online, small garden centres and weekly farmers’ markets.
• www.culinaryherbco.co.uk
DOVES BARN NURSERY
Bedding orientated grower, mainly plugs for growing on at home. Recommended by PH members.
• Copthorne Road, Felbridge, RH19 2PB
• www.dovesbarnnursery.co.uk
ENGLISH WOODLANDS
Large range of container and field-grown trees, conifers and shrubs. Knowledgeable staff.
• Burrow Nursery, Cross in Hand, Heathfield, TN21 0UG
• www.ewburrownursery.co.uk
FLOWERS GREEN PLANTS
Bedding, patio plants, perennials, herbs and vegetable plants.
• Church Rd, Herstmonceux, BN27 1RQ
• https://flowersgreen.co.uk
GREAT DIXTER NURSERY
Stocks a range of plants and seeds from the garden. The nursery was established by Christopher Lloyd in
1954 and has specialised in plants he thought garden worthy.
• Great Dixter House & Gardens, Northiam, Rye, East Sussex, TN31 6PH
• https://shop.greatdixter.co.uk/collections/available-for-mail-order
GROW LOCAL SUSSEX
Rachel grows and sells her vegetable, herb, companion plants and plants for pollinators at farmers’ markets
and plant fairs in Sussex and directly by appointment from her nursery in Halland.
• www.growlocalsussex.co.uk and on Facebook
KING JOHN’S NURSERY and GARDEN
Owner grows mainly herbaceous perennials and tries to offer classic garden varieties that are often missed
by other nurseries. Also has a range of shrubs, bedding plants, herbs, beg and annuals.
• Sheepstreet Lane, Etchingham, TN19 7AZ
• www.kingjohnsnursery.co.uk
ORCHARD NURSERY PLANT CENTRE
Family owned, produce most of their own herbaceous perennials, seasonal bedding, shrubs and
vegetables; also provides landscape and garden design
• Holtye Road, East Grinstead, RH19 3PP
• www.orchardnursery.co.uk
PELHAM PLANTS NURSERY
Traditional, small independent nursery. Good range of herbaceous familiar and unusual plants. Also runs
workshops and garden tours.
• Rose Cottage, top of Spences’ Farm Lane, off Common Lane, Laughton, Lewes, BN8 6BX
• https://pelhamplants.co.uk
PLANTBASE
Tropical, exotic, hardy, bog, rare, South African plants – plant fairs, online and at nursery.
• Sleepers Stile Rd, Cousley Wood, Wadhurst, TN5 6QX
• www.plantbase.co.uk
SUSSEX FRUIT TREES
Wide range of trees - apples, pears, cherries, plums, quinces, peaches, etc. Also has pruning and orchard
planning service.
• Hook Farm, Nettlesworth Lane, Vines Cross, nr Heathfield, TN21 9EN
• By appointment
• www.sussexfruittrees.co.uk
THE OLD ROSE NURSERY
Traditional rose nursery.
• Beales Lane, Northiam nr Rye, TN31 6QY
• www.theoldrosenursery.co.uk
RAPKYNS NURSERY
Independent, family run nursery specialising in cottage garden plants, shrubs, climbers and perennials.
Also, large collection of Salvia, for which it is well known.
• Street End Lane, Broad Oak, Heathfield TN21 8UB
• www.rapkynsnursery.co.uk
ROTHERVIEW NURSERY
Independent, family run nursery that grows all its own plants; wide range of alpines, ferns, camellias and
shrubs. Also attends plant fairs.
• Ivyhouse Lane, Three Oaks, Hastings, TN35 4NP
• https://shop.rotherview.com
THORPE GARDENS
Independent nursery that grows many of its own plants.
• Little London Rd, Horam, Heathfield, TN21 0BG
• www.thorpegardens.com
ZOPHIAN PLANTS
Specialises in eastern Mediterranean (Turkey and Greece) plants, mainly species. Adaptable perennials
that can cope with climate change and partial drought. Opens nursery and attends plant fairs.
• Little Park, Hooe Rd, Ninfield, TN33 9EH
• www.instagram.com/zophianplants
WEST SUSSEX
APULDRAM ROSES
Specialist rose nursery, including old favourites, species and new varieties. Sales at nursery and online.
Also runs regular rose care workshops (and is on a bus route).
• Crouchers Farm, 163 Birdham Road, Chichester, PO20 7EQ
• https://www.apuldramroses.co.uk
ARCHITECTURAL PLANTS
Nursery set in 32 acres: Japanese Niwaki, European topiary, hardy palms, bananas and other rare and
exotic plants from all over the world.
• Stane Street, North Heath, Pulborough, RH20 1DJ
• By appointment
• www.architecturalplants.com
BIG PLANT NURSERY
Hardy exotic, architectural, rare and exciting plants from the temperate regions of the world. Also has
garden design service.
• Hole Street, Ashington, RH20 3DE
• www.bigplantnursery.co.uk
CHARLESHURST FARM NURSERY
Interesting shrubs and trees, some rarely offered and often grown in only small quantities. Nursery opensa
regularly and they attend many plant fairs (info on website).
• Loxwood Rd, Plaistow, Billingshurst, RH14 0NY
• http://charleshurstplants.co.uk
C & V CACTI
Small, specialist online cacti nursery growing their own plants from seed. Also at plant fairs, info on website.
• www.cvcacti.co.uk
EAST ASHLING NURSERY
Small, owner-owned nursery with wide range of plants from colourful flowers to resilient shrubs.
• Lye Lane, East Ashling, Chichester, PO18 9DD
FERRING NURSERIES
Owner-owned nursery, excellent bedding and perennials; also shrubs, trees and hanging baskets.
• Littlehampton Rd, Ferring (between Worthing and Rustington), BN12 6PN
• www.ferringnurseries.co.uk
LANSDOWNE PLANTS
Seasonal (March to end Sept/Oct) family run business. Wide range of herbaceous perennials, pot plants,
basket plants, shrubs, etc.
• Littlehampton Road, Ferring (between Worthing and Rustington), BN12 6PB
• www.lansdowneplants.co.uk
LAURENCE HOBBS ORCHIDS
Open mainly by appointment. They have a wide variety of orchids, many different species and hybrids are
including Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum, Dendrobium, Cattleya, Vanda, Oncidium and Coelogyne.
• Bailiffs Cottage Nursery, Hophurst Lane, Crawley Down, RH10 4LN
• https://laurencehobbsorchids.co.uk/
LODER PLANTS
Mostly grown on site, unusual and difficult-to-find cultivars of Azalea and Rhododendron, Camellia and
Hydrangea.
• Market Garden, Lower Beeding, Horsham, RH13 6PP
• https://www.loder-plants.co.uk/
MEADOWGATE NURSERY
Independent, growing and selling ornamental grasses, many unusual; grasses for shade, evergreen, hot
dry conditions, coastal area and screening.
• Street End Lane, Sidlesham, PO20 7RG
• Open by appointment
• www.meadowgatenursery.co.uk
MILES JAPANESE MAPLES
Owner-owned, small-batch nursery. Wide selection of acers grown from young, grafted plants. Attends
many plant fairs.
• Near Storrington; open by appointment
• https://milesjapanesemaples.co.uk/
ROTHERHILL NURSERIES & GARDEN CENTRE
Owner-owned nursery. Wide range of shrubs, many interesting and unusual; veg plants, bedding,
perennials, trees – including range of acers.
• School Lane, Stedham, nr Midhurst, GU29 0PA
• https://rotherhill.co.uk
SHOPWHYKE NURSERIES (PLANTS OUTSIDE)
Owner-owned independent: perennials, herbs, roses, shrubs, bedding and trees.
• Tangmere Rd, Shopwhyke, PO20 2BL
SOUTHON PLANTS
This is a Surrey nursery (Normansland, north of East Grinstead). However, they regularly have a stall at the
Orchards Shopping, Centre 10 St Wilfrids Way, Haywards Heath, RH16 3QH and a couple of PH members
have recommended that we include it in this list.
• southon-plants.co.uk
SUSSEX ROSES
Small, family run cut-flower nursery and florist in West Chiltington.
• Nine Gables Nursery, Southlands Lane, West Chiltington, RH20 2JU
• wwwnotgrowninholland.co.uk and Facebook
THE CITRUS CENTRE
Owner-owned specialist in citrus plants and their relatives – 130 varieties of citrus, lemon, lime, orange,
grapefruit and mandarin trees. Mail order, click and collect and open by appointment.
• West Mare Lane, Pulborough, RH20 2EA
• https://citruscentre.co.uk
THE PLANT COMPANY
Independent, wide range of plants from herbaceous perennials to trees. Also has design service.
• Coolham Road, West Chiltington, RH20 2LH
• https://theplantco.co.uk
VILLAGE NURSERIES
Family owned. Bedding and seasonal and hardy plants grown on site. Wide range of hardy perennials and
shrubs.
• Sinnocks, West Chiltington, RH20 2JX
• www.village-nurseries.co.uk
• If we have missed any of your favourites, please contact us with details at sussexphed@gmail.com