Have you ever had trouble finding the flowers you want at the store?
You aren’t alone!
Figuring out which flowers to plant and tracking them down in a garden center can get overwhelming quickly. And if even if you don’t feel overwhelmed, it can be frustrating to want a certain plant and not be able to find it.
So, if this sounds like you, please know, this is normal.
In this tip, let’s chat about how to make it easier to find the flowers you want.
What can you do if you have ideas for flowers, but you can’t find them at your garden center?
First, I’ll say that some western plants ARE hard to find.
Often, though, it can be a matter of where you’re looking for them.
The big box stores are convenient for buying flowers, no question.
But they tend to have a limited selection of flowers. Plus, they often carry plants that are better suited for other regions of the country.
Yep, let me say that again: A lot of their selection isn’t a great fit for gardens in the semi-arid, tricky soils West.
So instead, my suggestion is to look up local, independent garden centers in your area.
These are local stores that only sell plants, flowers, gardening tools and related products.
If you’ve only shopped at the big box stores for your flowers and you don’t know where to find local, independent garden center, no worries!
Search for:
“Garden center in [your town or metro area]”
“Plant nursery in [your town or metro area]”
You can call these local garden centers on the phone to ask if they have certain flowers OR you can visit in person.
These local stores are more likely to have a wider selection of flower plants that grow better in our region.
Fair warning, because these garden centers usually have a lot of plants, they can be a little intimidating on your first visit.
(Just being honest with you.)
But every time you go, you’ll get more comfortable.
And the great news is, they typically have knowledgeable staff members who can help you.
It’s 100% okay to ask questions.
When you arrive at your garden center, ask if they carry the flower you’re looking for. If they don’t have it, feel free to ask:
“Can you recommend a similar flower?”
Share what you’re trying to do.
For example, let them know if you want to attract butterflies … or if you’d like plants that deer are less likely to eat.
If the person you’re talking to doesn’t know the answer, ask if there’s someone available who may know the answer.
(There’s always a wise and scrappy gardener tucked away somewhere.)
To better help you, they may ask you a little about your garden.
Don’t worry! You don’t have to be a master gardener to have a conversation with them. They just want to help.
You may want to snap a few photos of your garden or yard on your phone before you go to the store. This makes it easier for them to picture your space and your existing flowers.
Okay, so that’s option one.
But it’s possible you may not find what you want locally because not every store carries every plant.
In that case, you have a second option.
There are online plant and seed companies too… like Zappos for flower plants.
You may be able to buy the flower plant you want online, and they’ll send it to you.
Some get shoes in the mail, others get flower plants… 🙂
Want a few examples of online garden stores?
- High Country Gardens is an example of an online garden store that specializes in flower plants for the intermountain west.
- Botanical Interests is an example of a seed company that offers many western flower seeds. They’re based in Colorado. Depending on the flower (or veggie) you want to grow, you may plant seeds in the spring, in the fall or even during the winter.
Often times, these online retailers have unusual flowers that are tricky to find in stores.
Another option: You can choose a “pre-planned garden.”
Would you like to create a beautiful, western-friendly garden WITHOUT having to figure out which flowers work best and find them in a store?
If yes, you may want to check out pre-planned flowers gardens.
They’re an awesome way to create a beautiful flower garden without all the research and hunting for plants.
And bonus, many of these flower gardens don’t need a lot of water.
Related topics that may interest you:
- Where to buy plants that are safe for bees
- 5 things to know about western garden centers (that are super helpful to know)
- Where to buy flower plants (that last) for your garden in Colorado and similar western states
