Here’s a small and by no means complete list of some of Harare’s leading plant nurseries which offer a great selection and consulation for veggie and flower gardeners alike.

Henning’s Nursery

16 Greendale Avenue, within the Food Lover’s complex

Owned and run Henning Jordaan the nursery has been at its present location for about 7 years, prior to which it was situated at Village Walk in Borrowdale.

They stock a wide range of plants, including exotics, roses, indigenous plants, aloes and succulents, fruit trees and vegetable and herb seedlings. 90% of their stock is propagated by themselves in a small area behind the nursery. If you’re looking for something currently not in stock they are willing to try to order it for you from their suppliers. They also have a quirky and whimsical range of arts and crafts to decorate your garden. Henning’s provides a full landscaping service for new gardens or refreshing older established gardens.

Jordaan is passionate about water conservation and water wise gardening and advocates mulching and composting as the best methods of growing and maintaining healthy plants.

Mr Chris Nurseries

1) 177 Enterprise Road, within Brookfields, 2) 50 Quorn Avenue, Mount Pleasant, opposite Arundel Village, 3) Cnr Victoria Drive and York Road, Newlands

Chris Maggs is a trained horticulturalist and citrus consultant — owner and manager of the three Mr Chris nurseries, the newest being the Arundel branch which was opened in 2014. He has extensive knowledge of insect and pest control and can give good advice about the right chemicals to use, favouring the “softer” green label range administered in the lowest effective amounts.

He is also keen on creating healthy soil which makes plants more pest resistant and he makes his own special growing medium for seedlings, pot plants and plants in sleeves. He is also an authority on growing orchids, many of which can be found at the Arundel branch.

The nurseries stock a wide range of plants including palms, shrubs in various sizes, annuals and perennials, and succulents and cacti. They also stock a selection of vegetable seedlings and herbs.

They have full range of garden tools and equipment and are agents for the Tandem brand of lawnmowers and strimmers. They also supply microjet watering systems which use water more efficiently.

Golden Stairs Nursery

72 Second Street Ext., Marlborough

Golden Stairs is probably the best known and oldest nursery in Harare. It’s a family business, owned and run by the Skinner family, and was established over 40 years ago. Most of their enormous range of plants is propagated at their small holding in Mount Hampden, although some of the more specialised plants are sourced from smaller local suppliers.

Their plants are laid out in easy to find and well marked rows, so you can choose plants for sun or shade or according to size. They have a large complement of well trained and friendly staff to assist you and provide expert advice. The nursery has a great selection of roses laid out in the front garden section so that you can see the plants in bloom, as well a very good selection of fuchsias, many of which are not easily available.

They manufacture wrought iron garden furniture and fencing and also supply pots, pavers, decorative pebbles and stones, and quarry stones and sands. The hardware store stocks a range of top quality garden tools and mowers as well as plumbing, electrical and painting supplies.

Plant Plan Garden Centre

Cnr Rolfe Avenue and Stokesay Close, Ballantyne Park

It’s easy to see why Plant Plan won a Gold Award in the Design Competition at the 2016 Annual Garden Show. They have an excellent selection of pots and planters, hanging baskets and water features as well as a unique range of planters made from recycled or upcycled materials. They have plants in old leaky wheelbarrows, plants in pots cut into the seats of painted wooden chairs, metal statues of women with pots on their heads and many other unusual plant containers. They also supply movable vertical gardens already established, which I haven’t seen at other nurseries — perfect for gardeners with limited space. They also have in stock and make to order garden arches and romantic garden benches. They offer an indoor pot plant maintenance service for shops and offices. They supply plants and water features for landscaping and offer a garden design service for new gardens or to refresh older tired looking gardens.

Mr George has been at the nursery for over 10 years and can give you helpful advice on the selection and care of your plants.

Down to Earth Nursery

167 Enterprise Road, Chisipite  

Down to Earth Nursery is laid out like an attractive domestic garden so plant lovers can see plants in a more natural setting. Its managed by Martin Ware, a self taught gardener, together with his mother, and with help from his chief assistant Wonder Machingura. The main section of the nursery is laid out in a roughly circular design centred on a large water feature, and flanked on one side by a big greenhouse and a shade house for the more exotic and tender plants. They propagate the majority of their plants at a small holding/nursery near Umwinsidale called ‘Over the Moon’.

They stock the usual variety of plants but they also stock some more unusual specimens that are not readily available at other nurseries. They stock Australian tree ferns which are better suited to Harare’s climate than the Bvumba tree ferns, as well as the fairly rare red blechum tree ferns originally from Brazil. They also stock Dizygotheca, an unusual and fairly rare plant with very dark green (almost black) slender serrated leaves. And they sell water lilies for your water feature.