Wandering around Love Plants dedicated plant centre in the Salop Leisure Centre complex, you would be forgiven for thinking you’d arrived in some tropical paradise.
This ‘garden centre with a difference’ – under the guidance of plant specialist Tom Pountney – is gaining a fabulous reputation for sourcing interesting and unique specimens, including a truly impressive collection of giant tree ferns. These are ordinarily found in temperate rainforests of Australia and New Zealand, but hardy enough to withstand Shropshire winters.
Tom Pountney amidst the tree ferns at Love Plants
Tree ferns are on trend in UK gardens of refinement – particularly Dicksonia antarctica – on account of their textured, exotic ‘look’. And, since a large part of their root system develops from the sides of the trunk, they don’t even need planting. We also marvelled at a gigantic Bonsai (and its price tag: £1,700!).
It is fun to wander at will at Love Plants – and take in these unusual specimens. And with its handy location, just off the Emstrey roundabout, on the Salop Leisure site, you can combine it with a coffee at the popular Love Coffee cafe next door. With its huge range of rhododendrons, and the recent addition of hard-to-come-by David Austin Roses (matching online retail prices), Love Plants is a cut above most ordinary garden centres.
Water features are also now available at Love Plants, including some rather grand centrepieces, which lend themselves to a statement garden, along with a wide selection of topiary. We also noticed a big collection of large specimen trees, for instant impact. There’s a grand array of Japanese Acers too, which look beautiful, planted pond-side, plus a wide selection of deciduous and evergreen ornamental trees, including flowering cherries, mountain ash and willow.
If it’s the Mediterranean look you’re after, Love Plants offers a variety of European Olive trees, including the Picual Olive Tree – from which you might make your own olive oil! (also Arbequina, Cipressino and Hojiblanca varieties). If edibles are your thing – there’s a huge, reasonably priced herb and veg section, including chillis and peppers.
Tom, who joined Love Plants 18 months ago, is keen that his 9-strong team should all have good plant knowledge in order to answer questions from customers. Experts are on hand to provide guidance for your garden, or ask about design and landscaping services to help you create the ideal outdoor space for newly built homes and businesses – these services can be booked online (discounts available).
Love Plants set out its stall as being a plant specialist centre rather and has remained true to its ethos today – albeit broadening its stock a little to include garden accessories such as plant clips, plant feeds and weed matting, tree stakes, plant supports, fine terracotta and glazed pots and an enormous range of Kings Seeds.
As an independent plant centre, Tom said, it can deal with customer orders directly – and there’s a local delivery service too (£10 per 10 miles, up to 40 miles from Love Plants). It can also source unusual and quirky specimens from specialist nurseries – we spotted some unusual varieties including yellow and ‘Illumination Purple’ foxgloves, red delphiniums and an interesting looking sea holly. There’s a members’ discount card and allotment holders benefit from 10% off too .
Having a man as skilled as Tom at the helm certainly helps drive up standards. Tom studied Horticulture at Pershore in Worcester, inspired by his grandfather’s love of gardening. Many know of him because of the fame of his own half-acred country garden Offcot, near Oswestry, which he opens as part of the National Garden Scheme (open on July 27th – for the third year running – in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support). He was also behind Salop Leisure’s winning show garden at the 2023 Shrewsbury Flower Show.
We had one key question for Tom – his favourite plant?
“My garden is a proper cottage garden, so I would have to say herbaceous verbena. It’s very natural looking and doesn’t choke anything else.”
And his top tip? If you’ve been blighted by the dreaded Box Tree caterpillars this season – try switching to the evergreen shrub Ilex Crenata (Japanese Holly) instead!
Take advantage of the current Summer Bedding Sale at Love Plants – 50%-75% off begonias, petunias etc!
Love Plants is offering 20% of all stock for one week from August 9th – 17th as a respectful nod towards Shrewsbury’s now cancelled Flower Show.