8 Plant Nurseries in Merritt Island, FL
Showing 8 verified nurseries & garden centers near you
Top Rated Farms in MERRITT ISLAND
Orchid Trail
Specialty Orchid Nursery. Top products: Cattleya hybrids, Orchids. Orchid Trail is a specialty plant nursery located on Merritt Island, Florida, with a long-standing history dating back to its establishment in 1973. Currently owned by Mark Walters and Sharon Shaw, the facility operates with a dedicated focus on the cultivation and sale of orchids. The nursery maintains an inventory of over 6,000 plants housed within two dedicated orchid houses. Their primary horticultural focus is the breeding and care of classic Cattleya hybrids. Orchid Trail operates as a retail destination, inviting customers to visit their facility to view their floral collection and purchase specimens directly. They cater to orchid enthusiasts and hobbyists, providing a specialized environment for plant selection. The business emphasizes a hands-on approach to nursery management, with operations spanning over five decades under various owners, maintaining a niche focus on high-quality ornamental orchids in the Florida market.
The Patio Oasis
Tropical Houseplant Boutique Nursery. Top products: Alocasia, Philodendrons, African violets, Hoyas, Decorative pots. The Patio Oasis is a boutique plant shop located in Merritt Island, Florida, specializing in the retail of tropical houseplants and ornamental containers. Their core inventory includes a curated selection of aroids and tropical varieties, including Alocasia, Philodendrons, African violets, and Hoyas. Beyond plant sales, the business provides comprehensive horticultural services such as professional potting, repotting, plant sitting, and specialized 'ICU' plant care for distressed specimens. They operate with a strong emphasis on customer education, offering personalized guidance on plant care routines and ongoing troubleshooting support to ensure long-term plant health. The establishment also serves as a lifestyle boutique, retailing plant accessories, care kits, and various gift items. The Patio Oasis targets local homeowners and indoor gardening enthusiasts, positioning itself as a full-service destination for both plant acquisition and maintenance.
Space Coast Nursery
Green Gloves Garden Center
Full-Service Landscape Nursery Provider. Top products: Palm trees, Ornamental plants, Shrubs, Flowers. Green Gloves Outdoors, also known as Green Gloves Garden Center, is a multifaceted horticultural and outdoor living company based in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Operating since 2010, the business serves as both a retail plant nursery and a comprehensive landscape design-build firm. Their horticultural offerings include a curated selection of nursery-grown palm trees, ornamental plants, shrubs, and flowers tailored for the coastal Florida climate. Beyond retail plant sales, they specialize in professional landscape installation, ensuring that the flora they provide is integrated into functional outdoor environments. Their business model serves local homeowners and property owners by combining plant procurement with expert planting services, irrigation system design, and hardscape installations such as brick pavers, pergolas, and outdoor kitchens. With a physical showroom and nursery located in Cocoa Beach, they provide a hands-on experience for customers seeking to enhance their residential exteriors. The company emphasizes local expertise, durable plant health, and the transformation of outdoor spaces into aesthetic, sustainable living areas.
Wild, Wet N Wacky Florida Native Plants
Native Florida Plant Nursery. Top products: Native wildflowers, Fragrant native shrubs, Sturdy native trees, Low-maintenance groundcovers, Bog and aquatic plants. Wild, Wet N Wacky Florida Native Plants is a specialized horticultural nursery dedicated to the cultivation and distribution of plants indigenous to the Florida ecosystem. Their primary mission is to promote ecological sustainability by providing native species that are naturally adapted to the local climate, thereby reducing water consumption and the necessity for synthetic chemical inputs. The nursery serves a diverse clientele, including homeowners interested in residential landscape restoration, conservationists focused on habitat creation, and individuals seeking pollinator-friendly garden alternatives. Their extensive inventory includes a wide variety of flora ranging from wildflowers and shrubs to native trees, groundcovers, and specialized bog and aquatic plants. By focusing exclusively on native species, the nursery enables customers to create resilient, low-maintenance landscapes that actively support local bird populations and pollinator networks.
Gleason Landscaping Nursery
AAirspace Plant Shop
Retail Tropical Plant Shop. Top products: Air plants, 3D-printed plant holders, Hand-made macrame, Indoor plants. Airspace Plant Shop is a specialized plant retailer serving the Space Coast of Florida. Unlike traditional large-scale growers, the business operates as a boutique plant supplier that sources hand-picked inventory directly from established professional nurseries in Central Florida. The company focuses on the curation of easy-care indoor plants, specifically specializing in air plants, which they pair with unique, artisanal accessories such as 3D-printed holders and hand-made macrame. By maintaining close relationships with regional nursery managers, Airspace Plant Shop ensures high-quality plant selection for its customers. Their business model centers on community engagement, utilizing pop-up market events and an active online presence via Etsy to distribute products to hobbyists and home gardeners. The shop emphasizes educational outreach by providing detailed plant care guides and hosting regular community events to foster a local plant-loving network. Their operation bridges the gap between wholesale nursery production and the end-consumer retail market.
Local Nursery Scene in Merritt Island
Merritt Island hosts 8 distinct nurseries and garden centers, catering to a range of needs from casual indoor gardening to full-scale landscape design. The local market benefits from a variety of business models, including long-standing specialized orchid growers, native plant conservationists, and boutique indoor plant shops. Because Merritt Island sits in a humid subtropical climate, typically falling within USDA hardiness zone 9b/10a, local suppliers focus heavily on heat tolerance, salt air resistance, and hurricane-durable landscaping. Buying from these local nurseries ensures that plants have already acclimated to the specific humidity and light levels of the Space Coast, giving them a significant survival advantage over big-box store specimens shipped from different regions.
Comparison of Top Nurseries
| Nursery Name | Rating | Specialization | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Island Nursery | 4.8 | General plants | Maps Search |
| Orchid Trail | 4.8 | Orchids | Maps Search |
| The Patio Oasis | 5.0 | Tropical houseplants | Maps Search |
| Space Coast Nursery | 5.0 | General plants | Maps Search |
| Green Gloves Garden Center | 4.0 | Landscaping | Maps Search |
| Wild, Wet N Wacky | 4.8 | Native Florida plants | Maps Search |
| Gleason Landscaping Nursery | 4.3 | General plants | Maps Search |
| Airspace Plant Shop | N/A | Air plants/Retail | Maps Search |
Deep Dive into Nurseries
Tropical Island Nursery stands as a reliable, general-purpose source for local greenery. They maintain a steady stock appropriate for the Merritt Island climate, catering to the average homeowner’s immediate garden needs.
Orchid Trail offers a historical perspective on Florida horticulture, operating since 1973 with over 6,000 orchids. They specialize in classic Cattleya hybrids, serving as a primary destination for serious collectors and hobbyists.
The Patio Oasis functions as a boutique destination for indoor gardeners. They specialize in aroids like Philodendrons and Alocasia, while providing high-level services like repotting and intensive care for struggling plants.
Space Coast Nursery provides a broad selection of plant material suited to local residential settings. Their inventory supports the varied needs of local landscape maintenance and home garden projects.
Green Gloves Garden Center bridges the gap between retail sales and professional landscape design. They offer both the nursery stock—such as palms and ornamental shrubs—and the hardscape installation required for complete property transformations.
Wild, Wet N Wacky Florida Native Plants is vital for those prioritizing environmental sustainability. By focusing on indigenous flora, they help residents create pollinator-friendly, low-water landscapes that thrive without heavy chemical use.
Gleason Landscaping Nursery serves the residential and commercial markets with general landscaping supplies. Their nursery operation focuses on the durable, hardy plants necessary for the demanding Florida outdoor environment.
Airspace Plant Shop acts as a boutique curator for indoor plant enthusiasts. While lacking a formal rating, their retail model focuses on sourcing premium air plants and artisanal decor, providing a specialized niche for collectors who prefer curated, easy-care houseplant arrangements.
Buying Guide for FL Gardeners
- Check Acclimation: Florida’s intense sun can shock nursery plants grown in greenhouses. Always ask staff if the plant was hardened off outdoors before purchasing.
- Prioritize Natives: Choosing native species from growers like Wild, Wet N Wacky reduces water usage. Native plants are evolutionary-matched to our sandy, nutrient-poor soil and native pest populations.
- Evaluate Soil: Merritt Island's soil often lacks organic matter. When purchasing, consult with your garden center regarding the correct mulch or soil amendments to improve moisture retention.
- Inspect for Pests: Before buying, look under leaves for spider mites or aphids, which thrive in our high humidity. A healthy plant will have robust, turgid leaves without spotted discoloration.
- Seasonal Timing: Avoid heavy planting during the peak heat of mid-summer unless you have an automated irrigation system. Late autumn and early spring provide the best windows for root establishment.
- Ask About Hardiness: Even in our mild climate, occasional freezes occur. Select palms and ornamental shrubs that are verified to handle 9b/10a zone conditions to prevent costly winter losses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why should I choose a local Merritt Island nursery over a big-box store?
A: Local nurseries in Merritt Island provide plants that are already acclimated to the regional climate and local soil conditions. Unlike big-box retailers that receive shipments from massive greenhouses across the country, local nurseries select stock suited to the specific salt air and humidity of the Space Coast. Furthermore, staff at local garden centers offer expert guidance on local pests and specific planting times that regional managers rarely provide.
Q: What is the best time of year to plant in Merritt Island?
A: The ideal planting window in Florida is during the cooler months, specifically from October through March. Planting during these months allows the root systems to establish themselves before the intense heat and heavy rainfall of the summer months occur. If you must plant in summer, ensure you provide extra irrigation and shade during the hottest parts of the day to prevent transplant shock.
Q: How do I know if a plant is native to Florida?
A: A native plant is one that naturally occurred in Florida before European settlement. You can verify this by checking if the nursery specifically labels them as 'Florida Native.' Native plants are better adapted to our sandy soils and require significantly less fertilizer and supplemental water. Retailers like 'Wild, Wet N Wacky' specialize in these species, which directly benefit local pollinator populations, including bees and native butterflies.
Q: What soil amendments are necessary for Merritt Island gardens?
A: Merritt Island soil is typically sandy, which drains water too quickly and holds few nutrients. To improve your gardening success, mix high-quality organic matter like compost, peat moss, or well-rotted manure into your native soil. These additions increase the soil's ability to retain moisture and hold onto fertilizers, providing a more stable foundation for both ornamental flowers and vegetable gardens.
Q: What is the difference between a nursery and a garden center?
A: A nursery is typically production-focused, where the primary activity is the propagation and growing of plants. A garden center is more retail-oriented, often serving as a one-stop shop that includes nursery stock alongside hardscape materials like pavers, decorative pottery, fertilizers, and tools. Some businesses on Merritt Island, such as Green Gloves Garden Center, function as both, offering professional landscape design services in addition to a retail showroom.
⭐ 4.7 average rating across 8 verified nurseries in Merritt Island
The most popular reviews:
Roger has quite a place on S. Orlando Ave: tons and tons of plants, trees, grasses, and blooming plants. It reminds me a lot of Sunken Gardens in St. Pete. He helped me design a landscape for the planters on my lanai, and he and his team Joe and Garris got it all perfectly installed. It’s nice to have this place right here in the heart of Cocoa Beach.
— Green Gloves Garden CenterAbsolutely love this nursery, and their knowledgeable helpful staff .. A must for native plant enthusiasts and all gardens who want the most out of their spaces. Pleases Plant native !! This beautiful native tea bush is a great attractive for pollinators.. So as I transition my yard to a natural species environment I will continue to visit Wild Wet and Wacky !
— Wild, Wet N Wacky Florida Native PlantsHealthy plants, great prices and very knowledgeable owner. She also has a rewards card. My new go to plant shop!
— The Patio Oasis