Ottawa sits in a growing region with a real cluster of independent nurseries and garden centres, from Orleans to Manotick to the Quebec side in Gatineau. This list was put together from Google, Yelp, Facebook and Better Business Bureau listings and reviews, plus each business's own website, to round up ten places Ottawa-area gardeners keep coming back to.
1. Ritchie Feed & Seed
Area: Ottawa East (Windmill Lane), with additional locations in Richmond and Stittsville · Rating: 4.5 on Google (819 reviews) · Since: 1927
Ritchie's has been an Ottawa institution since 1927, growing from a downtown feed and seed store into one of the region's largest garden supply operations. Reviewers consistently point to the huge range of seeds, bulbs and less common brands, along with staff who can talk through landscaping and native-plant questions in depth. It suits gardeners who want everything from seed to soil under one roof, not just annuals.
2. J.A. Laporte Flowers & Nursery
Area: Orleans · Rating: 4.8 on Google (96 reviews)
Billed as Eastern Ontario's largest garden centre with over 2,500 plant varieties, Laporte's is the east end's go-to stop. Customers repeatedly mention "top notch service" and a wide selection of trees, shrubs and flowers, and call it the best place in the east end for staff who actually know their plants. It's a strong fit for anyone doing a full yard or landscape project rather than picking up a few pots.
3. Robert Plante Greenhouses
Area: Navan Road, east Ottawa · Since: 1981 (public greenhouses opened 2001)
Robert Plante has been growing plants since 1981 and now runs a year-round indoor tropical greenhouse alongside its outdoor nursery. Reviewers highlight the depth of the houseplant and cactus selection in particular, calling it among the best in the region, and describe the service as quick and friendly. Good for anyone chasing houseplants and tropicals as much as garden annuals.
4. Peter Knippel Garden Centre
Area: Bank Street, Gloucester
This family-run Bank Street centre gets singled out for tree quality, with reviewers calling its trees "the highest quality in Ottawa" and noting staff will special-order plants that aren't in stock. It also runs gardening workshops for customers who want to learn technique, not just buy stock. Best suited to gardeners planting trees or shrubs who want expert input before they commit.
5. Manotick Gardens & Landscaping Supplies
Area: River Road, Manotick · Since: 2001
A family-owned operation on a four-acre site south of Ottawa, Manotick Gardens supplies home gardeners, landscaping contractors and organic growers alike with plants, soil, mulch and natural stone. Reviews describe the family as "friendly and helpful" with respectable pricing on a solid flower and plant selection. It suits anyone tackling a landscaping job that needs stone or bulk soil alongside plants, not just a garden centre run.
6. Green Thumb Garden Centre
Area: Nepean · Since: incorporated 1989
Green Thumb only stocks plants proven hardy to the Ottawa climate, which reviewers say pays off in advice that actually fits local conditions rather than generic tips. Customers describe the owner and staff as knowledgeable and dedicated, offering guidance on every purchase to make sure it suits the customer's specific garden. A solid pick for gardeners newer to Ottawa's climate who want plants they can trust will survive winter.
7. Beyond the House
Area: Russell, with a presence serving Orleans and Kanata
Beyond the House takes a boutique, European-inspired approach to its garden centre, run by owner Cindy Cluett, who reviewers note has a particular soft spot for unusual evergreens and dwarf conifers not commonly found elsewhere in the region. The retail space changes with the seasons and mixes plants with home decor. It suits shoppers looking for something a little different from the standard nursery lineup, though some reviewers note prices run a bit higher than other local garden centres.
8. Richmond Nursery
Area: Old Richmond Road, Richmond · Since: 1959, now second-generation family run
Best known locally for its strawberry farm roots dating back to 1959, Richmond Nursery has an A+ Better Business Bureau rating and a long track record in the region. Feedback is mixed: many customers praise the quality of produce and plants and the accommodating staff, though a smaller number flagged higher prices or inconsistent service during peak season. Worth a look for gardeners in the west end already planning a farm visit.
9. Millers' Farm, Market & Garden Centre
Area: Rideau Valley Drive, south of Manotick · Rating: 4.6 (526 reviews) · Since: 1981
Millers' combines a working farm with a garden centre, so alongside nursery stock, gardeners can pick up fresh produce and browse a market shop with baked goods reviewers single out, including scones and ginger cookies. It's a family-run operation, with visitors describing the Miller family as welcoming. Best for gardeners who want to turn a plant run into a family outing rather than a quick errand.
10. Nesbitt's Greenhouse and Nursery
Area: Chemin Eardley, Gatineau, serving the wider Ottawa-Gatineau region · Rating: 4.7 (91 reviews) · Since: family-owned for over 70 years
Just across the river in Gatineau, Nesbitt's has been family-run by Ron and Sylvia Nesbitt for decades and grows around 90 percent of its own flowers, vegetables and hanging baskets on site. Reviewers call out the welcoming, knowledgeable staff and consistently high-quality, locally grown plants. A good option for Ottawa gardeners on the west side willing to cross into Gatineau for stock grown in-house rather than trucked in.
How We Built This List
This list was compiled from public web sources, including Google, Yelp, Facebook and Better Business Bureau listings, along with each business's own website. It is not a paid placement and no business on this list paid for inclusion or ranking. Details such as ratings, review counts and founding years are included only where they appeared in a source read during research. This list was last reviewed in August 2026.
Source: Best Nursery Centres in Ottawa and individual business listings on Google, Yelp and Better Business Bureau.
