Durham Garden Center is a locally owned, plant-loving shop nestled in West Durham, just a quick hop from the Eno River. Our team is a happy medley of houseplant lovers, landscapers, arborists and overall plant enthusiasts. Stop by and tell us about your latest plant discovery—we’re always eager to listen and learn!

About us

  • Keith is the guy behind our rebirth during the pandemic. Our manager and resident horticulturist since August 2020, he has transformed our store into a public classroom for horticulture.

    He graduated from NC State with a degree in Horticulture then went on to pursue graduate studies in Public Horticulture and Community Planning at Auburn University. Most passionate about temperate landscape plants, Keith will light up if you ask about conifers. Originally from coastal South Carolina, he fell in love with flowing fresh water, exposed rock, and temperate plants after many trips to Appalachia.

  • Ryan comes to us after establishing his own landscape design and installation company in 2020. His love for plants started with his first job at Campbell Road Nursery in Raleigh when he was 16 years old. From there, he has held various positions at nurseries and landscape companies.

    Ryan’s current plant obsession is houseplants (buying and selling kept him occupied during the pandemic!) When not at the shop, you can find Ryan tending to his tropical plant collection, hiking with his Great Pyrenees mix, Daisy, or cooking out with friends.

  • Aaron is the shop’s resident tech nerd. Combining an aptitude for electronics with a hunger to grow, he handles the inventory database and designs the tags throughout our shop. If he doesn’t know the answer to a question, he likely knows where to look!

    While he’s grown a variety of plants, aroids and other tropicals have always captivated him the most. Aaron loves growing his collection and passing along any information that will help you love plants more too- whether you need help finding the perfect pothos or need to just gush about that majestic Monstera you’ve added to your wish list, he’s all ears.

  • Rosa remembers everything. With a map and inventory always pulled up in her mind, she is listening to the plant’s needs and can help you find that ever-elusive variety of Osmanthus. Rosa worked at our parent nursery for 22 years before joining us. She can spot a diseased plant from a mile off and knows how to prevent spread before it happens. The reason our plants are always thriving is much in part due to of her care for detail and organization!

    Rosa gives everyone a huge good morning each day and has us all listening to Cumbayá on repeat.

  • Joe is originally from Miami and studied Environmental Science and Sustainability at Florida International University. He has over five years of horticultural experience spanning medicinal plant nurseries, nature parks, and ecological restoration. After moving to Durham in 2024, he joined a luxury landscaping company as a plant procurement specialist while spending his weekends helping customers at Durham Garden Center.

    If not in horticulture, he’d be a food critic—but for now, he’s campaigning for a staff slushy machine to beat the summer heat.

  • Adrienne grew up playing in her family’s backyard garden and has had love for the outdoors ever since. After receiving her BA in English and certificate in horticulture, she has had a mix of jobs in both agriculture and education. From working on a mixed vegetable and flower farm in California to running youth gardening programs in Durham, Adrienne loves all things plants!

    Next time you see her teaching a workshop or taking photos around the store for our social media, ask her what cut flowers you should plant for this year- she’d love to chat!

  • Sam started his journey as a plant person in 9th grade, thanks to an inspiring plant science teacher! Born and raised in Durham, he has spent time working on a community garden and is now studying horticulture at NCSU.

  • Randy spent the bulk of his career inside as a piano tech and is now thrilled to spend so much time with plants outside (though still working with his hands!). He has spent years working in multiple large corporate greenhouses and for plant merchandisers but finds he loves small, local garden centers best.

  • Daniella started her plant career at G&B herbs (where we still buy from!) and is faithful to support our team daily in making sure things get watered and stay disease free. She loves learning new things about plants and would be happy to tell you how all our racks and shelves are organized next time you’re in!

  • Lacey fell in love with plants during the pandemic when she began growing her own therapeutic plant garden. Currently on track to finish her certificate in therapeutic horticulture at NCSU, she plan(t)s to attend school this fall for a degree in Landscape Design and Plant Install.

  • Matthew used to work in an animal hospital but animals bite too much and plants are much more friendly to care for. He is on track to become an arborist now, thanks to a program at Alamance Community College. While they don’t grow here, Norfolk Island Pines are Matthew’s favorite tree!

  • Phil‍ has been helping us water plants each summer for quite a few years now. A retired professional in ‍pesticide research, Phil got his degree in biology from App state and, after retiring, couldn’t stay away from plants long. Next time you’re in, ask Phil about what perennials he’s growing!