Stanley's Greenhouse — Attraction in Knoxville

As a 20-year resident of the Knoxville area, I stopped in to look around Stanley's for the very first time about mid-Feb. I was impressed with the expansive retail space and how well maintained both the plant material and the property was. I was looking for Nepenthes, but was informed they only had one very small, sickly looking specimen. I politely declined after seeing it, but the very helpful and friendly associate informed me that they would be getting more and healthier stock in early spring. She offered to take my name and number and told me someone would call when the new HBs arrived. I happily gave my info to her. Time passed, and here it is Spring. This past Sunday (04/27/25) I stopped by after brunch to check on a few needed annuals. I was looking for dark red Calibrachoa. They only had four in the 3-inch squares. I needed 8. As I browsed the shop, I happened to pass by the carnivorous plant section and noticed a healthy looking Nepenthes HB for $19.99. I immediately felt slighted that no one had bothered to called me as was promised. After thinking over my possible choices, I decided not to purchase the plant and left empty-handed. I was not going to reward poor customer service with a sale. Judging by the numerous 5-star reviews and the otherwise good reputation this greenhouse seems to enjoy in the community, perhaps my experience was a rare slip through the cracks. That doesn't really matter to me. The opportunity for Stanley's Greenhouse to earn a new customer was lost and my negative impression has been formed. Once cast in a potential customer's mind, negative perception is difficult, and often impossible, to reverse. As the old saying goes, "you never get a second chance to make a first...

Dude, my battery died in the parking lot here after I’d just purchased some plants last minute before closing, and I was stranded. An employee that has never been anything less than A DELIGHT whenever I shop here on a normal day was an absolute lifesaver AFTER leaving work for the day, when she could’ve gone on to her plans that were waiting, she called her friend to say she’d be late and helped me figure out how to be an adult and operate jumper cables for the first time in my life, and gave me a jump and saved the day. After the quar I haven’t left the house or had messy life happen in so long that I was having a heckin’ panic attack in the parking lot bc any kind of car problem was, in my mind, a disqualifying event for the rest of that day and potentially the week, requiring immediate reinforcements and rescue. None was available and they close the gates at night, so I thought, welp- I guess I’m getting towed or fined or MURDERED (lolz) but alas, cooler heads prevailed, and I had nary a thing to do with it. Anyways, GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE.

(Also I took some pictures that day before I had a complete existential and literal crisis outside over a...

We always love Stanley's Greenhouse so much, it's like a little gardener's adventure cause you'll always leave with a thing or two you didn't even know you needed. They always have a huge selection of healthy plants. They also have a gift cottage area with all sorts of indoor and outdoor decorative items and sooo many planters and flower pots.

This trip, we went for a poinsettia. We left with five or six because there were so many varieties to choose from. And we visited the gift area where my wife fell in love with a beautiful metal wall hanging for our dining room.

October 2024, another of many visits. We went to shop for some late mums and fall pansies. They have such a beautiful variety. But I'm the main greenhouse... poinsettias as far as the eye can see. They've not taken on their colors yet but wow, there are thousands of them!

The staff are helpful and so friendly they feel like old friends and neighbors. Just go. Have a little...