Southlands Nursery — Local services in Vancouver

There is a serious lack of customer service and accountability at this nursery. I had a beautiful healthy snake plant split, from 3 root bulbs to 2 & 1 in separate pots. The young man who separated them was friendly and when I asked if he knew about snake plants said he could definitely help me. One root ball & plant was transplanted into a pot too big for its size, and the soil was changed in both plants with rocks added on top for weight. The new transplant had the leaves splayed out, although my original plant was upright. My mistake was leaving without saying anything. At home 6 leaves, which were 3’ or taller, fell. I returned and spoke to the owner, informing him of the several leaves that had fallen (lost about 1/3 of the plant by then). He was condescending and dismissive. He asked me, “Well, what do you want?” I replied I wanted a refund on the payment for the transplant at the least, or another plant. He told me to bring the plant back. I returned with my plant a couple of weeks later, after still more leaves had fallen. I spoke to 5 different staff members, everyone recommending another staff member to talk to because the owner was busy in his office. After a lengthy conversation with two experienced staff members, it became clear that they would do nothing for me. In fact, I was blamed for having had the plant separated! Oh, I forgot to mention that when one part was pulled out of the pot, there were no roots on it - they had been removed during the transplant! Southlands nursery has beautiful looking plants, but lacks in customer service. Profit is valued over customer service. Well, I’m not buying it. First picture shows the original plant and the last picture shows...

This is an iconic nursery, a treasure, if you will. We are lucky to have Thomas Hobbs and Southlands in Vancouver. The principals there are very knowledgeable, and the ambiance beautiful and inspiring. I go there for the botanical garden experience. And when I want advice, I ask the resident genius, Graham.

And btw, Thomas is absolutely right in his remarks about Kerrisdale, which extend to all of Vancouver as well. Just because he's a retailer doesn't mean he's barred from pointing out the emperor's new clothes. You have to be blind or delusional not to acknowledge how drastically and permanently this city has changed, and not for the better, unless you're a developer, a money launderer, or a client of the above. The store on W. 41st Ave. was gorgeous. Kerrisdale residents considered it an institution, but unfortunately good things don't always last forever (nor did Superior Produce which originally occupied the building for over 50 years).

To view Southlands as a mere retail outlet is to do oneself a huge disservice as a customer or a gardener. If you're looking for primulas or chrysanthemums in a pot you can just go to Safeway. To be dazzled and refreshed, to buy something you've never heard of that's been vetted by the best, and to learn something new, go to Southlands.

We have a few botanical 'National Treasures' in Vancouver, including Clive Justice (and Douglas Justice) and Cornelia Oberlander. Thomas Hobbs, who was featured on Recreating Eden in 2004 and on Martha Stewart Living, as well as in House Beautiful and other publications, certainly belongs in...

This is actually my 1st review, I normally don't write things online but If I can rate 0 star to Southlands Nursery, I would!

I phoned and asked before the in person visit, if they carry a certain houseplant that I was looking for as I'm far away from their store. The lady who answered the phone was lacking in knowledge, even the plant is super well known, and easy to distinguish then get back to me, she didn't even bother going to check around their indoor plants section, she just tried to cut it short saying "Yes, we carry a lots of plants but I don't know their name, you can come and check it out by yourself and sorry I can't talk too long, I have a customer who is in front of me and ready to check out. (I was let go but wondering, were you short staffed? No one can answer the phone for better customer service? Or I assumed the store is way to big to check, but I moved on)

Weeks later, I decided to make an effort to travel to Southlands Nursery from the other side of the city, and assumed they'll be more helpful in person. But unfortunately, same thing happened and I should check out others' reviews before heading there. I encountered one of their staff who was working around the indoor plants section with my very basic and reasonable question, and the old man's answer was really shocking me, he was rude saying: "I don't know and I can't tell you." then he walked away.

They seem just care about customer's transactions not customer service. That was my first and the last visit. No supporting their business with this...