Welcome to Madley Plants, thanks for visiting. We’re an independent, family-run nursery, growing and selling top quality British plants in Madley, 7 miles west of Hereford.
We don't specialise in any particular type of plants at the nursery, we try to have as broad a range on offer as we can, all sourced as locally to Hereford as possible. Our focus is to be our area’s top independent nursery that sells seasonal plants and is able to provide constructive help and advice. If you're not sure what you're looking for, grab us for a chat and we can suggest different options that might work well in your garden, we're more than happy to help. We’re open 7 days a week, from 10am until 4pm.
On the plant side of things we have a wide range of shrubs and perennials all year round that are topped up regularly so it’s always worth coming over for a nosey around 👀. If we don’t have what you want, then we’d be more than happy to see if we can source it for you.
What’s going on at the nursery then? (updated 16th April)
The cafe is now open again! However, due to footfall in the cafe being a lot lower last year than in previous years, we’ve decided to scale back our offering on site. We still have a fridge full of chilled soft drinks and the fabulous ice cream from the lovely team at Rowlestone Farmhouse Ice Cream, but we’re not doing hot drinks or cakes anymore. It’s a shame as we appreciate there’s quite a few of you who like to come for a natter/catch up with friends or just like to take a break while browsing around the nursery but unfortunately it’s just not sustainable offering all that we have done in the past. Having said that, we will run the full service cafe for events here such as Love Local towards the end of the year.
Almost all of this year’s 25,000 bedding plug plants are now on site and they’re all potted up! Some of them are ready now but others are maybe a week or two away. There’s obviously still a chance of a frost so if you don’t have anywhere to protect them overnight, then maybe leave it for a bit and come and get some once the nights are a bit warmer. We've got all the usual bedding plants you love and hopefully a few new ones that you will fancy having a go with this year. They’re all inside the polytunnel so feel free to have a browse when you’re here. We've also started taking hanging basket orders so if you want us to make some for you then just come in and place your order. All the usual options available; different sizes, different baskets, different planting...it's your call!
We've got lots of lovely new shrubs in stock right now. The Abelia, Nandina, Erica, Pieris and Prunus looked well pretty in the sunshine this week and there are plenty more options too.
We recently had a massive delivery of fantastic new pots and merchandiser Ben has been in to arrange them beautifully (and to see the dog, obviously 🖤). There are new glazed options as well as a stunning lead range which isn't actually lead so is much lighter 😁 . We've also had our regular terracotta selection and the half price ones re-stocked too - it's all good!
Need any seeds? We have topped up our veg seed collection and biodegradable pots for growing. It’s too early for tomatoes, cucumbers etc, but you can sow plenty indoors with a bit of warmth on a windowsill or in a heated propagator: peas, broad beans, onions, lettuce, spring onions and spinach will all do well. Once they’ve germinated they can be moved to a cooler greenhouse where they’ll survive a frost. We're now stocking a 100% peat free seed compost with added seaweed to give your seeds a great start. It's made from coir and comes in a neat block. You add 4 litres of luke warm water which completely hydrates it in 5 minutes and the resulting slightly warm compost is a pleasure to sow your seeds into. The pack makes 10 litres of compost and costs just £4.99. Alternatively, if you don't fancy growing from seed, we have a wide variety of veg plants coming this week in time for the Bank Holiday weekend.
Trees? March is a great time to be planting trees so if you’ve been thinking about planting one or two why not come over and see what we’ve got? We’ve also got everything you need to plant your tree including compost, stakes, tree ties and rabbit guards too.
Just a little update on some housekeeping…since we’ve opened up again this year we’ve come to the conclusion that after a few years of wear and tear the display area could look better; so we’re having a bit of a makeover. Nothing too drastic, but it should make the place look ship shape and shiny in time for the upcoming spring season and will compliment the newness of the first polytunnel that’s just been refurbished. We’ll be weeding, replacing rotten pallet benches, removing moss and laying 12 tonnes of new Herefordshire gravel on all the walking routes around the nursery and also replacing over 200 metres of 5m wide black matting we have under all the plants. So, if you’re here and there’s a bit of disruption, apologies, please bear with us, it won’t be going on for too long!
In need of some garden related ‘things’?
Also in our shop, we stock all the things you'd expect to find at your local nursery. There’s a wide range of garden essentials such as tree ties, plant labels, wire and vine ties right through to watering cans and great gifts for gardeners. We also have some gorgeous garden twines, pruners, loppers, plant food, child and pet safe garden care products, spades, forks as well as hosepipes and associated accessories. If you like your fires inside or out then we stock Certainly Wood's logs, flamers and kindling and as an alternative to logs for cooking on, we have Birchwood Forestry's pure hardwood charcoal in stock in either 3 or 6kg bags. Oh, and we stock a variety of composts too; peat reduced multi-purpose, ericaceous, Melcourt 'RHS Endorsed' peat-free multi-purpose and grow bags.
Gift vouchers?
We also sell gift vouchers that can be spent here and can be bought either in person at the nursery or online here.
Opening hours
We’re open 7 days a week, from 10am until 4pm.
We’ll be closed for 2 weeks from Monday 5th August until Sunday 18th August inclusive and we’ll close for our winter break on Friday 20th December until Saturday 1st February 2025.
You can call us on 01981 784 011, email us or contact us via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
Testimonials
“Great plants. So friendly and knowledgeable. Wonderful to have a local meeting place with good tea and cake. Thanks very much.”
“Our winter pansies outside our home and business are still blooming, colourful and healthy. Thanks Madley Plants.... will be back for Spring/Summer colour before too long.... put the kettle on!!”
“Visited for the first time today. Lovely reception from Michele who was very happy to help. Lovely cafe, served wonderful tea, cold drinks and super cakes! Came away with a boot full of amazing plants that are all in their pots in the garden now. Highly recommend and shall be back for more. Thanks so much.”
“Warm friendly service, lovely plants & a homely garden cafe. We will be returning again & again.”
As well as our plants we also create beautiful potted displays. These can be made to order in pots either bought at the nursery or provided by you. We also do single flower or mixed flower hanging baskets heading into both Spring and Winter and are happy to take orders if you have any specific plant or colour themes in mind.
A brief history
The original nursery launched on this site in 1997 and was in the hands of the same owners until July 2015. It was then taken over by Michele and Simon who moved to Madley with their three boys, Harry, George & Jim. They re-named the nursery Madley Plants and opened the cafe in March 2016.