N1 Garden Centre is often talked of as the place to watch for new trends in houseplants and a visit to the small centre, squeezed in between terraced houses on the edge of the Hoxton area of North London explains all. 

It is a houseplant paradise, brimming full of plants including some rare and exotic varieties. No wonder their website says they are: Making London an urban garden, one home at a time.

Creative Director, Paul Holt, told us that 20 years ago, when the business started, houseplants were only a fraction of the centre, now they occupy all of the “inside” retail area and trade is brisk.  “Our customers really love and care for their houseplants so we are always looking for new plants to offer them. We also make sure our pot range is very special, sourcing them from many suppliers not found in usual garden centres.”

An example of the specimen plants at N1 when we visited were variegated Cheese Plants that were on sale for £350.  “We can’t get enough of these.” Paul explained.