Garden Centre Plants is a wholesale nursery in the Northwest of England, specialising in shrubs, climbing plants and perennials.

Founded in 1974 on a 7 acre site at Barton, near Preston, GCP has become one of the national market leaders in the wholesale supply of hardy garden plants and continues to grow. Currently the nursery area comprises approximately 30 acres, including 3.5 acres of glass and polythene tunnels. 1,200 square metres of purpose built glasshouse contains imported specimen plants from Italy and other parts of Europe. This glasshouse will take plants up to 6 metres in height. A further 4,500 square metres of glass ensures that our crops are ready on time to meet peak sales demand.

Consistently high quality

At GCP we are immensely proud of the quality of our plants. We take the greatest care to ensure that the highest standards are achieved and maintained. From the beginning we nurture our plants in order to produce the best possible mature specimens.

The process of nurture begins when the young plants are potted under the careful supervision of our potting manager. Various formulations of potting compost are used, according to the particular requirements of the developing plant. Our experience and expertise ensures that the correct compost conditions are applied and maintained.

After potting the plants are placed in controlled environments on the nursery complex, either on outside beds, in polythene tunnels or glasshouse. The production team then swings into action to ensure that they are kept in prime condition.

Where possible, we remove the need for the use of toxic insecticides to protect our stock by biological control, and the release of natural predators to control pests.

Scientifically researched and tested, biological control techniques, such as this, are part of our low environmental impact policy and reflect the care that we take in every aspect of our business.

Our environmental policy has led us into a working partnership with our suppliers, to find ways of reducing the use of peat, and deploying new water retaining additives to the compost reducing the demand for water. We are using precise amounts of control release fertiliser to minimise the amount of fertiliser that may find its way into the environment.

A world of variety, a world of choice

Offering over 800 different varieties of climbers, conifers, herbaceous plants and hardy shrubs, our product range is truly comprehensive. Our wide selection of Italian specimens, shrubs, topiary and exotic tree ferns from Australia meets the growing consumer demand for speciality and niche market plants in garden centres.

Our superb range of innovative climbing plants has been developed by specialist, 'named' growers, using state of the art cross-breeding techniques. A unique and attractive collection of flowering plants, our climbers are renowned amongst the horticultural community and are second to none in the UK. Some new products are launched by being shown at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and other major horticultural events, ensuring that new varieties have the attention and recognition that they deserve. The range continues to expand and grow.

Our fine Italian range is specially selected by our buyers, on location in Italy. It reflects the current consumer demand for Mediterranean plants and is a very successful part of our speciality range.

We also offer a wide range of Christmas trees, from traditional spruce to non-drop Nordmans and pines. Exclusive to GCP is the 'lifetime tree', a pot grown Abies Nordmanniana, for sale from autumn, through the Christmas period and into spring. These trees are truly pot grown (not just lifted and potted), giving years of pleasure.

We really are that big!

The activities in our 5,000 sq.ft. potting and production facility and 10,000 sq.ft. dispatch area are only part of the story. 850,000 plants are potted and dispatched each year. On a busy day, 17,000 plants can be dispatched on 160 Danish trolleys loaded onto a fleet of 9 tail-lift vehicles plus extra vehicles at busy times of the year, for delivery to garden centres throughout the UK.

Our computerised stock control and production line facilities ensure that plants reach their destination on time and in prime condition. Before dispatch, plants are top dressed with fresh compost and labelled with full colour plant labels.