• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Open Easter Sunday 10a-3p
  • 713-861-5702
  • Location

Buchanan's Native PlantsBuchanan's Native Plants

Houston's favorite garden center devoted to Texas native plants and organic gardening.

Hide Search
Buchanan's Logo
  • Plants
        • Gift Card
        • Spread the love of gardening with your friends and family. Purchase a Buchanan’s gift card here!

        • Plants Overview
        • Annuals
        • Cacti and Succulents
        • Citrus and Fruit
        • Herbs and Vegetables
        • House Plants
        • Perennials
        • Roses
        • Shrubs
        • Texas Natives
        • Trees
        • Vines
  • Lawn and Garden
        • Outdoor garden with pergola
        • Dedicated to native plants and organic gardening,  we are experienced in helping customers create a lovely outdoor setting with the best quality native plants and environmentally safe organic products available today.

        • Lawn and Garden
        • Soils, Mulch and Amendments
        • Fertilizer
        • Garden Tools and Accessories
        • Pest, Weed and Fungus control
        • Birding
  • House and Home
        • wisteria
        • From entryways to vase fillers, we’ve curated a selection of unique home decor, and fashion items from around the world.  We believe your home should be as beautiful as your garden and with Buchanan’s — it’s easy for your style to blossom.

        • Boutique

        • House and Home
        • Fashion and Fragrance
        • Indoor Gardening
        • Kids
        • Purchase a gift card
        • Outdoor Living

        • Fountains
        • Outdoor Decor
        • Pottery
  • Shop Online
    • Purchase plants
    • Purchase a gift card
    • Gift Card Ordering Information
  • Resources
        • Buchanan's How To Video
        • Tips and Resources

          Resources to help you create the garden of your dreams. From how-to videos, monthly tips, and a comprehensive plant library – explore what Buchanan’s has to offer.

        • Gardening Articles
        • Gardening Calendar
        • Gardening Guides
        • Gardeners’ Rewards
        • Helpful Resources
        • How to Videos
        • Plant Library
        • Soil and Mulch Calculator
  • News
    • This Week at Buchanan’s
    • Events, Seminars, and Workshops
  • About
        • Buchanan’s Native Plants has been serving Houston gardeners since 1986. Located in the historic Houston Heights, the garden center is dedicated to native plants and organic gardening.  You will find the best selections of hardy natives as well as perennials, herbs, vegetables, trees, shrubs & roses — all suited to the Houston climate.

        • About Us
          • Buchanan’s History
        • Our Team
        • Careers
        • Donation Request
        • FAQ
        • Contact Us
  • Show Search
Home » About Us » Buchanan’s History

Buchanan’s History

January 1, 1986

Native Texas Plants : Donna’s Story


Way back in 1986, Donna was an avid gardener and had been reading a lot about perennials.  She was unable to find many perennials at local garden centers.  Then she read the book called “Native Texas Plants” by Sally Wasowski, and became very excited about native plants. 

She started thinking, “If I am searching for perennials and native plants, I’ll bet there are others that want them, too.”  So the idea for a nursery selling native plants was born.

She expected this native idea to catch on quickly, just as she was sure organics were going to be immediately popular.  It took a little longer than she thought, but they are finally becoming more accepted by the gardening public. 

January 1, 1986
October 10, 1986

The First Location


1986 Buchanan's Native Plants
Eager to bring TX natives and organic gardening to Houston, Donna Buchanan and her sister, Virginia DeCamp opened Buchanan’s first location in 1986, located at 111 Heights Blvd. next to Heights Station Antiques and Hickory Hollow restaurant.

They started by selling natives, perennials, herbs, antique roses…and even Christmas trees!

October 10, 1986
October 15, 1989

All Green Nursery

all green nursery photo with Frank Ramos, Virginia and Salvador Saavedra

In 1989, Virginia and Donna got an offer they couldn’t refuse – to buy a little “mom & pop” nursery in Southeast Houston on Telephone Road called All Green Nursery.

Since it had been around for about 40 years with an established clientele, they saw it as an opportunity to learn how to run a real nursery. Part of the package included a tractor, a dump truck and two long-time employees, Frank Ramos and Salvador Saavedra.

Salvador is still with us — a loyal and trusted employee!

October 15, 1989
January 1, 1992

Preparation for the Move

As time went on, Donna and her sister felt they needed more space. That’s when they found the location that you know and love as Buchanan’s!

Bungalow Circa 1992 Virigina in front with surveyor equipment
Notice the building in the background?That’s the Bungalow — in 1992!

In this photo from 1992, Donna’s sister, Virginia, is posing with the surveyor’s tripod as they were buying the property at 611 E 11th Street.

January 1, 1992
May 15, 1994

The Move

The sisters continued to run two stores for the next 5 years until they sold All Green in 1994. They had just moved Buchanan’s store from Heights Blvd. to 11th Street and they wanted to concentrate on one, bigger, better location.

All Green Nursery Tractor
This is the old, old Ford tractor we inherited from All Green Nursery.

One Sunday morning we drove it from Telephone Road to the Heights so we could load soil & mulch for Heights customers.  We had a dump truck, too, and Salvador and I would do deliveries — I drove and he would direct me to make sure I dumped it in the right place.  Eventually, I insisted Salvador get a drivers license so he could do deliveries himself.

May 15, 1994
August 2, 2016

Zach & Heather

Zach, Donna’s son, and his wife Heather took over day to day operations. The two stepped into the position with two goals in mind: continue the legacy Donna put in place and find ways to make Buchanan’s continuously grow to accommodate modern gardeners. You can find the dynamic duo among the tropicals in our green house, or walking around with their daughters Ella and Alice.

August 2, 2016
Woman Holding A Box With Herbs In Her Hands

Tips

Our Monthly To-Do List For Your Garden

This month

Store Address and Hours

Buchanan’s Native Plants
611 East 11th Street
Houston, Texas 77008

713-861-5702

Hours: 9 am – 6 pm
Open Every Day – Monday – Sunday

Stay in touch

Receive our weekly newsletter containing the latest specials, up-coming events and seminars.

* indicates required

Connect on Social

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Tiktok

We love your garden®

Copyright © 1999 - 2023 Buchanan's Native Plants, All Rights Reserved.

  • Return Policy
  • Privacy Policy