From great cafés to house plant and homeware sections, garden centres have become more than seeds and shrubbery in recent years.

As we enter spring, many of us are thinking about our gardens growing and what to plant.

We asked our green-fingered readers for their favourite garden centres. Here are seven of the most popular.

1. Wymondham

North Norfolk News: Wymondham Garden Centre owner Gary GroucottWymondham Garden Centre owner Gary Groucott (Image: Mark Bullimore)

This much-loved garden centre boasts a range of plants, house plants, giftware and stoneware.

The centre's café, Four Seasons, serves home-cooked food using locally sourced produce for breakfast and lunch.

Gary and Brenda Groucott have run Wymondham Garden Centre for more than 20 years.

2. Thorpe Plant Centre

North Norfolk News: Paul Oxborrow, owner of Thorpe Plant Centre, with his dog BaileyPaul Oxborrow, owner of Thorpe Plant Centre, with his dog Bailey (Image: Newsquest)

Paul Oxborrow has run this thriving business, located on the outskirts of the city, for more than 30 years.

But in more recent years he has shared the site with his best friend Bailey.

The golden labrador and retriever cross happily serves his customers with a wag of the tail and he has now found social media stardom.

3. Taverham

North Norfolk News: Taverham Garden CentreTaverham Garden Centre (Image: Newsquest)

This vast shop is perfect for all your indoor and outdoor gardening needs and it has a large house plant section. 

Explore other retail offerings such as greenhouses and outside furniture and unwind in the restaurant.

4. Aylsham

North Norfolk News: Aylsham Garden CentreAylsham Garden Centre (Image: Denise Bradley)

Aylsham Garden Centre is owned and run by Gary and Brenda Groucott, who also own and run the Wymondham branch. 

They bought the Aylsham business at auction in July 2020. It had been closed for almost twelve months prior to the purchase.

The couple hope to build a single-storey extension to the rear of the existing buildings.

5. Urban Jungle, Costessey

North Norfolk News: Urban Jungle garden centre at Old CostesseyUrban Jungle garden centre at Old Costessey (Image: Denise Bradley)

Urban Jungle shot to fame with its wide selection of house plants and succulents, which surround the greenhouse café.

The warm polytunnel is a haven of jungle plants to explore, with a river of tropical fish running through.

The outside space is also filled with a huge variety of plants for your garden.

6. Thetford

North Norfolk News: Thetford Garden CentreThetford Garden Centre (Image: Thetford Garden Centre)

Thetford Garden Centre, which celebrated its 40th-anniversary last year, has Norfolk Pizza Co in its outdoor plant area and customers can also visit the Lime Kiln Kitchen.

The Lime Kiln Kitchen won 'Best Garden Centre Restaurant in 2022' at the Garden Centre Association (GCA) awards.

7. Sprowston

North Norfolk News: Sprowston Garden CentreSprowston Garden Centre (Image: Newsquest)

On the edge of the city, this garden centre has everything you need, from vegetables and shrubbery to homeware and garden furniture.  

The café has a large outside space to enjoy cake, lunches and afternoon teas in the sunshine or under the shelter of a canopy.