Founded in 1998 on Alder Lane in Fernhill by Elena Marsh, Ueki Gardens has spent twenty-eight years growing plants a household can keep. Our six glasshouse bays and forty-two benches focus on dependable, hardy specimens.
Since 199842 benches
Our history on Alder Lane
Elena Marsh founded the nursery in 1998, converting an old market garden into six working glasshouse bays and forty-two plant benches. The name reflects the Japanese word ueki, meaning a plant grown to be kept in a garden or container. Elena liked the term for its quiet focus on cultivated domestic plants, though nothing else across our nursery is Japanese. We remain an independent local nursery growing dependable plants for Fernhill households.
The seven people who look after the nursery
Our team brings dedicated care to every bay. Elena Marsh manages glasshouse propagation and general nursery operations. Tomás Reyes serves as head grower, overseeing our shrubs and trees. Priya Nair manages perennial borders and culinary herbs, while Jonah Feld cares for indoor house plants. Amara Okoye runs aftercare diagnostics and the Saturday plant clinic. Lukas Brandt heads delivery and planting visits, and Mei Lin Ho leads our practical Saturday workshops.
Elena Marsh
Propagation and long-term planting trials across the six bays.
Founder, glasshouse
Tomás Reyes
Shrubs and trees; he looks at every root system before a bench is cleared.
Head grower
Priya Nair
Herbs, grasses and border perennials, and the weekly bench rotation.
Perennials & herbs
Jonah Feld
Ferns and foliage plants, and which window suits which one.
Indoor plants
Amara Okoye
The Saturday clinic and the thirty-day follow-up calls.
Plant clinic & aftercare
Lukas Brandt
Deliveries within 15 km and planting visits, watered in.
Delivery & planting crew
Mei Lin Ho
Ninety-minute bench sessions on potting, pruning and seasonal care.
Saturday workshops
Our philosophy on domestic growing
We choose plants that survive everyday household life rather than fragile exotic showpieces that quickly collapse under central heating or seasonal drafts. Every specimen on our benches spends months hardening off under local outdoor weather conditions in Fernhill. We test plants against realistic watering schedules and room temperatures, so that what you take home has already spent time on our benches under ordinary conditions.