People ask what made us think starting a plant business in Portland was a good idea. Honestly, we didn’t overthink it - even though starting our own thing felt like a big leap for a family without an entrepreneurial background. What we did have was a lifetime of plants around us, spent native gardening, and being outdoors. Our business grew out of a shared passion and a dream of what we wanted our future to look like. When it came time to build something of our own, plants were the obvious answer.
That's the short version. The longer version is a little more interesting.
How Potted in Portland Started
Sara and Carie — sisters, co-founders, occasional debate partners — launched Potted in Portland with a clear vision: create a plant business that felt like the kind of shop they actually wanted to shop at, and build a service that felt like the kind of vendor they actually wanted to work with.
That meant being honest about what we know and what we don't. It meant hiring people who genuinely love plants and are good with people — not just people to fill shifts. It meant staying focused on what we're actually great at: thoughtful, design-forward plant environments for businesses, and a retail shop that feels like a real neighborhood institution.
We opened our doors at 2627 SE Clinton Street in Portland's Clinton-Division corridor in August of 2020, and we've been here ever since. The neighborhood has been generous to us. We've tried to be generous back.
What COBID Certification Means (and Why It Matters to Us)
Potted in Portland is a certified COBID business — that stands for Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity, which is Oregon's certification program for minority-owned, women-owned, emerging small businesses, and service-disabled veteran businesses.
For us, the certification is a formal acknowledgment of something that was always true: this is a women-owned business, built and operated by women, with a team that reflects the values we bring to our work every day. We built this business while being caregivers to our families, while holding other jobs while it got started, and creating and valuing relationships with other women business owners to figure it all out.
For our clients, it can matter practically — some organizations have supplier diversity goals or requirements, and working with certified COBID vendors helps them meet those targets. We're happy to provide documentation to procurement teams or HR departments that need it.
The Commercial Side: Plant Service That Doesn't Feel Like a Vendor Relationship
In our commercial plant service work, we’ve found that businesses value the human connection just as much as the plant care.
We hear it constantly: I love my plant lady. Office managers tell us that when they change jobs, one of the first calls they make is to bring us along. The technicians who visit commercial spaces every week aren't just keeping plants alive — they're becoming part of the workplace culture. They know which conference rooms are used most, which employees always stop to say hello, which offices have a standing request for a specific plant in the window.
That's not something you can systematize. It comes from hiring carefully and creating a team that genuinely cares about the work. It's one of the things we're most proud of.
The Shop: A Real Neighborhood Plant Destination
Our retail shop is something different. It's a place where people come in not knowing exactly what they want and leave with something they love. Where someone who killed three succulents gets real advice instead of judgment. Where the conversation about light requirements turns into a conversation about the apartment layout turns into a recommendation for three different plants that will actually work.
We carry a curated selection of houseplants, botanically-inspired gifts, and everything you need to take care of what you bring home. We run classes - DIY plant mounts, moss art frames, floral bars - that are genuinely fun and useful. We host a late First Friday event every month where you can get plant advice or repotting for free - part of Division Clinton’s late First Friday.
It's a shop that takes plants seriously without taking itself too seriously. Which feels right for our SE Portland neighborhood.
What's Next
We're growing deliberately. We're not trying to become the biggest plant company in Portland — we're trying to be the best one to work with. That means investing in our team, expanding our commercial client base thoughtfully, and continuing to build the retail shop into something the neighborhood is proud of.
If you're looking for a plant partner for your office, or just want to come find a plant you'll actually keep alive, we'd love to meet you.
Come find us at 2627 SE Clinton Street in Portland. Call us at 503-482-8496, or reach out through our website. We're here.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Potted in Portland open?
We began at pop-ups and fairs in 2013 but our business started to look like what it does today in 2020 - with our retail plant shop at 2627 SE Clinton Street in SE Portland's Clinton-Division neighborhood.
Is Potted in Portland really women-owned?
Yes — Potted in Portland is co-owned by sisters Sara Childers and Carie Nedley. We're also a certified COBID business (Oregon's business inclusion and diversity certification program).
Do you offer both retail and commercial plant services?
We do. Our retail shop is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday at 2627 SE Clinton Street. Our commercial plant service — weekly maintenance, interior plantscaping, and installations — serves businesses throughout the Portland Metro area.
How do I get in touch about commercial plant service?
The best way is through our website contact form or by calling us at 503-482-8496. We offer free consultations for Portland-area businesses.