The Massive Garden Center In New York Where You Can Fill A Cart With Plants For $45

Plant people have been quietly keeping this spot to themselves, and honestly, the secrecy makes complete sense.

A garden center this size, with prices this reasonable, is exactly the kind of find you tell one trusted friend about and then immediately regret mentioning at a party.

Forty-five dollars. A full cart. Long Island. The math is almost offensive in how well it works out.

First-timers walk through the entrance, take one look at the scale of the place, and visibly recalibrate their expectations for what a garden center is supposed to be. Rows of healthy plants in every direction, priced in a way that keeps making you reach for one more.

New York has a reputation for charging a premium on anything worth having. This one did not get that memo, and the plant lovers who found it early have been showing up with empty carts and leaving with full ones ever since.

A Garden Center Unlike Anything You Have Seen Before

Some places just have a presence you feel before you even grab a cart. The sheer scale of what awaits you here is genuinely hard to put into words until you are standing in the middle of it.

Rows upon rows of plants stretch out in every direction, and the air smells like something good is about to happen.

Long Island has no shortage of garden spots, but nothing quite compares to this level of selection and variety. You will find towering trees, delicate perennials, bold annuals, fruit-bearing shrubs, and houseplants that look like they belong in a magazine.

The outdoor nursery alone could take up a solid hour of your time.

Paved walkways wind through permanent display gardens that show you exactly how plants can look in a real yard setting. It is part shopping trip, part landscaping inspiration session.

The staff here actually knows plants, and they are happy to stop and talk through your specific garden situation without making you feel rushed or lost.

New York has a lot going on, but this corner of Westbury moves at a pace that feels refreshing. A visit here resets something in you.

Welcome To Hicks Nurseries On Jericho Turnpike

Hicks Nurseries at 100 Jericho Turnpike in Westbury, New York, has been a living institution since 1853. Isaac Hicks founded it, and six generations of the same family have kept it growing ever since.

That is over 170 years of horticultural history rooted right here on Long Island.

The numbers alone tell a story worth hearing. A 40,000-square-foot heated greenhouse anchors the property, and the outdoor nursery spreads far beyond that.

The product range covers trees, shrubs, roses, perennials, annuals, fruit trees, berry bushes, and over 100 USDA-certified organic plant varieties. Gardening tools, fertilizers, mulch, pottery, seeds, and lawn care products fill the shelves alongside all of that greenery.

Hicks did not just grow big. It grew smart.

The nursery actually patented equipment for moving large trees during the era of Long Island’s famous Gold Coast estates.

It also pioneered the concept of pre-dug cash-and-carry plants, which essentially created the template for the modern retail garden center as we know it today.

Open every day from 8 AM to 6 PM, you can reach them at 516-334-0066 or visit hicksnurseries.com. A free membership program lets you earn rewards on every purchase.

Fill Your Cart For $45 And Still Have Choices

The $45 cart challenge is very real, and it is one of the most satisfying ways to spend an afternoon at Hicks. Smaller potted plants, particularly four-inch varieties, have been available for around $4.99 each when you buy three or more.

Do the math and you start to see how a full, gorgeous cart comes together fast.

Herbs, annuals, succulents, and compact perennials are your best friends on a budget run. Mix and match textures, colors, and heights to build something that looks intentional rather than random.

The variety here is wide enough that no two carts ever look the same, which keeps things interesting every single visit.

Vegetable and herb starts come in convenient multi-packs that stretch your dollar even further. If you are new to gardening, the staff can point you toward the easiest growers that still deliver big visual impact for your space.

You do not need a huge yard or a lot of experience to walk out of here with something worth showing off.

Larger or specialty plants like a 10-inch Bird of Paradise run closer to $59.99, so knowing your budget before you arrive helps you shop with a clear and confident plan.

The Greenhouse That Earns Its Square Footage

Forty thousand square feet of heated greenhouse space is not a number that registers until you are actually walking through it. The air inside is warm and humid, and the plant density creates a sense of being completely surrounded by living things in the best possible way.

Houseplants of every variety line the tables and hang overhead in cascading rows.

Tropical specimens share space with succulents, cacti, ferns, and flowering indoor plants that most garden centers simply do not carry. The selection feels curated rather than thrown together, and the plants themselves are visibly healthy and well-tended.

You can tell the growing conditions inside are taken seriously.

For anyone who has been hunting for a specific plant and kept coming up empty elsewhere, the greenhouse at Hicks tends to be the answer. Yes, they have flytraps.

Yes, they have Bird of Paradise. Yes, they probably have that one weird trailing plant you saw online and could not identify until now.

The greenhouse also serves as a warm retreat during colder months when the outdoor nursery slows down. Gardening does not stop just because the temperature drops, and Hicks makes sure of that all year long.

Seasonal Events That Bring The Whole Family Out

Hicks Nurseries does not just sell plants. It builds experiences around them throughout the entire year.

The annual Flower and Garden Show, which celebrated its 36th year in 2026, is one of the most spectacular free events on Long Island. Large-scale themed garden displays, gardening seminars, cooking demonstrations, and activities for kids fill the space with energy every spring.

Fall brings the Fall Festival, a tradition that has become a seasonal staple for Long Island families.

A hay maze, animated story walkthrough, pumpkin patch, lawn games, roasted corn, and cider donuts make the whole thing feel like a proper autumn celebration rather than a sales event.

Otto the Ghost has his own fan base at this point.

The holiday season transforms the property into what is genuinely called Long Island’s largest Christmas store.

Thousands of poinsettias, beautifully decorated artificial trees, fresh-cut Christmas trees, visits with Santa, live holiday music, and an animated story walkthrough fill every corner with warmth and excitement.

Children walk through wide-eyed every single time.

Beyond the big three seasons, Hicks also hosts plant swaps, succulent planter workshops, and an eco-friendly plastic recycling program that keeps the community engaged all year.

Outdoor Living Meets Gardening Passion

Plants are just the beginning of what you will find here. Hicks Nurseries carries a broad range of outdoor furniture, garden accents, birding supplies, and wildlife products that let you build an entire outdoor living space in one trip.

The selection feels more like a lifestyle shop than a simple supply store.

Pottery and planters come in sizes and styles that range from simple and practical to genuinely artistic. Picking the right container is half the fun of container gardening, and having this many options in one place makes the creative process much easier.

Mulch, fertilizers, and organic lawn care products round out the practical side of things.

The organic section deserves a special mention. Over 100 USDA-certified organic plant varieties are available, along with a full line of natural pest control and lawn care products.

For gardeners who care about what goes into their soil and what stays out of the ecosystem, Hicks takes that seriously.

Garden figurines, seasonal decorations, birdbaths, and mini fountains add personality to any outdoor space.

The themed display areas throughout the property show you how all of these elements work together, giving you a clear visual before you commit to anything. Shopping here feels genuinely fun.

Why Plant People Keep Coming Back Year After Year

Loyalty is earned, and Hicks Nurseries has been earning it for generations. The free membership program gives you reward points on every purchase, which means the more you garden, the more you save.

Regulars treat it like a personal garden club with very good inventory.

The staff stands out in a way that is hard to find at big-box stores. Workers here do not just point you toward an aisle.

They walk you there, explain planting and care instructions, and help load your car when you are done. That level of attention makes a real difference, especially for newer gardeners who have questions but feel awkward asking them.

The overall atmosphere at Hicks is something people describe as a happy place, and that phrase comes up constantly for good reason. The paved walkways, the display gardens, the seasonal events, the sheer variety of what is growing all around you.

It all adds up to a visit that feels restorative rather than transactional.

Open seven days a week from 8 AM to 6 PM, Hicks Nurseries is the kind of destination that earns a permanent spot on your regular rotation. Once you go, skipping a season starts to feel like a genuine loss.

Long Island gardeners already know this.