From PR to plantsman

Humaira Ikram meets the owner of Plantbase nursery to discover his huge array of resilient and fascinating plants, his sustainable ethos and tips for success

- PHOTOS JASON INGRAM

While Graham Blunt focuses on raising resilient, reliable plants for a wide range of growing conditions While Graham Blunt of Plantbase is passionate about plants and the environment, he regularly reveals glimpses of the PR and marketing man he used to be in the 1990s. He loves taking his plants to specialist plant fairs (16 of them in 2025) and wears his signature outfit of camo trousers, dress shirt, bow tie and cummerbund to get the attention of customers.

But don't let his outfit fool you into thinking he is less than serious about his work, including his commitment to minimising his environmental footprint. On the three-acre site of Plantbase nursery, Graham and his partner Jane built their home and offices from scratch, designing the site for energy efficiency, with solar panels for off-grid living. The six-year project saw them living in a caravan through both glorious summers and cold, wet winters.