Eighty-five years is a long time for anything to stay in one family, let alone a business that depends on things as unpredictable as weather and soil. Oakland Nursery has managed it anyway, growing from a small garden shop started by German immigrants Gus and Bertha Reiner in 1940 into one of the largest plant retailers in central Ohio. The original Maize Road location didn’t last, but by 1950 the Reiners had planted roots at 1156 Oakland Park Ave, and that flagship site is still the heart of the operation today.
What started as one family’s small plot has expanded into multiple Columbus-area locations, but the Oakland Park Avenue store remains the one longtime locals point to first. It’s now run by the third generation of Reiners, a detail that shows up in how the place is run: this isn’t a corporate garden aisle bolted onto a hardware store, it’s a business built by people who actually know plants.
What Makes This Garden Center Stand Out
The sheer scale of the plant selection is what most people mention first. Rows of flowering annuals and perennials stretch out beneath hanging baskets, with tall ornamental grasses and ferns lining the walkways, and you’ll find everything from common bedding plants to more unusual and exotic varieties that are hard to track down elsewhere in the region.
Fruit, nut, and vegetable plants get real attention here too, which matters if you’re trying to build an actual food garden rather than just a pretty flower bed. Shoppers looking for ornamental and shade trees have a genuinely deep bench to choose from, and the houseplant, succulent, and bonsai selections give apartment dwellers and serious collectors alike plenty to dig through.
Staff knowledge is a recurring theme in how people describe this place. Employees are known for actually knowing their horticulture rather than just pointing you toward an aisle, which makes a real difference if you’re troubleshooting a dying tomato plant or trying to figure out what will survive in a shady Ohio backyard.
Beyond the retail side, Oakland Nursery runs a full landscape design and installation service, handling everything from planting plans to irrigation systems for both homeowners and commercial clients. There’s also a loyalty program that rewards repeat customers with points toward future purchases, a nice touch for anyone who ends up making this a seasonal habit.
Seasonal shopping is where the place really shines. Fall brings pumpkins and gourds for porch displays, and once Thanksgiving passes, the lot fills with Christmas trees. The turnover between seasons keeps the inventory feeling fresh instead of static, so a visit in May looks nothing like a visit in November.
Atmosphere & Layout
This is very much an outdoor-and-indoor hybrid experience, with sprawling outdoor growing areas giving way to greenhouse and retail space for houseplants, gifts, and garden decor. The layout encourages wandering, and it’s easy to lose track of time moving between sections.
The mood leans casual and unpretentious rather than polished retail. It feels like a working nursery that happens to also sell things, not a showroom, and that authenticity is part of the draw for people who actually garden rather than just decorate.
Because the property has been in continuous use since 1950, there’s a settled, established feel to the grounds that newer garden centers can’t fake. Mature trees and long-running growing areas give the whole space a sense of permanence.
Other Considerations
Is this just for serious gardeners? Not at all. The range runs from beginner-friendly houseplants and easy annuals to more advanced material for experienced landscapers, so novices and seasoned gardeners both find something workable.
What are the hours? The Columbus garden center is open Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 8 pm and Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm, though it’s worth double-checking seasonal adjustments around major holidays.
Do they offer more than plants? Yes. Beyond the nursery stock, Oakland has built out home decor and gift offerings, which is part of why it was voted Best Garden Center, Best Place for Home Decor, and Best Place for Last-Minute Gifts in Columbus Monthly’s 2025 Best of Columbus awards.
Can they help with a full landscaping project? Yes, Oakland Nursery provides design and installation services for both residential and commercial landscapes, so you’re not limited to just buying plants and figuring out the rest yourself.
Oakland Nursery
📍 1156 Oakland Park Ave, Columbus, OH 43224
Website: https://www.oaklandnursery.com
