Alexandra Nurseries

Alexandra Nurseries is an independent garden centre and café on Parish Lane in Penge, opened in 2012 by landscape gardener John Parker and now run by his son Owen Parker. The single-site business sells houseplants, outdoor plants, pots, tools and gifts from a converted nursery building, alongside a café serving toasted sandwiches, seasonal soups and cakes and bread supplied by local bakeries. Coffee is supplied by Carnival Coffee Roasters, who source green beans from Medellin, Colombia and roast them in a workshop nearby in Penge. The nursery trades Tuesday to Sunday, closing on Mondays, and holds seasonal workshops on houseplant care and potting for customers. It sits within walking distance of Crystal Palace and draws trade from both areas. More than a decade after opening, the business remains under Parker family ownership, with Owen having taken over daily running from his father. It is not part of a wider garden centre group.