Our sustainability report
Last updated March 2024
Everything we do in our garden has an impact on the environment. With over 7,000 different plant varieties to care for at our nursery in Surrey, any small change that we make can have a really meaningful impact. We know we still have further to go, but we're excited to share with you the changes we've made so far. See some of our highlights below or read our full 2024 Sustainability Report.
Changes we've made in the last year
Becoming Plant Healthy certified
We've always been committed to providing our customers with happy, healthy plants. In September 2023 Crocus became the first online gardening brand to be awarded Plant Healthy certification. No mean feat, this DEFRA-backed accreditation is only given to growers who have been rigorously assessed over many months, and shown to maintain the highest standards of plant health and biosecurity. This award means that when you buy a plant from Crocus, you can rest assured that we've done everything we can to ensure your plants don't arrive in your garden carrying any unwelcome pests or diseases.
Over 1 million plants grown on our nursery
Over the last few years we've been investing in our nursery's Propagation Unit, where our team work tirelessly throughout the year to grow plants either from taking cuttings, plugs or seeds. Where we can't grow plants on our nursery, we've partnered with a number of trusted UK nurseries who start growing our plants, before sending them to us to grow on ready to deliver to your door. Last year 73% of our plants were grown in the UK and we hope to improve on this in 2024.
Peat free for plants we grow
We're committed to removing peat from our supply chain and are now potting into a peat free mix for the plants we grow ourselves. Our nursery team have been conducting extensive trials over different seasons and plants to find our own peat free mix, which we know will help establish our plants to be strong and healthy. Last year our potting mix was 50% peat reduced, since the summer of 2023 all plants grown in our Propagation Unit are only potted into this peat free mix.
Investing in the future of horticulture
A few years ago we launched our Crocus Apprenticeship Scheme where every year we take on apprentices to participate in a two year programme. The goal of the scheme is to encourage young professionals into horticulture and to ensure gardening knowledge is passed on to the next generation. We are delighted to announce that our first graduates have passed the training course! Both Callum Rutherford and Donne Perold are now working as part of our Propagation Team, who are responsible for growing plants on our nursery. A huge congratulations to both Donne and Callum!
