Lukas Nursery & Butterfly Encounter

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 8

Timothy Ward

Lukas Nursery is truly the most incredible subtropical, tropical, and exotic plant nursery I have ever seen. Without a doubt it can easily rival the largest, best-touted garden centers in the country that are located just a few hours south in Miami and Homestead. I live in southern Orlando, about 40 minutes south of Lukas (Oviedo, FL) and the drive has never felt long. As soon as I walk through the entrance, I feel transported from the noisy roads just outside to being immersed in the immediate multi-sensory impacts of profound colors, the natural fragrances of Gardenia, Jasmine, Plumeria, all Citrus, Champaca, Ylang Ylang, Rose, Camellia, Ginger, (and on and on and on) wafting through the air, calm and peaceful sounds of birds, water flowing and waterfalls, windchimes as large as trees, all while the busy road noise has disappeared. As mentioned in another review, just about everything sold is offered in multiple sizes and prices to help fit the space youre working with as well as your individualized budget. A very large assortment of plants--from vines, bushes, shrubs, trees, fruit, vegetables, herbs, and everything in between--all have a specimen plant on display to show the potential the plants youre considering are capable of, along with what your plant can look like at maturity. I know of plenty of people who will say Lukas prices can be a bit high, but taking into consideration the health and quality of everything they sell, the large range in plant sizes offered, and of course the service provided and genuine knowledge given for every single plant sold... the prices are absolutely reasonable! My personal favorite parts of Lukas: There hasnt been a single plant that Ive wanted--or even just wanted to see in person--that has been or is currently there. Even when discovering something new in a magazine, book, newspaper, or online and discovering Lukas doesnt have it, they will work their hardest to find a way to bring those plants to sell at the nursery for you to shop, experience and decide in person if its really for you.

A Private User

Hello everyone! I moved to Florida 4 years ago from Tennessee and could not wait to get my new yard started. I went to the local Home Depot and Lowes and could not find a person to help me or really knew about plants. So I decided to read the labels on the containers and test my luck with a bunch of pretty plants I found. After days of putting them in the ground, I slowly watch most of them die. :( That next spring I found Lucas Nursery. One of the people that worked there (Donnie) found me lost in a maze of trees. He helped me find plants for each spot I had around my house and even talked me out of some expensive pretty ones I really wanted because he knew they would die in the shaddy spot I wanted to put them in. Lucas has a lot of wonderful people there that seem to be very knowledgeable about what grows well in Florida and the crappy soil I have in my neighborhood. Susan is another person that has patiently spent hours with helping me make the right choices. She has even gotten to tell me a few times to me "I told you so". They do have the best selection that I have found so far in this area for house plants, trees, bushes and flowers for my yard. Now I love to drive up to my house and see and smell all the wonderful things I have planted. You dont need a landscaper to do the work for you. You just need some good advice from Donnie or Susan at Lucas and a good pair of garden gloves. Good luck to yall! (By the way they give a free plant to your child when they visit. I have 3 kids and they have started their own garden.) :)

Jenny Lasslett

We had Colette draw up a color landscape design for our front yard. It was so nice and well done. Worth every single penny. This design was for us to do it ourselves. She came out to our property, measured and spent over an hour here with us. Then we went into the nursery that weekend for a 45 minute review of the plans. While there she walked us around the nursery showing us all the plants she had picked out for our design. We are very pleased with the service and attention we received. We feel like we can implement this design on our own and feel good knowing we can contact Colette for any advice or questions we might have regarding our design. As always, Lukas Nursery was clean and well organized and their plants are healthy looking and well priced. You cannot deny the high quality of the plants at Lukas.

Steve Rose

I ran a community garden in New York and recently moved to central Florida so I know lots about gardening up north but little about Florida gardening. I was looking for plants beyond the usual palms and green bushes found in every yard and Lukas has it all. An amazing selection of plants, many available in 3 sizes at 3 prices to suit every need. Plants are healthy and prices are fair. I spend hours in this place wandering about and selecting plants. I am yet to have any problems with the plants purchased here. If youre a "senior citizen" shop any Wednesday and get an automatic 10% off ... a great deal.

Karl Kuchma

Always receive efficient knowledge help. Specimens are healthy and take to being planted well, If done properly. If a product suggestion is made to you, its not upselling. Its helping you do something correctly. I do wish they had a wider variety of trees growing on property so you could see a real, grown example. Also, it would be cool if each plant had a write up on their website that went into more detail about the plants than the sticker on the container. These are small things though. Everyone associated with the business is professional, helpful, and courteous.

Angel Rivera

Great selection of plants and service. Been purchasing at Lukas for the last 18 years. However I was very disappointed when I recently purchased 2 full pallets of sod at a contract pricing and I was told by phone conversation that the dollars spent were going to be added to the point program they offer. Then I find out later that they were not applied because I purchased the sod at a contractors pricing. They need to let the consumer know up front that if you purchase at something there at a discount you are not eligible for this program..

Robert Belfi

I keep coming back to Lukas because of the employees. Always nice and always helpful. I needed some sod, and three people made my experience, and my day, very successful. The fork-lift operator, a gentleman named David and the lady he called on the radio. I cant thank you all enough for your help. The project was a huge success. This is why I keep coming back. I am looking forward to the next project, so I can come back to Lukas Nursery. I was the guy with the Toyota Tundra. :)

Joel Hutton

We looked at Lowes and HD but usually end up going to Lucas. THis year we redid our whole front landscaping in the front yard and beds- spent a bundle and it was all at Lucas- so that should say something. Usually you can find someone to help you and answer questions if you have any. They seem genuinely interested in their customers without being pushy. Prices are best when you buy in lots of 10 so you get a freebie. The quality always seems to be pretty good as well.