A new business has put down roots in downtown Oak Harbor.

On Nov. 24, mother and daughter duo Geneva and Tanzi Blackmer opened Whidbey Leaf & Vine, a little haven for local plant moms and dads that offers a wide variety of indoor house plants that include fuzzy succulents, green strings of pea-pearls, bichrome leaves and plants that will gently wrap around your finger if you poke them — basically, a low-maintenance baby.

Both of the Blackmers have full-time jobs, but they have always been fans of plants. Though their days are longer, they happily spend time at the store nerding out about plants with fellow plant nerds and sharing plant care advice with less experienced plant owners. They had been talking about opening their own plant store for about a year, excitedly buying vintage decorations and furniture to decorate the shop.

Seeing a need for a plant store in the historic downtown, they found the ideal spot at 861 Southeast Pioneer Way, in the building once occupied by Polished Studio, a hair salon that moved to 840 Southeast Bayshore Drive. Inside, the business is connected to PNW Vibes, a Pacific Northwest-themed gift shop that cut the ribbon on Nov. 24.

Whidbey Leaf & Vine has an eclectic assortment of plants, which the Blackmers choose based on whether they’d want to buy them for themselves and are divided into different categories. Depending on the person’s lifestyle, shoppers can choose plants that need high moisture and fit in a bathroom with steam, plants that tolerate low light, plants that need low moisture, plants that prefer for the soil to completely dry before they’re watered again, or succulents that like light, heat and low moisture.

The Blackmers said they tried to keep prices affordable, with costs ranging based on the species and the size of the plant. Big plants can cost $150, and tiny plants are available for $2.50 for people who want to fill the tiny empty spaces on their shelves.

The boutique also provides tools for plant care, such as snips, moss poles, watering cans, and moisture meters. The Blackmers are available to pot plants in one of the colorful vases they sell. Those who are unsure about buying plants as a Christmas gift can also buy magnets to attach to leaves or plant-inspired prints.

Wanting to make the best out of the serene environment they created, the Blackmers hope to host some potting classes and “plant and sip” events starting sometime in 2024. For updates, visit the Whidbey Leaf & Vine Facebook page or contact Admin@whidbeyleafandvine.com.

Geneva Blackmer holds some prints surrounded by a collection of plants. (Photo by Luisa Loi)

Photo by Luisa Loi

Geneva Blackmer and her daughter, Tanzi, at right, have always collected and taken care of house plants as a hobby. Now, they turned their passion into a business. (Photo by Luisa Loi)