Bowdens is a family business run by Tim and Ruth Penrose specialising in mail order plants. Bowdens is located in the village of Sticklepath on the northern edge of Dartmoor in Devon –  we always have the kettle on so do come and see us.

We have dealt with hostas for over 30 years and are acknowledged as the leading hosta nursery in the United Kingdom. Bowdens is a "growing" business and from 2004 to the present day we have diversified into other plants and garden furniture. The acquisitions of Rickards Hardy Ferns, The Pot and Grass Company, The Bamboo Store, The Outdoor Space Company, Jungle Giants and Pine Cottage Plants, have served to strengthen our ability to serve our customers with a wider range of products.

Bowdens have displayed continually at Chelsea Flower Show since 1996 in the Grand Floral Marquee. As well as Gold Medal awards from all the major flower shows in the country, in 2013 Bowdens received its eighth consecutive Chelsea RHS Gold Medal.

From 2007 to 2015, Bowdens held a Royal Warrant for the supply of hostas to HRH The Prince of Wales.

Bowdens continues to curate plants of national importance and retain the people behind the plants. With many gold medals, special awards in horticulture and just so many years of hands on experience about growing plants, these people are like National Trust properties; they should be saved for the nation! And so, that is exactly what we have done at Bowdens as we lead the way in plant specialities:

• Mike and Kathy Shadrack - Britain's foremost hosta experts
• David Howard - former Head Gardener to HRH The Prince of Wales at Highgrove House
• Martin Rickard - well known fern expert and author
• Dick Hayward - fern expert and former owner of Rickards Hardy Ferns
• Dick and Lorna Fulcher - former head gardener of the National Trust for Scotland's Inverewe Garden, RHS Associate of Honour and agapanthus experts

Mike and Kathy Shadrack

Martin Rickard

Dick Hayward

Dick and Lorna Fulcher