An interview with Guy Watts, Owner and Managing Director of Architectural Plants
Tucked away just north of Pulborough in West Sussex, Architectural Plants specialises in bold, sculptural and evergreen plants. They supply everything from small shrubs to towering statement trees that require specialist delivery and we caught up with owner Guy Watts recently, to find out more about what makes Architectural Plants tick and what makes it so special.
“We’re an evergreen nursery at our core,” explains Guy. “That means most of our plants hold their leaf all year, providing structure and form, whatever the season. But we also love deciduous trees because they bring that incredible seasonal change with colour and drama.”
Explaining what it means to be an architectural plant, Guy says, “It’s about plants with structure, shape and style. Some of our plants are naturally architectural and might naturally form spheres, columns or elegant multi-stems. Others, we turn into architectural plants through what we call Creative Maintenance: pruning, shaping and training plants to become real focal points. It’s horticulture, but also a kind of living art.”
Despite their striking appearance, these plants are not just for tropical climes or designer show gardens. Architectural Plants has developed a traffic light system to help customers select the right plants for their Sussex gardens, whether hardy year-round evergreens or more exotic specimens that need winter protection. “We’re horticulturists first and foremost,” Guy says. “Our team’s priority is making sure customers pick the right plant for their space, not just selling something for the sake of it.”
Helping you create your garden
Size isn’t everything when it comes to garden design. “It’s also not about how big your garden is,” Guy explains. “It’s about access and vision. We can help everyone, from someone with a small courtyard to large rural estates. We focus purely on plants, not hard landscaping. If you’ve got a new build with just turf, we can completely transform it using plants with bold structure and seasonal interest.”
Customers can choose how involved they want Architectural Plants to be, from browsing and buying a few statement pieces to a full planting design, delivery and maintenance service. “Although we have an appointment system so that visitors get the best out of us, everyone is welcome to come and have a walk round. We want people to feel at home and we often make visitors a cup of coffee. We have specialist horticulturists visit, people who just want to browse and people who want more specific advice. That’s all fine.”
And maintenance? “It’s vital,” Guy stresses. “We’re not talking weekly weeding, but strategic, specialist care, maybe two to four visits a year. That’s how you keep a garden looking sculptural, interesting and beautiful. We’re not about English country gardens with roses and perennials. We do do flowers, but we bring something a bit different: bold, structural, striking gardens with seasonal pops of colour.”
A local business with a global outlook
A Horsham local, Guy first worked at Architectural Plants when it was based at Nuthurst when he was a teenager. “My mum was a customer. That’s how it started. We had a house and garden down on the coast and I enjoyed designing it in the holidays,” he recalls. His love of plants and of innovative business was sparked from there. “Even as a teenager, I knew Architectural Plants was different and I was fascinated by both the plant side but also the business and economic side of things.”
After university and global adventures, including rowing across the Indian Ocean, Guy returned to Architectural Plants in 2015. He’s spent the last decade reinvigorating the business but also bringing back some of the little details that had made his time there in his teens so notable, blending horticultural excellence with a strong social and environmental ethos.
Sustainability runs deep: solar panels power the nursery, rainwater is recycled and a popular pot return scheme minimises plastic waste. Over 50% of plants are grown on site, and Guy’s working to increase that. “It’s all about reducing our footprint and creating a circular, sustainable model,” he explains.
Growing people, not just plants
Guy’s commitment to social responsibility is as bold as his plants. Apart form his work at Architectural Plants, he also founded Streetscape, a social enterprise offering long-term unemployed young people horticultural apprenticeships. Streetscape then morphed into the AP Homegrown Apprenticeship Scheme. “Through our Homegrown scheme, we run apprenticeships funded by the business,” Guy explains. “It’s not just about teaching horticultural skills. It’s about building confidence, giving young people a direction and showing them the tangible joy of seeing something grow.”
Trainees learn every aspect of the business, from propagation to marketing. “Our apprentice Olivia recently helped run our stand at Chelsea Flower Show,” says Guy proudly. “It’s hands-on, real-world experience.”
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