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B I R M I N G H A M
42 | SEPTEMBER 12 • 2024
J
N
Y
oung “plantreprenuer”
and plant enthusiast
Jake Janowitz, 24, of
Birmingham, has recently
launched Botany Birmingham, a
boutique plant shop featuring rare,
uncommon, collector’s editions and
unique houseplants available for
residential and commercial use.
As a lifelong nature fanatic, the
recent Michigan State University
graduate decided to bring his
passion to the masses. Now vending
in five-to-seven farmers markets per
week, including Birmingham, Troy,
Northville, Brighton, Milford and
Rochester, among others, Botany
Birmingham is quickly becoming a
staple of the local market scene.
Botany Birmingham will sell at
farmers markets through October
when the season concludes. Still, the
plant-obsessed and plant-curious
alike can also make an appointment
to visit Janowitz’s in-home plant
showroom in Birmingham.
A CUSTOM GREEN SPACE
Working side-by-side with his
mother, Marla Michele Must, who
runs the marketing side of the
business, Botany Birmingham was
launched with the goal of helping
people green their personal spaces.
Studies show access to green
space can boost physical and mental
health, including psychological
wellbeing and improved heart
functioning.
“I just love green space, and I
wanted to create that in my own
space,” Janowitz says of initially
launching the plant showroom in
his home, which is both mold-proof
and climate-controlled. “When I
was buying plants, I looked around
at different sellers and saw how they
were doing things. I thought, ‘I can
do this on my own.’”
Currently, Botany Birmingham
sells a selection of rare, tropical,
pet-safe, beginner and common
houseplants suitable for all plant
care skill levels and interests. The
business offers delivery and plans to
launch online sales soon, as well as
plant shipping.
Janowitz also plans to expand
into “plantscaping,” or interior plant
design services for residential and
commercial needs to help people
create their dream green space.
“Plants can be a daunting task for
someone who’s new to them,” he
says.
For readers interested in indoor
plants who aren’t sure where to start,
here’s a quick guide to top-sellers
that Janowitz and Must assembled,
including care tips and more.
CALATHEA
“Calathea tend to fly off the shelves
at our farmers markets, and for a
good reason. It’s easy to see how
their striking color and patterns
can mix together to enhance a
corner of your room. They prefer
filtered water and can’t receive
direct sunlight. For this reason,
we tell customers to shade them
from bright windows. In addition,
Calathea are non-toxic and pet-safe.”
RARE PLANTS
“Each ‘rare’ plant we carry has
a unique story, genus and care
requirement. Due to their slow
growth and limited supply, prices
are higher regardless of demand.
Their variegation (white parts
of the leaves) are unable to
photosynthesize. As a result, we
encourage customers to provide
PHOTOS COURTESY OF BOTANY BIRMINGHAM
Botany Birmingham launches with indoor
houseplants for all styles and tastes.
A Boutique for the
Plant-Obsessed
ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Jake
Janowitz