Nursery Focus: Doran Nurseries

A quick chat with Mary Doran of Doran Nurseries in Naas, Co. Kildare

Tell us about your nursery:

Doran Nurseries is a wholesale nursery stock producer. We specialise in Erica heathers, Erica vagan heathers, Calluna vulgaris, Daboecia cantabrica, Azalea japonica, and planted containers.

We have 20 members of staff on our team and we propagate 90% of our stock. We grow it on and sell four varying sizes of plants in a range of approximately 100 varieties. The work is quite labour-intensive but it is enjoyable and rewarding. 

What’s your favourite plant and why? 

Heathers are my favourite. They have long flowering periods, with some flowering from October to April. They are great for ground cover and easy to grow. 

What should readers do in their garden or outdoor spaces this month? 

Plant winter and autumn heathers now for bedding and for food for birds and bees. Bees will get their food from heathers between St Valentine’s Day and St Patrick’s Day which helps them to populate and grow after winter. 

Why do you participate in Bord Bia Bloom? 

Attending Bloom is a great exercise for us as it helps us to discover market trends. 

Find Doran Nurseries online at Irishplants.ie and @doran_nurseries