Green and Glorious

Tucked into a sunny corner on Australia Street, Plant Daddy is a joyful little refuge from the pace of King Street and Enmore Road. For the past five years, this cosy plant shop has been helping Newtown locals discover their inner plant parent with warmth, colour and plenty of personality.

For owner Trent Berrigan, opening in Newtown was an easy decision. “It is the beating heart of Sydney’s creative soul,” he says. “How could we resist? Plus, it is where we proudly call home.”

The shop reflects everything Newtown stands for. It is bold, welcoming and refreshingly different. Trent has shaped Plant Daddy into a space where everyone belongs, no matter how much (or how little) they know about plants. “Think of us as your plant friends,” he says. “We are judgment-free and fun-packed.”

“We have made Plant Daddy a space where everyone can be their true, plant-loving selves.”

It is not just about greenery, it is about giving back. Over the years, Trent and the team have partnered with a whole host of local legends—from Newtown Neighbourhood Centre to Australia Street Infants School, ACON, Bobby Goldsmith Foundation and Sydney Mardi Gras. A vibrant mural by artist Jeff McCann now wraps the building in colour, a love letter to the quirks and kindness of Newtown.

“There is a secret rhythm to Newtown,” Trent says. “Laneways, community gardens, surprise music moments—there is always something to stumble on. Every walk feels like a new adventure.”

Trent’s perfect Newtown day? Coffee from Soul Brew, vintage finds on King Street, lunch in Camperdown Park and late-night dumplings from Dumpling King. He doesn’t play favourites, but he lives like a local through and through.

Plant Daddy is all about plants, people, kindness and connection. “We are bold, green and unashamedly different—just like Newtown.”

And for those just starting their green journey?

“The ZZ plant is basically bulletproof,” Trent says. “And the snake plant? It thrives on neglect and even purifies your air. How good is that?”