Lost in Plantation: Mama Petula

It’s time for a new ‘Lost in Plantation’ post. And what better way to get lost in plantation than a new plant shop – this time in Paris: Come and discover ‘Mama Petula’ with me! Truth be told, the plant shop is not new in the sense of its existence, but it is new here on the blog and it was new for me when I visited it recently for the very first time. I was instantly enchanted by the lush greens and colourful blooms in this small little plant shop in Paris’ 14th arrondissement.

If you are on the way to this plant concept store, you will realize that it is located in an extensive, old building complex which used to be a hospital. After the hospital had closed down, the various premises had been transformed into shops, bars, restaurants, ateliers. One of those shops, located in an old hospital laboratory, is ‘Mama Petula’, the plant concept store founded by Caroline, a landscape architect and plant stylist.

‘Mama Petula’ can be easily found within the ancient hospital complex. It is the shop that boasts with greens outdoors – many flowering blooms, herbs and decorative plants welcome the visitors and invite the plant loving eye to roam and discover.

The shop itself is like a comfy studio, like a little apartment that hosts many, many plants. Blooming cacti, playful Oxalis (oh and you can buy an Oxalis bulb from a sort of old gumball machine), wild Monsteras, hanging Tradescantias, delicate ferns – the shop is a green concoction of plant beauty.

Occasionally the team at ‘Mama Petula’ prepares little floral arrangements, special plant assortments and other beautiful gift ideas for all kinds of occasions. These little floral arrangements were prepared and sold in the little apothecary bottles for the French Mothers’ Day.

Whether you are into little floral arrangements or growing plants – leaving the shop empty-handed will be a tough challenge (I can happily confess that I failed big time).

But it’s not only a plant (or a few of them) that you will bring back from ‘Mama Petula’. You will feel utterly inspired, you will be encouraged and willing to add more greens into your home and style up a windowsill, a corner, a sideboard or the entire apartment right away. Why? Because ‘Mama Petula’ feels like a warm and welcoming home much more than a simple shop. It invites its guests to linger and to dream on – lush green dreams for urban jungle fans. And if you are still hesitating, make sure you visit this address!

Mama Petula, 82 Avenue Denfert Rochereau, 75014 Paris. Open on weekends. 

Photography by Igor Josifovic