Open 24/7 · Self-checkout

A backyard nursery in the heart of Lafayette

Native plants, seed suited for the South, roach kits, gardening shirts. Come by any hour, pick what you love, and pay on the way out.

Today's plant & price list Updated just now

Shop seeds — only available online

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Field notes

What we grow, and why

Everything here is raised the slow way — plants chosen because they actually thrive in Acadiana's heat, rain, and clay.

No. 01

Louisiana natives

Beautiful, robust plants that are compatible with our pollinators and sure to do well in our climate. What's available changes with the season, so check today's list.

See what's in stock →

No. 02

Heirloom squash, okra, beans, and cucumbers

Heirloom seeds

Seeds that grow great in our area — old Southern varieties you won't find in a big-box rack. Only available online — not stocked at the nursery. Seed orders over $20 ship free.

Order seeds online →

No. 03

The Urban Naturalist Design Lab garden design generator

Free garden tools

Software I built for gardeners: the Design Lab for planning a bed, Plant Doctor for figuring out what's wrong with a plant, Victory Garden for knowing when to plant, and a Native Plant Finder that shows which Louisiana nursery has a native in stock today.

Try the tools →

— around the nursery, most days

Purple thistle bloom — pollinator magnet

Marcus under the hoop house holding a seedling — under the hoop house

The Urban Naturalist crew in front of the sign — Plants made by plant enthusiasts!

Marcus and a helper at the potting shed — at the potting shed

Bags of soil in front of the Urban Naturalist sign — soil day

Seed packets hanging by the shed door — drop cash & checks in the slot on the shed door

A visitor doing a handstand in the nasturtiums — a visitor, upside down

Visiting

Shop any hour. Seriously.

There's no gate and no cashier. Walk in, pick your plants, pay on the way out. I trust you with my income — thank you for following the steps.

The shed door with seed packets and the payment slot — drop cash & checks in the slot on the shed door

216 Madison Street Lafayette, Louisiana 70501
(337) 258-0878 · theurbanaturalist@gmail.com
Get directions →

Browse the tables

Plants are grouped by type and labeled. Pull up the plant list on your phone — it's updated daily with what's out and what it costs. Seeds aren't stocked at the nursery — those are online only, with free shipping over $20.

Plant & price list 1-minute how-to video

Add it up

Use the prices on the list to total your haul. Round numbers, no tax surprises.

Pay with a card, gift card, or app

Card and gift card payments go straight through Square. For Zelle and Apple Pay, search Marcus Descant — my number is (337) 258-0878 if it asks.

Credit / debit card Gift card PayPal Cash App Venmo

Or cash & checks in the shed slot

Clip your cash or check and drop it through the slot on the shed door. That's it — go plant something.

The nursery

"It provides a very good, honest service that people need."

— Marcus Descant, founder, as featured in The Advocate / NOLA.com

Urban Naturalist started as a backyard on Madison Street and grew into a small nursery that stays open around the clock. The idea is simple: grow what belongs here and make it easy for neighbors to get their hands on plants that feed bees, birds, and people.

The seeds are chosen because they grow great in our area. The natives are beautiful, robust plants that work with our pollinators and our climate. And the roach kits exist because people kept asking for something that worked without spraying their kitchen.

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Pollinator · approved

Ships anywhere

Roach kits that actually work

Bait-based, no spraying. Buy online with a card and we'll ship it, or grab one from the shed. Follow the label.

$55