There’s something truly amazing in the basement of an unassuming building in Bountiful. Walking past the tan brick, and down the stairs it feels almost like the door should open up onto a law firm or dentist's office, but instead, those visiting Armstrong Aroids are greeted by the sights, and sensations of a tropical paradise. 

Toure Armstrong and his wife have been in the plant business for years, starting with a personal collection that has, pun intended, grown exponentially. The difference between Armstrong Aroids and other nurseries, however, is the sheer variety and kinds of plants that people can find there. “It’s something that you just won’t get anywhere else,” said Armstrong, “You just don’t see anything like this at the big box stores.”

Walking around the store more than proves his point. Ivy creeps along parts of the ceiling, exotic and tropical plants adorn every wall and every corner, and the scent of earth and growing things pervades the air. It’s more than just a store: it’s an experience. That’s one reason why Armstrong encourages people to visit, “You don’t even have to buy anything, just come and look around,” he said. Many who visit, however, usually end up leaving with something. 

Some who come to the store, bring things, however, to the “Propagation Station.” Those in the plant community are very familiar with the term propagation, but basically, it entails taking clippings from healthy plants and cultivating a new growth from them. Armstrong Aroids propagation station allows plant lovers to bring in clippings from their own plants, mix and match, and exchange them for other clippings. It’s a great way to build community, and it’s due in large part to that passionate plant community that Armstrong Aroids is doing as well as it is.

Much of their success, however, is due to their hands-on approach to the world of exotic plants. Many vendors of exotic plants will simply purchase the greenery from overseas, and ship it to the customer. Many times this results in a plant that has a difficult time adjusting to the elevation and climate in Utah which is much dryer than most places exotic plants come from. Armstrong Aroids, however, does things differently. 

As opposed to these other vendors, Armstrong will purchase the plants, import them, then spend the time acclimatizing and rehabilitating these exotic plants before putting them on the floor for sale. “We’re going to take on that responsibility and that risk,” said Armstrong, “There’s nothing like this in Utah.” Coupled with the excellent instruction lent by Armstrong and the community that frequents his shop, the plants, and their new caretakers, are in much better hands.

Though taking care of these plants, teaching courses, and introducing new themes like terrariums, swag and more is rewarding on its own, Armstrong says that the best part of the business is the people. “The people are the most rewarding part,” he said, “I get to create a lot of a-ha moments here.” Overall, Armstrong emphasized this point by saying, “We’re here, we’re local, and we care about our customers and the plants they buy.”

Armstrong Aroids is located at 495 South 100 West in Bountiful and is open Thursday through Saturday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. More information on the shop, their offerings, and more can all be found at www.armstrongplants.com.