DALLAS — Before The Plant Project, a plant shop owned by a Black woman in Dallas did not exist. For Bree Clarke, it’s more than just about being the first — it’s about planting seeds that grow throughout the community to bring about much-needed change.

“I didn’t think I was going to be the first Black woman-owned plant shop,” Clarke said smiling. “I knew that I wanted to be a plant shop that when you walked in you felt like you belonged. That was my whole purpose.”

The Plant Project opened its doors on Nov. 28 and its second location next door in February.

“Being the first is a little daunting, overwhelming,” Clarke said. “But, at the same time, I felt like it was something that we needed here in Dallas and if anyone is up for the job to be the disruptor and be the one to shake the table, I’m pretty good at that.”

The quaint shop sits in what Dallasites now call Uptown, but to those familiar with the neighborhood’s history, it’s still Freedman’s Town.

“It was one of the first ex-slave communities where freed slaves came and built and it was taken away from them for gentrification,” Clarke said. “So, that’s why it was so important for me to bring something back here.”

Clarke’s relationship with plants started at a young age. She credits her mother with being one of the first people to introduce her to gardening.

“My mom always had plants around and she would always have me take care of the plants,” she said adding that her mother’s nickname was mudbug. “But, it was always just to keep me busy. It was something that annoyed the heck out of me, but it was laying a foundation for me.”

Herman the horticulture man, as he was affectionately known in her grandmother’s neighborhood, imparted his knowledge of agriculture, cultivation and plants onto youth, including Clarke. It was those teachings from Herman, her mother and other family members that rooted Clarke in her love for plants.

“He was the first African American to graduate from Texas A&M with a horticulture degree and back then a lot of the families would put together all of their money to send one or two to college, so that they could come back and either work the fields, teach the family how to cultivate and create a family business,” Clarke said.

Prior to opening The Plant Project, Clarke operated an event studio for about four years. But, when COVID-19 surfaced last year, like most small businesses, Clarke had to make a decision on what the future of her company would look like. Even as a studio, passerbys always mistook the location for a plant shop since Clarke owned tons of plants. And with COVID-19 ramping up, it was an opportunity Clarke considered.

“I told Katie who is like my brand development director that it would be really cool if I just have a plant shop, because there’s no Black-owned plant shops here,” she said. “And then when I would go to local plants shops in the area, I just didn’t feel welcomed. They were cute and in cute little areas that are gentrified now and nobody would speak to me when I walked into the door. I felt like I didn’t belong in it, so why would I spend my money on some place I didn’t feel welcomed.”

After months of debating, Clarke finally took a leap of faith.

“So, come November, I was like ‘I’m going to do it’ and so I literally got with Katie and we did the logo, did the Instagram, started the website and it was kind of already innate,” she said. “So, it was basically easy for me to put together because it was something that had been on my mind since April, a seed that was already planted in me when I was a little girl…”

When entering the home in the 2300 block of Routh Street, a plant joy sign greets visitors at the door along with the assortment of plants available for purchase. The room is filled with fragrances, of course, from the plants that decorate the floor and tables.

“I want this to be a place for people to not only buy their plants to fill up their home, but also a place to learn how to take care of them and how to realize you don’t have to have a green thumb to create plant joy in your own home,” Clarke said. “So, we’re going to have workshops on how to repot, potting 101 and how to take care of those hard fiddle figs.”

According to Clarke, the shop has something for everyone from beginners to master gardeners. At the original location, shoppers can choose from small to medium-sized plants ideal for the home or office and even a personal gift. Next door is where the larger plants like the Dracaena Marginata are housed.

“My husband is Panamanian, so I wanted to combine both of our heritages,” said Clarke of the second Plant Project location. “So, I focused on the bodega side to bring in food and beverages that are all either creole inspired or Latin inspired.”

Affordability was also important when Clarke made the decision to open up shop.

“I wanted to make sure that everybody experienced plant joy, so that was a big thing of mine,” she said. “I felt like local plant shops were high as heck.”

During her grand opening, she gave away plants to the first 25 customers — an act of generosity that immediately paid dividends.

“A customer messaged me and said ‘we were 25 out of 25 and I wanted to thank you for showing my daughter what Black and brown women are capable of doing and how much they can do’,” said Clarke recalling the email.  

Since opening, The Plant Project has received a lot of foot traffic and attention on social media platforms.

“I feel that The Plant Project hasn’t grown, because of the title of being the first Black woman-owned plant shop,” Clarke said. “The plant shop has grown, because it’s me. It’s in me.”

A Houston native, Clarke hopes to spread plant joy across the state in little houses as she’s done in Dallas.

“Every single thing that I do, I want to make sure that the diversity, equality, and the true meaning of what a community is, is the foundation of it,” she said.

In her quest to spread plant joy, she also hopes to be an inspiration to others sitting on an idea and business venture.

“I want people to do stuff not because society is rushing them, not because what’s going on around them is telling them to do it, it has to be innate," she said. "It has to be something that aligns with who they are, so I want people to do stuff that is them and not something that because other people are saying ‘this is what you need to do… .”  

Although, Clarke’s audience has typically been white women, she hopes as the desire to own plants continues to grow, that her customer base will expand.

“… I’ve always been that bridge to connect to white, Black, Hispanic, Asian or no matter what you feel that you’re connected to,” she said. “So, that’s why I want the people to know the plant shop is more than a plant shop — it’s to show how we’re rooted to one another and we’re rooted to one another because of the diversity. Even though we are different and look different and come from different backgrounds, we’re still so connected to one another.”