Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney La’Tonica.
Hi Courtney, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
With roots stretching across South Carolina, my love for the earth was planted by the Black women who nurtured me, my grandmother and great-grandmother. Their hands tended to gardens, houseplants, flowers, and generations, sowing seeds of wisdom, care, and resilience. As a child, I remember my great-grandmother in the garden, bringing in fresh food, tending to flower beds, or repotting plants under the carport while humming or singing gospel hymns. She would do this all day, happily, and honestly, I didn’t understand it or take an interest at the time, I was never a fan of hot, country South Carolina summers. But I think it’s clear now that it made a lasting impression.
In 2019, I started craving houseplants. I wondered where this urge came from since I had never cared for a plant before, but instead of waiting to find out, I spoke openly about it and was later gifted a snake plant, then a pothos and aloe simultaneously. I made myself a promise: if I could keep them alive, I’d welcome more into my home.
As a woman who believes in keeping her promises, I was forced to keep one to myself, one that would ultimately lead to the birth of Peace Love Plants. By 2020, as the world slowed down, I leaned deeper into plant care, finding solace in every leaf, root, and bloom. I documented my journey on Instagram, my collection flourished, and I would often be asked how I knew what to do, where this “skill” had come from. I remember getting a phone call from my mom one day. She was with my grandmother and great-grandmother and showed them my PeaceLovePlants Instagram page. My great-grandmother immediately got on the phone, and there was so much joy in her voice. She loved seeing me care for plants, it was an immediate bonding conversation. I quickly realized the sense of calm and nostalgia I felt from houseplants was because of her, catching glimpses of her so happy and calm, without words, plants are not just something we grow, but something we care for, something we build relationships with. Plants are medicine. They cleanse the air, restore energy, soothe the spirit, and are a reminder to be present and they did all of that for me.
After years of plant care, it was time for me to pollinate my purpose. From that season of growth, Peace Love Plants was born. More than a business, it’s a movement, one rooted in healing, community, and accessibility. I believe everyone has a green thumb; sometimes, you just need the right conditions to thrive. Through plant chats (consultations), corporate plant shopping and maintenance, plant staging events, one on one plant support, custom plant installations, and educational workshops, I help individuals, businesses, and organizations cultivate spaces that nourish the soul.
I’m here to get into the weeds of doubt that keep people, specifically Black and Brown people, from growing and pull them out, one by one, so they can thrive. Just like the women before me, I’m here to sow into others, knowing that with care, patience, knowledge, and accessibility, we all have the ability to bloom.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, the road has not been smooth. I have created my own lane and most people have never considered having someone care and/or maintain their plants, personally or professionally. Many people that have plants have them because they want them and those people for the most part, know how to take care of their plants. I offered a Repot Your Plant w| Me workshop this past summer by the river and I only sold 2 tickets. I ended up cancelling the workshop and just getting with those 2 people individually. The other challenge is small businesses don’t have it in their budget to contract with anyone for plantscaping and maintenance services and larger businesses have other larger/fully staffed businesses they contract with.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At Peace Love Plants, we bring high-end plant care, educational workshops, and plant styling to businesses, homes, and organizations, with Black and Brown communities at the heart of what we do. We believe plant ownership should be easy, joyful, and accessible, not stressful or intimidating. Whether you’re looking to elevate your space, boost your mood, or improve your air quality, we’ve got you covered with expert care.
People know me as “The Plant Lady”. They reach out when they have a question or need advice about a plant that’s giving them a hard time or even before purchasing a plant to be sure that they can accommodate it’s needs. Most recently, I’ve received a good bit of attention for the custom plant wall we installed for a client. She wanted to utilize this space as an altar and I partnered with a local company to source wood from South Carolina and create this sacred space.
I am most proud of the custom plant wall. It’s art. Our plant chat was in home so I was able to access the client’s environment, assess the lighting opportunities, and gauge the client’s knowledge and capacity to be able to take care of the plant wall. We chose plants that were perfect for the aesthetic she envisioned and that matched her home and care needs. We created something beautiful that came from the vision and feeling of the moment. The wood placement, which plants were propagated in water, which would stay in soil, which plant would go where. I hadn’t often considered myself a creative or an artist but that wall is living proof that I am indeed both those things.
I’m in a very niche industry which sets me apart. My attention to detail and the discovery questions I ask during a plant chat offer a level of intention and care that clients appreciate. I truly want to understand my client’s lifestyle and home environment so they can be successful in their plant care journey.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
At one point in my plant journey I had 130 plants in my home at once. Some days it was overwhelming but everyday I loved living in a slight jungle. I am also the garden coordinator for my partner’s non profit organization Sowing Seeds into the Midlands, so I grow food and herbs too.
Pricing:
- Plant Chat $50 for 45 minutes (same as a discovery call/consultation) This service is required to work with me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.peaceloveplantss.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peaceloveplantsxo/?igsh=c3pmdTg3cDRxbXFo#
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574640542934
