From the outside, this shop squeezed into a corner space resembles a small scale rainforest or jungle set indoors. Unlike some of its local competitors, which have the look and feel of a boutique, Chicago Plant and Flowers feels down to earth and all about the green selection rather than the interior space.

The collection reaches far beyond the traditional array of lush greenery, large jade plants and twirling bamboo stocks. The soil-free exotic air plants and bromeliads rest in shallow vases and peek out from the center of sculptures, like an octopus of lightbulb-tipped tubes. Cacti in all shapes, sizes and even colors decorate the window display in the west-facing corner of the store, and medium size, fruit bearing plants create an orchard of lemon and orange trees on the hard floor.

In addition to rustic looking terra cotta pots, find sculptural glass blown vases twisted into long, skinny necks for single stems and wide open curvy clam shell shapes that cup already potted plants.

Centerstage Reviewer: Jessica Herman