Cebu-grown Blooms & Greens takes root in Manila

Cebu’s trusted name in plants and landscaping opens its first Manila store, expanding its footprint to the capital’s growing urban greenery scene.

After cultivating more than four decades of horticultural and landscaping expertise in his farm in Busay, Cebu, renowned architect and landscaper Jaime Chua brings Blooms & Greens to Manila—a strategic expansion that positions the brand to tap Metro Manila’s growing market for premium greenery, urban landscaping, and sustainable plant solutions.

Blooms & Greens finds its new home in Aspire Corporate Plaza in Pasay City, strategically located within a mixed-use business district catering to both residential and corporate clients. The store occupies an open, airy space eight floors up, envisioned as a showroom for the brand’s horticultural craftsmanship and a hub for Metro Manila clients. The Pasay location serves not only as a retail space but also as a base for high-value residential and corporate landscaping clients, complementing Blooms & Greens’ growing digital presence.

The move comes at a time when the Philippines’ ornamental horticulture industry is expanding steadily. According to 6Wresearch, the local flower and ornamental plants market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1% from 2025 to 2031—driven by rising demand for decorative greenery in residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments. As more Filipinos invest in garden spaces and plant displays for both aesthetic and environmental reasons, brands like Blooms & Greens are well-positioned to capture this growing segment.

Blooms & Greens started as a two-hectare flora farm in Cebu, where over 5,000 plant varieties are carefully cultivated. What began as a nursery for rare species and a haven for collectors has evolved into a vertically integrated horticulture business, supplying ornamental plants and design expertise to residential, resort, and corporate clients. Today, the brand operates in the Philippines’ niche premium plant market, which has seen strong growth due to rising urban gardening trends and the popularity of plant lovers.

Chua’s work has long been recognized by the Cebu Orchid Society, where Blooms & Greens has consistently earned top honors in landscaping since 1995. That track record now positions the brand as a trusted partner for developers and urban homeowners seeking premium plantscaping solutions in Metro Manila. Awards and notable projects serve as proof of quality and reliability, signaling confidence to potential clients in both residential and commercial spaces.

New milestone with a new generation

While Chua has long focused on craft and horticultural excellence, his niece and business partner, Kelcey Mae Chua-Wong, has helped modernize the brand, strengthening its online presence and expanding its customer base beyond Cebu.

During the pandemic, when most people were confined indoors, Kelcey launched Blooms & Greens’ e-commerce platform and social media storefronts, transforming the local operation into a nationwide hybrid model that integrates digital retail with traditional landscaping services. This digital pivot allowed the business to thrive even amid restrictions, showing the broader surge of online demand for indoor and ornamental plants.

Uncle and niece tandem Kelcey Mae Chua-Wong and Jaime Chua continue the legacy of bringing lasting plants and flowers to the community of plantitos and plantitas in Manila.

The brand’s client list includes prominent names such as Michael and Philip Lhuillier, Eddie and Norma Gullas, and Congressman Sonny and Dafne Lagon—alongside commercial developments like Tambuli Resort, Ayala Heights, and Amaia in Cagayan. These projects highlight Blooms & Greens’ established presence in high-value landscaping and property design, a niche it aims to expand in Metro Manila through its first retail and design hub, capitalizing on growing demand for curated greenery and ornamental plants.

Beyond the millennial wave of collecting and growing plants, ornamental horticulture has become a steady-growth segment in the Philippines, supported by both private and government initiatives. In the recently concluded Pagsibol 2025 Summit on Philippine horticulture and urban agriculture, the Bureau of Plant Industry highlighted efforts to strengthen the sector through conservation, sustainable breeding, and commercialization of endemic flora. The focus now is on developing resilient and adaptable plant varieties that meet ecological and market needs—an opportunity for players like Blooms & Greens to expand into R&D and innovation.

The Philippines’ favorable climate also provides a natural advantage in cultivating unique flora, fueling demand among local collectors and international buyers alike. With more businesses investing in sustainable landscapes and plant-driven designs, the sector’s momentum points toward long-term potential for export and eco-tourism-linked growth.

Even with the move to Manila, Kelcey says Blooms & Greens will stay true to its roots—offering products designed for longevity and value.

Unlike regular cut flowers that only last a couple of days, Kelcey said theirs are guaranteed to last for a month or may even regrow. This reflects their tagline, ‘Say I love you with flowers that last,’ and highlights their commitment to quality, sustainability, and long-term customer satisfaction.

Kelcey said, “Just like with relationships, we encourage our customers to take care of the flowers and cultivate them.” That’s the kind of lineage we’re rooting for.”