The folks at Kartuz are really nice. A lot of unusual passiflora, as well as other great plants. They sell mosly online/mailorder so everything is in a 4" pot. Buena Creek is fantastic. I was looking for salvia when I went there and did't notice if they had anything tropical? They have some unusual perennials and are very friendly as well.

We just finished building my greenhouse last fall so I don't have lots of experience with it yet, but thus far it's been a dream come true. I waited for it a long time and the longer I waited the bigger it got in my dream, so hopefully I won't be outgrowing it any time soon. I'll be using it year round so I put in a cooling system that includes two large fans in one end wall and an evaporative cooling pad and a smaller wall vent in the opposite end. The system has handled our hot weather this year quite well. I also took advantage of my wooded lot and positioned the greenhouse where deciduous trees provide shade in summer. I heated to ~50 degrees last winter, since I grow a lot of tropicals, but I let many plants enter dormancy. I think I watered the actively growing plants about 2-3 times a week, but that was probably not more than half the total plant population, since many things need a dry dormancy. Those only got watered once a week or once a month, depending on whether or not any top growth remained. I've been watering more since it got warm, and all the air movement from the fans dries things out faster. Still, I went 3 days over Memorial Day weekend without any losses, and I have a friend I can depend on for longer trips. As for pests, things may change down the road, but Mother Nature has moved into the greenhouse already to provide some control measures. I was pretty careful when I brought my plants in last fall but still grew a robust crop of aphids by late winter. I sprayed insecticidal soap several times a week and finally even defoliated the brugmansias, but this spring the daddylonglegs/harvestmen moved in and now I have a veritable army on patrol and no more aphid problem. There are also skinks and toads taking care of the slugs. I'm sure there will be more pest adventures down the road but I'm going to enjoy the honeymoon period while I can. As for pros and cons, pros for me include: 1. I can grow (even) more tropicals 2. No more tropicals in the garage in winter so we can park cars in there 3. No more tropicals in the bathtub in the winter 3. I can grow winter blooming bulbs that require dry summer dormancy 4. I can finally enjoy the winter blooming salvias 5. All my tender plants enter spring happy and healthy rather than tortured and near death from being kept in the garage 6. I have a squirrel free place to start seeds and a more controlled environment for cuttings Cons are 1. A big investment in plants dependent on electricity to run the fans, heat, and cooling system. I got through winter storms, but still need to install a back up generator. 2. One-size-fits-all winter temps really don't fit all, so now I want a cold frame.

most all of the local nurseries here in raleigh have some (except campbell road). logan's, family home & garden, atlantic avenue (orchids, esp), and fairview are a few. used to be a neat place out on 64 called may-mak, but i have no idea if they're still there. also bb's in sanford is worth a run down (can't say the name here- it rhymes with fig floomers- sub a 'b' in for 'f'). i know there are lots of other nurseries in our area, i'm just not familiar enough to say if they have houseplants or not. i actually get some from big boxes, and target, k & walmart from time to time. just carefully check for bugs in any of those (well anywhere, really). best of luck!

Peppers greenhouse in Milton, Delaware has many unusual tropicals at reasonable prices.