Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsey Carmichael.
Lindsey, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Rooted from Yarrow Acres is more than a plant shop, it’s a little piece of Franklin that has grown right alongside the community.
Located on Main Street in historic downtown Franklin, Rooted is a family-owned houseplant shop filled with greenery, personality, and plenty of inspiration. The store specializes in unique and trendy houseplants sourced from growers throughout the South, along with modern planters, gifts, and everything plant lovers need to bring a little more life into their homes.
Rooted’s story is especially meaningful because the family behind the shop has been part of Main Street for more than three decades. Over the years, the business has evolved, but the heart behind it has remained the same: creating a welcoming place where people feel comfortable coming in, asking questions, learning about plants, and finding something they love.
One of the things that makes Rooted different is its approachable atmosphere. You don’t have to be an experienced plant collector to shop there. Whether someone is buying their very first houseplant, searching for something unusual to add to a collection, decorating a dorm or apartment, or trying to figure out why a favorite plant is struggling, the goal is to make plant ownership feel simple and fun.
Education has become a big part of what Rooted does as well. The shop regularly shares practical plant-care advice and has continued expanding its in-store experiences with hands-on classes and workshops. From terrarium classes to collaborations with local artists and other small businesses, Rooted is becoming a place where people can gather, create, learn, shop, and spend time together.
The shop itself reflects that personality. The historic brick walls, hanging plants, colorful ribbons, glowing lights, and shelves packed with greenery give Rooted a warm, eclectic feel that is very different from shopping in a traditional garden center or big-box store.
For owner Lindsey Carmichael, keeping Rooted personal is important. Customers aren’t simply purchasing a plant and leaving they’re encouraged to come back with questions, share updates, and become part of the community that has grown around the shop.
After more than 30 years on Main Street, Rooted continues to evolve while staying true to what makes Franklin special: locally owned businesses, personal relationships, creativity, and a strong sense of community.
Rooted from Yarrow Acres proudly calls itself “Franklin’s Little Plant Shop,” and that description fits perfectly. It may be little, but it has a whole lot of heart.
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?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. Like most small businesses, we’ve had to learn how to adapt through a lot of change. Rising costs, higher rent, increased shipping and product expenses, and changes in the way people shop have all been challenges along the way.
Being a small, family-owned business also means wearing a lot of hats. You’re constantly balancing inventory, staffing, customer service, marketing, events, and the everyday unexpected things that come with running a storefront.
One of our biggest challenges has simply been continuing to evolve while staying true to who we are. Franklin has grown and changed tremendously over the years, and retail has changed right along with it. We’ve had to become more creative, add new experiences like classes and workshops, and continually find ways to give people a reason to shop small and visit us in person.
There have definitely been hard seasons, but each one has pushed us to grow, adjust, and become better. I think the fact that our family has been able to remain on Main Street for more than 30 years says a lot about our resilience and, even more importantly, the support we’ve received from our community.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At Rooted from Yarrow Acres, our work is really about creating an experience around plants—not just selling them. We specialize in unique and trendy houseplants, modern pottery, and helping people find plants that actually fit their homes and lifestyles.
What I’m most proud of is that we’ve created a shop that feels approachable. You don’t have to be a plant expert to come in. We want people to feel comfortable asking questions, learning, and finding something they’re excited to take home. Education is a big part of what we do, whether that’s helping someone troubleshoot a plant problem, sharing care tips, or offering hands-on classes and workshops.
I think what sets Rooted apart is the personality of the shop and the relationships we’ve built with our customers. We’re family owned, deeply rooted in downtown Franklin, and we’ve been part of Main Street for more than 30 years. We’ve watched Franklin change tremendously, and we’ve continued to evolve with it while still keeping that small-business, personal feel.
More recently, we’ve also been expanding beyond traditional retail by offering terrarium classes, creative workshops, and collaborations with local artists and other small businesses. I love that Rooted is becoming a place where people can come not only to shop, but also to gather, create, and learn.
At the end of the day, I’m most proud that we’ve built something that feels genuinely connected to the community. Rooted may be “Franklin’s Little Plant Shop,” but we’ve always wanted it to feel like a place people are happy to come back to.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something that surprises a lot of people is that while Rooted from Yarrow Acres may feel like a newer concept, our family has actually been doing business on Main Street in downtown Franklin for more than 30 years.
Rooted is really the latest chapter in a much longer story. Over the years, we’ve watched Franklin grow and change tremendously, and our business has had to grow and change right along with it. What started years ago has evolved into the plant shop people know today full of houseplants, pottery, classes, workshops, and community events.
I think people are also surprised by how much goes on behind the scenes of a small shop. Rooted may look fun and colorful from the outside, but running it involves everything from sourcing plants and caring for inventory to planning events, marketing, merchandising, and constantly coming up with new ways to keep the experience fresh.
I’m really proud that after all these years, we’re still here on Main Street, still evolving, and still finding new ways to connect with the Franklin community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.franklinslittleplantshop.com
- Instagram: Rooted_YarrowAcres
- Facebook: Rooted From Yarrow Acres
