City Planter is a small, family-owned business.  We have deep roots in Northern Liberties. 

Peter Smith and Sue White

Peter has over 30 years of gardening and horticulture experience.  Before opening City Planter, Peter was a lead gardener for Mary Costello Horticulture,  where he maintained large properties in the suburbs of Philadelphia.  Now he applies his years of experience and knowledge to planting in containers, which is the best way to garden in smaller urban spaces. 

Peter is our Head Gardener and Designer. He is also responsible for selecting all of the outdoor plants for our gardening jobs and  our store inventory, traveling to nurseries in the tri-state area to source locally grown shrubs, perennials and annuals. 

In his copious free time, Peter enjoys hiking, camping, and building stuff.

Susan White is an artist, printmaker, teacher, parent, and gardener.   She currently teaches Printmaking at Drexel University in the Visual Studies Department of the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design and at Tyler School of Art and Architecture. 

She received a BFA in printmaking from Moore College of Art and Design (1990) and an MFA in Book Arts/Printmaking from The University of the Arts (1994).  Her artwork combines printmaking and site-specific installation with a formal interest in nature.  Her work can be seen on her website.

Other creative activites have included scenic art and display design for Macy’s Department Store and custom Screenprinting for designers and organizations.  Sue makes many items for City Planter including handmade soap and lipbalm (using herbs from her garden), macrame plant hangers and the Wild Things, animal/dinosaur planters.  She is also full time parent to Katsura (20) and Ilse (16) Smith who have the ability to bring her busy life to a screeching halt at a moment's notice.

The Kids: Katsura, Raven and Ilse

They have all grown up in City Planter and have had great time helping out in the store. Look for Kat and Ilse working at our booth at the PHS Flower Show.

Poka (Blue) and Sparkle (Yellow and Blue) 

Poka and Sparkle were the store birds at City Planter for several years. Poka passed away in the spring of 2020 and recently, Sparkle moved in with one of our former staff members. She is living her best life with lots of attention and treats. We miss her but she is much happier in her new home.