Qideas Plant Shop

Beautiful shop, deeply kind owners. Located right by argyle red line, would recommend going inside even just to visit and look around. Their plants are beautiful and well cared for. Prices are fair and reflect the quality of the items. I wound up picking up a children’s book about Filipino sign language, but will definitely be back once it’s warmer for some plants. Rest in peace sweet Coco and Happy, I wish I got to meet you!

Cool store. To buy plants, bonsai, and other Asian plants. Can buy Asian type dishes, trinkets, ornaments that is great for gifts

Lovely plant shop. They were incredibly helpful helping me pick out an appropriate indoor plant. The entire shop is filled with amazing cards and knickknacks that are so worth slowly exploring. I stumbled upon this shop, but I’ll definitely be back soon :)

I love the staff very welcoming and they have a large variety . I brought a few plants from them. They are very knowledgeable too

Cute little plant/trinket store. Staff was super friendly, also had a bangin 70s Vietnamese funk record playing which added to the great vibes of the shop. 🌱 📚

Charming plant shop with kind owners. Most of the plants I own were picked up at Q Ideas, and the soil offered here is very good too. Beginner bonsai trees are also available (though not always on sale), and the owner is happy to offer advice on care if asked.

We got there at closing and was nice enough to let us look around. I had never been there before and thoroughly enjoyed the shop and the owner was really sweet. The plants were healthy and quite a variety. I bought the first plant I saw. I wished I had more time to check out her pots. I will definitely be back! 😁

One of my favorite stores in the city! Have gotten some great plants and household/ kitchen staples. Sharing photos of Coco. She will be missed dearly 🤍

This is one of my favorite stores of all time. They have such a large selection of plants and all of them are well taken care of. The service is IMPECCABLE and the level of detail is amazing. I will stay coming back here. If you live near here or know someone who loves plants in Chicago, make sure to take them here. Small businesses keep the community alive and this small business is legit!

Good vibes, owner, people, and community. Often return here to get Asian American items and books for my sons so he will never forget his root.

What a WONDERFUL and delightful GEM on Argyle Street. The owner and his family are SO PLEASANT, FRIENDLY, AND WELCOMING ! It is absolutely one of my most FAVORITE little shops for plants and lovely and unique gifts. Such REASONABLE prices. I am excited to see the finished shop when the remodeling is complete, as well as the little coffee bar in the rear .

They were really great, the woman who answered the phone, I forget her name and I feel bad about that, actually recommended another place to me instead of trying to keep my business cause I wanted a florist to deliver flowers. They were more about plants. She was so helpful though that I ended up getting some flowering plants from her And they ship them super fast at the last minute and took care of everything really well. Recommend them highly.

This is a review I meant to post a LONG time ago. When I got married, I wanted something unique, something living to use as centerpieces. I've always liked bamboo, so I began looking around. Someone my parents knew recommended Qideas. I worked with Bill who I coincidentally knew as a little kid but I hadn't seen for many years. Bill was incredible in helping me decide on the appropriate pieces, and prices were very reasonable. It was really easy working with Bill. Every last detail including delivery and specific setup instructions were discussed and went exactly as planned. When the ballroom doors opened, guests were really impressed and commented on the beautiful centerpieces on each table. No one had seen anything like it before. Really the only problem regarding the bamboo plants was that at the end of the night, guests started fighting over bringing them home. Several rounds of intense rock paper scissors competitions broke out. Afterwards I told Bill how popular they were and that my family didn't get a chance to bring any home, so I wanted to buy a few more. He actually delivered the plants to my parents house (22 miles away from the store). Bill is incredibly thoughtful, easy to work with, and provided the most gorgeous centerpieces at a very reasonable price. We were very impressed every step of the way. My grandma in the Chicagoland area was elated to get a plant from the second delivery, and my other grandma visiting from San Francisco was able to get one from her table during the reception. She wrapped it up and put it in her suitcase, and it's still growing well to this day! I highly recommend Qideas. My experience was so positive that my sister also ordered centerpieces for her wedding which also turned out really well. If I ever host another event, I would definitely work with Qideas again. Or if I'm ever in the neighborhood again, I will absolutely support this place. Genuinely good people, reasonable prices, beautiful plants. LOVE.

Qideas is a quaint little spot to buy plants and much more in the Asia on Argyle section of Uptown. My partner and I walked past after eating lunch one day, and saw bonsai trees outside on display. I bought a bonsai for half off, as the owners are closing soon for a remodel. I returned recently for a Buddha statue for my home shrine, and left with a golden medicinal Buddha and a potted bamboo arrangement as well (both at 50% off). The family that runs the store are very friendly and helpful. I'll definitely be going back after the remodel!

After having some pho and Vietnamese baguettes and desserts - it's great to swing by here and check out their plants. I have a green thumb as my grandma owned a nursery before WWII broke out, in the Philippines. So you can say that it comes naturally to me. I've purchased bonzais, a calamansi (lemon/lime) bush and a Sampaguita (otherwise known as a Philippine jasmine) bush. This is a great place to pick up deals and they are pretty knowledgeable on keeping these plants alive and well. I just clipped my bonsai the other day and it's very relaxing, you should give it a try.

I love this store so much. Ellen and her dad are so helpful. And I love the puppies too Check out for really unique houseware.

Excellent service. Very knowledgeable about pet safe plants. I will definitely be back here.

Brief summary: Beautiful plants. Great prices. Information posted in each section. Excellent customer service. Bought 4 new additions. Did our research into plant shops prior to buying new plant babies. We usually have an idea of what we're looking for prior to going to any shop, yet we still like to browse around. We were mainly here for a sale we saw on their Instagram, but we perused their kitchen section also. I can't speak much on their kitchen section as we briefly browsed, but we definitely liked their items. Qideas offers quality plants for a great price! There was a variety of plants and the owner's knowledge was impeccable! I heard her explaining plant care to other customers and she had great ideas for the. It sound like they were just getting into the world of plant care. If you're in the neighborhood, want to start your plant journey, but are easily overwhelmed OR if you want new additions to your plant babies, I highly recommend Qideas.

Best plant shop in the area by far! They have a great selection of plants in a range of size and price points. They are constantly getting in new plants and I've found a few rare plants I haven't been able to find anywhere else. Super helpful and knowledgeable owners if you have any questions. They often have great sales that they post on instagram. Every plant I've gotten from here has been super healthy and done great. Definitely stop by and support this business!

I'm so glad I found this local shop! The prices are great and Ellen's customer service was above and beyond. With her help, I'm sure I'll keep these alive! I am now a forever loyal customer!

Love my new plant babies from here! I recently got a new job and wanted to decorate my desk with some plants. Found this place on yelp and I'm so glad I did. They are so knowledgeable and answered all my questions. I needed something small enough for my desk and something that could stay alive under the harsh fluorescent lights of my office. I settled on 2 cute plants and bought pots there too! They even potted them for me. The owner had his cute dog there when I was roaming around. So cute! When I checked out they even offered me a box to hold them in so I could walk home easier. Would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for house plants or something to spruce up your office space. I bought 2 new plants and 2 cute pots for less than $30!

This was a great little shop for a variety of pots, indoor plants, and it has some Asian dishes as well. The prices were good. The owner was very friendly and answered my questions with very helpful advice on planters. I'm glad I stopped by!

I have never written reviews before but Q Ideas is so great that I had to sing their praises! I brought in a dying plant I've had for years, and they miraculously brought back it back to life! It is healthier and happier than ever. I have also bought a few plants from them that are super healthy. I tell everyone I know to go there for all their plant needs. The team really knows their stuff, their plants are beautiful, and the prices are reasonable. I can't recommend enough! Thank you Q Ideas!

Ray M I've been going to this store for a few years. I love their selection of plants and they have a wide variety of bamboo plant's length with straight and swirl. They also have a large variety of dishes, pots and pans. People there are friendly and very helpful.

Just have to say - I love this store and everything about it! I called to order little bamboo table gifts for my daughter's bridal shower. Ellen was my hero with her suggestions. She put together the bamboo in little vases - just beautiful - and had everything ready for me to run in and pick up as planned. Everyone loved the gifts and the presentation. I'll definitely be back to get something just for me!

Small shop overflowing with cool plants of all sizes and other random gifts/trinkets. I go for the plants, which are always super healthy and reasonably priced.

Great plants, kitchen supplies, weird gifty things, pots for plants, GIANT ceramic pig banks, and all kinds of weird stuff you didn't know you needed. If you're in the area, it's worth a pop in just to browse around. And you NEED one of these giant ceramic pig banks. Maybe a Money Cat to adorn your abode? You can get it here!

BEST Plant nursery in Chicago!!! I just picked up a monastery and 4 gorgeous and unique pots/vases! I've shopped here several times and every time has been phenomenal. The owners and their daughter are incredibly knowledgeable, kind, and know their plants! Their pooch is the cutest assistant ever and well behaved! I LOVE THIS SHOP!!!

I just had the best experience and customer service I have had in ages!!! Ellen went above and beyond to help me choose a gift via phone and photos and made the whole process of shopping so easy! She was so patient and kind. It is hard to know when you call a place to have something delivered when you are far away what you are really getting. Ellen made sure I knew...She sent me photos and put together the cutest potted plant! I hope to visit in person sometime!

I love my bonsai like a pet, but I am not good at taking care of it, which means that occasionally I have to take my ficus to a bonsai doctor. Ellen was so kind and accommodating and helpful with my poor sick bonsai! She trimmed it up for me and repotted it with better soil to nurse it back to health. The level of attention and care she gave it (and me) were unbelievable! And while I was at the shop I saw how helpful all the staff were with the other customers as well. (You can't help but notice - it's a small space and there's a lot of different stuff - they are great with recommendations!) I will certainly be back to extend my "garden" (and get advice on how to tend it better!), and to browse the other cute items in there.

Qideas grows plants for you to bring life, joy, and love to your loved ones! The distance is NO PROBLEM. Elen eliminated the distance between NY and Chicago to help me celebrate my boyfriend on this special day; father's day! At Qideas they share with you what they have, ask your input on ensuring that the gift your are bringing to the home of your loved ones is customized... The service Elen gave me was "platinum treatment"; she went beyond 5 stars. Elen took her time used her creativity to put together this beautiful bonsai that brought joy to my very special man! Thank you Qideas for Elen; you have my loyalty and business from now on!

This place is the bomb for kitchen supplies, garden gifts (bamboo and bonsai and fruit trees!) and perhaps most importantly, for the sweet little fluffy white shop dogs who offer very attentive service. And by service I mean they let you pet them. Tongs, bowls, chopsticks, spiders (those are the small wire baskets on a stick used for deep frying), you name it, they got it and for a good price. I finally decided it was time to own chopsticks and I got a good set of 12 pairs for $1.99... and I splurged on one of the nicer sets available! You pay restaurant supply prices here. On top of this, everybody I've met at the counter is VERY friendly and sweet. Qideas is an asset to the neighborhood and the whole city.

Ordered item through ETSY over a week ago from this vendor. After first confirmation, NOTHING HAPPENED, except $$ was taken from my account. The recipient intended for the gift had been notified, asked to check mailbox, is disappointed. AND I AM FURIOUS! Zero response despite multiple inquiries to vendor.

Friendly and knowledgeable. Picked up a very promising Cherry tree bonsai a couple months ago that is thriving. Also met a very friendly pup at the counter

This is the absolute sweetest little plant shop! They have such a wide variety of plants at great prices and the staff is super nice and helpful! I received very detailed instructions for my new plant! I absolutely recommend!

OUTSTANDING! This is THE place to go to for bonsai plants and for any and all information concerning them. I found this place when looking for other Yelp reviews and they were all outstanding. Ellen was mentioned about being a wealth of information for these plants and they were right! She is the "bonsai whisperer"! She learned this information from her dad who owns the store and is there every day and is truly the expert on these plants. My bonsai was not doing well and she gave me the right soil and fertilizer and now it has come back to life. This is really my son's plant which he has had for 15 years so this plant has a special place in my heart. They were so kind and their prices are extremely reasonable. Check this place out. I will be a return customer for sure!

They truly went out of their way to take care of me. I was really impressed with Ellen.

There's a limited selection at this tiny garden store, but they carry a few odd plants that are hard to find elsewhere. I recently purchased a tabletop-sized potted calamondin tree here (calamondins taste a bit like sour tangerines). I'm thrilled with it. It already has small fruits in various stages of development and looks beautiful and healthy. At around forty dollars for an established tree in fruit, this was a good deal, and no mail order necessary. On the service side, the proprietor was very helpful, taking the time to help me find the nicest specimen and discuss its care. She informed me that later in the season dwarf pomegranate trees will be available for sale. Yes, apparently people grow those indoors. Since it is located at the Argyle stop near Furama and other tasty restaurants, you'll probably be in the neighborhood this summer. I recommend stopping in and buying an exotic fruit tree for your sunny window.

In all honesty, Qideas is a pretty cool little place. Odd? Yes. Eclectic? Absolutely. I advise against coming in with any sort of expectations. They have a lot of fun stuff for pretty reasonable prices, but such a strange assortment of inventory. They have lots of nice plants. Rather, I should say they have lots of bamboo and some other plants. I was also pretty impressed by their decorative and functional vases. This is a really great place to come for a housewarming gift or if you just want ideas of what to get for someone. They also have a second room from which they sell wholesale cooking items... which I suppose all of the restaurants on Argyle love.

I live right around the corner from this shop and it's absolutely the cutest place ever. Amazing selection of healthy plants. Extremely helpful and knowledgeable staff. Great prices.

Very nice place and I love the small odds and ends in the store. I brought a lovely bamboo plant.indeed I will go back !

A buyer for a large restaurant in downtown Chicago told me she purchased her dishes there. I made a special trip and was so impressed with the service and the selection I asked for the name of the young lady who helped me. Ellen and her family were very kind and even allowed me to pet small adorable dogs at the front counter. As a result we purchased complete service for 10 of restaurant quality, modern, plates, bowls, and serving dishes. I also bought a few bamboo plants on the way out.

After reading numerous great reviews about this place, I thought I'd check it out and was sort of disappointed. If you're looking for lucky bamboo, then this is definitely the place to look. They had literally hundreds of different specimens. If you're looking for other plants, they had quite a few ZZ Plants, Money Trees, citrus plants, persimmon trees and a modest selection of succulents. The ZZ plants and Money Trees looked great, but their succulents were pretty pathetic looking, stretching for light and loosing tons of leaves with the slightest bump. Their prices seemed kind of high ($3-4 higher) when compared to Gethsemane just a mile or so away. If you're into Asian restaurant style dinnerware, this is your place. Huge selection at reasonable prices. Also some really great deals on Bonsai (cheaper than Gethsemane) and planters. Overall, I gave it three stars because I went looking for succulents and found the selection abysmal, but the selection of other things raised it up quite a bit. I'll give it another chance, hopefully today was a fluke. If you're looking for lucky bamboo or small fruit trees, this is your place!

This store offers a whole lot - but since I am a huge bonsai person (have four plants and am steadily growing my collection) I will be focusing mainly on bonsai. First item to note: the owner is AMAZING. He is an avid bonsai grower and quite knowledgeable about bonsai. He can also get pretty much any kind of bonsai plant, and since I am into exotic plants being groomed for bonsai (like the bahama berry aka moujean tea), this works well for me. The quality is amazing and the friendliness of the owners is a huge added bonus. I looked around their store and they have a lot of porcelain goods, art, and other oriental goods. Totally worth checking out!

Great little shop for dishware, bamboo, and other plants. Today, I left with 2 super nubby cacti that look very healthy. I'd buy more plants here but I'm scared of accidentally killing them! The owners are very nice and helpful, and the dogs are really chill. They like head scratches while you're at the counter paying. :]

If you need some lucky bamboo or a bonsai tree, come to this store. The owner even put together a little landscape for the knotted root tree I bought while I waited. I picked out the ceramic rectangle pot, a little pagoda accessory, and he put it all together along with rocks and gravel.

Happy puppies at the counter who love to be loved on. A fantastic assortment of Asian plants. Wholesale quality kitchen supplies (the thermostat on the lid of my sauce pan is awesome). Fantastic, friendly owners.

Qideas has two stores. On right off the red line stop Argyle (the smaller one), and a larger one on Broadway (about a 2 minute walk from the Argyle store). Each store pretty much carries the same wares (although the Broadway store has more selection and items due to its size). Mostly, they carry oriental items, bamboo and plants (e.g. Jasmine) as long as they are in season. The staff is extremely helpful and knowledgeable about all the products that are being carried, so you can expect a good degree of service from them. Besides plants, they also carry a large variety of plates. They do both wholesale and retail, so if you're a restaurant that needs new plates, this could be a place to check out. Pricing is very fair. Since plants are perishable, these come at a great price for what they are being sold at. If you are looking for some oriental gifts and plants to give someone, you can't pass this place up.

Was looking for a Bonzai tree for my roommate on the northside, and they had some! Saved me a trip all the way to Chinatown. AND...the owner had some cute Malteses in the store so that was a plus!

This place is great. The plants I have bought here have all grown really quickly and are really healthy. The only thing that wasn't great was the daffodil bulb I bought. Other than, the place is great. Would recommend.

Qideas now has another store on Broadway by Carmen. There's a huge selection of bamboo plants and pots. The owners are really friendly and helpful. The prices were very reasonable when I was there August 20, 2008. They have new plants arriving all the time. I will visit again in about three weeks.