U.S. Navy veteran Thomas Jackson’s interest in plants began with a single pothos plant his girlfriend Mitzy Sedano gave him in 2019, after she read that plant care could help with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
The couple’s mutual interest in the therapeutic benefits of plants continued to grow, leading them to open their plant store Got A Leaf in Jackson’s childhood neighborhood of North Long Beach.
“It takes away from a lot of the thoughts that I have that triggers PTSD and things like that,” Jackson said. “It brings a new light to everything. So I think that’s what it is. It’s just a new growth and it kind of keeps me focused on that. I don’t know how to really explain it. The only thing that I can say is just helping them grow, helps me grow, if that makes sense.”
After that first gifted plant, Jackson began collecting multiple pothos variations before branching out to other species. He eventually launched the brand Got A Leaf in 2020 with pop-ups at swap meets in Pasadena and Santa Fe Springs.
“Everything about it to me is super exciting,” Jackson said. “I really enjoy it and then it’s kind of a stress reliever too for sure—just getting really, really deep[ly] involved in the plants and repotting and things like that and learning about all the different botanical differences that they have. It’s crazy how they have so many differences, but they all can survive in one room.”
After a couple years, Jackson began looking for a brick-and-mortar location in North Long Beach and eventually opened up shop at 5263 Atlantic Ave. in June 2022.
“I wanted to find something on the north side of Long Beach because I was born and raised over there,” Jackson said. “And there’s not a really large community of plant people but it’s just shining light on the dark a little bit.”
A lot of thought goes into Got A Leaf’s inventory. Its current selection of plants includes a 22-year-old, 6-foot-high money tree and a couple of rare acacia.
“We try to focus on getting the most rare plants, the most plants that are in style,” Jackson said. “The plants come in and out of style so we try to stay up to date.”
Telani Jackson inspects one of the leaves on a plant inside the Got a Leaf plant shop on Sept. 7, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune) 
Mizty Sedano, one of the owners of Got a Leaf plant shop in Long Beach, holds a royal palm in her hands outside the front door of the shop on Sept. 7, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune) 
Thomas Jackson looks toward the camera while adjusting a display with some plants inside a custom planter in Got a Leaf plant shop on Sept. 7, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune) 
Mizty Sedano, one of the owners of Got a Leaf plant shop in North Long Beach, points to some of the artwork she made for the shop on Sept. 7, 2022. The shop owners also lease the space next door and plan to use it as an artist workshop in the future. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)
The store also features amenities such as a make-your-own soil bar and a “plant hospital” for ailing plants.
“I think what sets us apart, just the amenities that we have to connect to plant parents,” Jackson said. “Instead of just selling plants, we sell everything for plant parents to grow their plants and really care about the growth of the plants.”
For customers who want a more creative and interactive experience, Grab A Leaf offers two-hour “paint and pot” activities where participants paint wooden containers then repotting a plant into them while Jackson supervises and offers care advice, such as what soil is best for that particular plant.
The brick-and-mortar location has plans to expand, as they recently leased the space next door in order to rent it out as a workspace for artists and photographers.
“We’re here for all your plant care needs […] along with the most extremely rare plants you could ask for,” Jackson said.
Got A Leaf, located at 5263 Atlantic Ave., is open from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturdays.
