Three Founders, One Living Vision: The Story of The Plant Daddies

Designing with nature isn’t just about how a space looks, it’s about how it lives, breathes, and evolves over time. This Earth Month, 1 Hotel West Hollywood welcomes The Plant Daddies, the Los Angeles–based plant design studio known for transforming interiors through thoughtful, biophilic design.

Working at the intersection of horticulture and interiors, the trio sources rare and character-rich plants, creates custom installations, and integrates living elements into homes, hotels, and creative spaces. In a city like Los Angeles, where the line between indoors and outdoors is constantly blurred, their work reflects a growing desire to bring nature inside, not as an afterthought, but as a defining element of how a space feels.

That philosophy closely mirrors our own. At 1 Hotels, biophilic design is foundational, rooted in the belief that connection to nature enhances wellbeing and shapes the way we experience a space. With The Plant Daddies, that shared ethos takes on a more personal, expressive form, where each plant is selected with intention and a sensitivity to the environment it inhabits.

Known for sourcing rare specimens and treating plants as living works of art, what began as a shared passion has grown into a practice grounded in community, creativity, and care. To celebrate the collaboration, guests are invited to join The Plant Daddies for an Earth Month conversation exploring the beauty of imperfection, the art of living design, and the role nature plays in shaping how we gather, live, and feel.

We sat down with the trio to talk about their journey, the instinct behind sourcing the perfect plant, and how community continues to shape the way they design and create.
 

Planting the Vision with Kenny Rickerd, Co-Founder of Plant Daddies

What first sparked your connection to the natural world, and how did that passion evolve into the brand you've built together?

The Plant Daddies came through the people before it came through the plants. Dane grew up working at a nursery in Virginia, and that early relationship with horticulture never left him. It shaped the way he sees plants as living, sculptural forms rather than just décor. Macy's journey was different but just as genuine. He became obsessed with growing passion fruit after a trip to Hawaii, documenting every stage on Instagram until people started calling him "The Plant Daddy." Kenny came in as the third partner, drawn by the vision these two had and the opportunity to help build something real around it. What I found once I was inside the business was that plants are an incredible medium. They carry energy, they transform a space, and they connect people to something living and authentic. That's what we've built the brand around.

You source rare specimens from across California, Arizona, and Hawaii. What does the search for the right plant look like, and how do you know when you've found one that will truly define a space?

The search is part instinct, part obsession. We are always sourcing and looking for trees. Everywhere we drive, online, word of mouth, referrals to private growers and collectors. Its a constant hunt. We're looking for plants that have presence. Specimens with a strong silhouette, unusual texture, or a form that reads like sculpture. A lot of what we do is source plants that were grown outdoors and acclimate them to thrive indoors in the California environment. That process takes care and expertise, and it's a big part of why our installations hold up long-term. And the vessel matters just as much as the plant itself. When the pairing is right the plant, the pot, the scale, the placement you feel it immediately.

Your brand feels as much about community as it does about greenery. How has building that network of fellow enthusiasts shaped the way you approach your work today?

Community is genuinely how this whole thing started. Dane and Macy were working out together in a parking lot during the pandemic when the idea was planted. Born from friendship and shared energy. From those early days of selling on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, to building a following on Instagram, to our partnership with Berbere Imports which put us in front of some of the top interior designers in Southern California. Every major chapter has been about the right people finding each other. That network continues to shape how we work. We're constantly listening, learning, and collaborating with designers, collectors, and enthusiasts who push our thinking. The plant world attracts genuinely passionate people, and being embedded in that community keeps the work feeling alive.

Los Angeles has a distinct relationship with nature — from lush gardens to desert landscapes. How has the city shaped your perspective on design and the role living elements play in our daily environments?

LA is such a layered place. In the same week we might be working in a sleek modern home in the Hollywood Hills, a sun-drenched estate in Orange County, and a commercial space in the heart of the city. That range keeps you constantly adapting and thinking about how plants interact with light, architecture, and lifestyle differently depending on where you are. What the city has taught us is that people here genuinely want nature inside their homes. Not as an afterthought, but as a central element of how a space feels. LA also gives us incredible access to growing climates in San Diego and beyond, which means we can source and acclimate plants that most of the country simply can't work with. The city fuels what we do in a very real, practical way.

What makes a great starter companion for someone beginning their journey with houseplants?

The best starter plant is one that gives you a little room to figure things out. Something with personality and presence that doesn't punish you for the occasional missed watering. We always tell beginners to think about the light they actually have in their space before falling in love with a plant. From there, we look for something that will make them feel something when they walk past it because that emotional connection is what turns a starter plant into a lifelong obsession. At the end of the day, our "Baby Daddies" are curated to be genuinely beautiful right from the start. We want your first plant to feel like an upgrade to your space, not a science experiment. When it thrives, you'll want another and that's exactly how it's supposed to go.