The business was founded in 1865 by James Dobbie, who created a seeds business named Dobbie & Co. in Renfrew, Scotland.
 After being awarded the Royal Warrant for Gardeners and Nurserymen to the Royal Household, the company expanded into a seed catalogue business, where it built up a customer base of 50,000 over the following century.

In 1969 the company expanded out of its Scottish base into England, and was floated on AIM in 1987.
Up until 1984 Dobbies continued to operate principally as a seed merchant.
It was then bought out by David Barnes, managing director of Waterers.
 Between 1984 and 1989 Dobbies opened five new garden centres in Scotland.

The company was floated on the Stock Exchange in 1997 and this led to Dobbies expanding their garden centre operations further South into England.
The business was founded in 1865 by James Dobbie, who created a seeds business named Dobbie & Co. in Renfrew, Scotland.  After being awarded the Royal Warrant for Gardeners and Nurserymen to the Royal Household, the company expanded into a seed catalogue business, where it built up a customer base of 50,000 over the following century.
In 1969 the company expanded out of its Scottish base into England, and was floated on AIM in 1987. Up until 1984 Dobbies continued to operate principally as a seed merchant. It was then bought out by David Barnes, managing director of Waterers.  Between 1984 and 1989 Dobbies opened five new garden centres in Scotland.
The company was floated on the Stock Exchange in 1997 and this led to Dobbies expanding their garden centre operations further South into England.
Dobbies Garden Centres