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Go Native: the Business of Native Plants

Go Native: the Business of Native Plants

by Cammie Donaldson

Entrepreneurship How To

Season 1

National network of native plant growers and more

Learn about the Native Plant Connection, a nationwide effort to grow, inform and advance the native plant industry. Find out how you can get involved.

Danny Perkins, Perkins Direct Step, Perkins Nursery

Many nursery owners have lost small fortunes pursuing a plant they thought sure to be a hit in the marketplace. Danny and Debbie Perkins found success by devoting their resources to a small number of very useful native species. One in particular, the Saw Palmetto, Serenoa repens, a shrub palm of the southeastern U.S., surprised everyone. Well, almost everyone. Danny's dad warned him. Learn how the Perkins have navigated the nursery industry for well over 40 years and built a very good business with native plants.

David Drylie, Green Images Native Landscape Plants

David has spent over 42 years growing, selling and designing with native plants. He started his career as a native plant grower when, as a young landscape architect, he couldn't find the plants he wanted to use on his design projects. He is a pioneer of Florida's native plant movement and personally responsible for at least one of our most popular native plant introductions, muhlygrass.

Troy Springer, Springer Environmental Services

Troy started his first landscaping business when he was still in high school, and evolved a conventional mowing maintenance business to one focused on designing, installing and maintaining native landscapes that are both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional as it relates to ecosystem services. Now, he's expanding his operation to offer retail native plant sales in his community.

The National Native Seed Conference, Gage LaPierre

A little different format: Gage LaPierre, founder of the University of Florida's Native Plant Nursery on the campus of the Natural Areas Teaching Laboratory has just returned from the National Native Seed Conference in Washington, D.C., and has lots to share about seed partnership, seed strategy and the need for seed. Native seed.

Bruce Turley, a Greater Tampa Bay native plant legend

Wilcox Nursery & Landscape, a retail landscape nursery in Largo, Florida, is constantly expanding and evolving to bring better plants and possibilities to its Greater Tampa Bay customer base. Hear how Bruce Turley spent nearly 50 years learning the business, buying it from his former employer, transforming it with native plants, generating demand for new design services and finally, successfully transitioning Wilcox to a fourth generation of ownership.

Laurel and Annie Schiller Florida Native Plants Nursery

Mother daughter duo Laurel and Annie Schiller describe the evolution of their retail native plant nursery, Florida Native Plants Nursery in Sarasota, Florida, now in its 40th year and third generation of management. Learn how this rural, family-owned business works to support a healthy, nature-connected lifestyle for both its owners and their customers. Laurel and Annie talk about creating a destination to attract committed customers, the importance of education and enjoying people as well as plants, and the need to remain flexible in an unpredictable world.

Donna Legare Native Nurseries

Since its founding in 1980, Native Nurseries in Tallahassee has been bringing people and nature together in their gardens and yards. To manage landscapes, yards and gardens for the benefit of local wildlife, Donna Legare and Jody Walthall developed a native plant focused garden center and team that educate, inspire, and help their local community. Donna describes the deep relationships forged with customers and staff that contribute to ongoing success. Now in its second generation of ownership, Native Nurseries continues as a treasured community institution promoting sustainability.

Brightman Logan A Native Plant Pioneer

A pioneer in the Florida native plant industry, Brightman Logan established his first native plant nursery in 1981, in response to a growing restoration market. He has devoted his professional life to expanding the native plant industry by growing these plants to landscape quality standards and quantities, and collaborating with a variety of business, government, academic and nonprofit organizations.

Natalia Manrique & Mauricio Gonzalez NaMa Native Landscapes

NaMa native landscapes, a full-service practice in Miami dedicated to sustainable landscaping using South Florida native plants, was formed in 2019 by Natalia Manrique and Mauricio Gonzalez after they transformed their own backyard into a native ecosystem that fosters and nurtures wildlife.

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