Breeders diligently pursue what they hope will strike the market’s fancy and become a hot seller When the perennial craze hit the Northwest 40 years ago, some breeders were front and center with plants to satisfy the gardeners who couldn’t wait to create an English garden in their backyard. The passion for blowsy borders has […]
Exciting, unusual and underused shrubs
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Trees frame the garden, perennials clothe it, but shrubs give it the bones that bring everything together. Yet so many of these essential plants never make it into the landscape. Shrubs like the exquisite Camellia × williamsii ‘Night Rider’ from New Zealand with its deep maroon red flowers and brilliant, reddish-purple new growth or vibrant, […]
A corner of the market
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The path of the specialty nursery has unique challenges and rewards There are many Oregon wholesale growers that offer something for everyone. For them, it’s all about variety — growing and shipping as much of what their customers need as possible. Specialty growers, by contrast, are a whole different breed. They pick one plant and […]
Plants for pollinators
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Strong consumer interest drives demand for pollinator friendly plant selections As bees and other pollinators decline, the importance of building habitat in home gardens, parks, fields and commercial properties has edged into the public consciousness. Wholesale and retail nurseries can benefit from the market demand for plants that attract and nourish bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. […]
Natural by design
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The concept of designed plant communities combines the synergy of nature with the order and beauty of horticulture Some neighbors are better than others. They’ll take in your mail, watch your dog or bring you soup when you’re sick. Then there are those who fight over boundaries or play their music at 2 a.m. So […]
Meeting demand for low-water plants
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Easy care and environmental benefits drive requests for drought-tolerant material.
The problematic plant information triangle
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The relationship between growers, retailers and the public is complicated and needs fresh ideas to stay vital.
A good fit?
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Pot-in-pot nursery production requires a large investment but can pay off big for growers.
Improving on the classics
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Repeat-blooming hydrangeas and hardy, more colorful echinaceas are just two examples of market-tested plants that found renewed life through varietal improvement.
Repairing the prairie
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Restoration efforts in the Willamette Valley have turned native plants and seeds into hot commodities