Plant Nurseries & Garden Centers in Tennessee
Explore 290 local plant nurseries across 39 cities.
Top Rated Farms in TN
Pope's Plant Farm
Wholesale and Retail Horticultural Nursery. Top products: annuals, perennials, succulents, trees, flowers. Pope's Plant Farm is a multi-faceted horticultural business based in Greenback, Tennessee, founded by James E. “Bubba” Pope. The company operates as both a large-scale wholesale growing division and a network of retail garden centers located in Knoxville and Maryville. Their production encompasses a wide variety of plant material, including annuals, perennials, and a significant specialization in succulents through their national program. By bridging the gap between large-scale commercial production and consumer-facing retail outlets, Pope's serves both local homeowners and industry professionals. The business maintains a strong focus on traditional nursery production, emphasizing the cultivation of diverse plant species. With a long-standing history in the region, the company continues to function as a primary source for regional landscaping supplies and residential garden stock, maintaining a reputation built on horticultural expertise and community engagement.
Riverbend Nurseries Wholesale
Full-Service Wholesale and Retail Nursery. Top products: Trees, Shrubs, Perennials, Annuals, Vegetables. Established in 1990, Riverbend Nurseries is a family-owned and operated horticultural business located in Franklin, Tennessee. Spanning 275 acres, the facility operates as both a wholesale nursery and a retail garden center, serving both individual homeowners and professional landscapers. They cultivate an extensive catalog of over 1,500 plant varieties, specifically curated for the conditions of planting zone 7 in Middle Tennessee. Their core operations focus on the production of a diverse range of ornamental trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, and vegetable starts. Beyond plant sales, the nursery emphasizes community education, offering professional gardening tips and horticultural guidance to ensure plant success for local gardeners. Their site features a year-round retail operation dedicated to providing high-quality, locally grown plant material and fostering a comprehensive gardening resource for the Williamson County region.
Shy Valley Farm Studio & Garden
Native plant and herb nursery. Top products: Native plants, Herbs, Heirloom tomatoes, Specialty peppers, Edible vegetable starts. Shy Valley Farm Studio & Garden is a family-owned, environmentally conscious nursery located in Fall Branch, Tennessee, established in 2001. Specializing in wildlife-friendly, native plants, medicinal and culinary herbs, and heirloom vegetable starts, the farm focuses on promoting regional biodiversity and supporting habitat restoration. Their growing practices are strictly eco-friendly, utilizing no chemical pesticides, transitioning to peat-free media, and recycling containers. The business operates as a mother-son led horticultural operation, serving homeowners and gardeners looking to create edible landscapes and pollinator-friendly habitats. In addition to plant sales, the site features a pottery studio established by Philip Shivell, offering handcrafted, functional stoneware. The farm provides extensive educational resources for the Appalachian Highlands region, emphasizing native plant basics, deer-resistant gardening, and sustainable habitat creation. Access to the nursery is currently by appointment, reflecting their hands-on, small-scale production model.
Botanico, Inc
Wholesale shade and ornamental nursery. Top products: Shade trees, Ornamental trees, Shrubs, B&B trees. Founded in 1983 by Bob Flanders and Dabney Turley, Botanico, Inc. operates as a wholesale nursery currently led by President Jon Flanders. The company specializes in the cultivation of shade and ornamental trees, as well as a variety of shrubs, utilizing both container-grown and field-grown ball-and-burlap (B&B) production methods. Serving a primarily professional wholesale clientele, the nursery focuses on producing high-quality horticultural stock for landscaping and development projects. Beyond traditional nursery production, the company promotes their 'Smart-Tree' initiative, which emphasizes the natural photosynthetic efficiency and environmental benefits of their trees, such as air purification, soil stability, and water quality improvement. Operating out of their production facility, they manage rigorous shipping and logistics schedules to support large-scale distribution throughout their hardiness zone-based service areas.
Butler's Korner Botanical Boutique
Goodlettsville Garden Center
Lilian Rose’s Garden
Mountain Stream Farms LLC
Pine Knoll Nursery
Clifford's Perennial & Vine
Wholesale Perennial Nursery. Top products: Perennials, Rare and unique ornamental plants, Foundational perennials. Clifford's Perennial & Vine is a specialized wholesale perennial nursery serving independent garden centers across the Southeastern United States. Founded over 40 years ago and currently operated by second-generation grower John Clifford, the nursery carries on a legacy of horticultural expertise and industry leadership. The operation focuses on cultivating high-quality, 'Grown with Love' plants that are specifically acclimated to the southern climate, ensuring reliability and success for regional landscapes. The business maintains a robust catalog that balances essential foundational perennials with a curated selection of new, rare, and unique botanical varieties. By continuously researching new plant materials and leveraging decades of growing experience, the nursery provides retail garden centers with a dependable supply chain for both traditional and specialty gardening needs. Their mission centers on professional-grade quality, plant health, and supporting the independent nursery market with premium nursery stock.
Evins Mill Nursery
Ornamental and Landscape Nursery. Top products: Landscape trees, Ornamental shrubs, Perennials, Nursery stock. Evins Mill Nursery is a professional horticultural operation located in Smithville, Tennessee, situated within the region famously recognized as the 'Nursery Capital' of the world. The business specializes in the production and distribution of high-quality landscape plants, offering a diverse inventory that serves both commercial and residential needs. As a state-certified facility, all plant inventory undergoes rigorous inspection by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to ensure stock is free from diseases and insects, meeting strict horticultural standards. They function as a traditional nursery supplier, catering to landscapers, contractors, and homeowners who require healthy, hardy plant material. With two primary locations in DeKalb County, the nursery provides professional delivery services and maintains a transparent availability catalog for clients. Their operational model prioritizes plant health, competitive pricing, and accessibility, leveraging their prime location to source and distribute regional plant varieties.
Gardens Oy Vey - An Online Nursery
Online horticultural plant supplier. Top products: Ground cover plants, Moss, Nursery-grown container plants. Gardens Oy Vey is an online plant nursery based in Memphis, Tennessee, that provides a curated selection of nursery-grown ornamental plants to customers across the continental United States. Leveraging over 35 years of horticultural expertise, the business operates as a procurement-focused retailer that sources high-quality, full-size container plants ranging from one to seven gallons in size from a network of local nurseries. While the company previously propagated its own stock, its current business model focuses on acting as a specialized supply bridge between regional growers and home gardeners. Their inventory is centered on ground covers, particularly moss varieties, though they offer a broader range of ornamental garden plants. The business also provides professional garden design and installation consultation services led by Diane. Operating exclusively as an e-commerce entity, they do not permit public access to their premises, focusing instead on streamlined logistics and direct-to-consumer shipping.
Miller’s Greenhouse
Rusty Mangrum Nursery
Wholesale fruit and shade tree nursery. Top products: Bare root fruit trees, Shade trees, Ornamental seedlings, Plug tray liners, Container grown plants. Rusty Mangrum Nursery is a Tennessee-based wholesale nursery established in 1987, specializing in the propagation and cultivation of bare root tree liners, seedlings, and container-grown plants. Starting from humble origins with sand bed propagation, the nursery has scaled production to hundreds of thousands of plants annually. Their inventory features a diverse range of fruit trees, shade trees, and ornamental varieties, including cherries, persimmons, plums, and blueberries. The business serves a broad client base, supplying wholesale nurseries and retail garden centers, while also providing high-quality plant stock directly to homeowners. With a core focus on horticultural quality and competitive pricing, the nursery remains dedicated to sustainable growth and expansion of its product catalog, which now includes advanced plug tray liner production to meet modern landscaping and agricultural demands.
Scenic Hills Nursery
Wholesale Ornamental Tree Nursery. Top products: Ornamental trees, Shade trees, Evergreens, Liners. Scenic Hills Nursery is a large-scale wholesale nursery situated in McMinnville, Tennessee, a region globally recognized as the 'Nursery Capital of the World.' Operating across an expansive 1,100 acres of farmland, the company functions as a primary supplier for professional landscape architects, commercial developers, and residential landscapers across the United States. Their core business model centers on the production and distribution of a diverse range of botanical stock, with a specific focus on high-quality ornamental trees, shade trees, and various evergreen varieties. They also produce liners to support other horticultural operations. The nursery emphasizes a consultative approach, often collaborating directly with project designers to hand-select suitable plant materials for specific landscape applications, ranging from large-scale commercial developments to residential projects. By leveraging their significant acreage and regional agricultural expertise, Scenic Hills Nursery serves as a critical link in the national horticultural supply chain, providing mature and nursery-grown stock to the professional green industry.
Blankenship Farms and Nursery
Wholesale container and B&B nursery. Top products: container liners, B&B trees. Blankenship Farms and Nursery is a professional horticultural operation specializing in the cultivation of high-quality container liners and ball-and-burlap (B&B) trees. The nursery maintains a rigorous focus on technical growing standards, including precise grading practices, integrated pest management, and optimized plant nutrition to ensure the production of vigorous, healthy stock. Their business model centers on delivering sustainable, robust plant material to a professional customer base, including landscape contractors, wholesale buyers, and commercial growers. By emphasizing consistency in their production cycles, Blankenship Farms and Nursery positions itself as a reliable supplier within the nursery trade. The facility operates as a dedicated growing operation, prioritizing the horticultural health of their woody ornamentals and tree stock over retail display, maintaining a clear commitment to specialized arboriculture and supply-side nursery production.
Lowry's Farmhouse Nursery
Millers Cove Native Plants
Native Pollinator Plant Nursery. Top products: Native pollinator plants, Host plants for wildlife, Locally sourced ecotype perennials. Millers Cove Native Plants is a specialized plant nursery located in East Tennessee, dedicated to the propagation and sale of local ecotype native plants. Founded in 2024 by Milly, the nursery focuses on cultivating species that support regional pollinators, wildlife, and natural biodiversity. Their horticultural practices are rooted in responsible, pesticide-free propagation methods, ensuring the ecological integrity of their inventory. The business serves local homeowners and garden enthusiasts who are interested in ecological gardening and habitat restoration. Unlike traditional retail garden centers, the nursery operates primarily through a self-pay roadside 'Plant Stand' located at the intersection of W Millers Cove Rd. and Flynn Rd., supplemented by pre-ordered pickup options for specific native species. By concentrating on plants that are often difficult to source at commercial garden centers, the business aims to bridge the gap between regional ecological needs and residential landscaping availability.
Browse by City
The Nursery & Garden Center Market in Tennessee
Tennessee currently supports a network of 251 verified nurseries, reflecting a robust horticultural sector fueled by both local demand and favorable growing conditions. The market displays a clear geographic distribution, with a heavy concentration in middle Tennessee. Garden centers across the state range from massive retail operations to specialized boutique plant shops, catering to a diverse clientele of residential gardeners and commercial landscape architects. The density of these businesses correlates strongly with population growth and urban sprawl in the state's primary economic corridors. As land values shift in metropolitan areas like Nashville and Murfreesboro, the business model for these garden centers has transitioned from purely production-based farming to high-end retail and design services.
Top Cities for Nurseries & Garden Centers
Data indicates that nursery hubs are primarily centered around urban growth. Nashville leads the state with 26 identified locations, followed closely by Murfreesboro with 23, and Tullahoma with 20. Cookeville and Knoxville round out the top tier with 18 locations each. This clustering effect is no coincidence. Higher-density cities provide a consistent customer base, better logistics for shipping nursery stock, and access to a professional labor pool skilled in horticulture. In cities like Chattanooga, with 14 documented sites, or Memphis, also with 14, businesses often integrate into the community as destinations for native plant education. The presence of establishments like Stanley’s Greenhouse or The Barn Nursery exemplifies the shift toward high-service, high-quality stock that characterizes these top-tier hubs.
Tennessee Climate & Plant Selection
Success in Tennessee gardening requires navigating a complex intersection of USDA hardiness zones and soil conditions. Most of the state falls within zones 6b to 8a. This temperature variance dictates the inventory available at local garden centers. Nurseries must stock a mix of cold-hardy perennials for the northern regions and heat-tolerant cultivars for the southern areas. The state’s soil composition, often characterized by heavy red clay, remains a major challenge. Consequently, nurseries prioritize the sale of soil amendments, compost, and raised bed supplies alongside traditional stock. Rainfall in Tennessee is relatively abundant but unevenly distributed; spring and fall wet periods often lead to root rot issues, forcing garden centers to prioritize well-draining species and drought-tolerant native plants. The transition to native plant dominance—such as Echinacea, Rudbeckia, and various oak species—is a response to the state’s humid subtropical climate. Nurseries have pivoted away from water-intensive ornamental species to focus on stock that can withstand the extreme temperature swings and high summer humidity that define the Tennessee landscape.
Sourcing Plants Locally in TN
- Evaluate Nursery Inventory: Check if a garden center focuses on field-grown trees or greenhouse-grown annuals. Field-grown stock often acclimates better to local soil conditions.
- Prioritize Native Plant Expertise: Businesses like Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center emphasize native biology. Source stock from providers who prioritize species native to the Cumberland Plateau or the Ridge and Valley provinces.
- Check Rating and History: High-performing operations like JVI Secret Gardens or Bates Nursery and Garden Center have established reputations based on plant viability and customer service longevity.
- Assess Logistics: If you are a commercial landscaper, look for nurseries with established wholesale capacity near the Nashville or Knoxville corridors to minimize plant stress during transit.
- Seasonal Shopping: Visit nurseries during the early spring or late autumn months. This is when stock is fresh and the inventory reflects the current planting window for the state’s specific USDA zones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When is the best time to plant in Tennessee?
A: In Tennessee, the optimal planting windows are typically mid-spring, once the threat of the final frost has passed, and mid-autumn. Fall planting is particularly beneficial for trees and shrubs, as it allows root systems to establish in cooling soil temperatures before the onset of the next summer's heat and humidity. Always monitor local soil moisture levels during these transitions to ensure successful establishment.
Q: Why is planting native species recommended in Tennessee?
A: Native plants, such as purple coneflower or oak species, are genetically adapted to Tennessee's specific soil chemistry and climate cycles. They require fewer fertilizers and significantly less supplemental water than non-native cultivars. By choosing native species, you are actively supporting local pollinators and reducing the maintenance burden often associated with exotic plants that struggle in the state's heavy clay soils.
Q: How do I handle Tennessee's heavy clay soil?
A: Most Tennessee garden centers strongly recommend incorporating organic matter, such as compost or aged pine bark, into your soil before planting. This improves drainage and aeration, which is critical for preventing root rot during the state's wet spring seasons. For specific projects, consider building raised beds to bypass heavy native clay entirely, allowing for a custom-blended, well-draining soil medium for your perennials and vegetables.
Q: What is the primary difference between zone 6b and 8a in Tennessee?
A: The primary difference is the average annual extreme minimum temperature. Zone 6b, found in higher elevations like the Cumberland Plateau, experiences colder winters, often dipping down to -5 degrees Fahrenheit. Zone 8a, found further south or in protected urban pockets, rarely reaches those extremes. Nurseries categorize their inventory accordingly, ensuring that frost-sensitive tropicals are not marketed to growers in the colder mountainous regions of the state.
Q: Should I buy greenhouse-grown or field-grown plants?
A: Field-grown plants are often more resilient and acclimated to local environmental fluctuations, making them ideal for long-term landscapes. Greenhouse-grown plants offer higher aesthetic consistency and are excellent for immediate seasonal impact. For permanent landscape fixtures like trees, field-grown stock generally exhibits better root structure. However, always inspect the root ball for signs of circling or container constriction before purchasing any plant material from a nursery.
