Go Native: the Business of Native Plants

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.

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.

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.

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.

The one constant in our lives is change. We'll have a new host for Go Native in 2023. Join us in saying thank you and goodbye to our amazing inaugural host, Mitzy Sosa, and find out what's coming up next.

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.

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.