James River Nurseries
James River Nurseries is a family-owned landscape construction firm founded in 1983 in Ashland, Virginia, providing integrated landscape design, hardscape, and outdoor living services to residential homeowners, homebuilders, commercial developers, and institutional clients throughout Central Virginia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersAshland, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What James River Nurseries does
James River Nurseries is a family-owned landscape construction firm founded in 1983 by Mike Hildebrand and Al Jones in Ashland, Virginia, operating as a single-source turn-key provider of landscape design, hardscape, and outdoor living services for residential and commercial/institutional clients across Central Virginia. Its core offering spans three integrated service lines: landscape design and installation (planting, garden creation, renovation), hardscape construction (patios, driveways, retaining walls, outdoor kitchens, fire features, permeable paving), and outdoor living features (synthetic turf, putting greens, bocce courts), with specialty capabilities in green roof systems, rainwater harvesting with bio-filter BMPs, recycled mulch processing, and commercial snow removal. The firm differentiates on capital-intensive in-house growing operations, maintaining more than 200 acres of farmland in Ashland and Montpelier plus year-round greenhouses, which secures plant material supply, quality control, and cost control unavailable to sub-acre competitors.
The business operates a project-based professional services revenue model with custom quote-based pricing; no subscription or product-line revenue is disclosed. Go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer inquiries for residential work with enterprise field-sales relationships for builders, developers, general contractors, and institutional buyers. Customer concentration sits across four segments: residential homeowners, commercial developers (StyleCraft Homes, Stanley Martin Homes, The Breeden Company, Boone Homes, Youngblood Properties, Homeplaces Ltd.), institutional clients (University of Richmond, VCU, UVA Darden, Bon Secours health system, Country Club of Virginia, Kinloch, Independence Golf Club), and government projects (Virginia State Capitol, Virginia ABC Headquarters, Taylor Farm Park). Notable technical components include rainwater capture ponds feeding irrigation, green roof installation for energy/heat-island mitigation, and a closed-loop mulch recycling partnership with a supplier. The firm employs 51-100 people with average tenure above 20 years, holds no patents or AI capabilities, and operates from a historic headquarters estate on Route 623 near Ashland.
James River Nurseries firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- James River Nurseries
- Legal name
- James River Nurseries
- Website
- https://jamesrivernurseries.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- James River Nurseries is a family-owned landscape construction firm founded in 1983 in Ashland, Virginia, providing integrated landscape design, hardscape, and outdoor living services to residential homeowners, homebuilders, commercial developers, and institutional clients throughout Central Virginia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
James River Nurseries industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Landscape Construction Services
- NAICS
- Landscape Architectural Services (541320), Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Production (1114)
- SIC
- General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Seedling & Sapling Production (Bare-Root) (AFAMADAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Drainage & Field Water Control Services (Tile Installation, Ditching) (AFACAAAK)
Keywords
Where James River Nurseries is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ashland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
James River Nurseries business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Landscape Design and Installation: Full-service landscape construction including design and installation services for residential, commercial, and institutional properties. Single-source provider for all professional landscape demands.
- Hardscape Design and Construction: Full-service hardscape design and construction division offering patios, driveways, walkways, retaining walls, outdoor kitchens, fire pits, fireplaces, courtyard installations, and permeable paving solutions.
- Outdoor Living Features: Design and installation of outdoor kitchens, fire pits, fireplaces, and synthetic turf/putting greens.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom landscape construction services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
James River Nurseries product offering
Product offeringCore offering
James River Nurseries is a full-service landscape construction firm that designs and installs residential and commercial landscapes, hardscapes, and outdoor living features across Central Virginia. The company operates more than 200 acres of farmland with year-round greenhouses to cultivate plant materials in-house and delivers turn-key projects from concept through completion for homeowners, builders, developers, and institutional clients.
Product overview
James River Nurseries is a landscape construction firm offering a comprehensive suite of landscaping services rather than a software product. The company operates three primary service lines: Landscape Design and Installation (including tree/plant installation and renovation), Hardscape Services (pavers, natural stone, patios, driveways, retaining walls, outdoor kitchens, and fire features), and Outdoor Living Features (fire pits, outdoor fireplaces, synthetic turf, putting greens). Additional specialty services include green roof systems, rainwater harvesting systems, and commercial snow removal. The company serves both residential and commercial clients across Central Virginia, including developers, general contractors, and individual homeowners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Energy costs can be cut by up to 20% in summer using deciduous plants and trees for effective solar radiation interception and insulation
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use James River Nurseries
Customer profileNamed customers30 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
James River Nurseries technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
James River Nurseries partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Brookmeade Sod FarmminorContributed donated sod for Virginia Agribusiness Council Dinner event staging, partnering with James River Nurseries to create beautiful table settings and stage environments.
- Strange'sminorContributed donated cyclamen flowers for Virginia Agribusiness Council Dinner event staging, supporting James River Nurseries' event contributions.
- Saunders BrotherscoreFamily-operated wholesale nursery founded in 1915 by five brothers. Third generation family members Tom, Bennett, Jim, and Robert Saunders, with their dad Paul, operate the nursery, orchard, and farm market. Known as experts on boxwood varieties, providing expert updates and plant recommendations to James River Nurseries through regular visits and education sessions.
- The Breeden CompanycorePremier luxury apartment developer known for Enriched Lifestyle Communities featuring high-end architectural designs and natural settings. James River Nurseries has developed ongoing relationship landscaping multiple apartment communities including Marshall Springs at Gayton West and Wellsmith Apartments at Libbie Mill.
- Stanley Martin HomescoreHomebuilder founded in 1966, one of the Washington DC area's most recognized names in new home construction with over 10,000 families in Virginia and Maryland communities. Entering Richmond market from 2014-2016 as fifth homebuilding division. Drew Holzwarth, President of Southern Region, maintains trusted relationship with James River Nurseries.
- Boone HomescoreLeading Richmond area homebuilder with over 25-year working relationship with James River Nurseries. Known for quality craftsmanship, architectural integrity, energy-efficient construction, and Parade of Homes Gold Awards for outstanding curb appeal.
- Youngblood PropertiescoreFamily-owned homebuilder in Richmond area known for quality craftsmanship and attention to detail. Won multiple Parade of Homes Gold Awards for outstanding curb appeal and Best Kitchens and Baths awards. Building distinctive craftsman-style homes in tree-lined Oak Park community.
- StyleCraft HomescoreHomebuilder founded by Dale and Richard Kuhn, committed to quality and value with award-winning Design Studio. James River Nurseries completed landscape design for The Landing at Swift Creek community on Swift Creek Reservoir, featuring 60 spacious homesites.
- Homeplaces, Ltd.coreCustom home builder partnering with James River Nurseries for landscape design and installation. Designed by Eric Schlosser with exquisite garden beds and carefully selected trees for Kinloch community.
- Gumenick PropertiescoreDeveloper of Libbie Mill mixed-use development. James River Nurseries serves as landscaping contractor for this major mixed-use project, collaborating on Wellsmith Apartments and ongoing development phases.
- KBSGC Inc.minorConstruction partner working with James River Nurseries on Libbie Mill development project.
- Hourigan GroupcoreConstruction firm serving as general contractor for Hyatt House Virginia Beach Oceanfront project. James River Nurseries' hardscape team creating outdoor space including pool area under this partnership.
- 3northminorDesign firm led by Jill Nolt and Jay Hugo, invited James River Nurseries to contribute landscaping for Virginia Capital Trail western trailhead at Great Shiplock Park.
- Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association (VNLA)coreState industry association where James River Nurseries sponsors Winter Symposium and Short Course. Hosts native plant walks for Virginia ASLA members at James River Nurseries nursery. Team participates in CVNLA Workdays at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden alongside TrueTimber Arborists and John Richmond Landscaping.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
James River Nurseries competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ruppert Landscape: Ruppert is a privately held, Mid-Atlantic-rooted commercial landscape construction and maintenance firm with deep builder/developer relationships and integrated nursery operations. Closely matches JRN's combination of in-house growing fields, hardscape capabilities, and developer pipeline across the East Coast.
- BrightView Landscapes: BrightView is the largest commercial landscape services company in the US, offering landscape design, installation, and maintenance for enterprise clients including homebuilders, developers, and institutional customers. Directly comparable to JRN's full-service landscape construction model, but at much larger national scale.
- Level Green Landscaping: Level Green is a Mid-Atlantic commercial landscape contractor serving developers, builders, and institutional clients with design-build services. Comparable regional positioning, enterprise customer mix, and turnkey landscape + hardscape delivery model.
- Bartlett Tree Experts: Bartlett is a national tree care and landscape services firm operating across the eastern US with strong arboricultural expertise and institutional clients. Overlaps with JRN's tree and plant installation work for universities, country clubs, and private estates.
- Chapel Valley Landscape Company: Chapel Valley is a Mid-Atlantic commercial landscape design-build and maintenance firm serving HOAs, builders, and commercial developers. Highly comparable customer base (production homebuilders, mixed-use developers) and service model to JRN.
Broad incumbents
- Davey Tree Expert Company: Davey is a large, established employee-owned tree care and landscape services firm with utility vegetation management as a significant line. Comparable tree/installation capabilities but much broader and more diversified than JRN's pure-play landscape construction focus.
- The Bruce Company: The Bruce Company is a Wisconsin-based full-service landscape design, build, and maintenance firm serving commercial and residential clients with integrated nursery operations. Mirrors JRN's design-build-grow integrated model but in a different geographic market.
Others
- SiteOne Landscape Supply: SiteOne is the largest US distributor of landscape supplies, nursery stock, hardscape materials, and irrigation products. Not a direct competitor but a critical supplier ecosystem participant whose product range, pricing, and availability materially affect JRN's input costs and project economics.
Regional players
- Franco's Landscaping: Franco's is a mid-sized Northeast commercial landscape contractor serving developers, builders, and institutional clients with design-build and maintenance services. Comparable enterprise customer mix and turnkey delivery approach but operating primarily in NJ/NY/PA.
- Calloway & Son Landscape & Nursery: Calloway & Son is a Hampton Roads / Virginia-based landscape and nursery firm with similar plant-nursery and design-build capabilities. Comparable vertically integrated model and Central/Eastern Virginia market overlap, though operating in a different regional cluster than JRN.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
James River Nurseries social profiles
Digital presenceJames River Nurseries financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
James River Nurseries leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
James River Nurseries funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
James River Nurseries M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about James River Nurseries
What does James River Nurseries do?
James River Nurseries is a full-service landscape construction firm that designs and installs residential and commercial landscapes, hardscapes, and outdoor living features across Central Virginia. The company operates more than 200 acres of farmland with year-round greenhouses to cultivate plant materials in-house and delivers turn-key projects from concept through completion for homeowners, builders, developers, and institutional clients.
Is James River Nurseries a public or private company?
James River Nurseries is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was James River Nurseries founded?
James River Nurseries was founded in 1983. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is James River Nurseries based?
James River Nurseries is headquartered in Ashland, United States, in the North America region.
How does James River Nurseries make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Landscape Design and Installation is the primary driver. The others are hardscape Design and Construction and outdoor Living Features.
Who are James River Nurseries's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ruppert Landscape, BrightView Landscapes, Level Green Landscaping, Bartlett Tree Experts and Chapel Valley Landscape Company. Broad incumbents are Davey Tree Expert Company and The Bruce Company. SiteOne Landscape Supply is listed as an others. Regional players are Franco's Landscaping and Calloway & Son Landscape & Nursery.
Does James River Nurseries have an API?
No public API is recorded for James River Nurseries.
What industry is James River Nurseries in?
James River Nurseries's product category is Landscape Construction Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAMADAC, Seedling & Sapling Production (Bare-Root), with a secondary code of AFACAAAK, Drainage & Field Water Control Services (Tile Installation, Ditching). Its NAICS code is 541320 and its SIC code is 1520.