Crowders Nurseries

What Crowders Nurseries does

Crowders Nurseries is one of the UK's oldest continuously operating wholesale nurseries, established in 1798 and now operating across approximately 140 hectares on three sites in Lincolnshire. The business propagates and grows ornamental shrubs, trees (bare root, root ball and container formats), cell-grown trees, herbaceous plants and forestry stock, self-propagating around two-thirds of its ornamental shrubs in-house. Annual production capacity is reported at 500,000+ cell-grown trees and 500,000+ herbaceous plants. The customer base spans commercial landscape contractors, public-sector and infrastructure clients (including a major multi-million-tree HS2 supply contract, Crossrail and London 2012 Olympics legacy works), local authority and heritage sites (Lincoln Cathedral, Swindon Borough Council), trade customers (with a £500 minimum trade account) and the Channel Islands.

The business model is wholesale trade: revenue is generated by selling young plants and finished stock in volume to professional buyers under trade terms, with free delivery offered above a £3,000 order threshold. Operational standards are underpinned by Plant Healthy Certification and trade-body memberships (BALI, HTA), which act as prerequisites for major public-sector tenders. Following the retirement of Robert Crowder and the end of seven generations of family ownership, the company was acquired by RSK Group in June 2023 and is now led by joint Managing Directors Simon Hawtin and James Carter. Recent investment has focused on cell-grown tree production (a new Keeder Polytunnel and Urbinati lander seeding machine supporting the August 2025 formal launch of the cell-grown tree line), and the business has been recognised with Pro Landscaper Best Plant Nursery awards in 2021 and 2022 and Best Contract Grower in 2025.

Name

Crowders Nurseries

Legal name

W Crowder & Sons Ltd

Website

https://crowdersnurseries.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1798

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Crowders Nurseries is a Lincolnshire-based wholesale nursery, founded in 1798, supplying ornamental shrubs, trees, cell-grown forestry stock and herbaceous plants to commercial landscapers, public-sector infrastructure clients and trade customers across the UK and Channel Islands, now owned by RSK Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wholesale Nursery Plants and Forestry Stock

NAICS

Nursery and Floriculture Production (11142), Nursery and Tree Production (111421), Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products (11321), Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Production (1114)

akta.pro primary industry

Nursery Production (Woody Ornamentals: Trees, Shrubs, Roses) (AFAGAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Forest Nurseries & Tree Seedling Production (IMAMAAAC), Seedling & Sapling Production (Containerized) (AFAMADAD), Seedling & Sapling Production (Bare-Root) (AFAMADAC), Landscape Plant & Nursery Stock Wholesalers (Grower-Wholesalers) (AFAGAHAM)

Keywords

• Wholesale nursery plants
• Forestry tree supply
• Contract plant growing
• Ornamental shrub production
• Cell-grown tree propagation

Headquarters

HQ city

Horncastle

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Plant Sales: Direct wholesale sales of plants, shrubs, trees, and forestry stock to commercial landscape professionals, landowners, and public sector organisations. Revenue generated through product sales with quote-based pricing and minimum trade account threshold of £500.
2. Contract Growing Services: Custom growing services for projects requiring specific plant specifications, seed provenance, or timeline requirements. Allows tailoring of cost, timing, materials (peat-free compost, biodegradable pots), and traceable provenance. Customers receive plants exactly when needed beyond traditional growing season.
3. Plant Protection Products: Sale of tree shelters, stakes, bamboo canes, and protection products including biodegradable and recyclable options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Crowders Nurseries is a wholesale nursery producing and supplying UK-grown plants, forestry trees, cell-grown trees, and plant protection products to commercial landscape professionals, public sector organisations, and landowners. Operating 140 hectares across three sites in Lincolnshire, the company grows over 500,000 herbaceous plants and 500,000 cell-grown trees annually, and offers bespoke contract growing services for major infrastructure projects including HS2, Crossrail and the London 2012 Olympics.

Product overview

Crowders Nurseries operates as a wholesale nursery offering a comprehensive portfolio of plant materials and horticultural services. Their core offerings include herbaceous plants and shrubs (over 300 varieties, 500,000 plants annually), forestry and trees (UK native broadleaf and ornamental species in bare root, root balled, or container stock), and cell-grown trees (over 500,000 cells annually with extended planting season benefits). These core products are complemented by contract growing services for bespoke production, instant hedging solutions for immediate impact, and plant/tree protection products including biodegradable shelters. The company operates 140 hectares across three nursery sites in Lincolnshire, serving commercial landscapers, architects, private domestic clients, and public sector organisations across the UK and Channel Islands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Herbaceous Plants and Shrubs Over 300 varieties of perennials, ornamental shrubs, ferns, grasses, bamboos, climbing plants and conifers, with 500,000 plants potted annually from liner material on own production facility. Supply wholesale to commercial landscapers, architects, designers and the public sector.
• Forestry and Trees Diverse selection of UK native broadleaf trees and ornamental trees, available in bare root, root balled, or container stock. Sizes range from forestry whips to semi-mature trees up to 25cm girth. Supplied wholesale for landscape, infrastructure, forestry and regeneration projects.
• Cell-Grown Trees UK-native cell-grown trees grown in deep trays with intact root systems and protected in compost, enabling year-round planting, improved survival rates, and reduced replacement costs. Over 500,000 cells cultivated annually across hedging and tree species.
• Plant and Tree Protection Range of tree shelters, stakes and canes including Tri-Pack Defender shrub/tree shelters (60-180cm), Tubex Nature biodegradable shelters, Rainbow Terra biodegradable shelters, clear spirals, bamboo canes, and round and square tree stakes. Includes biodegradable and recyclable options.
• Contract Growing Services Bespoke growing of plants, shrubs and trees to customer specifications including size, timing, peat-free compost, biodegradable pots, and traceable UK seed provenance. Customers receive plants exactly when needed, with potentially 50% cost reduction versus spot purchases.
• Instant Hedging Mature, pre-grown hedging plants certified as UK-sourced and grown, supplied in hedge bags, pot grown, field grown, or in lengths. Available in evergreen and deciduous varieties, including Taxus hedging, for premium residential and commercial landscape projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% cost reduction potential through contract growing compared to spot purchases
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Woodland TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Woodland Trust to supply UK-grown trees and plants for RHS Tatton Park project garden, which won Gold. Partnership emphasises tree conservation across UK. Also working on projects requiring specific seed provenance.
• Ainsty Timber MarketingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaboration on behalf of Swindon Borough Council for Fleming Way town centre regeneration project. Sourced and planted trees, shrubs and perennial plants for regeneration works.
• Dobsons (Lincoln-based landscaping company)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLincoln-based landscaping company managed the landscaping for Lincoln Cathedral Connected project. Crowders supplied all plants and hedging including Taxus hedging.
• Ashleigh AylettminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYoung designer who collaborated with Crowders and Woodland Trust for RHS Tatton Park garden project. Won Gold and was named RHS Young Designer of the Year.
• Hiller Nurseries LtdminorOthersShortlisted alongside Crowders for Trade Nursery of the Year 2022 award, indicating competitor relationship in industry.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Notcutts Nurseries: Established UK garden centre group with integrated wholesale nursery operations across multiple categories. Broader incumbent with overlapping plant production capabilities but distributed across a wider retail portfolio rather than trade-focused like Crowders.

Direct peers

• Deepdale Trees: UK wholesale tree nursery specialising in container-grown and field-grown trees for landscape contractors and public sector projects. Comparable to Crowders in tree production scale and infrastructure contract delivery.
• Tendercare Nurseries: Wholesale nursery supplying semi-mature trees, shrubs, and instant hedging to landscape architects and developers across the UK. Comparable to Crowders in mature stock and instant hedging offerings for commercial projects.
• Johnsons of Whixley: One of the UK's largest wholesale nurseries based in North Yorkshire, supplying container-grown and field-grown trees, shrubs, and hedging to landscape professionals and public sector clients. Directly comparable to Crowders in scale, customer mix, and contract growing capabilities.
• Darby Nursery Stock: Lincolnshire-based wholesale nursery producing young plants and liners for the horticultural trade. Regionally and operationally comparable to Crowders with similar wholesale trade customer base in the East Midlands.
• Frank P Matthews: Specialist wholesale tree nursery in Worcestershire growing ornamental and fruit trees for the trade. Comparable to Crowders in tree-focused production scale and trade-only distribution model serving landscapers.
• Barcham Trees: UK's largest container tree nursery, specialising in instant-impact mature trees for commercial landscape and infrastructure projects. Comparable to Crowders' forestry and cell-grown tree offering with a focus on container production for year-round planting.
• Hillier Nurseries: Historic UK wholesale and retail nursery group (founded 1864) producing trees, shrubs, and ornamental plants with broad garden centre exposure. Comparable to Crowders in woody ornamental production scale and trade nursery positioning.
• Boningale Nurseries: Wholesale nursery in Shropshire producing container-grown trees, shrubs, and hedging for landscape professionals and infrastructure projects. Directly comparable to Crowders in trade-only positioning and infrastructure contract experience.
• Whetman Plants: Devon-based wholesale nursery specialising in herbaceous perennials and shrubs for landscape trade customers. Comparable to Crowders' herbaceous plants and shrubs category with similar trade-only distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Crowdersnurseries
• Facebookfacebook.com/people/Crowders-Nurseries/61577109925673
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/w-crowder-sons-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/crowdersnurseries

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Crowders Nurseries