Crowders Nurseries
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1798
- HeadquartersHorncastle, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
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.
Crowders Nurseries firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Crowders Nurseries industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Crowders Nurseries is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Horncastle
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Crowders Nurseries business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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.
- Plant Protection Products: Sale of tree shelters, stakes, bamboo canes, and protection products including biodegradable and recyclable options.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Wholesale trade accounts for verified trade customers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
Crowders Nurseries product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Crowders Nurseries
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Crowders Nurseries technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Crowders Nurseries partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Woodland TrustcoreCollaboration 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 MarketingminorCollaboration 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)minorLincoln-based landscaping company managed the landscaping for Lincoln Cathedral Connected project. Crowders supplied all plants and hedging including Taxus hedging.
- Ashleigh AylettminorYoung 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 LtdminorShortlisted alongside Crowders for Trade Nursery of the Year 2022 award, indicating competitor relationship in industry.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Crowders Nurseries competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad 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
Crowders Nurseries social profiles
Digital presenceCrowders Nurseries compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Crowders Nurseries financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Crowders Nurseries leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Crowders Nurseries funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Crowders 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 Crowders Nurseries
What does Crowders Nurseries do?
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.
Is Crowders Nurseries a public or private company?
Crowders Nurseries is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Crowders Nurseries founded?
Crowders Nurseries was founded in 1798. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Crowders Nurseries based?
Crowders Nurseries is headquartered in Horncastle, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Crowders Nurseries make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Wholesale Plant Sales are the primary driver. The others are contract Growing Services and plant Protection Products.
Who are Crowders Nurseries's main competitors?
Notcutts Nurseries is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Deepdale Trees, Tendercare Nurseries, Johnsons of Whixley, Darby Nursery Stock, Frank P Matthews, Barcham Trees, Hillier Nurseries, Boningale Nurseries and Whetman Plants.
Does Crowders Nurseries have an API?
No public API is recorded for Crowders Nurseries.
What industry is Crowders Nurseries in?
Crowders Nurseries's product category is Wholesale Nursery Plants and Forestry Stock. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAGAHAF, Nursery Production (Woody Ornamentals: Trees, Shrubs, Roses), with a secondary code of IMAMAAAC, Forest Nurseries & Tree Seedling Production. Its NAICS code is 11142.