What Kankakee Nursery does

Kankakee Nursery is a wholesale-only grower of trees, evergreens, flowering shrubs, bare root stock, and native plants, headquartered in St. Anne, Illinois. Founded in 1925 (originally as Pottinger Nursery in 1921) and now in its fourth generation of family ownership by the Worth family, the nursery operates on more than 2,500 acres in Illinois, producing hundreds of thousands of plants across more than 100 varieties annually. The company sells exclusively to commercial customers, including landscape supply centers, landscape contractors, garden centers, municipalities, and non-profits, throughout the United States and Canada, and it is not open to the general public.

The nursery's core production model is vertically integrated propagation. The majority of trees are developed on-site from seed and cuttings, giving the company near-complete control from propagation to finished plant. The product line includes container-grown trees in a pot-in-pot system, traditional balled-and-burlapped field-grown trees, evergreens, flowering shrubs, native plants (such as native oaks, serviceberries, and American hornbeam), and bare root stock. An online availability system is updated daily to provide real-time inventory visibility to wholesale customers, and an annual catalog supports the sales motion.

Kankakee Nursery generates revenue exclusively through B2B wholesale plant sales with a $2,000 minimum order requirement and no direct-to-public channel. Distribution is executed through a network of at least seven regional sales representatives covering distinct U.S. territories plus Canada, supplemented by active memberships in 10+ state and regional green-industry associations and partnerships with organizations such as AmericanHort, the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, and The Morton Arboretum. Pricing is quote-based and gated behind a wholesale login; no public pricing is disclosed. The company supports approximately 100 employee families and is led by President Mike O'Gorman alongside fourth-generation Worth family members.

Name

Kankakee Nursery

Legal name

Kankakee Nursery

Website

https://kankakeenursery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Kankakee Nursery is a fourth-generation, family-owned wholesale grower of trees, evergreens, shrubs, bare root, and native plants operating across 2,500+ acres in Illinois, selling exclusively to landscape supply centers, contractors, municipalities, and non-profits throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wholesale Nursery Stock

NAICS

Nursery and Tree Production (111421), Nursery and Floriculture Production (11142)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Landscape Plant & Nursery Stock Wholesalers (Grower-Wholesalers) (AFAGAHAM), Nursery Stock & Propagule Production (Cuttings, Rootstocks, Grafts) (AFAGAIAO)

Keywords

• Wholesale nursery stock
• Container grown trees
• Balled burlapped trees
• Flowering shrub nursery
• Native plant propagation

Headquarters

HQ city

Aroma Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Nursery Stock Sales: B2B wholesale sales of trees, evergreens, flowering shrubs, bare root plants, and native plants to landscape supply centers, landscape contractors, garden centers, municipalities, and non-profits throughout the US and Canada.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Kankakee Nursery is a wholesale-only grower and distributor of premium nursery stock including container trees (pot-in-pot), balled-and-burlapped field-grown trees, evergreens, flowering shrubs, bare root plants, and native plants. The majority of trees are propagated internally at the 2,500-acre Illinois nursery, giving the company near-complete control from propagation to finished plant. Sales are exclusively to commercial customers — landscape supply centers, landscape contractors, garden centers, municipalities, and non-profits across the United States and Canada — with a $2,000 minimum order.

Product overview

Kankakee Nursery operates as a wholesale-only tree and plant nursery offering a comprehensive portfolio of nursery stock across multiple categories. The product lineup consists of Container Trees (pot-in-pot system), Balled and Burlapped Trees, Evergreens, Flowering Shrubs, Native Plants, and Bare Root Stock. Products are organized by type into Shade Trees, Ornamental Trees, Fall Dig Risk Trees, and Container Trees. The nursery grows over hundreds of varieties across approximately 2,500 acres in Illinois and sells exclusively to landscape supply centers, landscape contractors, garden centers, municipalities, and non-profits throughout the United States and Canada, with a minimum order requirement of $2,000.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Container Trees (Pot-in-Pot) Container-grown trees planted in a pot-in-pot system, offering year-round availability and easier handling for landscape contractors and garden centers.
• Balled and Burlapped (B&B) Trees Field-grown trees with root balls wrapped in burlap, the traditional method for transplanting large specimen trees.
• Evergreens A variety of evergreen trees and shrubs including arborvitae, junipers, and boxwoods for year-round greenery in landscapes.
• Flowering Shrubs Deciduous shrubs that produce ornamental flowers, including hydrangeas, lilacs, viburnums, and dogwoods.
• Native Plants Plants native to North America that support local ecosystems and wildlife, including native oaks, serviceberries, and American hornbeam.
• Bare Root Stock Trees and shrubs sold without soil around the roots, typically available during dormancy season for cost-effective planting.
• Shade Trees Large-canopy trees providing shade, including maples, oaks, elms, and honeylocusts in various sizes.
• Ornamental Trees Trees grown for decorative purposes including flowering crabs, redbuds, and Japanese maples with ornamental features.
• 2026 Wholesale Catalog Annual wholesale catalog distributed to commercial customers and mailing list subscribers, listing available nursery stock and customer documents.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hundreds of thousands of plants in production
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and regional.

• AmericanHortcoreOthersMember of AmericanHort, the national organization representing the horticulture industry
• Chicago Region Tree InitiativecoreOthersPartner supporting urban tree initiatives in the Chicago region
• Colorado Nursery & Greenhouse AssociationregionalOthersState industry association membership covering Colorado territory
• Illinois Landscape Contractor's AssociationcoreOthersHost of ILCA annual Summer Field Day; active member of Illinois green industry
• Illinois Green Industry AssociationcoreOthersSteve Worth served as President 2018-2019; Bob and Dick Worth also served as past presidents of this association
• Indiana Nursery & Landscape AssociationregionalOthersState industry association membership covering Indiana territory
• Iowa Nursery & Landscape AssociationregionalOthersState industry association membership covering Iowa territory
• Michigan Nursery & Landscape AssociationregionalOthersState industry association membership covering Michigan territory
• Minnesota Nursery & Landscape AssociationregionalOthersState industry association membership covering Minnesota territory
• The Morton ArboretumcoreOthersPartnership with The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL
• Nebraska Nursery & Landscape AssociationregionalOthersState industry association membership covering Nebraska territory
• Western Nursery & Landscape AssociationregionalOthersRegional industry association membership
• Wisconsin Nursery & Landscape AssociationregionalOthersState industry association membership covering Wisconsin territory

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Midwest Groundcovers: Midwest-based wholesale nursery producing container-grown perennials, shrubs, and small trees for landscape professionals. Comparable to Kankakee in regional wholesale nursery focus, container production methods, and landscape-contractor customer base.
• Bailey Nurseries: One of the largest wholesale nurseries in North America, headquartered in Minnesota, growing woody ornamentals, shrubs, and perennials for landscape professionals and retailers across the US. Directly comparable to Kankakee in B2B wholesale model, multi-generation family ownership, and broad product portfolio of trees and shrubs.
• J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. Family-owned wholesale grower of shade and ornamental trees headquartered in Oregon, supplying landscape professionals nationwide. Comparable to Kankakee in product mix (shade and ornamental trees), B2B wholesale model, multi-generational family ownership, and emphasis on quality propagation.
• Everde Growers: National wholesale nursery formed via the merger of several large regional growers (including Heritage Plants), producing trees, shrubs, and ornamentals for landscape and retail channels. Comparable to Kankakee in scaled wholesale nursery operations and broad product mix of trees and shrubs.
• Monrovia Nursery Company: Large wholesale grower of premium ornamental plants, shrubs, and trees sold through independent garden centers and landscape professionals across the US. Comparable to Kankakee in B2B wholesale nursery operations, broad plant portfolio, and brand-led premium positioning.
• Star Roses and Plants (Conard-Pyle): Wholesale producer of roses, woody ornamentals, and perennial plants serving landscape professionals and retailers nationwide. Directly comparable to Kankakee in B2B wholesale grower model and plant propagation expertise.
• Greenleaf Nursery Company: Wholesale grower of ornamental shrubs, trees, and roses serving landscape contractors and garden centers across the US. Comparable to Kankakee in B2B wholesale nursery operations, broad woody ornamental product portfolio, and family/privately-held ownership structure.
• Forrest Keeling Nursery: Missouri-based wholesale nursery specializing in native plants and tree propagation using Root Production Method (RPM) containers. Comparable to Kankakee in B2B wholesale nursery model, native plant offerings, and proprietary propagation expertise.

Regional players

• Siebenthaler Nurseries: Ohio-based nursery with wholesale and retail operations growing shade trees, ornamentals, and evergreens for the Midwest. Comparable to Kankakee in Midwest regional nursery operations and broad tree and shrub product portfolio, though with stronger retail presence.
• Studebaker Nurseries: Ohio-based wholesale and retail nursery producing shade, ornamental, and evergreen trees for the Midwest market. Comparable to Kankakee in wholesale nursery operations; a former employer of one of Kankakee's sales reps (Michael Porter), reinforcing direct product and market overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kankakeenursery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 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 Kankakee Nursery