Springhill Nursery

What Springhill Nursery does

Spring Hill Nurseries is a direct-to-consumer online nursery operating under the legal entity Gardens Alive, Inc., founded in 1849 and headquartered in Tipp City, Ohio. The company sells ornamental plants, shrubs, trees, roses, bulbs, vines, and garden supplies to individual home gardeners across the United States through its Shopify-based e-commerce storefront at springhillnursery.com. Pricing is unit-based, ranging from roughly $5 for supplies to $75 for standard roses and up to $220 for premium specimens such as Japanese Maples, with free shipping offered on orders over $125 and weekly promotional discounts. Geographic reach is domestic but restricted: the company cannot ship to 14 states and territories, including the entire western US (AZ, CA, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA), Alaska, Hawaii, and several island jurisdictions.

The company's core operational asset is a 1,200-acre farm on the coast of Lake Michigan where plants are cultivated, hand-prepped, and hand-packaged for direct shipment to consumers' homes. A 20-acre research facility near Tipp City, Ohio (Zone 5b-6a) supports variety trials in adverse climate and soil conditions, supplemented by growing sites in Oregon and California. Spring Hill's rose program is anchored by an exclusive partnership with Weeks Roses (in place since 1938), a 1,200-acre processing and distribution operation in Wasco, California, that breeds cultivars such as the patented 'Make Me Blush', 'Neil Diamond', and 'Koko Loko' varieties. Additional exclusive partnerships include Iseli Nursery for specialty Japanese maples and conifers, and named breeders Keith Zary and Christian Bédard oversee ongoing rose R&D.

The business model is one-time transactional e-commerce with no subscription or recurring component. Revenue is not publicly disclosed and the company reports only 6 employees, indicating Spring Hill functions as a lean brand and marketing layer within the larger Gardens Alive, Inc. parent rather than as an independent grower. The customer base is a long-tail of individual home gardeners with a secondary, non-primary segment of landscape design professionals. The company monetizes through brand heritage (175+ years), exclusive patented genetics, curated supply partnerships, and an extensive content library of planting guides and gardening videos. Recent operating activity has centered on catalog expansion, including a 76-variety Fall 2026 plant introduction.

Name

Springhill Nursery

Legal name

Gardens Alive, Inc.

Website

https://springhillnursery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1849

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Plant Nursery

NAICS

Nursery and Floriculture Production (11142), Nursery and Tree Production (111421), Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Production (1114), Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers (444240)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Retail-Building Materials, Hardware, Garden Supply (5200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Landscape Plant & Nursery Stock Wholesalers (Grower-Wholesalers) (AFAGAHAM), Seedling & Sapling Production (Bare-Root) (AFAMADAC)

Keywords

• Online plant nursery
• Rose breeding
• Ornamental shrubs
• Flowering bulbs
• Garden plants retail

Headquarters

HQ city

Tipp City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Plant and Nursery Product Sales: Direct-to-consumer e-commerce sales of ornamental plants including perennials, shrubs, trees, roses, bulbs, vines, and garden supplies. Customers purchase individual plants or bundles at unit prices with various size options ranging from bareroot to jumbo potted specimens. Orders ship directly to customers' homes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Spring Hill Nurseries is a direct-to-consumer online nursery that cultivates and ships ornamental plants, shrubs, trees, roses, flower bulbs, vines, and fruit plants to U.S. customers. The company operates a 1,200-acre farm on Lake Michigan's coast, a 20-acre Ohio research facility, and additional growing sites in Oregon and California to hand-prep and ship mature, garden-ready plants across the country.

Product overview

Spring Hill Nurseries is an online nursery retailer offering a comprehensive catalog of plants and garden products built around distinct product categories: an extensive Roses collection (Climbing, Jumbo, Shrub, Hybrid Tea, Tree, Grandiflora, Floribunda, Fortuniana) supported by their industry-leading rose program with Weeks Roses breeding partnerships; Perennials (Hostas, Phlox, Daylilies, Peonies, Irises, Coneflowers, Ornamental Grasses); Shrubs & Hedges (Hydrangeas, Butterfly Bush, Boxwood, Lilacs, Azaleas); Trees including Japanese Maples, Dogwoods, Magnolias, and Fruit Trees; Flower Bulbs (Tulips, Lilies, Daffodils); Clematis & Vines; Evergreens; and Garden Supplies. The company operates exclusive sub-brands including First Editions® plant collection, WOW!® Rose roots (Premium and Jumbo grafted roses), Jack Frost® cold-hardy Japanese Maples, and an Iseli Nursery partnership for specialty specimen plants. Their 1,200-acre farm on Lake Michigan's coast powers direct-to-consumer shipping of mature, garden-ready plants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Roses Comprehensive rose collection featuring Climbing Roses, Jumbo Roses, Shrub Roses, Hybrid Tea Roses, Tree Roses, Grandiflora, Floribunda, and Fortuniana varieties, developed through breeding partnerships with Weeks Roses.
• Perennials Extensive perennial plant selection including Shade Perennials, Sun Perennials, Coneflowers, Daylilies, Hellebore, Hostas, Irises, Ornamental Grasses, Peonies, and Phlox.
• Shrubs & Hedges Wide selection of shrubs including Hydrangeas, Butterfly Bush, Viburnum, Hibiscus, Boxwood, Azaleas & Rhododendrons, Lilacs, Evergreen Shrubs, and Deciduous Shrubs.
• Trees Diverse tree selection featuring Iseli Nursery varieties, Flowering Trees, Magnolias, Redbuds, Dogwoods, Flowering Prunus, Shade Trees, Japanese Maples, Maples, Evergreen Trees, and Fruit Trees & Bushes.
• Flower Bulbs Selection of flower bulbs including Lilies, Fall Bulbs, Tulips, Alliums, and Daffodils for seasonal planting.
• Clematis & Vines Climbing vines including Clematis varieties (Early Large Flowering, Late Large Flowering, Green Prune, Red Prune, Yellow Prune categories), Other Flowering Vines, and Wisteria.
• Evergreens Evergreen plant selection including Iseli Nursery companion trees & shrubs, Arborvitae & Thuja, Yew, Juniper, and Holly Shrubs.
• Fruit Trees & Bushes Edible fruit-bearing plants including Apple Trees, Blueberry Bushes, Cherry Trees, Grape Vines, Pear Trees, Persimmon Trees, and specialty berries.
• Garden Supplies & Tools Gardening accessories including Tools & Accessories, Arches & Supports (trellises), Pots & Containers, Fertilizers & Soil amendments, and Books & Guides.
• First Editions® Plant Collection Exclusive branded plant varieties including First Editions® Vanilla Strawberry™ Hydrangea and other proprietary cultivars developed through breeding partnerships.
• WOW!® Rose Collection Premium rose rootstock program featuring WOW!® Roots (Premium and Jumbo sizes) including grafted roses designed for improved vigor, larger blooms, and better adaptability.
• Iseli Nursery Collection Exclusive partnership with Iseli Nursery featuring specialty ornamental trees and shrubs including Japanese Maples, dwarf conifers, and rare specimen plants.
• Jack Frost® Japanese Maple Series Cold-hardy Japanese Maple series including Ice Dragon® and North Wind® varieties, bred for performance in Zone 4 and colder climates.
• New Fall 2026 Plants Collection Seasonal collection of 76 new plant varieties for Fall 2026, including new Hydrangeas, Azaleas, Phlox, Lilacs, Dogwoods, Spruces, Arborvitae, and various perennials.

Quantifiable outcome

• 175+ years of horticultural expertise

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Weeks RosescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1938Weeks Roses has been Spring Hill's partner in rose breeding and research since 1938. Based in Wasco, California, Weeks Roses is one of the biggest and oldest names in gardening, known for customer service and top-quality plants. They perform research and farming operations in the United States, breeding roses specifically for American gardens. Their Fortuniana rootstock changed the game for southern landscape roses.
• Keith Zary (Rose Breeder)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKeith Zary is only the second American rose breeder to receive the Gold Medal Award of the Royal National Rose Society (UK). He holds a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University and oversees thousands of acres of growing operations as well as ornamental research. He created the official 'Diana, Princess of Wales Rose' in 1998 and has patented dozens of new rose species.
• Christian Bédard (Rose Breeder)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChristian Bédard is a rising star in rose and iris markets, learning his craft from family in Québec City. He has been awarded the Award of Excellence by the American Rose Society three times for his new hybrids. He has created dozens of roses including favorites such as Dick Clark and Sugar Moon, and has been Weeks Rose Director since 2012.
• Iseli NurseryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIseli Nursery supplies specialty conifers, Japanese maples, and rare ornamental trees to Spring Hill. Their products are highlighted as exclusive offerings in Spring Hill's catalog, particularly for Japanese maple trees and specimen evergreens.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Brighter Blooms Nursery: Brighter Blooms is a DTC online nursery selling trees, shrubs, and flowering plants to home gardeners. Direct competitor in the e-commerce nursery channel with similar price points and mass-premium positioning.
• Star Roses and Plants: Star Roses and Plants is a wholesale nursery producer specializing in roses, shrubs, and perennials, owned by Ball Horticultural. Direct competitor in branded rose and woody ornamental supply.
• White Flower Farm: White Flower Farm is a DTC mail-order nursery selling perennials, shrubs, roses, and bulbs to home gardeners. Directly comparable premium plant retailer with curated catalog and home delivery model.
• Jackson & Perkins: Jackson & Perkins is a heritage DTC rose specialist also leveraging the Weeks Roses partnership/breeder network. Closest direct competitor in the premium rose category Spring Hill dominates.
• Nature Hills Nursery: Nature Hills is a DTC online nursery selling trees, shrubs, vines, and perennials to home gardeners. Direct competitor in the e-commerce nursery category with similar product breadth and mid-premium positioning.
• Burpee Seeds & Plants: Burpee is a direct DTC mail-order competitor selling plants, flowers, vegetables, and gardening supplies to home gardeners. Highly comparable as a heritage consumer-facing seed/plant brand with similar e-commerce distribution model.

Broad incumbents

• Proven Winners: Proven Winners is a broad nursery brand coalition supplying flowering shrubs, perennials, and annuals to garden centers nationwide. Comparable as a competing nursery brand with proprietary plant lines distributed through retail channels.
• Monrovia Nursery: Monrovia is one of the largest US wholesale nursery growers selling premium ornamental plants via garden centers. Comparable as a large-scale nursery producer with proprietary cultivars; broader and more wholesale-oriented than Spring Hill.

Emerging players

• Wayside Gardens: Wayside Gardens is a heritage DTC nursery offering shrubs, trees, perennials, and exotic plants. Direct predecessor-style competitor in the curated premium mail-order nursery segment.
• High Country Gardens: High Country Gardens is a DTC mail-order nursery focused on drought-tolerant perennials, xeriscape plants, and native specimens. Comparable in DTC model and niche plant curation, but with distinct geographic/climate focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/springhill-nursery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Springhill Nursery