Oregon’s family nurseries form the backbone of the state’s agricultural economy. Nursery and greenhouse material is the state’s top ag commodity, generating $1.22 billion in sales in 2022.
There are several factors behind this success, including an ideal climate for dormancy and growth, adequate rainfall for irrigation, quality soil on abundant land, and — perhaps most of all — the dedication and ingenuity of Oregon growers.
At Columbia Nursery in Canby, Oregon, the duo of Wayne and Amanda Staehely started small and have been growing Wayne’s dream of a nursery specializing in growing rare and unique conifers and Japanese maples. When the nursery became a substantial business and the family grew, Amanda took over to run the day-to-day operation of the businesses and raise the kids at home on the nursery.
Venerable Monrovia Nursery Company moved its headquarters from California to Dayton, Oregon in 2025, and will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026. The nursery started in 1926 with just 10 acres near Los Angeles and has become to the nation’s largest grower of premium plants by sales and container acreage. It’s thrived through wars, recessions and the latest pandemic and has been a pioneer in the nursery industry with a number of firsts: container growing, customized soil mixes, plant patenting, nationwide shipping and consumer branding.
The founders of Ekstrom & Schmidt Nursery, Brandon Schmidt and Steven Ekstrom, grew up with different backgrounds and educations, but they are united in their passion for plants. Over the years, they’ve refined their nursery’s focus and are known for Japanese maples, dogwoods and redbuds. They have a dual focus on quality and low cost and have developed a reputation for good cash-and-carry plants for small garden centers.
Heritage Seedlings & Liners in Salem and Stayton, Oregon, was founded by Mark and Jolly Krautmann and they turned their passion for rare plants into a thriving business focused on raising rare and unique seedlings, rootstock and woody plants. Now, Krautman has passed the torch to new owner Octavio Martinez to carry on his legacy and expand it.
Read on to meet these growers, and learn what makes Oregon Nursery Country.
Also in this issue:
COLUMNS
- President’s Message: Christmas is a time for reflection and the people who really matter. By Patrick Newton.
- What I’m Hearing: What gardeners look for when they visit garden centers. By Mike Darcy
- Director’s Desk: Two decades in the making. By Jeff Stone.
Growing Knowledge, an ongoing series provided by Oregon State University in collaboration with the USDA and in partnership with OAN.
- Adaptable, not just marketable: Public interest surges in climate-ready plants, but what does that mean? By Lloyd Nackley
Please send your comments on the issue to editor Curt Kipp at ckipp@oan.org.