Terra Nova Nurseries Inc. has grown from a tiny lab and greenhouse to a world leader in perennial plant breeding. They have introduced over 700 new varieties to horticulture. Their display gardens are a site to behold…and you will do better than behold them, you’ll walk through them. Their new introductions are distributed world-wide to wholesalers, garden centers and mail-order companies.

Dave Doolittle, Marketing Manager, toured us through their lush gardens, full of new and perennial favorite varieties. Click here to view photos of Terra Nova.

Doolittle explained that 95 percent of plants are bred (and patented) here by Terra Nova. “Sedum breeding has really taken off for us,” Doolittle said. “What we’re looking for is early attractive spring foliage and dark, rich summer color.” He pointed out an Agasteche from Washingotn that they cultivated, which turned out to be mildew-tolerant. “It was a fluke, but a happy accident,” Doolitlle said.

After a quick tour of the propagation house, we saw their staging area and shipping operation. “During peak season we’re sending out 1,200 flattops per day,” Doolittle said.