"Time flies when you’re having fun, especially when you love what you do." It is hard to believe that J. Berry Nursery is 15 years old this year. They started the company shortly before the economic crisis of 2007. "As challenging as that was, we can proudly say we’ve now not only survived, but thrived, even in the face of a global pandemic, not to mention the worst that Mother Nature has thrown at us." In this article, Jim Berry, owner and president, reflects on 15 years of growing.
"While we look forward to the future chapters we’ll write as a company, I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge how we’ve gotten to this point. A crucial component was investing in R&D from the very start. The Black Diamond Crapemyrtles were well received from the get-go and they allowed us to back off from the depressed rose market in our early days. The Black Diamond genetics have and continue to present us with many opportunities to prosper.
Besides the Black Diamond Crapemyrtles, I also began breeding and selecting for a range of tough but beautiful tropical hibiscus. I wanted them to succeed in Texas summers and in the major production areas of south Florida. I also wanted them to provide homeowners with exceptional beauty and so the Hollywood Hibiscus came to life. The Hollywood Hibiscus stars have taken the world by storm with partners in India, Japan, Europe and South Africa. The Hollywoods have become a fan favorite for growers, retailers, and consumers. While my initial breeding goals have been met, I am continuing the breeding process, setting my sights on taking these stars to even grander heights. I’m striving for innovations that have different growth traits, flower presentations, will work and play well in mixed containers or thrive in multiple container sizes, and even exploring new ways consumers can use and enjoy these tropical sensations.
The future of J. Berry genetics is bright as not only are there more crapemyrtles and tropical hibiscus on the horizon but also innovative new genetics in begonias, azaleas and hardy hibiscus. Along the way, we also created Season to Season, a collection of superior landscape plants.
Another key was acquiring rights to produce other plant brands. We felt the market was undersupplied with branded, value-added, new genetics. We obtained licenses to produce the Knockout Roses, Proven Winners ColorChoice Flowering Shrubs as well as several plants in the various brands from Bailey Nurseries. We’re excited and proud to announce that we have recently obtained Gold Key status as a Proven Winners ColorChoice Flowering Shrub grower.
Currently, we ship to nearly half of the US—from Texas to Wisconsin to New York back to Texas. We value all of our customers and appreciate the trust and growth we’ve experienced. We are experiencing the market of a lifetime and I cannot see a slowdown in our growth for some time.
Last but certainly not least, we have been able to acquire talented professionals to lead our dedicated workers. I want to especially thank Jonathan Berry for being in the trenches in every battle. His intelligence, work ethic, affinity for leadership and business savvy have been vital to our success. I must also acknowledge my wife and life partner whom I can never repay for her encouragement and dedication to me, our family and business.
With the updated company logo that we debuted this winter, a new company core focus has been established to bring innovative plants into lives, homes and gardens around the world. We’ve also confirmed our core values, to be innovative, bold, resilient and driven to serve. Here’s to our future, which is also the future of our J. Berry team, vendors and customers. Together we can make the world a more beautiful place to live."
