TN Nursery - A Legacy Rooted in Tennessee Since 1959

Three Generations of Growing America's Native Plants 

The story of TN Nursery began in 1959, when Roscoe Tate founded Mountain Ornamental Nursery in Altamont, Tennessee. A mountain between Chattanooga and Nashville is where he called home. A true plantsman, Roscoe spent countless hours walking hills, ridges, and mountains collecting native plants and learning where each species. His remarkable knowledge wasn't learned from books; it was earned through decades of hands-on experience in the mountains and hills of Tennessee. That passion for native plants became the foundation of a family legacy that continues to flourish today.

The Next Generation Takes Root

Roscoe's daughter, Tammy Sons, grew up working alongside her father and quickly became the heart of the business office. She answered customer calls, took orders, managed the books, and helped keep that part of the nursery running day after day. One of her favorite memories was when the nursery received its very first fax machine, a moment that marked exciting growth for the business. Working alongside her father gave Tammy a deep appreciation for dealing with customers and for the importance of building lasting relationships. She also witnessed firsthand Roscoe's incredible knowledge of native plants and his unwavering dedication to providing for his family by making his living off the land.

Leap of Faith

In 1994, Tammy and her husband, Dennis Sons, took a leap of faith. Leaving behind the security of their jobs, they started TN Nursery on just 12.5 acres with a dream of carrying Roscoe's legacy into a new generation.

Building One of America's Leading Plant Nurseries

Through hard work, determination, and a commitment to quality, that small family nursery has grown into more than 170 acres of family-owned growing land, ten production greenhouses, and one of the nation's leading suppliers of native plants, trees, shrubs, ferns, and perennials. With over 3,000 acres of availability from other growers, TN Nursery has one of the largest availabilities in the plant nursery industry, shipping more than 5 million plants across the United States while remaining committed to the same family values that inspired them in the beginning.

Three Generations Strong

Today, TN Nursery is a proud third-generation family business. Dennis and Tammy's children, Tristan and Bailey, are now partners in the company and are preparing to carry the family tradition forward with the same integrity, dedication, and love of horticulture that Roscoe Tate established more than six decades ago.

Supplying America's Most Recognized Landscapes

Along the way, TN Nursery has been honored to supply quality native plants for prestigious projects and organizations, including the Washington Monument, The History Channel, Arlington National Cemetery, NASA, Tyson Foods, and many other commercial, restoration, and government projects throughout the country. Although we've grown tremendously since 1959, our mission remains the same: to provide exceptional plants while honoring the legacy, values, and work ethic that have guided our family for three generations.