Company Merger Brings Exotic Plants to America

Heronswood Nursery, Ltd., owned by renowned plant explorer and author Daniel Hinkley, and W. Atlee Burpee & Co., the first company to sell seeds by mail order from coast-to-coast, have joined forces to create one of the largest resources for exotic plant life in the country.

Heronswood Nursery's inventory of more than 15,000 varieties of rare and unusual trees, shrub vines, and herbaceous perennials collected from around the world will be offered nationwide by Burpee's sophisticated marketing and distribution system.

"The support from Burpee will allow Dan to continue his plant explorations and use his time doing what he loves-discovering new plants. And we, at Burpee, will be able to propagate and distribute in sufficient quantities, this valuable cache of special and unique plants to mainstream America," said Bill Clark, assistant to the president of W. Atlee Burpee & Co.

In his new role of mentor to Burpee, Hinkley will help to satisfy America's demand for new and environmentally friendly plants; define new collections of "workhorse" plants that will ensure success in every garden; and discover and qualify rare specimens for the master gardener and collector.