About Us

A Passion That Took Root in 1965

On paper, Wellspring Gardens first broke through the soil in 2004. But its roots reach much further back—to 1965, when four-year-old Donovan was caught cutting up his mother’s pantyhose and stuffing the pieces into holes he had carefully dug in the ground.

His explanation? He was “planting cotton.”

While other kindergarteners were drawing flowers with simple circles and half-moon petals, Donovan was sketching Birds of Paradise and other exotic blooms. Even at that young age, his imagination and fascination with the plant world was already growing beyond the ordinary.

From Childhood Curiosity to a Lifelong Obsession

As Donovan grew, so did his fascination with plants.

Like many families, Donovan’s family did most of its grocery shopping at the local Publix. But something outside the store sparked a curiosity that would stay with him for years: its famous 1964 glass-tile mosaic mural.

The beautiful, historic mural (which was whitewashed in 2016 and has since been restored) offered a glimpse into the world behind the produce aisle–farmers from all around America tending to and harvesting the food that we simply pick up off the shelf. For a young boy already fascinated by growing things, it was a window into something much bigger.

At just eight years old, Donovan discovered something that would make his excitement even harder to contain: small potted succulents at the Florida State Fair. They were his first plant purchases, and they opened the door to a growing collection.

Before long, family vacation photos began featuring more plants than people. What started as childhood curiosity had blossomed into an obsession—and what might have seemed like a passing phase was becoming a lifelong passion.

From Passion to Reality

In 2003, between careers and looking for his next opportunity, Donovan took a leap of faith with his plant passion. It started with just one Dwarf Orinoco banana plant he auctioned online and packed with care on his back porch. Since that proved successful, he tried another and another.

The success of that first plant gave him the confidence to expand, adding a second banana variety, then a third. What began as a simple experiment was quickly taking root as something much bigger.

From that humble backyard beginning, the business evolved into a specialty nursery built around a simple idea: helping people discover and grow extraordinary tropical and subtropical plants they might not find anywhere else.

A Name Springs Up

The name "Wellspring Gardens" was inspired by John 4:14:

“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

Unlike grocery store produce, which is harvested, sold, and eventually consumed, a living plant is a gift that keeps on giving. It can grow, produce year after year, and provide nourishment not only for its owner but also for pollinators and other wildlife.

In a way, Donovan was following in the footsteps of the farmers he had admired in that old Publix mural. Instead of simply selling the harvest, he could help people grow their own sources of abundance.

A wellspring of growth. A garden full of possibilities. And something extraordinary that keeps giving long after the initial purchase.

A Wellspring of the Extraordinary

Today, Wellspring Gardens offers more than 30 varieties of bananas, along with an ever-growing selection of specialty figs, kiwis, passion vines, olive trees, and many more.

We believe your garden should be as distinctive as you are. That's why we specialize in named varieties and unusual plants that go beyond what you'll typically find at your local garden center or in the mass-produced plant market.

As Donovan often says:

“If you can find it at your local garden center, you should buy it there. But if you're looking for a specific or unique variety with a name, that's where our specialty is.”

Take mulberries, for example. You might find a generic mulberry—or even a named variety—at a big-box retailer. But at Wellspring Gardens, you can explore an exceptional selection, including Dwarf Everbearing, Illinois, Mojo Berry PP, Pakistan, Dwarf Thailand, and World's Best, among others.

And mulberries are just the beginning.

Our fig collection already features two dozen varieties, and we're working hard to double that selection over the next couple of growing seasons. We're continually searching for new and interesting varieties to give plant lovers even more opportunities to discover something special.

After all, you shouldn't have to live near a specialty nursery to grow something extraordinary.

Grow Anything, Anywhere

We ship throughout the contiguous United States, bringing unique plant varieties right to your doorstep. Whether you're expanding an established collection, experimenting with an unusual fruit tree, or planting your very first edible garden, we're here to help you grow beyond the ordinary.

Just as important as what you grow is where you buy it. Wellspring Gardens is a registered nursery operating within applicable USDA inspection and regulatory requirements. When you shop with us, you can feel confident that you’re buying from an established nursery that takes plant quality, variety, and customer trust seriously. We also offer an extensive library of plant care guides to help you give your new plants the attention they need to thrive.

From Our Backyard Beginnings to Your Garden

Wellspring Gardens has come a long way from that first banana plant packed on Donovan's back porch. Today, our operation has grown into a modern greenhouse and fulfillment center, but the passion behind it remains the same.

What started with one man's childhood fascination has become a nursery dedicated to sharing the wonder of growing something extraordinary.

Our mission is simple: to make exceptional plants more accessible and help people everywhere grow something that keeps on giving.

Because at Wellspring Gardens, we believe there's always something new to grow, something unexpected to discover, and another reason to fall in love with plants.

But don't just take our word for it.

See what happens when our plants arrive at their new homes. Explore customer unboxing experiences, hear from our growing community, and see what our partners have to say about the work we're doing.

After all, the best part of growing something extraordinary is sharing it with others.