More than 20,000 plants. Over 100 species. Seven and a half acres of new gardens.
The recent expansion of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is one of Richmond's most exciting horticultural projects, and James River Nurseries is proud to have played a part in bringing it to life.
For a company with roots in horticulture dating back to 1983, contributing plant material to a project that celebrates the beauty, diversity, and importance of plants is especially meaningful.
A New Chapter for a Richmond Landmark
The 7.5-acre expansion introduces new opportunities for visitors to explore, learn, and connect with nature.
Among the additions are an expanded Conservatory featuring four distinct climate zones, the Kroger Community Kitchen Garden, and the Anne Cummings White Garden, a sweeping hillside habitat garden filled with thousands of plants.
Together, these spaces offer visitors new ways to experience horticulture, from discovering plants that thrive in faraway climates to exploring the beauty of naturalistic landscapes right here in Central Virginia.
20,000 Plants, One Extraordinary Vision
One of the expansion's most remarkable features is the Anne Cummings White Garden, designed by Austin Eischeid Garden Design.
Featuring more than 20,000 plants representing over 100 species, this hillside garden embraces a naturalistic planting approach, where grasses, perennials, and other plants create layers of texture, movement, and seasonal interest.
Rather than relying on individual specimen plants, the design allows different species to grow together, creating a landscape that feels both intentional and wonderfully organic.
And perhaps the most exciting part? The garden will only become more beautiful as it matures.
As plants establish and spread, visitors will experience an ever-changing landscape, with new colors, textures, and forms emerging throughout the seasons.
Behind the Scenes: Bringing a Garden to Life
A project of this scale requires more than an ambitious vision. It takes careful planning, coordination, and an extraordinary amount of plant material.
James River Nurseries was proud to supply plants for the expansion, contributing to the transformation of detailed landscape plans into living, growing gardens.
With a planting palette of this size and diversity, sourcing the right material is an important part of the process. Plant varieties, quantities, timing, and quality all play a role in helping a landscape take shape as intended.
It's a side of horticulture that visitors may never see, but one that makes projects like this possible.
A Collaborative Effort, Rooted in Richmond
The Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden expansion brought together an impressive team of architects, designers, contractors, engineers, and horticultural professionals.
Project partners included 3North as site architect, Hourigan as general contractor, Prospiant for glass and control systems, and Timmons Group for engineering.
Austin Eischeid Garden Design designed the Anne Cummings White Garden, while Waterstreet Studio designed the Kroger Community Kitchen Garden.
We're grateful to have contributed alongside so many talented professionals to a project that will benefit Richmond residents and visitors for generations.
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The Best Is Yet to Grow
While the expansion is already welcoming visitors, its landscape is just beginning its story.
Over the coming years, thousands of individual plants will grow together, filling the gardens with even more texture, color, and life.
We're looking forward to watching these spaces mature and seeing how visitors experience them through the changing seasons.
After all, that's the beauty of a living landscape. It never stops growing.
Commercial Plant Sourcing & Landscape Construction in Central Virginia
Since 1983, James River Nurseries has partnered with landscape architects, general contractors, developers, and property owners throughout Richmond and Central Virginia.
From sourcing plant material for complex horticultural projects to commercial landscape construction and residential transformations, our team brings decades of experience to landscapes of every scale.
Planning a landscape project? Get in touch with our team to start the conversation.
