PDSI Adds Carolina Nurseries to its grower network

Plant Development Services (PDSI), a leading U.S. grower and the plant branding team behind Encore Azalea and the Southern Living Plant Collection, has added Carolina Nurseries to its ranks of growers, according to Kip McConnell, PDSI Director.

“We’ve always recognized Carolina Nurseries as an outstanding grower, with great quality and innovative plant genetics. They’re a natural fit for our Encore Azalea and Southern Living brands,” said McConnell.

The move means more plant variety selections for the Southern Living Plant Collection, according to Carolina Nurseries owners J. and Linda Guy who also head up the Novalis plant program. “With Novalis, we are a nationwide distribution center, so to speak, but only 40 percent of our growers are in the Deep South. We have some wonderful Southern plants that really need to be brought to gardeners throughout the region. That’s why we’re so excited about this Southern Living line because it gives greater distribution in a very focused channel,” said Linda Guy.

The Southern Living Plant Collection (www.southernlivingplants.com) was first introduced in spring 2008. It is a partnership between PDSI and Southern Living magazine, with the goal to provide innovative new plants selected for their ability to solve specific landscape challenges and excel in the gardens of the South.

PDSI, founded in 1996, owns and/or licenses more than 50 patented plant properties, including the number one best-selling azalea brand in the world, Encore Azalea.

Southern Living is a premier lifestyle and entertaining magazine of the South and the 6th largest monthly consumer magazine in the United States, based on readership. It reaches nearly 16 million readers each month and enjoys a circulation of about 2.8 million.