Our History

Located five minutes from downtown in South Knoxville, three generations of the Davenport-Stanley family continue traditions on land once called the Davenport Farm.

Aerial Photo of Stanley's Greenhouse and Nursery

A portion of the land was deeded to the family by Tennessee Governor William Blount’s half brother Willie Blount in the early 1800’s. Agriculture was the main focus from the beginning and the Davenport Farm became one of the largest wheat producers in Knox county. One hundred years later growing produce and cut flowers took center stage. Most of these products were sold downtown on Market Square.

Charles Stanley, Charlie Davenport’s grandson, built the first greenhouse in 1955 changing the focus more toward horticulture. Gradually building more greenhouses, Stanley’s Greenhouse-Plant Farm now totals over 190,000 square feet with the addition of the 36,000 square foot retail center which opened in 2001.

Ever expanding our selections of new and heirloom plant material you can be sure to find what you are looking for at Stanley’s, whether it’s houseplants, vegetable plants, trees, shrubs, flowers, or herbs. We like to think of ourselves as the ultimate “green” business.

Check us out, you won’t be disappointed.

The Green Business

At Stanley’s Greenhouse we have always, as a family business, supported conservation and helped to keep our community “green”. Examples are our partnering with the City of Knoxville in purchasing and preserving a 23 acre ridgetop park, for which we received the “Environmental Achievement Award” from “Keep Knoxville Beautiful” in 1994.

Growing and propagating over 60% of the plant material we sell on site at our garden center, thus reducing our carbon “footprint” significantly by not having our plants shipped from other locations.

New this year, we have incorporated the IPM (Integrated Pest Management) Program in order to reduce our reliance on pesticides to control insect populations in our greenhouses. In other words, we use the “good guys” – predatory insects – to eliminate the “bad guys” – parasitic insects.

Our goal at Stanley’s Greenhouse is to constantly make our business and our community a greener, healthier, sustainable, and more beautiful place.

Monte Stanley

 
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