(Clockwise from left) LEDs in a greenhouse at night, Hosta ‘La Vista’, and Helleborus ‘Haze’. | Riverbend Nursery Holdings, LLC
Riverbend Nursery Holdings has announced the acquisition of Colbert, GA-based James Greenhouses, Inc., a producer of perennial liners for wholesale growers in the U.S. The transaction closed on March 3, 2025.
Riverbend Nursery Holdings, LLC also owns 100% of Riner, VA-based Riverbend Nursery, LLC, a provider of quality perennials, ground covers, annuals, ornamental grasses, herbs, and vegetables, sold to independent garden centers (IGCs) and landscape distributors in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern states.
“The acquisition will enable both companies to leverage their respective geographic and production strengths to better serve customers across North America,” says Jon Herbst, Chairman and Managing Member of Riverbend Nursery Holdings, LLC. “We believe it is critically important for James to maintain its focus as a supplier of superior genetic liners to its core customer base, utilizing the existing strategic broker sales network.”
Steve Ronyak, CEO of Riverbend Nursery, LLC, says, “We are thrilled to welcome James Greenhouses LLC to the Riverbend family. We have worked with James Greenhouses for many years as a trusted supplier of high-quality liners. This acquisition serves as an opportunity to enhance our product offerings, logistic services, and customer communication, with a continued focus on bringing high-quality liners and finished products to the market.”
“The cultural alignment combines two young yet experienced teams committed to quality and service,” he continues. “This acquisition provides a runway for many years of continued operations at a time when the industry is experiencing challenges due to succession planning struggles. Ken James, who founded James Greenhouses with his wife, Leah, built a wonderful business and team, and we are excited to carry the solid foundation established forward.”
Ken James, who will serve as President of James Greenhouses, LLC, sees joining forces with the Riverbend family of companies as a “natural evolution” for the James team.
“Both companies enjoy a similar culture with an intensive focus on premium flowering perennial genetics,” says James. “This integration provides a strong foundation for the next decades of young plant production as we endeavor to better serve our growers across North America with exactly the liners they want, when they want them.”