Kinsey Gardens: Our Story

Over Eight Decades of Cultivating Quality

Founded in 1940 by John B. Kinsey, Kinsey Gardens began as a personal passion with just a few backyard lathhouses in Knoxville, Tennessee. What started as a dedicated hobby has blossomed into a thriving wholesale nursery operation spanning four farms across Tennessee alongside our main distribution nursery in East Knoxville.

For three generations, our family has proudly carried forward John’s legacy, adapting to an evolving green industry while remaining steadfast in our commitment to quality.

We specialize in a diverse selection of hardy nursery stock. To meet the dynamic demands of our industry, we constantly refresh our inventory with innovative plant selections and sustainable methods in propagation, production, and breeding. Beyond our locally grown field and greenhouse stock, we are proud to supply top-tier, patented national brands, including:

• Encore® Azaleas & Drift® Roses

• Proven Winners® & Endless Summer® Hydrangeas

• First Editions® & Garden Debut®

• Knock Out® Roses & the Southern Living® Plant Collection

With our extensive plant palette, competitive pricing, and true "one-stop-shop" convenience, Kinsey Gardens is a trusted partner for landscapers, garden centers, contractors, and industry professionals. We take immense pride in our friendly, knowledgeable service and are always honored to share our horticultural expertise with our customers and the community.

Deep Roots: The Generations Behind the Growth

The First Generation: John B. Kinsey

Born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1904, John B. Kinsey’s journey was defined by hard work and determination. As a teenager, he moved to Chicago alone, spending the “Roaring Twenties" working on the elevated railroad and delivering ice. A transformative program at the local YMCA eventually led him south to Maryville College in East Tennessee, where he studied Botany and Chemistry, wrestled on the college team, and assisted in the physical education department.

During his college years, John began working at Howell Nursery in Knoxville, finding his true calling. He rose to become a talented landscape salesman, building a loyal following and a deep passion for propagation. In 1940, John and his wife, Elizabeth Ayers Kinsey, officially founded Kinsey Gardens on five acres at their home in Holston Hills.

John was a personable, brilliant, and faith-filled gentleman who cherished his family and community. He was the founding and first president of the regional organization in the Knoxville area—the East Tennessee Horticulture & Landscape Association. He was later inducted into the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association (TNLA) Hall of Fame in 1983 for his contributions to the regional horticultural and landscaping industry. He served as a devoted Scoutmaster for the same Boy Scout troop where his son, grandsons, and great-nephews would later achieve their Eagle Scout ranks. John and Elizabeth raised five children: Sonja, Jane, Adele, John Edward (Ed), and Lusada.

The Second Generation: John Edward “Ed" Kinsey

Ed Kinsey’s horticultural journey began at just five years old when he planted his very first garden. Tending to his corn and beans alongside his father, he realized early on that plants would be his life’s work.

Ed grew up immersed in the family business, learning the art of constructing and managing lathhouses and greenhouses. He graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor’s degree in Botany in 1968, followed by a Master’s degree in Horticulture from The Ohio State University in 1970. After serving on active duty in the military, Ed helped establish the Horticulture Department at Ohio State’s brand-new Agricultural Technical Institute (ATI) in Wooster, Ohio, serving as its head Assistant Professor during its inaugural year in 1972.

During this same era, Kinsey Gardens transitioned from a landscape nursery to a dedicated wholesale production and propagation nursery. In 1975, Ed and his new bride, Cynthia “Cyndee" Stuckey—whom he met while she was working as the Dean’s secretary at ATI—returned home to Tennessee. They settled on a 14-acre farm in East Knox County, establishing Kinsey Gardens' second location, which remains our primary propagation farm today. Together, Ed and Cyndee raised four children: Sara, Samuel, Matthew, and Ruth.

Under Ed’s leadership, Kinsey Gardens grew into a premier teaching nursery, hosting countless UT horticulture students for internships and careers. It became one of East Tennessee's largest nurseries and remains one of the region's premier growers of hardy Azaleas and Rhododendrons.

Ed’s contributions to the industry are vast. He served as the founding president of the East Tennessee Horticulture & Landscape Association, President and Hall of Fame inductees of the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association (TNLA, 1983), and was published multiple times by the International Plant Propagators Society. He was named Knox County Farmer of the Year (1990) and Tennessee Wholesale Nurseryman of the Year (1991). Following in his father's footsteps, Ed also served as Scoutmaster of Troop 30 at Eastminster Presbyterian Church for 20 years, earning his Eagle Scout rank and guiding generations of young men. We are forever grateful for Ed’s enduring expertise, leadership, and generosity.

The Present & Future: Samuel E. Kinsey

Today, Kinsey Gardens is proudly led by third-generation horticulturist Samuel E. Kinsey. Growing up in the rows and greenhouses, Sam naturally developed exceptional horticultural, mechanical, and analytical skills. Like his father and grandfather, Sam earned his Eagle Scout rank with Troop 30 and graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor’s degree in Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design (2000).

Sam and his wife, Amanda Anderson Kinsey, live on the Jefferson County farm—where he oversees field-grown hardy ornamental trees—alongside their two daughters, Emmalyn and Abigail. A highly respected outdoorsman and plantsman, Sam is active in local hunting, wildlife, and nursery associations. In 2010, he was named the TNLA Young Nursery Professional of the Year. Continuing his family’s deep legacy of leadership, Sam is honored to serve as the 2026 President of the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association (TNLA), following in the footsteps of his father, Ed, who held the office over forty years ago. When he isn't managing the nurseries or leading industry initiatives, Sam is involved in his church, his community, and supporting his daughters’ college & 4-H journeys.

Looking Forward

Kinsey Gardens would not be where we are today without the visionary leadership of John and Ed, the dedication of our incredible managers and employees, and the steadfast support of our family.

Above all, we are deeply grateful to our customers and community. We treasure the relationships we have built over the last eight decades and deeply appreciate your business. As we look toward the future, our mission remains unchanged: to grow and supply an exceptional line of hardy ornamental trees and plants for the professionals who beautify Tennessee and the Midsouth.