Business Details
12 Years
experience
Your Source for Rare Exotic Plants in Houston
Founded in 2014 by Jacob Martin, Old School Produce has established itself as Houston's premier nursery for rare and unusual plants. With over two decades of combined horticultural expertise, our team specializes in cultivating uncommon native and exotic species. Jacob Martin's academic background in Biological and Physical Sciences, alongside his professional experience at Mercer Botanic Garden and Buchanan's Native Plants, has enabled us to introduce new botanical varieties to Houston's culinary and gardening communities.We maintain a collection of rare plants preserved in specialized greenhouses, including a thriving cacti and succulent collection and a tropical greenhouse featuring a soothing waterfall. Our nursery has served serious plant collectors since opening to the public in 2019, offering both in-person shopping and nationwide shipping of plants and seeds. Through our partnership with Cottage Grove Gardens, we also provide our unique garden space for private events.
Services
Rare Plant Nursery
Greenhouse Tours
Venue Rentals
Online Plant Sales
Cacti Collection
Details
- Year established: 2014
Highlights and features
- We offer over 20 years of combined experience in horticultural cultivation
- Specializing in hard-to-find native and exotic plant species
- Maintain specialized growing environments for rare plant preservation
- Our founder holds a degree in Biological and Physical Sciences
- Partner with local botanical experts for plant selection and care
Services
Rare Plant Nursery
Our nursery offers uncommon native and exotic plant species not typically found at conventional nurseries. We serve serious collectors and gardening enthusiasts seeking unique botanical specimens. Our selection includes both easy-to-grow and rare, challenging plants.
Greenhouse Tours
We provide access to multiple specialized greenhouses housing unique plant collections. Our tropical greenhouse features a soothing waterfall, while another facility focuses on cacti and succulents. These climate-controlled environments preserve rare specimens from Houston's unpredictable weather.
Venue Rentals
Our beautiful garden space is available for private events through our partnership with Cottage Grove Gardens. The venue combines natural botanical beauty with unique architectural elements, creating an exceptional setting for special occasions.
Online Plant Sales
Customers can browse and purchase plants through our Etsy store, with shipping available throughout the United States. Our online inventory features a selection of our available plants, though in-person visitors will find many more unique specimens at our physical location.
Cacti Collection
We maintain one of Houston's premier cacti and succulent collections. This specialized display includes rare specimens like Agave albopilosa and Mammillaria longimamma, carefully cultivated in controlled environments to ensure their health and vitality.
People
Jacob Martin
Founder & Greenhouse Manager
Jacob founded Old School Produce in 2014 after graduating from University of Houston-Downtown. With three years at Buchanan's Native Plants and current role at Mercer Botanic Garden, he brings extensive horticultural expertise to our rare plant cultivation.
Willow
Security Team
Willow serves as part of our security team while also acting as our dedicated mouse hunter. She ensures the safety of our valuable plant collections and contributes to maintaining pest control within our greenhouse environments.
Pepita
Security Team
Pepita works alongside Willow as part of our security team. While primarily focused on mouse hunting, she also contributes to maintaining safe growing conditions for our rare plant collections through natural pest control methods.
Peter Turin
Ghost Tree Expert
Peter Turin serves as our resident ghost tree expert, bringing specialized knowledge about these unique botanical specimens. His expertise contributes to our ability to cultivate and care for uncommon tree varieties in our collection.
Jared
Resident Strong Man
Jared functions as our resident strong man, providing physical support for nursery operations. While his picture remains elusive, his contributions to our daily operations remain essential for handling larger plant specimens and maintenance tasks.
Questions
What makes Old School Produce unique?
We specialize in rare and unusual plant species not typically found at conventional nurseries, including both uncommon native Texas plants and exotic specimens from around the world.
Do you offer online sales?
Yes, we maintain an online store through Etsy where we sell plants and seeds, with shipping available throughout the United States.
Are events allowed at your venue?
Yes, our garden space can be rented for private events through our partnership with Cottage Grove Gardens.
How often are you open?
We have special hours: Tuesday evenings from 6-9pm, Saturday mornings from 10am-3pm, and occasionally on Sundays when our 'hobbit gate' is open.
What types of plants should I expect?
We offer a diverse collection including rare cacti and succulents, tropical plants, unusual Ficus varieties, and endangered native Texas species.
Do you provide plant care guidance?
Our knowledgeable staff provides expert guidance about plant care, focusing on Houston's specific climate and growing conditions.
