How we got started

Over 20 years ago, Mark Vander Meer established a native plant nursery to provide a reliable and high-quality source of stock for damaged riparian areas and severely disturbed ecosystems. For the nursery’s first decade in operation, the majority of the plant stock was purchased and planted by Watershed Consulting, an ecologic restoration company of which Mark was a partner.  Watershed Consulting planted trees and shrubs on hundreds of projects throughout Montana and Idaho. Later, other restoration companies and natural resource managers began to purchase its plants. In January of 2024 the partners of Watershed Consulting retired, providing an opportunity for the nursery to market native plants to landscapers and gardeners in the Missoula area. After 24 years in business, the nursery was finally given a name, Montana Plants, and a Manager, Andy Martinez. Andy was a long-time employee of Watershed Consulting and is an experienced ecologic restoration specialist, who now runs most of the operations at Montana Plants.