NINETY years and four generations later, Pittman’s has grown from a truck farm started in 1918 to a large, efficient operation which encompasses three separate businesses.

According to the late Donald Pittman, the Pittman family has always been horticulturally inclined, beginning with his father, A.A. Pittman, who grew cotton, vegetables, ornamental shrubs, and tended to a fruit orchard. What the family didn’t use was sold to the public. As word spread about the quality and selection, demand grew and in the 1918, Pittman opened his own nursery.

The first greenhouses were built on a 15 acre lot in Magnolia, Arkansas after World War II when Donald Pittman joined his father in the business. At this time there were only 3 employees.

In 1959, 120 acres were purchased on Warnock Springs Road in Magnolia to accommodate the growing business. This progress enabled Pittman’s to expand their business to include wholesale operations. As shown in the pictures above, the new acreage was used for B&B production.  More acres were added in later years for expansion and conversion to container grown material. 

Currently over 8 million plants are grown annually, making Pittman’s the largest horticultural nursery in Arkansas . This volume enables Pittman’s to supply a full line of plants to garden centers, landscape professionals, and other wholesale nurseries from the Midwest to the East Coast.

Donald Pittman, who passed away in 2002, was a past president of the Arkansas Nurseryman Association and former governor of the Arkansas Chapter of the American Association of Nurserymen. While president, a certified nurseryman program was established. This program set guidelines and educational standards for nurserymen. Tests for certification are given by the University of Arkansas , and those receiving certificates are registered with the state. The purpose of such a program is to give the consumer the assurance that they are dealing with knowledgeable personnel that sell horticultural products. Arkansas was the 5th state to initiate such a program and the 1st state in the South. Now over 30 states implement this program.

Now Pittman Nursery Corporation is operated by Donna Pittman King, Graduate of Lanscape Architecture from LSU, two-time President of the Arkansas Nuseryman's Association, and an Arkansas Certified Nurseryman.  Donna has operated Pittman Landscape Planners Inc., a Premiere Landscape Design and Build Company serving the South, installking her designs in all points between Dallas and Little Rock, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.  Donna has raised the bar for the whole Industry for design and installation quality.  Now she is raising the bar in both Quality and Price in Pittman's Nursery production.  She is joined in this effort by wonderful staff, fields of craftsman, and her four children:  Goodwin King, Lindsay King, Mak Kinnaird, and Jessica Kinnaird.