30 years of experience with Florida native plants in natural areas & landscaping

Award-winning landsacpe designer and Florida naturalist Tom Heitzman has been experimenting with alternative uses of native plants and promoting their use in all situations, including container gardens. Two years ago, he assisted the Manasota Chapter of FNGLA in designing the “world’s largest container garden” for display at the Florida State Fair.

Tom has been working to both preserve and plant Real Florida for decades, providing leadership to the local Serenoa Chapter Florida Native Plant Society and also serving in multiple board and committee capacities with the Florida Association of Native Nurseries (FANN) and Manatee Audubon. A gentle, humble soul, Tom is a wealth of energy and expertise for conservation and landscape education.

Tom owns Sweet Bay Native Nursery in Parrish, Florida, with partner Richard Beaupre. Together they grow and sell native plants to wholesale and retail customers and provide distinctive native landscape design service. Their nursery is a treasured community institution staffed by employees and local volunteers!