Locally owned since 1963
About Cantrell Gardens
Rooted in Passion
How Cantrell Gardens Started it All
Since the early 1960s, Cantrell Gardens has been a cherished part of the Little Rock community, a locally-owned garden center built on a genuine love for plants and people. As far back as the 60’s, Lewie Fason had one goal for Cantrell Gardens– to provide top-notch service for like-minded plant lovers from the moment he took over in 1963. Nearly 60 years later, Cantrell Gardens has blossomed into one of Little Rock’s most trusted garden centers, where a passion for helping others grow continues to bloom year after year.
family-owned, community-grown
Our Values and Philosophy
At the heart of Cantrell Gardens is a simple philosophy: treat every customer like family and make gardening a joyful experience for all.
Beyond our garden center, we’re deeply connected to the Little Rock community, sharing our love for plants and people through local involvement and a genuine passion for helping others grow, one garden at a time.
Here to help you grow
Meet the Experts Behind the Garden
At Cantrell Gardens, our friendly and knowledgeable team is the heart of what makes us special. Leading the way are Louise and Rick, who carry forward the family tradition of exceptional service and a lifelong passion for plants. Alongside them is a dedicated staff with years of hands-on experience and a shared love for helping customers bring their garden visions to life.
Rick Minor
Manager since 1988, Rick keeps Cantrell Gardens thriving with decades of plant knowledge and genuine care. When he’s not at the nursery, you’ll find him tending to his greenhouse and growing fresh produce on his farm in Pencil Bluff, AR.
Louise Minor
Louise, Rick’s daughter, is an Arkansas Certified Nursery and Landscape Professional. Working as the office manager, she brings energy and organization to the team — and when she’s not working, she’s likely rock climbing or singing along to Taylor Swift.
Nancy Jordan
A Little Rock native and Memphis Academy of Arts graduate, Nancy brings an artist’s touch to everything she does. After years in stained-glass design, she now channels her creativity into plants and murals and loves being part of a close-knit, family-run nursery.
Jacob Sullinger
An Arkansas native with a BS from the University of Arkansas and certification as an Arkansas Certified Nursery and Landscape Professional, Jacob combines knowledge and passion in every customer interaction. Outside work, he enjoys kayaking and fishing.
Thalia Teneyck
Originally from New Jersey, Thalia joined Cantrell Gardens after traveling the world for conservation projects in places like the Galapagos Islands, Egypt, and South Africa. She’s our go-to houseplant expert with a heart for green living.
Keith Kannard
Keith retired from a 40-year career in technology and leadership before joining Cantrell Gardens in 2021. He loves helping customers, managing orders, fixing anything that’s broken, and keeping the nursery running smoothly with a smile.
Bryan DePan
Bryan, a former musician from Houston, moved to Little Rock in 2021 with his wife and two dogs. A bonsai enthusiast with 15 years of gardening experience, he brings his Arkansas Certified Nursery and Landscape Professional expertise to every customer interaction.
Marshall Pettit
Marshall studied biology at the University of Central Arkansas and has a growing passion for house plants. Since joining Cantrell Gardens, he’s enjoyed learning more about gardening while spending his free time listening to music and building Legos.
David Fox
For over 14 years, David has been a cornerstone of Cantrell Gardens, known for his deep plant expertise and easygoing nature. He loves fishing at Willastein Park and relaxing with a bit of woodworking in his spare time.
Fluffy
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Stop and Say Hello
Visit us in Little Rock to meet our friendly team and explore a family-owned garden center where love for gardening thrives.