Plant Oregon: the Nursery on Wagner Creek

Daniel Bish, who runs Plant Oregon with his family David and Dene at 8677 Wagner Creek Road, has been planting there since 1960, though he got his nursery license in ’76. A Talent Native, he is actually a descendant of a distinguished line of Westerners. It really is best for Daniel to explain:

“My genetic pool includes a long list of Oregon Natives,” he says. “In fact my Great, Great, Great Grandmother was the First White Child Born in the Oregon Territory, Northwest of the Columbia River. Her Daddy was coming west to be the Indian Agent to Chief Seattle. Since then our family has populated the West coast from Canada to....Talent. We are five generations here in the Rogue Valley.”

Dan has travelled the world but, claiming that this area is a “sweet spot of the planet,” has since sunk his roots in the Talent area. Even more, he has placed roots into thousands of Rogue Valley yards.

Coupling a deep feeling of responsibility with a deeper love for nature and our ecosystem, the Bish family carefully nurtures a variety of native, low impact, and restorative plants and trees. When asked why he does what he does, Dan again provides quite an explanation.

“I built my first Park when I was 5,” he says. “I have the Gardening Gene; it’s as simple as that. Just like the squirrels burying seeds, and bees pollinating flowers, there are humans whose function is to preserve and perpetuate the vegetation of the Planet. I am one of the honeybees, enjoying the nectar of the plants, while also serving a function for their survival. Simple as that.

An essential element in our success as a species requires that we maintain a habitable environment (water, air, temperature control, etc.) all of which are greatly influenced by plants. We encourage people to plant and maintain plants for the environment. Typical Landscaping over the recent past has kind of forgotten about those “Planet Issues” and has been more focused on the human-sensory-satisfaction aspect of plants. The primary focus of our efforts is to take care of the planet’s needs, so she will take care of us.”

Plant Oregon grows native plants, Specimen Trees and riparian restoration vegetation. They have small plants in containers and large mature field grown specimens, dug and ready to go. Fruit trees are the newest addition to their inventory, with lots of apples, figs, cherries, seedless table grapes and other delicious fruits. They also do landscape construction work through their landscaping company.

If you go to visit Plant Oregon when they are open to the public on Saturdays from 9am to 4pm, Dan wants to make sure you understand a few things.

“We are a Wholesale Nursery,” he says, “we grow plants and it is a process. We have plants at all stages of growth from seedlings and cuttings just getting started to full grown specimens. We only sell what we grow, nothing comes in from California on a truck. Our selection of plants is primarily the native plants of the region supplemented with genus from Asia and Europe to fill particular niches in domestic landscapes. We are a work in progress, our customers need to wear boots when they come to visit, we grow plants in the soil, not on an asphalt parking lot…”

Plant Oregon often has homemade soil amendment for sale which can be picked up on Saturdays or delivered in ten yard loads. The Plant Oregon property also boasts a very nice gardening library in their office for looking up specific plants or for researching landscape architecture, wetland construction, native plant gardening, wildlife/plant relationships, dwarf conifers or water wise gardening. It also serves as inspiration when contemplating your next gardening project.
Dan would like everyone to know that they can be very busy and do not always return phone calls promptly. The best way to get in touch is to e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or to visit their website at www.plantoregon.com which contains all sorts of pictures and prices for their inventory.