Member Spotlight: Farmer Bailey & Garden Club
Farmer Bailey Is Changing the Way We Grow Flowers—Again
When Bailey Hale first started growing cut flowers on his Vermont farm, he was
frustrated. He kept seeing incredible Lisianthus varieties in photos from Japan and
Europe—richly-toned Rosanne, elegant Celeb, and ruffled Voyage—but none of it
was available to him as a U.S. grower. American flower farmers were simply not on
the radar of these elite flower breeders, who were already selling their seeds by the millions to much larger businesses around the world. So, like any resourceful farmer,
he decided to fix the problem himself.
That seed of an idea has grown into FarmerBailey.com, one of the most trusted
sources of young plants for professional flower farmers in the U.S. Since 2016, Bailey
and his team have introduced varieties that were once impossible to get—like
Lisianthus Rosanne, Voyage and Celeb, and Scoop Scabiosa—making them accessible to farmers of all sizes across the country via a simple e-commerce website
that demystifies horticultural ordering.
"I couldn't understand why plug growers weren't quickly producing what is popular and trending right now. In the fall of 2015, I put together a group order for six Lisianthus varieties and got an overwhelming response. I see the trends coming to the U.S. from Asia and Europe, I know what grows well here in the US, and I'm determined to get those items in the hands of the folks who need them while they are still relevant. Floral trends change rapidly, and being able to respond quickly is key for the American flower farmer," shared Bailey.
Why Garden Club Was the Next Natural Step
In 2024, the Farmer Bailey team launched GardenClubPlants.com, a sister site designed for passionate gardeners and budding flower farmers who want access to the same high-quality varieties—but in smaller, more manageable quantities.
“Every week, we’d get emails from gardeners asking, ‘Can I get a smaller quantity of plugs? A wholesale tray is too much for my space.’ Bailey says. “We realized there was a big group of people who wanted the same specialty crops as the pros—and who deserved the same level of service and education.”
Now, Garden Club offers some of the most exciting plugs in the industry to small-scale growers in search of unique and design-forward cutting varieties.
A California Partnership That Makes a Big Difference
Farmer Bailey works with top plug growers and breeders across the U.S., Europe, and Japan, but one of its most important partners is Plug Connection, located in Vista, California. That location is especially meaningful for California growers, who often struggle with strict Department of Agriculture inspections when ordering plant material from out of state.
Because Plug Connection grows within California, Farmer Bailey customers on the West Coast get faster shipping, lower freight costs, and—most importantly—peace of mind knowing their orders won’t be delayed or destroyed.
“Having Plug Connection in Vista is a game-changer,” Bailey explains. “It means we can offer premium product to California growers without the risk and red tape that comes with out-of-state shipments. That kind of security and reliability really matters when you’re building your crop plan.”
What Growers Are Saying
This model isn’t just working—it’s winning over flower farmers across the country. Here’s what they’re saying:
“Ordering from you is so easy, inexpensive, and customer support
is great! Big shoutout to Ally. You just gained another customer for life.”
—Cascade Farms, SC
“Lisianthus is notoriously difficult to start from seed... so we purchased plugs from Farmer Bailey (thank you!) and they took right off.”
—Rock River Farm
“Once you grow Bon Bon Scoop Scabiosa from Farmer Bailey, you’ll never go back. They’re perfection!”
—Orchard Breeze Flower Farm
"This was my first year trying plug-grown Dahlias. No virus,
strong genetics, and every plant is thriving. What a difference."
—Stark Blooms
“I used to start Cherry Caramel Phlox from seed, but Bailey’s
plugs were a game-changer—every one plantable, and now I’ll
have an ocean of blooms.”
—Mountain Man Flowers
“A cost-benefit analysis of germinating Lisianthus would show
how much more efficient it is to buy plugs. Bailey’s are always healthy, robust, and ready to go.”
—Petal and Pitchfork Flowers
Built by a Grower, for Growers
Farmer Bailey isn’t just about cool varieties—it’s about supporting growers with real-world advice, reliable product, and transparency about what’s working in the field. Whether you’re ordering 10 trays or 100, you’re met with the same commitment to quality and service.
“Farmer Bailey is an innovator who brings streamlined e-commerce and brand-new products to the pros—and now they’re doing the same for gardeners.”
If you’re not already ordering from them, now is the time. FarmerBailey.com will be restocked with wholesale trays of fall-shipped plugs and perennials on July 1 at 9am PT / Noon ET. Pleasure gardeners and small-scale flower growers will find new and restocked crops on GardenClubPlants.com at 9am PT / Noon ET on July 7.