WELCOME to SOUTHERN
BRANCH NURSERY,
where native beauty meets sustainable design.
Established in 1981 by Eric Gunderson, a pioneer in the native plant nursery industry, and revitalized in 2023 by Trista Imrich, a Navy veteran and certified horticulturist, we are dedicated to growing and cultivating exclusively native plants and creating landscapes that support local wildlife and ecosystems.
Photography by Elizabeth LeMoine, Modern Lifestyle Photography
Located in the heart of Hampton Roads, VA, our nursery serves clients across Virginia, Northeast North Carolina, and beyond. With a passion for native plants and their vital role in restoring the health of local habitats and the Chesapeake Bay watershed, Trista leads our team of like-minded experts in providing a unique selection of carefully grown plants and thoughtfully accumulated garden accessories to the public, landscape nursery trade, and nonprofit organizations.
At Southern Branch Nursery, we specialize in growing pollinator plants, wetland plants, upland plants, and straight species - ensuring genetic diversity and adaptability to local conditions. What sets us apart is our exclusive focus on native species. By providing habitat and stormwater management solutions, we not only enhance the beauty of local landscapes but also support local wildlife populations in a meaningful way. From butterflies to birds, our plants offer food, shelter, and nesting sites, creating thriving ecosystems right in our patrons’ backyards.
Photography by Elizabeth LeMoine, Modern Lifestyle Photography
We source locally collected seeds and nurture them in recycled pots with our proprietary soil blend. We also offer consultation and landscape design services for our plants through our sister company Wild Works of Whimsy, to help ensure that our plants not only survive but flourish by focusing heavily on conservation landscaping and stormwater management - bringing both beauty and function to local homes and properties.
Photography by Elizabeth LeMoine, Modern Lifestyle Photography
Photography by Elizabeth LeMoine, Modern Lifestyle Photography
Southern Branch Nursery is more than just a nursery - it's a community-driven endeavor. As a female veteran-owned business, we proudly empower women and veterans through meaningful employment opportunities and mentorship. Our inclusive and diverse environment fosters creativity, innovation, and a warm and exceptional experience for our beloved customers.
Photography by Elizabeth LeMoine, Modern Lifestyle Photography
When you choose Southern Branch Nursery, you're not just investing in plants—you're investing in the future of our planet. Join us in our mission to cultivate ecosystems, communities, and a sustainable future for generations in Hampton Roads to come.
Visit us at our Chesapeake location or shop online to discover the beauty and benefits of native plants. We can’t wait to meet you!
Meet the Team
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Trista Imrich
OWNER, LANDSCAPE DESIGNER, WILD WORKS OF WHIMSY
Trista Imrich is the owner and fearless leader of Wild Works of Whimsy and Southern Branch Nursery. A Navy veteran (Surface Warfare Officer), this Ohio native has a Masters of Science in Environmental Policy and Management, and now brings her unique perspective of landscape design and planting to Hampton Roads.
Trista is actively involved with Lynnhaven River NOW, a local watershed nonprofit where she worked for 6 years, and has experience with the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP), and Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area (CBPA) requirements and mitigation, including living shorelines, rain gardens, infiltration trenches, and conservation landscaping. She is a Virginia Certified Horticulturist (VCH), Designer (VSLD-certified), and Level 2 Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional in design and installation (CBLP-ID).
Trista helped to write and edit the “Native Plants for Southeast Virginia” guide. She is also a local speaker, bringing her relentless advocacy for sustainability and horticultural acumen to events, garden clubs and local groups.
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Carly DeLaurier-Flanigan
NURSERY MANAGER
Carly grew up in the Pacific Northwest, where her love for nature and gardening began. She is especially drawn to hummingbirds and cultivating plants that attract them, such as Coral Honeysuckle, Native Azaleas, Cardinal Flower, Live Oaks, Fothergilla, and Serviceberries. She has been living in Tidewater for 15 years, where she enjoys beekeeping, winemaking, and quality time with friends, family, and loved ones - including her beloved dogs.
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Maggie Stewart
LANDSCAPE DESIGNER
Maggie is a Tidewater native with a lifelong passion for plants and ecology. She decided to pursue her dreams in 2019 when she left the restaurant industry to study horticulture at Tidewater Community College. She gained experience in commercial landscaping, but soon realized that she wanted to focus on environmental conservation. That passion is what brought her to Southern Branch Nursery, where she creates beautiful, functional, eco-friendly landscapes. She is also interested in permaculture, wetland restoration, and medicinal plants. When she is not working, she enjoys painting, exploring natural areas, and spending time with her family.
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Julia Trizcinski
CONSERVATION LANDSCAPING LEAD
After growing up in Hampton Roads, Julia went on to study Agriculture at McGill University in Montréal, Canada. She is passionate about edible landscaping, sustainable design, and agriculture - making her a perfect addition to the Southern Branch Nursery team. When she’s not focusing on cultivating native-rich landscape plans, she enjoys traveling and a wide variety of outdoor activities. She is currently in the process of studying to get her CBLP and VNLA certifications.
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Eric Gunderson
NURSERY FOUNDER
Eric Gunderson is a graduate of Virginia Tech, where he earned a degree in Nursery Management/Landscape Design. He worked as a Nursery Manager for London Bridge Nursery before his passion for native plants led him to founding Southern Branch Nursery, Inc. in 1981. He initially operated a retail garden center and landscape nursery on Battlefield Boulevard, and later moved to Southern Branch Nursery’s current location on Benefit Road. With over 4 decades of invaluable experience, Eric has propagated and grown 450+ species of native plants.
Certifications & Memberships
