At age 3, Grant Stephenson began helping his grandmother tend her garden. Little did she know, she ignited in Grant a passion for plants that would one day lead him to a life in horticulture. Grant worked for several nurseries at the start of his career, but it wasn’t until the early 1980’s that he met Joe Montgomery, an IPS member from Austin, TX who introduced him to the world of palms–especially cold-hardy species. Joe became a close friend and mentor, and he encouraged Grant to pursue his growing passion for palms and other cold-hardy yet tropical-looking plants.

In the mid-1980s, Grant joined the IPS and in 1993, with a vision of assembling one of the largest collections of cold-hardy species of palms, Grant started Horticultural Consultants, Inc (HCI), a wholesale nursery focused on the sale and distribution of specimen palms, bamboo, and cycads worldwide. He designed and patented the Oasis Palm Tree Anchoring System, along with the Oasis Palm Cart, which can be used to move large specimens weighing up to 6000 lbs. by hand. Zoos, botanical gardens, arboreta, and architects alike frequently rely on Grant as a consultant and for his ability to procure superior specimens and rare and coveted species.

Grant’s involvement with the IPS began in the mid-1990s when he became a commercial and lifetime member. He brought in rare, hard-to-find palms for local Texas chapters and sponsored lectures by Paul Craft, Alan Meerow, and Larry Noblick to educate and excite people about the wonders of palms. Grant also passionately teaches others about these elegant, regal trees, and he continues to expand the available palette of hardy palms and tropical-looking plants with new varieties. Grant also performs appraisals for banks and real estate companies and valuation for attorneys and Insurance companies. Grant resides in Marble Falls, Texas with Susan and his two children, Audrey and Derek. He is honored to be elected to the board of directors and looks forward to advancing the efforts of the IPS.

 

Affiliated Organizations: Palm Society of South Texas