Meet Grant Stephenson
Grant Stephenson
President & Founder, Horticultural Consultants, Inc.
Grant Stephenson is a Texas Certified Nurseryman with more than 30 years of experience in the green industry and is nationally recognized for his expertise in cold-hardy palms, bamboo, and cycads—especially species suited to the upper Gulf Coast climate. His lifelong passion for plants began at the age of three, working alongside his grandmother in her garden, and later led him into the horticulture industry, where he studied landscape architecture and design.
Grant’s deep knowledge, dedication, and vision ultimately gave rise to Horticultural Consultants, Inc. (HCI), which he founded in 1993. Today, HCI is a premier wholesale nursery and preferred supplier of collector-quality specimen plant material for some of the nation’s most demanding landscape projects. In addition to supplying exceptional plant material, HCI provides expert horticultural consultation to a diverse clientele.
A Foundation of Design and Advocacy
Beginning in 1989, Grant set out to build one of the largest collections of cold-hardy palm species in the world. He has traveled extensively to collect and acquire palms and maintains active relationships with botanists, growers, and plant enthusiasts both domestically and internationally. His expertise is sought by botanical gardens, estates, private collectors, zoos, amusement parks, arboretums, landscape architects, developers, and top landscape contractors.
Grant is widely regarded as a trusted voice in the green industry. He has served as a gardening expert on popular local radio and television programs and regularly provides guidance to community groups and businesses seeking environmentally responsible landscape solutions. He is frequently consulted to diagnose challenges and develop solutions involving cold-hardy palms, bamboo, and cycads.
Expertise in the Field
A longtime member of the International Palm Society since the mid-1980s, Grant was elected to its Board of Directors in May 2008, where he has served for nineteen years. He is also the holder of a U.S. patent for the Oasis Palm &Tree Anchoring System, with twenty-six auto CAD details and 39 configurations of them as well as the Oasis Palm Cart, designed to safely move specimen palms, boulders, palatized stone & gravel weighing up to 6,000 pounds by hand.
Over the past decade, Grant has provided appraisal and consulting services for mediation & court time with attorneys, insurance companies, banks, and real estate firms, specializing in property damage and inventory valuations related to fires, freezes, hurricanes, and other weather-related events across the United States. His appraisal expertise has also supported preservation efforts for organizations such as The Garden Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy.
Global Consulting & Acquisitions
Strategic Guidance and Specialized Solutions for Complex Landscapes
Grant’s expertise is not confined to the nursery. He is a frequent consultant for institutions that define the public landscape. His travels to collect and acquire elite specimens have taken him across Texas, Florida, California, Arizona, Mexico, Hawaii, and the Bahamas.
Notable Consulting & Project Partnerships:
- Public & Botanical Spaces: Mercer Arboretum, Moody Gardens, San Antonio River Walk, San Antonio Botanical Garden, and the City of Houston.
- Zoos & Aquariums: The Tennessee, Phoenix, San Antonio, and Houston Zoos; New Orleans and Corpus Christi Aquariums.
- Hospitality & Development: Pappas Restaurants, The Woodlands Corporation, Walt Disney World, and The Finger Companies.
- Entertainment: Six Flags Astroworld and Dixieland Theme Parks.
Industry Leadership & Professional Affiliations
Grant remains at the forefront of horticultural science and design through active participation in leading global organizations and trade conferences.
Connect with Grant
Whether you are a landscape architect seeking a specific specimen or a developer needing an invisible anchoring solution for high-value trees, Grant Stephenson brings over 30 years of specialized experience to your project.