The inspiration for Gro-Eco™ came from a small Florida nursery’s desire to adopt more environmentally conscious practices into their growing system. Jay Fraleigh, owner of Fraleigh Nursery, wanted to create an eco-friendly product that he knew consumers would prefer if given the option. As a 6th generation grower he also felt the need to take environmental responsibility for keeping his land healthy so the next generation could farm on the same land. He knew if he could just figure out the engineering aspect Fraleigh Nursery could produce a healthier eco-friendly plant.

After hundreds of drawings, Jay finally arrived at what is now the patented Gro-Eco™ Growing System.   Converting a few acres at a time from the old irrigation system to the new Gro-Eco™ Growing System, it became apparent very quickly this was the future.

It is simple yet innovative. The drip irrigation system ensures only the amount of water each plant needs goes directly to the plant, saving 85% in water usage compared to traditional irrigation systems. The Gro-Eco Growing System also uses less chemicals, less energy and greatly reduces run-off into the earth’s soil.

The Gro-Eco™ Plants get the real benefits. Gro-Eco Plants enjoy healthier root systems due to the protection from cold winter freezes and scorching summer heat. The leaves on a Gro-Eco Plant tend to be healthier and less diseased because the water hits the soil only not the leaves.

“It was time for change. We are simply embracing a better design in order to use less resources and produce better products in an environmentally conscious manner.  Gro-Eco™ enables us to do our part in conserving our precious water resource which was once abundant but becoming more scarce with the severe droughts,” said Jay Fraleigh.

The Gro-Eco Family hopes you feel good when you plant a Gro-Eco™ Plant. Remember every plant makes a difference™ for the environment. Our dream is to convert more and more farmland from old irrigation systems to Gro-Eco™. As you do your part one plant at a time, we promise to continue doing our part one acre at a time.

Fraleigh Nursery, LLC was founded in August of 1999 by James "Jay" Livingston Fraleigh, when Jay returned to the family farm in Madison, Florida. The farm has been in his family since the 1840's, so Jay represents the sixth generation to continue the farming tradition. Through the years, the farm produced cattle (the first known registered cattle in Madison County, Florida), as well as cotton and shade tobacco.

After graduating with a degree in Landscape Design and Operations, Jay partnered with a classmate and opened a landscape design, installation, maintenance and garden center on Amelia Island, Florida. As he continued to make advancement, Jay's career moved him to several states in the Southeast:  Cairo, Georgia (Wight Nurseries and Wight & Bracken Trees); Moncks Corner, South Carolina (Carolina Nurseries); and LaGrange, North Carolina (Wight Nurseries of NC).

After being away from the family farm for 17 years, Jay returned home and followed the advice of his father, A. H. "Rock" Fraleigh, Sr., who suggested converting the family farm to a landscape and nursery industry. With all his past experiences and his desire to incorporate eco-friendly practices into family farm, he began building Fraleigh Nursery and the laying the groundwork for Gro-Eco™.

Fraleigh Nursery Mission Statement

We are a wholesale nursery deeply rooted and dedicated to producing superior-quality landscape plant material for the green industry.  Our dedication to our customers and employees will be that of uncompromised integrity and trust.  With this concept deeply rooted in our day-to-day tasks, the result will be total customer satisfaction along with our employees' and company's success.

We have a great team of sales representatives who are ready to assist you:

Buddy Miller is our newest addition to the sales team and is ready to join Jay Fraleigh and the others he has known and respected for many years. He is proud to promote the Gro-Eco growing system which encourages water conservation efforts in production and landscape. As a third generation nurseryman with 30 active years in the industry, Buddy is well equipped to assist our retail customers across the Southeast.  

Mike Ellison joined us in April of 2008 and has over 23 years of experience in sales and other areas of the industry. His experience has prepared him well to be our key account specialist in regions across the eastern states. He is a proud graduate of the University of Georgia.
 

Ken Davidson also joined our team in 2008. He graduated from North Carolina State in 1999 with a degree in Landscape Design and Botany. Ken joined the Fraleigh team because of Gro-Eco's message and emerging impact on the industry. Ken serves our customers in West Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama.