Celebrating Our Legacy & Looking Toward The Future

We invite you to join us in honoring the legacy of our Founder, David Salman, by carrying on his passion for sustainable gardening in the American West. We are embarking on a new decade with a fresh look and a new tagline that reflects our energy and optimism for the next chapter of High Country Gardens. We know that with our community of gardeners like you, we can help to solve environmental challenges today while planting the seeds for a better tomorrow.

Thank you for your support over the last 30 years. We look forward to growing with you in the future. 

High Country Gardens Timeline 

See a few highlights and milestones of High Country Gardens over the years.

Graphic with image of David Salman opening his first greenhouse
1984: David Salman opens his first greenhouse in Santa Fe, NM
Graphic with images of High Country Gardens Catalogs from the early '90s
1993: David and Ava Salman launch award-winning High Country Gardens Catalog
Graphic with image of Agastache rupestris
1996: David Salman introduces Agastache rupestris
Graphic with image of David Salman in garden with Bouteloua gracilis 'Blonde Ambition'
2011: David Salman introduces Bouteloua gracilis 'Blonde Ambition'
Graphic with images of Salmans at garden center and image of Jumbo Waterwise Pre-Planned Garden
2012: The Salmans close their garden center in Sante Fe to focus on the art of plant propagation and furthering David's vision for sustainable gardening; High Country Gardens introduces Jumbo Waterwise Pre-Planned Garden, our first "Garden In A Box"
Graphic with image of High Country Gardens Utah greenhouse
2019: High Country Gardens opens our Utah greenhouse where there is plenty of room for our dedicated team to grow and care for our unique waterwise plants.
Graphic with High Country Gardens tagline logo
2023: A fresh look and new tagline for the next chapter of High Country Gardens

Sustainability Begins In Your Backyard 

In celebration of our 30th anniversary, High Country Gardens is introducing a fresh new look as well as a new tagline: Sustainability Begins In Your Backyard. Enter our founder, David Salman knew that plants play a vital role in the interconnected ecosystem that connects all life on earth. He believed that ”our gardens must be more than just beautiful.” He understood that to coexist with the land and wildlife we need to adapt our gardening practices, and to see plants for not only their beauty, but also their ability to preserve the environment.

In our next chapter at High Country Gardens, we will continue to honor David's legacy and carry on his passion for sustainable gardening. We believe every gardener, every plant, and every yard can make a difference. 

Plants With A Purpose 

High Country Gardens was founded to provide a diverse and ever-expanding palette of plants for the unique challenges of Western gardeners, and for people across the country who believe that their garden can be more than just beautiful. 


Sustainability begins in your backyard, and High Country Gardens is your source for plants advice and inspiration to make a difference. Our plants have a purpose: they are waterwise to thrive in dry climates, they provide natural nectar to nourish hummingbirds and other pollinators, and they help restore ecosystems by building habitat in our yards.

Honoring The Legacy Of David Salman

High Country Gardens founder David Salman had a gift for seeking out and propagating unique plant species native to the wild landscapes of the Southwest. He was a self-described “off-the-wall plant nerd” and “plant explorer with a gift for talking to plants.”  

Decades of intrepid explorations collecting seeds and specimens around the world led to the introduction of more than 60 plants to the horticultural trade. David's passing in 2022 was felt deeply by the Western horticulture community.


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