Rooted x R-P Nurseries
There’s a quiet magic that surrounds R-P Nurseries. It's a feeling of history and heart that you sense the moment you step onto the grounds. Established in 1866 by William Rakestraw and Josiah Pyle, the business has always embodied the warmth and care its name suggests. What began as a bare root tree operation has grown, quite literally, into a full service nursery, garden center, and landscaping business. After 159 years of business, R-P Nurseries holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously family-owned nursery in the United States.
Through generations of change, one thing has never wavered: R-P Nurseries’ commitment to its customers and community. From the early days of mail-order catalog to today’s lush greenhouse gardens, the business has thrived on genuine relationships, a love for plants, and a steadfast belief that quality and care go hand in hand.
Today, R-P Nurseries continues to flourish under Owner Richard Pratt, who has been a driving force in nurturing the business into what it is today. His dedication to maintaining strong relationships, quality service, and a welcoming environment shapes the culture customers feel the moment they arrive. His stepson, Greg DiStefano, serves as General Manager, involved in day-to-day operations and helping continue the family legacy.
Greg shared that the heart of R-P Nurseries has always been built on kindness and community, where people are treated more like neighbors than customers. “We like to treat our customers like friends or good neighbors and not just dollar signs,” he said. “We believe great service and personal attention goes a long way toward keeping them coming back.” That spirit of genuine care is what continues to draw people to R-P Nurseries year after year, season after season.
The Heart of the Gift Shop
Tucked within the nursery grounds is a charming cottage that has been part of R-P’s story for more than a century. Built in the 1870s, it once served as an office, later a home, and eventually, something even more special: the PleasanTrees Gift Shop at R-P Nurseries.
The shop came to life through the vision and heart of Kathy Pratt, Richard’s wife and Greg’s mother. Before joining the family business, Kathy worked for a psychiatrist. Greg smiled when he told us about her, saying, “She loved talking to people, and that really carried over to here. People would come in and not just talk about plants. They would talk about their personal lives.”
It was Kathy who dreamed of expanding R-P beyond landscaping. In the 1980s, she and Richard opened the garden center and gift shop, adding beauty and personality to the business in a way that reflected her own.Their partnership strengthened the business, combining Richard’s leadership and industry expertise with Kathy’s innovative ideas and thoughtful approach to community. She saw the nursery as more than a place to buy plants. It was a place to connect, to slow down, and to be part of something rooted in kindness and care.
Her dream still blooms through the people who walk through the doors today. “Everything just keeps growing,” Greg reflected. “We must be doing something right.”
A New Chapter with Rooted
This fall, Rooted is honored to join R-P Nurseries and carry Kathy’s legacy forward. Our newest location will open inside the historic gift shop space she once ran with such heart — while continuing to support the nursery and landscaping work that Richard remains deeply involved in today.
Rooted and R-P share so many of the same values: community, connection, and a love for things that are made and shared with care. Together, we hope to create a space that feels welcoming and inspiring, where visitors can find not just beautiful things, but a sense of belonging.
For us, this partnership isn’t just about expanding. It’s about honoring the story that came before us and helping it grow in new ways. Kathy’s spirit of hospitality continues to fill this space in every conversation, every plant, and every person who walks through those doors — while Richard’s leadership ensures that R-P’s roots remain strong.
We’re so excited to be part of the next chapter at R-P Nurseries. A place where history and community meet. A place where the past continues to bloom into something beautiful and new.
