Our RootsRun Deep

Ivanhoe’s goal is to provide our wholesale customers with the highest quality trees and shrubs, exceptional service, and unmatched value in the Chicagoland area, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana and Iowa. We grow and maintain a diverse selection of trees and shrubs. We provide personal, prompt service to every customer. We can have your order ready for pickup in 24 hours or can arrange shipping. Our centralized location in the Midwest means lower freight costs.

History

Old Ivanhoe FarmIvanhoe Nursery & Farms’ history dates back to 1857 when Michael Wirtz left his hometown of Luxemburg, Germany. After 38 days at sea, Michael arrived in New York City. He ventured west in search of a home of his own, finding one in Chicago. Michael worked as a farmhand and soon acquired land in Fremont Township. This land was known as Ivanhoe Farm. To this day carries this name.

Michael married Caroline Hapke and had nine children. Ivanhoe Nursery & Farms has remained a family business, with the sixth generation of Wirtz’s being the current owners. We take pride in the land that has been a part of our family for over a century and a half. We are dedicated to using the land to produce beautiful, healthy trees and shrubs.

The Ivanhoe Advantage

The trees and shrubs grown at Ivanhoe are readily adaptable to the climate and soils in the Chicagoland area and surrounding states. The soil is heavy clay, which make great root-balls. We wait to sell our trees and plants until they are stocky and have a very good root system. We constantly monitor and maintain our plants to ensure that they will enjoy a long life after they leave our nursery. Our experienced team can help you determine the best trees and shrubs for your project. We’re happy to provide instructions for the ongoing maintenance of all trees and shrubs we sell. Our priority is a long, healthy life for all of our trees and shrubs.

Team

With many years of nursery experience, our team is focused on providing the best plants and service to our customers. Russ Stokes, our nursery manager, has spent most of his life in the agricultural business including farming, greenhouse growing, nursery operations, landscaping and owning his own retail business. Russ is a certified nurseryman with a detailed knowledge of all facets of the nursery business. He understands the needs of customers and plants.

Maria Marquez is our jack of all trades. She has many years in the nursery business with her husband owning a landscape business in the Lake Geneva area. Maria speaks fluent Spanish which is helpful to our Spanish speaking customers.

Valente Bustillos has over 25 years in the nursery/landscape business and he is our go to guy for all issues pertaining to the nursery.

Tim McKenzie is the newest addition to the team and is in charge of helping customers select the plants they need and get the customer loaded efficiently without unnecessary delays. We understand that time is valuable to our customers.

Russ Stokes

Russ StokesNursery Manager

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Russ Stokes

Russ StokesNursery Manager

I have spent most of my life and career in the “Green Industry”. Having grown up on a farm in Riverton, Utah, I learned the wonder of growing plants and the hard work and dedication needed to be successful.

I got my start at a large nursery in Centerville, Utah. I received a Nurseryman Certification from Utah State University and received a Business Management degree from Utah Community College.

In 2001, I moved to Wisconsin with my family to manage a large wholesale and landscaping company. In 2009. I saw the prospective of Ivanhoe Nursery & Farms and wanted to be a part of the start-up operation. Ivanhoe has grown from a four acre nursery to nearly one hundred acres with continued growth.

Maria Marquez

Maria MarquezSales Representative/Office Administrator

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Maria Marquez

Maria MarquezSales Representative/Office Administrator

I have come to Ivanhoe Nursery with over thirteen years of experience being in the green industry. I have a solid background in Nursery inside sales, accounting, and other office functions. I saw a great opportunity to assist the Ivanhoe Nursery team in promoting sales, inventory control, and helping the company grow.

Being proficient in Spanish is a real plus and comes in handy when I am dealing with the Hispanic clientele. I also love my family which includes my husband Miquel who is in the landscape business, four boys, and 2 1/2 grandchildren (Miguel will be born in November).

I like helping customers and feel very satisfied when I know the customer is happy with the service we have provided them.

Valente Bustillos

Valente BustillosAssistant Nursery Manager

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Valente Bustillos

Valente BustillosAssistant Nursery Manager

Most important, I love working and helping plants grow into perfect specimens. I am always looking for ways to do things better. With my team, I carefully explain to each nursery worker why things need to be done in order to produce the best possible plant. I take a lot of pride in my work and understand that tasks such as pruning are an art. You have to know what you are doing otherwise the finished product is not going to look good. In my career, I have harvested over 500,000 various shrubs and trees. I have over twenty years of nursery growing experience and each day I learn something new. I enjoy working at Ivanhoe Nursery where the philosophy is that outcome is what counts and my experience is respected and we all work together to push each other to do even better.

When not working, (which he seems to be always) I love to spend time with my wife Monica, and three children all of which I am very proud of (they are straight A students).

Tim McKenzieCustomer Support Manager

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Tim McKenzieCustomer Support Manager

Tim McKenzie comes to Ivanhoe from the commercial lawn care industry, where he had a commercial applicators permit. He has been with Ivanhoe for three years. A quick learner, Tim learned the names of the trees and shrubs at Ivanhoe soon after starting with us.

Tim lives in Mundelein with his wife and eight year old son. He enjoys working with people and plants and spending time with his family.

Photos of Our Nursery & Farms