Green Fields Nursery was founded in 1923 as a small-scale grower of unique plants in Mount Washington. Its founder, August Dubbert, shared his horticultural expertise with neighbors and friends, specializing in rare and unusual plants. He even helped popularize Aucuba japonica 'Variegata'—a plant previously considered not hardy in the area.

In the early 1940s, the nursery relocated to the corner of Falls Road and Northern Parkway. It was later passed down to August's knowledgeable son, Louis Dubbert. Under Lou’s guidance, Green Fields continued to thrive and expanded into a successful residential and commercial landscaping business. Lou was especially well-known for growing and hybridizing daylilies for sale at the nursery.

A new era began in 1986 when Green Fields was purchased by Jim McElroy and his father-in-law, Jerry Dobbyn, marking the start of a period of immense growth and transformation. From the very beginning, Jim and his family focused on sharing their horticulture knowledge and delivering exceptional customer service—a core commitment that ultimately built Green Fields into what it is today.

General Manager Peter Bieneman joined the team in 1988, bringing a deep botanical knowledge and enthusiasm that made an immediate impact, later earning his Master of Landscape Architecture in 2001. Today, Pete is responsible for researching and purchasing all of our trees, shrubs, soils, fertilizers, and solutions. He loves to share his wealth of plant knowledge with our customers, whether he is diagnosing pest and disease issues or offering general care advice. Nursery Manager and Designer John Russell joined the team in 2002; today, he heads the houseplant department and manages inventory, while leading the dedicated care of all indoor and outdoor plant material.

Green Fields continued to grow and, in 2005, major renovations added two spacious showrooms, allowing for year-round retail operations and the launch of a festive Christmas shop. Each winter, the main location transitions into full Christmas mode, stocking fresh-cut trees, wreaths, greens, garland, ornaments, and holiday decor. Beginning in 2024, a seasonal second location opens on Stevenson Lane in Towson to serve even more holiday shoppers, offering a premium selection of trees, wreaths, and fresh greens.

The long-standing landscaping division at Green Fields remains a cornerstone of the business under the leadership of Landscape Coordinator Kathleen McElroy and Operations Manager and Designer Jim McElroy, Jr. The division's success is driven by our exceptional team of landscape designers: Kathi Shea, Michael Lemmon, and Craig Zissel, who additionally heads our perennial department.

Exceptional plants and expertise are what we do, but our community is why we do it. As Green Fields celebrates over 100 years, we want to express our deepest gratitude for your century of trust and support. You are the heartbeat of our nursery, and we look forward to growing together for generations to come!