For 50 years, Mostardi Nursery has been helping Newtown Square grow, one tree, flower and garden at a time. Now, the longtime family-owned business and proud Sponsor of Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors has earned national recognition for its commitment to horticulture, customer service and community.
Mostardi Nursery was recently named one of Lawn & Garden Retailer magazine’s 2026 Innovators of the Year. The national publication selected just 10 independent garden centers for the honor, recognizing businesses that stand out for retail innovation, community impact and customer experience.
For owner Steve Mostardi and his team, the recognition comes during an especially meaningful year. Mostardi Nursery was incorporated in 1976 and is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026. What began as a landscape business started by Steve’s parents eventually grew into the retail nursery generations of local residents have come to know and trust. Steve’s gardening roots stretch back even further to his grandfather, who worked as an estate gardener on the Main Line. Steve grew up in the family business, trained at the Barnes Foundation Arboretum and studied horticulture at Temple University.
While Mostardi Nursery has long been known for its selection of perennials, annuals, trees, shrubs and houseplants, customers know that what truly sets Mostardi’s apart is the knowledge and personal attention that come with every visit. Whether you are an experienced gardener or a new homeowner, Steve and his knowledgeable team are always ready to offer advice and solutions for choosing the right plants for your property.
But Mostardi’s impact extends far beyond its West Chester Pike property. In 2014, Steve approached the Newtown Township Environmental Advisory Council with an idea to join the national America in Bloom program. That idea helped set in motion what would become Newtown Square In Bloom, an organization dedicated to beautification, environmental stewardship and civic pride.
Since then, Mostardi Nursery has played an important role in many of the beautiful floral displays residents enjoy throughout town. Each January, Mostardi’s professional gardeners begin planting flowers in the nursery’s greenhouse, carefully growing them into the gorgeous hanging baskets that brighten Newtown Square’s main streets by spring.
Mostardi Nursery supplies plant material at cost for Newtown Square In Bloom’s floral displays and hanging baskets, and has contributed more than 100 hanging baskets to the program since 2010.
That longtime commitment to the community caught the attention of Newtown Square In Bloom Chairman Paul Seligson, who nominated Mostardi Nursery for the Innovator of the Year award. The honor recognizes independent garden centers that go above and beyond to deliver exceptional customer experiences, remain deeply engaged in their communities and foster supportive, team-driven workplaces.
Mostardi’s commitment to innovation is also evident in the nursery’s efforts to meet the changing needs of today’s gardeners. In recent years, the nursery has expanded its selection of native trees, shrubs, perennials and ornamental grasses in response to growing customer interest. The team helps homeowners understand how native plants can support beneficial insects, birds and the overall health of our local ecosystem.
Steve was recognized in person at Cultivate’26, the national AmericanHort convention held last month in Columbus. He received the award during a ceremony on Sunday, July 12th, and Mostardi Nursery was also featured in the July issue of Lawn & Garden Retailer magazine.
Being named a 2026 Innovator of the Year is a fitting tribute to a business that has spent five decades growing, adapting and finding new ways to serve its customers while remaining deeply rooted in Newtown Square. “Our company has the privilege of serving the community whose support has enabled us to thrive, and we’re grateful for any opportunity to enhance the quality of life in our town and beyond,” Steve said proudly.
Congratulations to Steve, the Mostardi family and the entire Mostardi Nursery team on this well-deserved national honor. We are proud to have Mostardi Nursery as a Sponsor of Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors and even prouder to celebrate this exciting recognition with them!