About WenkeSunbelt
Wenke Greenhouses opened in 1942
Chris and Ann Wenke opened Wenke Greenhouses at 5071 Market St., where the current Wenke Retail Garden Center resides. They mark the first generation of Wenke's.
Opens 30th Street
Wholesale's 30th Street location initiated the first expansion of Wenke Greenhouses away from the first retail center off of Sprinkle Road.
This expansion allowed for the expansion of wholesale production in Kalamazoo, MI, significantly. It now houses our main sales office and the largest volume of production across all locations.
Purchase of Sunbelt in Douglas, GA
Lorence Wenke and Larry Boven, both greenhouse owners in Kalamazoo, saw the need for a location to expand their reach out of the Midwest. Sunbelt Greenhouses, originally Douglas Nursery, was purchased in 1983 and have been sister companies for 40 years.
Wenke and Sunbelt coordinate production and sales to take advantage of geographical differences and to best service customers. Together, Sunbelt and Wenke are in the top 20 largest growers in the country.
Our two divisions have officially merged as of 2025, operating as one company, WenkeSunbelt Greenhouses.
Historical photos courtesy of the Douglas Enterprise
Opens Millennium
Millennium houses the vast production of the Kalamazoo Flower Group's product grown by WenkeSunbelt Greenhouses.
The Kalamazoo Flower Group was started in 1967, originally Kalamazoo Valley Plant Growers (KVPG) Cooperative, to better serve the expansive community of local growers in Kalamazoo, MI. Millennium was purchased in 2013 to better focus on the specific needs for Box Store and KFG business. Separating customers between the Mill and 30th St. allowed for more efficient production and necessary production timing for KFG.
Opens Market 8
Market 8, formerly Zylstra Greenhouses, was purchased as the optimal space for expansion of Wenke's plug and liner production range. The new space allowed for cutting edge upgrades, the ability to grow finished product to meet the needs of our customers, and the facility to grow better quality plugs for Young Plants.
Modernizing Facilities
To remain a forward-thinking green leader in the grower community, WenkeSunbelt Greenhouses prioritizes pursuing advancements in the facilities and technology throughout the industry. Over the years, we have advanced in a plethora of areas.
Robotics, Retractable Roofing, Shade Curtains, Humidification, Sanitation, Movable Tables
3500+
Varieties Grown Between Young Plants & Wholesale
84
Years of Growth and Success
83
Acres of Greenhouse
Family-Owned & Operated
WenkeSunbelt Greenhouses is proud of its three generations of family leadership since the inception of the business in 1942. Our current President, Lisa Ambrosio, sits as the third generation of the Wenke family to lead the business. Continuing to run a family-owned and operated business is an important pillar to the community at WenkeSunbelt Greenhouses.
As the fourth generation of the Wenke family takes steps towards a larger role in the business, the family-owned and operated legacy continues on.
Today
Top 20 Grower in the U.S.
Family-Owned & Operated, 3rd Generation
The Easiest Company to do Business With