Blackcreek Nursery & Garden
Nurturing Nature one Plant at a Time!
Our Story
We believe plants have the power to enrich everyday life. Rooted in Ellabell, Georgia, our family business is built on decades of horticultural expertise, a deep respect for nature, and a commitment to sharing the beauty and usefulness of plants. Through Blackcreek Nursery & Garden and Blackcreek Herbals, we bring together growing, crafting, and community in one place.
I’m Debbie Odom, and I’ve been a professional grower since 1991. But truthfully, my gardening journey began much earlier — as soon as I was old enough to dig in the dirt. My grandmother was the original DIYer in our family. She loved God, her family, and making things with her hands. She passed down her talents and passions for cooking, sewing, and gardening to me, and it was that inheritance that planted the seed of what would one day become Blackcreek Nursery.
From Camellias to a Community Nursery
Our nursery’s story began on my family’s homeplace in Bulloch County in the mid-1990s, originally serving as the growing site for Gene’s Nursery in Savannah, known for its exceptional camellias. For over 30 years, we cultivated camellias and tea plants, shipping thousands across the country through our online business, CamelliaShop.com, and supporting growers and tea farms nationwide.
In 2012, a section of our growing grounds was transformed into our now-beloved Blackcreek Tea Garden — a quiet evolution that reflected our long-standing passion for tea plants and education.
Reinvention During a Time of Uncertainty
Even before the pandemic, the winds of change were stirring. My daughter Lindsey and I explored ways to combine our DIY creativity with our love for growing. Then came 2020 — and with it, uncertainty, closures, and tough decisions. When Gene’s Nursery was forced to close temporarily due to COVID restrictions, we faced a pivotal moment.
Out of the chaos, a vision took root: to transform our growing operation into a local retail nursery that would serve our own Bulloch County community. We decided not to wait — and instead of opening in 2022 as planned, we fast-tracked everything and launched Blackcreek Nursery in March 2021. Yes — we built a business in the middle of a pandemic!
We opened Blackcreek Nursery on March 26, 2021.
Our motto became: “Keep Going ~ Keep Growing.” And we meant it.
From installing electricity, water lines, shade houses, and rock paths to fighting through plant shortages and wild weather, we turned our wholesale nursery into a retail space in just six months. We couldn’t have done it without the steady hands and heart of my husband Ben — our behind-the-scenes builder, fixer, and dream-bringer-to-life for over 40 years.
What We Grow
Today, Blackcreek Nursery specializes in Camellias (including tea plants), perennials, edibles, and select ornamental shrubs and trees. We grow many of our own plants, offering customers the benefit of our firsthand growing knowledge. We also work to preserve heirloom and hard-to-find varieties — classic garden plants that often get lost in today’s sea of high-priced, branded hybrids.
As growers, we’re always on the lookout for those overlooked gems — tried-and-true garden favorites from the past that still deserve a place in today’s landscapes. When we find them, we bring them back to life and into our gardens.
In 2022, after more than three decades of partnership, Gene’s Nursery officially closed. We are deeply grateful for the many memories, friendships, and shared history.
Blackcreek Herbals – Nature Inspired Apothecary Market
Rooted in a lifelong love of herbs and their ability to support wellness of body, mind, and spirit, Blackcreek Herbals was created as a nature-inspired apothecary devoted to plant-based living. Our collection features thoughtfully curated herbs, specialty teas, and natural wellness goods, each chosen to reflect our deep respect for plants and their time-honored uses.
Located at Blackcreek Nursery – Step inside our small apothecary-style shop and explore handcrafted creations designed to help you weave herbal wellness into everyday life.
We also offer hands-on classes and workshops that invite you to experience herbs in a meaningful way—from blending your own teas to creating herbal remedies and garden-centered self-care practices.
The Blackcreek Tea Garden
For over 30 years, we’ve been growing Camellia sinensis, the plant behind all true teas — green, black, oolong, and more. Georgia’s climate is ideal for tea, and we’ve even developed our own cultivars. While we could harvest and produce tea as a commercial crop, our real passion is education.
Our mini tea farm-garden is now complete, and we’re excited to continue offering tea growing and processing classes — sharing what we’ve learned and inspiring others to grow their own.
Come Visit Us
Whether you’re looking for plants, teas, soaps, herbs, or inspiration, we invite you to come see what we’ve grown. From our family to yours, thank you for supporting Blackcreek Nursery & Garden Market. We hope to keep growing with you for many years to come.
