Founded in 2008, The Hortulus Farm Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation which operates as a destination farm, garden and nursery at Hortulus Farm in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

Hortulus Farm, one of the most celebrated private gardens in America, is known as for its opulence and evocative mix of classical design and modern sensibilities. It has been featured in publications like House & Garden, House Beautiful, and Country Living and the New York Times called it “formal, intimate, and grand.”

Hortulus is known throughout Bucks County and Eastern Pennsylvania as being a picturesque public garden and a purveyor of unique plant specimens. It was founded over 30 years ago by renowned horticultural masters, Jack Staub and Renny Reynolds. The nursery has recently been acquired by local landscape designer, Jon Kontz with his wife, Ariel and their three young children.

Jon and Ariel take their inspiration from their appreciation of European design, their passion for community-centric hospitality and regenerative agriculture.

Jon and Ariel’s mission is to continue Hortulus’ horticultural heritage while re-centering the business around family and community. “We want our visitors to sense and experience our passion for people and plants." As longtime customers of Hortulus, we developed deep appreciation for the gifts of horticulture, both sensory, and environmental. We hope to inspire a whole new generation of gardening enthusiasts to invest in their community and planet via horticulture.” The Kontzes are surrounded by an experienced nursery and hospitality team helping to restore and catalyze the greatness of Hortulus while taking incredible leaps forward.

Visitors can expect the same unique plant assortment with many wonderful additions, an updated garden shop and retail greenhouses, gourmet cafe cuisine, children’s activities, and community events. There will also be a farm membership program that will allow exclusive access to specialty inventory and events. The public gardens will reopen in May of 2024 after much-needed renovations, but there are plenty of outdoor areas to roam, explore, and enjoy until then - including a field of 4,000 peony plants, that will be in peak bloom in early June, and a pick-your-own vegetable and flower farm.

For more information about the farm, events to come and to shop online, please follow along on Instagram @hortulus.farm, and on Facebook

HORTULUS FARM is one of the 30+ gardens that makes Philadelphia America's Garden Capital. Collectively, these gardens, located within 30 miles of Philadelphia, provide more than just an inspiring place to relax and experience extraordinary horticulture; they generate substantial economic benefits for the region—an estimated $256 million a year. The gardens, including HORTULUS FARM, support more than 1,500 jobs—with total earnings of $79 million—and generate $3.6 million a year in business, sales, and income tax revenue in Pennsylvania. Learn more about how public gardens contribute to overall economic development at americasgardencapital.org.