Passiglia Landscape, Nursery, & Garden Center has been a St. Louis favorite for plants and landscaping supplies since we opened downtown on North Broadway in 1950. Still family owned and operated, a third generation of Passiglia continues to beautify St. Louis landscapes from our 10-acre Nursery and Garden Center in Wildwood less than 15 minutes from downtown St. Louis.
The nursery and garden center is filled with beautiful displays designed to inspire, and evoke the feeling of walking through a botanical garden. Our team of experts are always standing by to answer your questions and help you design your perfect landscape!
We hope you’ll stop by soon to discover all we offer. We can’t wait to meet you!
The Passiglia Plant and Landscape Experts
Chris Passiglia
Owner
As Owner and Operator of Passiglia Landscape, Nursery & Garden Center, Chris has over 30 years in the Landscape Business. Chris was born into the trade and learned the business from his father and brothers. In 1990, the nursery moved to its current location where Chris developed the Landscape Design and Installation Division. Over the years he has directed and developed the business into what it is today. Across the St. Louis area, Passiglia Landscape has designed and installed countless numbers of the most stunning residential landscapes from modest homes to grand estates. Building and developing his staff to be an outstanding team with years of knowledge in the horticulture and landscape industry, Chris strives for his customers to have the best experience, products, and services possible. A finished landscape that reflects the client’s dreams and surpasses their expectations of beauty and function is Chris Passiglia’s passion.
Julie Straatmann
Manager / Buyer
Julie has been a horticulturist in Missouri for more than 40 years. After a decade of owning and operating two retail garden centers, working as a florist, and managing landscape nursery locations, Julie’s knowledge of the industry became extensive. Accepting a management position with a grower/retailer soon developed into landscape designing and consulting. Julie has now been with Passiglia Landscape, Nursery & Garden Center for more than 20 years and shows no sign of slowing down. Julie is highly respected for her vast knowledge by colleagues and clients alike and has lectured for many horticulture events and programs. Her enthusiastic passion for plants is clearly visible in her work. Julie is driven to impart her staff with knowledge, training, and confidence to succeed and help their clients with their own garden and landscape projects.
Sherry Earley
Office Manager
Sherry’s background in accounting lead her to Passiglia over 12 years ago. In 2008 she enrolled at Meramec College for an Associate degree in applied Science and Horticulture, which has helped her immensely in understanding the language and terminology in this industry. The enthusiasm and dedication Sherry has for the business has made her a valuable member of the Passiglia Family.
Maureen Wuelling
Social Media and Events Director
Maureen started with Passiglia in the Spring of 2021. Her energy and focus on social media and promotional events are unsurmountable. In Maureen’s capable hands, coordinating the Passiglia social calendar with the surrounding townships and cities keeps the Passiglia family in touch with the community. Another talent well appreciated is her merchandising the background and customer service. Maureen’s interaction with the public keeps her mind working the hot topics and current interest of the people.
Landscape
Jason Burney
Landscape Architect
Jason is a licensed Landscape Architect, committed to the goal of creating one-of-a-kind projects that honor the uniqueness of the site, and the uniqueness of the customer. He believes in developing strong partnerships with the customer in the design process, which embodies the values of respect, cooperation, and trust. Jason is a graduate of the College of Architecture and Planning at Ball State University. Prior to joining Passiglia, he was an Intern at the Missouri Botanical Garden and the owner of an award-winning design/build company for 20 years.
Jill Griffiths
Landscape Designer
As a new employee to Passiglia, Jill has a unique background in both the public and private design sector. It is her goal to create one-of-a-kind projects for each specific site and customer. She is a Graduate of the College of Architecture and Planning at Kansas State University, has been a staff designer for a Chicago design-build company that specializes in high-end residential outdoor living and landscaping spaces, she is a licensed Landscape Architect in the state of Florida, and she specializes in master planning and landscape/hardscape projects. Jill enjoys the diversity of projects in her ever-expanding portfolio! Every project is unique and it's her desire to provide the best solutions for her customers.
Christine Knoernschild
Landscape Designer
Christine is a freelance landscape designer committed to creating beautiful and solution-based landscapes tailored to each of her clients. After graduating with a degree of Landscape Design and Horticulture from MATC Mequon, WI, Christine has dedicated the last 18 years to creating landscape designs for her clients in the St. Louis / St. Charles Metro areas. Christine specializes in full site planning and her design portfolio includes a wide range of design styles and project scopes. Some of her favorite designs over the years have included lush plantings and unique outdoor living spaces. To help her clients visualize the design, she can create powerful 3D images and videos for a virtual walk through.
Matt Swanstrom
Operations Manager
Matt holds a B.S. in Forest Resource Management from the University of Missouri and has worked in the Landscaping/Nursery business since 1993. In 1999 he sold his Landscaping/Nursery business in Warrensburg, MO to accept a position for a commercial landscape maintenance company. Since 2020 Matt has served as the Operations Manager and Foreman for Passiglia and takes pride in the quality of work produced and the people he has the honor to work beside. Land management/improvement projects and conservation is a passion Matt holds close to his heart.
John Watson
Estimator & Project Coordinator
John worked in the nursery before graduating from Missouri University Science and Technology and earning his B.S. in Civil Engineering in 2020. He now works with the landscape designers and project managers as an estimator and coordinating landscape appointments and the project calendar.
Retail
Zach Latting
Assistant Manager
Zach came to Passiglia’s 6 years ago, working in the nursery taking care of plants, maintaining the property, and sales. Since attending Meramec Community College horticulture program Zach’s skills soon became apparent. His knowledge and hunger to learn even more earned him assistant to Passiglia Manager. Zach’s appreciation for the outdoors and respect for nature has led him to his love of mycological study.
Bob Shayne
Lot Manager
Bob has been with Passiglia for more than 18 years. Coordinating the constant flow of plants and materials with efficiency and organization. Water is the most important factor of the nursery business and Bob oversees the implementation of the irrigation for every plant on the lot whether it is to be hand watered or automated. Bob’s experience in landscaping and planting gives him the knowledge to make sure customers have what they need to get the job done. Bob’s dedication to the Passiglia business makes him family.
Michelle Jansen
Sales Associate / Designer
Michelle’s knowledge and experience in landscape design for over 25 years has also developed her skills in coordinating the construction and maintenance of exceptional landscapes large and small. Michelle’s amazing confidence assures the customer she will guide them in the right direction. Now working in the Retail Division, Michelle designs landscapes for the D.I.Y. customer. Michelle’s astonishment of Passiglia’s diverse and beautiful plants encourages her creative talents.
Laura Grainger
Sales Associate
Laura has been with Passiglia for more than 5 years. She began her education in plant science at SLU before advancing to Meramec for a degree in Horticulture. Laura loves working at Passiglia because she loves being outside, rain or shine and has a talent for creating outstanding displays. She often tells people that a desk job would be horrible! The holiday season bring out, yet another talent Laura has, creating custom holiday décor. She loves that every day is different and that she can use her different skills to problem-solve when needed.
Tyler Wilson
Plant Health and Maintenance / Sales
Tyler started working at Passiglia in the Summer of 2021. His background in construction makes Tyler a valuable member of Passiglia’s team. He has enjoyed learning the trees (his favorite is the Japanese Maple) and plants, along with interacting with the customers. Tyler has learned very quickly about the plants he cares for and now is passionate about his own landscape. He feels his coworkers are his family away from home.
Sarah Allison
Sales Associate
Sarah has been a Sales Associate with Passiglia since August of 2020. Sarah started gaining her experience in 2018 working as a Sales Associate at a local nursery, and eventually found her calling at a florist/greenhouse in St. Charles before coming to work at Passiglia. Most of the year, Sarah cares for the Perennial Department at the nursery. During the holiday season she focuses her talents on the design and creation of custom holiday decorations. Sarah takes pride in helping Passiglia achieve the botanical garden-like ambiance that captivates our customers when they visit the nursery.
Cameron Passiglia
Plant Health and Maintenance / Sales
Cameron has been working at the nursery over 5 years learning the family business. Currently in his second year at Meramec Community College studying Horticulture, Cameron seems to have the family’s natural ability to understand plants and how they grow. Growing up he heard his dad and uncles discuss their business and learned from them how to listen to the customers and help find the solution to achieve their goal. Cameron from time to time will work with the landscape crews to also learn that part of the business.
Sydney Bunge
Cashier
Sydney has been with Passiglia for 4 months. She is currently in her third year as an Accounting Major at Maryville University. In the future, Sydney may find herself working in our accounting office. Until then, she is learning and honing her skills in customer service.