Key Crops: Native and waterwise perennials, iris rhizomes, bulbs
Control System: Argus Axia
Previous System: Argus Classic (30+ years)
How Clinton Nursery is Scaling Growth with Argus Axia
For more than 50 years, the Clinton Nursery facility in Clinton, Utah has been helping growers bring exceptional plants to market. Founded in 1975 by John Diamond as a tropical plant wholesale business, the operation has evolved through multiple generations of horticultural production while remaining rooted in one constant: a commitment to growing quality plants efficiently and reliably.
Today, the facility operates as the production and fulfillment hub for High Country Gardens, a leading e-commerce supplier of native and waterwise perennials. From agastache and penstemon to sedums and specialty ornamentals, the team produces approximately 700,000 plants annually, along with 100,000 iris rhizomes and 90,000 bagged bulbs, all shipped directly to gardeners across North America.
Behind the scenes, Argus environmental controls have played a critical role in supporting that growth for more than three decades.
A Partnership Spanning Generations
The relationship between Clinton Nursery and Argus began in the early 1990s when the facility installed an Argus Classic system to manage greenhouse heating, cooling, irrigation, propagation misting, and shade curtains.
Over the next 30 years, the operation transitioned from tropical foliage production to seasonal crops, added a retail garden center, and ultimately became part of High Country Gardens and American Meadows. Through every phase, the Argus system remained at the center of greenhouse operations.
"I loved the Classic system. It was rock solid software that worked for us for years and years and years," said Jed Diamond, Head Grower & General Manager of High Country Gardens' Clinton facility.
Rather than waiting for aging hardware to become a limitation, the team proactively invested in a modern control platform designed to support future growth. This forward-thinking approach helps ensure uninterrupted environmental control for the hundreds of thousands of plants entrusted to their care. Enter Argus Axia.
Environmental controls are the foundation for scaling production without scaling headcount proportionally. It is also tied to our roadmap of fulfillment automation and data-driven production planning.
- Jed Diamond, Head Grower & General Manager, Clinton Nursery
Choosing Argus Again
Like many growers evaluating a major capital investment, the Clinton team approached the upgrade with a simple question: What solution would best protect crops today while supporting future growth? After reviewing the available options, the decision to upgrade to Argus Axia came down to three factors.
Reliability
After three decades of dependable operation, Argus had already earned the team's trust. "If a control system goes down, that's a huge risk to the business," said Diamond. "We knew Argus. We knew it was dependable."
Familiarity
Although Axia introduces a modern interface and new capabilities, the underlying control philosophy remained intuitive for a team with years of Argus experience. "We were already familiar with the system, and learning Axia was very simple."
Flexibility
High Country Gardens grows a diverse range of native and waterwise perennials, many with highly specific environmental requirements. "We grow a lot of really finicky and challenging perennials," Diamond explained. "With Argus, you can really dial in exactly what those crops need. Temperature, cooling, humidity, irrigation, environmental strategies. You can do anything on Argus."
Up and Running in Two Weeks
Having personally worked with Argus Classic for approximately 15 years, Diamond quickly adapted to the Axia platform. The transition moved quickly, with the new system installed and operational in roughly two weeks. One feature immediately stood out. "I love the dashboard view. Everything is easy to see, easy to understand, and changing setpoints is straightforward. It's very user friendly." The ability to access greenhouse information remotely has been another significant advantage. "Being able to check what's happening from anywhere with internet access is huge. I don't have to physically walk the range to understand what's going on."
Managing Production at Scale
The Clinton facility encompasses approximately 70,000 square feet of greenhouse space and cold frames, with multiple independently controlled growing zones supporting different crops and production stages throughout the year.
I loved the Classic system. It worked for us for years and years and years. Upgrading to Axia was the natural next step.
- Jed Diamond
The operation faces many of the same challenges affecting growers across North America:
Labor availability and efficiency
Seasonal production peaks
Energy costs
Climate variability
Supply chain uncertainty
Shipping live plants across diverse climate zones
For Diamond, environmental controls are no longer simply about maintaining temperature. They are foundational infrastructure for operating efficiently and scaling production. "Environmental controls allow us to grow more without increasing labor at the same rate," he said.
Preparing for Future Growth
High Country Gardens continues to grow at approximately 15% annually, and the Clinton team views Argus Axia as a platform that can grow alongside the business. As the company evaluates future expansion opportunities and additional automation initiatives, the flexibility of the Argus platform provides confidence that today's investment will continue delivering value. "We're in a growth phase," said Diamond. "What I like about Axia is that it's easy to add onto. As the business expands, the system expands with us." The team also expects improved greenhouse operating efficiency as they continue gathering performance data through Utah's demanding seasonal conditions. "With our hot summers and cold winters, we're expecting to see utility savings over time as the system helps us run more efficiently."
From One Generation to the Next
Few greenhouse control systems remain in daily operation for three decades. Fewer still earn the opportunity to be selected again when it's time to upgrade. For High Country Gardens' Clinton Nursery facility, upgrading from Argus Classic to Argus Axia wasn't simply replacing aging technology. It was building on a trusted foundation while preparing for the future. After more than 30 years of partnership, the next chapter is already underway.
