Thompson & Morgan
Thompson & Morgan is a British horticultural brand supplying plants, seeds and gardening products through catalogues, websites and retail channels.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Thompson & Morgan is a long-established British horticultural company based in Ipswich, Suffolk. Its business originated with William Thompson, a plantsman whose interest in botany developed into a nursery and seed business specializing in rare and unusual plants. The company dates its commercial history to 1855, when Thompson issued his first catalogue after moving beyond the small garden where he had begun cultivating plants behind a baker's shop in Ipswich. The brand built its reputation through the introduction and distribution of unusual plant varieties and seeds sourced from different parts of the world. Thompson's horticultural network included relationships with prominent nineteenth-century scientific and botanical figures, and his work earned him the Royal Horticultural Society's Victoria Medal of Honour in 1897. The catalogue tradition became central to the business, allowing Thompson & Morgan to reach gardeners beyond its local nurseries and establish a national and later international customer base. William Thompson entered into partnership with John Morgan, who contributed commercial and organizational expertise. After Thompson's death in 1903, Morgan continued as sole owner for roughly a decade before partnering with Joseph Sangster in 1913. Sangster expanded the range substantially, adding thousands of plant names to the catalogue. The business subsequently remained associated with the Sangster family for much of the twentieth century. It became a limited company in 1939, and later generations of the Sangster family joined its management. During the twentieth century, Thompson & Morgan developed from a traditional seed firm into a broader direct-to-consumer horticultural distributor. Its activities came to include seed, plants, young plants and gardening sundries. The company used printed catalogues, mail order, retail outlets and, later, e-commerce websites. The business expanded internationally, including the creation of a United States operation and a young-plants division in Guernsey. Its catalogues have been distributed internationally, while its websites have presented a range of more than 8,000 products according to the cited reference material. The Sangster family and management relinquished control in December 1999. In May 2002, Thompson & Morgan returned to private ownership through an arrangement involving Primary Capital Partners, members of the Sangster family and key management. In March 2017, BVG Group acquired the parent company Branded Garden Products, bringing Thompson & Morgan into the BVG portfolio. The company remains an active horticultural brand, combining heritage seed and plant distribution with online retail, catalogue marketing and sales through other retail channels. Its product range and international catalogue distribution place it within the consumer gardening and horticultural-supplies sector rather than the food industry.
History
Thompson & Morgan traces its origins to William Thompson's early horticultural work in Ipswich, Suffolk. Thompson began cultivating plants in a garden behind a baker's shop, developing a particular interest in rare and unusual specimens. As the operation grew, he moved to nursery sites on the outskirts of Ipswich and eventually operated three nurseries in the town. He also published a gardening magazine titled The English Flower Garden, helping to extend his influence beyond direct plant sales. The company's commercial history is conventionally dated to 1855, when Thompson issued his first catalogue. His business focused on plants and seeds obtained from overseas sources and on introducing varieties that were not widely available to British gardeners. The work established Thompson as a notable plantsman. He maintained relationships with figures in nineteenth-century botany and science, and the Royal Horticultural Society awarded him its Victoria Medal of Honour in 1897. Thompson later partnered with John Morgan. Morgan supplied business expertise that supported the expansion of the seed-raising and catalogue operation, while Thompson's horticultural knowledge shaped the range. Thompson died in July 1903, aged 80. By that point, Thompson & Morgan had become a major British seed firm with a reputation for introducing a large number of plant species and varieties to the gardening public. John Morgan continued as sole owner for approximately ten years after Thompson's death. In 1913, he entered into partnership with Joseph Sangster, a horticulturalist who expanded the catalogue considerably. Sangster is credited in the cited historical account with adding approximately 4,000 plant names to an existing catalogue of around 2,000. Following Morgan's death in 1921, Sangster assumed full control. His son Murray joined the business in 1933, and Joseph Sangster became president of the Horticultural Trades Association of Great Britain and Ireland in 1934. Thompson & Morgan was incorporated as a limited company in 1939. Joseph Sangster's death in 1952 left Murray Sangster in control. Murray's sons, Keith and Bruce, later joined the company, continuing the family connection. In 1973, the business expanded its distribution centre at Poplar Lane in Ipswich, a site associated with its continuing operations. The company subsequently pursued international growth. Bruce Sangster led the United States expansion in 1982, following an earlier distribution base in Jackson, New Jersey. In 1995, Thompson & Morgan established a young-plants division in Guernsey in the Channel Islands. The Sangster family ultimately relinquished control in December 1999. In May 2002, Thompson & Morgan returned to independent private ownership through a structure involving Primary Capital Partners, the Sangster brothers and key management. The company later continued its international direct-marketing model through printed catalogues, websites and retail distribution. The United States division was sold to Gardens Alive in 2009. In March 2017, BVG Group acquired Branded Garden Products, Thompson & Morgan's parent company. The transaction made Thompson & Morgan part of the BVG group of garden-related businesses. The brand's modern operations combine traditional catalogue distribution with internet commerce and retail sales. Its websites have been described as offering more than 8,000 products, while its seed catalogues have reached customers in numerous countries. Thompson & Morgan therefore represents a transition from a nineteenth-century specialist nursery and seed catalogue to an international, multichannel gardening retailer.
- 2018
Two plants placed in RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year competition
[1]Hydrangea 'Runaway Bride Snow White' took first place and Helianthus 'Sunbelievable Brown Eyed Girl' took third place.
- 2017
Acquired by BVG Group
[1]BVG Group acquired Branded Garden Products, Thompson & Morgan's parent company.
- 2009
United States division sold
[1]The United States division was sold to Gardens Alive.
- 2002
Return to independent private ownership
[1]Primary Capital Partners, the Sangster brothers and key management participated in a return to private ownership.
- 1999
Sangster family relinquished control
[1]The Sangster brothers and associated family interests ceased controlling the business in December.
- 1995
Young-plants division established in Guernsey
[1]Thompson & Morgan created a young-plants division in Guernsey.
- 1982
United States expansion
[1]Bruce Sangster led the company's expansion in the United States.
- 1973
Ipswich distribution centre expanded
[1]The company expanded its distribution centre at Poplar Lane in Ipswich.
- 1939
Company incorporated as a limited company
[1]Thompson & Morgan adopted limited-company status during the Sangster era.
- 1913
Joseph Sangster joined the ownership
[1]John Morgan partnered with horticulturalist Joseph Sangster, beginning the Sangster family's long association with the company.
Products and positioning
A heritage British horticultural retailer and seed specialist emphasizing plant variety, unusual introductions, convenient mail-order and online purchasing, and international distribution.
Seeds · 1855
Flower seeds
Flower seeds are a core part of the Thompson & Morgan catalogue tradition. The brand has historically emphasized unusual and less widely available ornamental varieties, using catalogue and online distribution to supply home gardeners across the United Kingdom and international markets.
Seeds
Vegetable and herb seeds
The company's seed range includes edible garden crops such as vegetables and herbs. These products extend the business beyond ornamental horticulture and support direct sales to home gardeners through catalogues, websites and retail channels.
Live plants
Garden plants
Thompson & Morgan distributes a broad selection of garden-ready plants, including ornamental varieties. Its historic reputation was built on finding and introducing distinctive plants, while later operations used mail order, online commerce and retail outlets to reach consumers.
Live plants · 1995
Young plants
The young-plants business was formalized through a division established in Guernsey in 1995. Young plants occupy an intermediate position between seed and mature garden plants, supporting growers and gardeners who want to cultivate plants through a further growth stage.
Gardening supplies
Gardening sundries
The brand also sells gardening sundries and related cultivation products. These complementary items broaden the offer from seeds and plants into the practical supplies used for planting, growing and maintaining a garden.
Brand decisions
2017
Joined BVG Group through parent-company acquisitionM&ABackground
Thompson & Morgan was operating under Branded Garden Products before the transaction.
Action taken
BVG Group acquired Branded Garden Products, thereby acquiring Thompson & Morgan's parent company.
Aftermath
Thompson & Morgan became part of BVG Group while continuing as a horticultural brand.
2009
Sold the United States divisionM&ABackground
The company continued to reorganize its international operations after its period of United States expansion.
Action taken
Thompson & Morgan sold its United States division to Gardens Alive.
Aftermath
The transaction separated the United States division from the remaining Thompson & Morgan business.
1995
Created a young-plants division in GuernseyStrategyBackground
Thompson & Morgan was broadening its horticultural activities beyond traditional seed distribution.
Action taken
The company established a young-plants division in Guernsey in the Channel Islands.
Aftermath
The move expanded the company's product and supply capabilities within the horticultural market.
1982
Expanded into the United StatesStrategyBackground
The company sought international growth beyond its established British catalogue and distribution business.
Action taken
Bruce Sangster headed the company's United States expansion, following an earlier distribution base in New Jersey.
Aftermath
The United States became an important international market, although the division was later sold to Gardens Alive in 2009.
Recent events
- 2018
Thompson & Morgan plants received two RHS Chelsea Flower Show Plant of the Year positions[1]
Other
Hydrangea 'Runaway Bride Snow White' won first place and Helianthus 'Sunbelievable Brown Eyed Girl' received third place in the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Plant of the Year competition.
- 2017
BVG Group acquired Thompson & Morgan's parent company[1]
M&A
BVG Group acquired Branded Garden Products, the parent company of Thompson & Morgan, bringing the horticultural brand into the BVG portfolio.
- 2009
United States division sold to Gardens Alive[1]
M&A
The company's United States division was sold to Gardens Alive.
Sources1 sources
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