Teufel Nursery files for bankruptcy

120-year-old company has more than 200 creditors

By MITCH LIES
Capital Press

Teufel Nursery, one of the Oregon's oldest nurseries, earlier this summer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The Portland company listed $10 million to $50 million in assets and liabilities of the same amounts in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court filing dated June 24.

The 120-year-old company estimated its number of creditors at between 200 and 999.

The company declined a request for an interview.

Earlier this year Clackamas Greenhouse filed for Chapter 12 bankruptcy. Last summer, Hines Horticulture filed for Chapter 11 protection.

"This is such a tough time for everybody, particularly those in the landscape trade," said Elizabeth Peters, spokeswoman for the Oregon Association of Nurseries.

The nursery, which is listed as a Category 2 nursery in the OAN directory, offers landscape services in addition to wholesale and retail nursery services.

Category 2 nurseries have been $1 million and $5 million in annual sales.

In addition to its Portland wholesale and sales yard, the nursery has outlets in McCall, Idaho, where it operates a wholesale nursery and seasonal garden center, and Kent, Wash., where it sells wholesale plant and landscape supplies.

Teufel Nursery was started in Portland in 1890 by Gustav Teufel.

Staff writer Mitch Lies is based in Salem. E-mail: mlies@capitalpress.com.