About Interior Tropical Gardens — Expert Indoor Plant Design & Maintenance Services in Union & Chicago, IL
Connect With Nature: Bringing the Outdoors In
For more than 35 years, Interior Tropical Gardens has worked with clients to improve the air and environment where they live and breathe.
We Work With:
- Business owners and property managers looking to increase productivity, support well-being, and retain customers and employees.
- Homeowners with a vision of bringing the calming beauty of the tropics into their home.
- Interior designers and architects seeking a partner and supplier for biophilic design projects.
No matter what your unique needs and desires are, our team of experienced horticulturalists is here to bring your tropical plant dreams to life. Our six local greenhouses are stocked with thousands of tropical plants primed for immediate installation and replacements to ensure we’re always ready to “tropicalize” your interior with indoor-acclimated plants, flowers, and exotic species—even on short notice.
Basically, short of a trip to the tropics, we’re the next best thing to being there.
Our Story
Our story starts when our founder and president, Mark Martin, was only 8 years old. While helping his mother and grandfather in their gardens, it wasn’t long before he realized he was destined for a career in horticulture.
After joining the local Arlington Heights, Illinois, 4-H chapter, where he learned to identify and assess the quality of numerous plants, that future was set in motion. By the age of 21, Mark was number one in the country for judging and winning National Junior Horticulture Association contests.
In 1982, while securing his horticulture degree from McHenry County College, Mark created his own interior plant design company, offering plant rentals and wedding design. By 1988, he’d already built his first greenhouse and was well into developing Interior Tropical Gardens in the Chicagoland area.
Today, Interior Tropical Gardens is a phenomenally successful tropical plant company servicing more than 300 clients, several of whom we are proud to say have been with us since the beginning! Our leadership and team of horticulture technicians strive to provide the highest-quality plants and are dedicated to surpassing our clients’ expectations each and every day.
Meet the Team
Mark Martin
President
With more than 50 years of horticulture experience, Mark is a true plant expert. From founding Interior Tropical Gardens and National Indoor Plant Week® to working as an adjunct college professor of horticulture, Mark has given a substantial amount of his time and financial resources to further the tropical plant industry.
Mark's Accomplishments
Green Earth – Green Plants Certified Business
Ranked #1 in the U.S. by the National Junior Horticulture Association for identification and general knowledge of plants
Recipient of the Future Farmers of America Gold and Silver Medal for Horticulture
Awarded a Medal of Distinction by the U.S. Congress
Awarded 2006 State of Illinois Businessman of the Year
Featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal business section
President of It’s All About Kids 501(c)(3) Cancer Foundation
Author of the “Happy Plant Family” children’s books
“We as humans have moved from rural areas to be closer to our places of work. The exchange has been a concrete jungle of boxed-in workspaces. Think of your surprise when you finally get to a window and see that it has been snowing all day, the small patch of grass outside to walk the dog, or the faint tree in the distance. These examples make me think of many places in Chicago and other cities. What’s the solution? Indoor plants in the workspace, home, school, church, and even gas stations. There are so many ways to incorporate plants into our living environments.”
-Mark Martin
Founder and President
Holly Richard
Vice President
Known by her friends and family as “the Plant Whisperer,” Holly Richard has been passionate about plants from a young age. Following a successful career in the performing arts field, it wasn’t until she was introduced to Interior Tropical Gardens that she discovered her true passion for biophilic design.
More About Holly
For more than 16 years, Holly has served as the company’s vice president, running day-to-day operations, among other key responsibilities.
She takes full advantage of continued opportunities for knowledge and growth, from attending the National Interiorscape Network annual membership meetings to the Tropical Plant Industry Expo in Florida each year. Between making people happy and working with plants, according to Holly, “most days don’t even feel like a job.”
National Indoor Plant Week®
In addition to creating interior tropical gardens, our president, Mark Martin, has worked tirelessly to help further the tropical plant industry, including founding National Indoor Plant Week in 2008.
The annual event, which Mark considers to be a national holiday for the indoor plant, was created to raise awareness for biophilic design and help people:
- Discover the benefits of plants.
- Learn how to grow and care for plants in their homes and businesses.
- Discover just how easy and fun interior plant design can be!
Celebrated during the third week of September, the event brings together businesses and individuals from around the globe involved with selling, growing, shipping, caring for, designing, and educating about the importance of indoor plants.
Celebrated during the third week of September, the event brings together businesses and individuals from around the globe involved with selling, growing, shipping, caring for, designing, and educating about the importance of indoor plants.
Join the 300+ Chicago-Area Clients Benefitting From Our Interior Plant Design Services!
Discover the passion and expertise behind every plant we care for. Call (866) 427-5268 to learn more about our team and services.