About me...
Gregg Tepper is a Philadelphia-based horticulturist, educator, author, and landscape steward whose career reflects a deep commitment to ecological integrity, public horticulture, and the enduring relationship between people and plants. With decades of professional experience across public gardens, arboreta, and designed landscapes, Gregg’s work bridges horticultural excellence, sustainable land management, and meaningful community engagement.
Gregg currently serves as Senior Horticulturist at the Arboretum at Laurel Hill Cemetery and West Laurel Hill Cemeteries in Philadelphia. In this role, he oversees the care, evolution, and interpretation of one of the region’s most significant historic and ecological landscapes. The arboretum encompasses formal gardens, woodlands, meadows, and naturalistic plantings, all set within a nationally recognized cemetery landscape that functions simultaneously as a cultural site, public garden, and urban green space.
A major focus of Gregg’s work at Laurel Hill is Nature’s Sanctuary, a SITES Gold–certified green burial meadow that integrates regenerative landscape practices with ecological restoration. There, he helps guide plant selection, meadow management, and long-term stewardship strategies that support biodiversity, pollinators, and habitat resilience while offering visitors a deeply reflective and restorative environment. His approach emphasizes beauty with purpose—landscapes that are visually compelling, environmentally responsible, and emotionally resonant.
Gregg’s professional philosophy is rooted in the belief that horticulture is both a science and a shared human experience. Whether managing large public landscapes or engaging one-on-one with gardeners, he prioritizes thoughtful plant selection, site-specific design, and practices that respect natural systems. Native plants, ecological plant communities, and sustainable maintenance strategies are central themes throughout his work.
Before joining Laurel Hill, Gregg held leadership roles at several prominent horticultural institutions. He served as Director of Horticulture and a board member at Delaware Botanic Gardens, where he played a key role in shaping the garden’s early vision and mission. During his tenure, he helped implement large-scale native and naturalistic landscapes, including meadow plantings inspired by contemporary ecological design principles.
Earlier in his career, Gregg worked at Mt. Cuba Center, a nationally respected institution dedicated to the study and promotion of native plants of the Mid-Atlantic region. His time there further deepened his expertise in native plant ecology, woodland and meadow systems, and sustainable horticultural practices—knowledge that continues to inform his work today.
Gregg studied Ornamental Horticulture at the University of Delaware, where he built a strong foundation in plant science, landscape management, and design. He began his career working in and designing private gardens, gaining hands-on experience that shaped his practical, plant-forward approach. That early work instilled a lasting appreciation for craftsmanship, seasonal change, and the intimate scale of gardens—perspectives he carries into even the largest public landscapes.
In addition to his institutional work, Gregg is a widely respected lecturer and educator. He has presented talks, courses, and workshops throughout the United States and abroad, including engagements in Great Britain. His lectures explore topics such as native plants, deer-resistant gardening, ecological design, meadow management, and horticulture’s role in wellness and community life. Known for his engaging and accessible teaching style, Gregg connects professional insight with real-world application for audiences ranging from seasoned horticulturists to home gardeners.
Gregg is also co-author of the book Deer-Resistant Native Plants for the Northeast, a practical and regionally focused guide that reflects his deep knowledge of plant behavior, ecology, and garden design. His writing emphasizes informed plant choice and realistic strategies that help gardeners work successfully within challenging conditions. His latest publication is a children's book, co-authored with Michael Muller, Mirabelle Visits a Garden: a Native Plant Garden Adventure.
Beyond formal titles and roles, Gregg is a dedicated advocate for horticulture as a public good. He believes gardens and green spaces should be inclusive, educational, and restorative—places where people can connect to nature, history, and one another. His work consistently integrates ecological stewardship with human experience, ensuring landscapes are not only sustainable, but meaningful.
Gregg lives in South Kensington, Philadelphia, where urban ecology, neighborhood landscapes, and community connections continue to shape his perspective as both a horticulturist and a gardener. Whether in historic cemeteries, public gardens, or city neighborhoods, his work reflects a lifelong commitment to plants, place, and the people who care for them.