Company Overview
Company Vision
To continue the family legacy into another generation by maintaining our high standard of quality and customer.
Company Mission
To inspire joy in our customers by producing beautiful plants.
Company Values
People: Southland Greenhouses genuinely cares about people. Whether you’re a customer, employee, or someone that we get to impact in our community through our fundraisers or products – we care about you!
Value: Over the years, Southland has proven our commitment to value. We have chosen cost-effective methods to keep our costs minimal and make our products affordable to every type of customer we serve.
Beauty: At Southland, we aim to make every plant we grow or sell exemplary of the God-ordained beauty of nature. We recognize the deep, soul need for humans to have beauty in their lives and we are thankful we get to be a part of providing that beauty.
Our roots...
In 1980, Emil & Lorraine Helbling founded Southland Greenhouses. Originally from Pennsylvania, they moved themselves and their 9 children to Georgia with the hopes of branching out on their own in the plant industry. Their hopes were not met with disappointment but with great success! Year after year, they grew larger and stronger. Owning a greenhouse is not for the faint of heart as plants always need constant attention (much like their brood of children). Emil and Lorraine met the challenges head on and forged their way into the local market. These challenges were faced with their three sons, Steve, Mark & Alan, who have been at Southland since its inception.
Growing Stronger...
Their growth was slow but their perseverance was rewarded with a loyal customer base and gorgeous products. In 1993, the weather brought a damaging tornado and a historical blizzard. With team work and community support, damages were repaired in record time. Over the years, the beauty of their plants became common place in thousands of homes across Georgia and the surrounding states. Sadly, in 2003, tragedy struck the heart of the Helbling family and Southland Greenhouses. Emil Helbling passed away very suddenly. The transition was difficult, but with time each son found their place and role in the company and have taken Southland Greenhouses to the next level.
Blooming Fresh...
As with all seasons, each must come to an end to make way for something new. For Southland, that means the retirement of the three Helbling brothers and the company entering into its 3rd generation of ownership. In October 2022, just months after its 42nd birthday, Southland Greenhouses passed into the capable hands of Maria Duran & her husband, Jeremiah Duran. As the granddaughter of Emil Helbling and daughter of Mark Helbling, Maria was raised with Southland at the heart of her family. After many years and much dreaming, the Durans are proud to carry on the Helbling legacy and strong name of Southland Greenhouses.
