One Hundred Years of History

The Roots of Milone Nurseries

From 1920s Sicily to the technological vanguard in Calabria: a century of nursery excellence.

In the modern nursery world, the challenge is not only to produce, but to do so with a new awareness. At Milone Nurseries, our philosophy is summed up in a pivotal concept: do more with less. It is not just about numerical efficiency, but about intelligent management of resources to achieve quality that exceeds traditional standards. The micropropagation is the beating heart of this vision: a technique that allows us to multiply in minimal space, ensuring healthy, certified plants that are ready to face challenges in the field.

The story of Milone Nurseries is not just the story of an enterprise, but the evolution of a vision that spans the 20th century to the present day. Founded in the 1920s in Mazzarrà Sant'Andrea (Messina) by Nino Milone, the business has its roots in the noble Sicilian citrus-growing tradition, and then embarked on a path of growth that has made it a benchmark in the European nursery scene today.

Relocation and Consolidation in the Lamezia Plain.

In the 1950s, under the leadership of Rosario Milone, the company made a key strategic choice: the move to Lamezia Terme. In a Calabria in the midst of agricultural reclamation and transformation, Rosario identified the fertility of the soil and the area's logistical centrality as the ideal place to develop the business.

Next to him, the figure of Mary, his wife, was distinguished by a determination and authority uncommon for the time; we like to remember her as a true entrepreneur ante litteram. At a time when work in the fields was considered purely male, Maria worked with the same dedication as her husband, carefully managing every aspect of production and life in the nursery. Without her strength and vision, Milone Nurseries would not be the reality it is today.

The Third Generation: Quality and Certification

The baton was later passed to the sons, Antonino and Carlo Milone. Under their leadership, the company went through a phase of profound modernization. The introduction of strict protocols and the focus on the phytosanitary certification have made it possible to transform traditional farming experience into a precision industrial process, raising quality standards and expanding the company's reach beyond regional borders.

The Fourth Generation: Innovation for Sustainability

Currently, the company is led by the fourth generation: the sons of Antonino, Rosario and Antonello, and Charles' daughters, Maria Grazia, Emanuela and Barbara.

We are leading the transition to technological innovation, combining the ancient wisdom of our ancestors with modern biotechnology. It is a full circle: the techniques change, the tools evolve, but the value remains the same. Along with passion, we have inherited the knowledge that the earth never lies. Our philosophy of the “doing more with less” has its roots right here: in the optimization that comes from experience, in the choice of absolute quality, and in the use of innovation as a tool to achieve sustainability that is, first and foremost, a form of respect for those who will come after us.

Milone Nurseries Today: 35 Hectares of Excellence and an Organized Team

The company now extends over 35 hectares of productive area between Lamezia Terme and Curinga, with a clear and synergistic operational structure:

Strategic Direction: Charles Milone remains the keeper of the secrets and mechanisms of the art of plant propagation, ensuring the continuity of a centuries-old “know-how.”.
Retail and Landscaping: Ornamental production, ready lawn and retail are entrusted to Rosario and Antonello, who also run the garden machinery and equipment business.
Technical and Commercial: The technical and commercial management, which is crucial for national and international relations and for the rigor of certifications, is headed by Mary Grace.
Research and Territory: The most innovative soul lies in the micropropagation laboratory, designed and run by Emanuela with the valuable contribution of Barbara, who is also passionate about tours, educational farms and creating customized green ideas for each client.

Supply has diversified to meet the challenges of modern agriculture:

Citrus, Olive and Fruit trees: Productions of excellence guaranteed by rigorous certification protocols.
Ornamental Plants and Ready Lawn: A large selection dedicated to public and private green space.
Educational Farm and Green Ideas: Outreach projects to operate in the territory with the territory.

A Tradition Designing the Future

I Milone Nurseries today are not just a place of production, but an ecosystem where family tradition dialogues with biotechnology. From the 35 hectares of Calabrian land, green solutions leave every day, arriving throughout Italy and abroad, carrying with them the seal of a quality that has lasted a hundred years. Our mission is to remain your trusted partner, providing the solid foundation-the roots-on which to build the beauty and productivity of your green spaces.

Would you like to see the full catalog or learn more about our certification protocols? We invite you to visit the dedicated sections of our website to learn how our story can become the basis of your next agricultural success.

Want to delve deeper into the technological heart of Milone Nurseries?

We invite you to take a closer look at how we work and the quality we put into every single plant cell:

Our laboratory: Enter virtually where “Phase 0” is born and learn about our micropropagation processes.
The certified plants: Find out what our certification system guarantees for the safety of your facility.
Micropropagated Plants Catalog: Explores varieties (citrus, fruit and ornamental) produced with in vitro technology.