About Us - Bitis Botanical

Bitis Botanical is a private nursery and art studio, operated by husband and wife duo Tony & Shannon Casler. We specialize in growing and breeding orchids and Aloe. Tony is the primary orchid grower, and Shannon is the Aloe grower. Our orchid specialties include Paphiopedilum, Brassia, Zygopetalum, Cattleya, and more. Our Aloe collection features a wide range of both hybrids and species. Divisions, seedlings, and blooming-size plants are offered regularly to keep the herd thinned and breeding stock rotated. Shannon’s artwork is also offered here and is featured in its own section.

Shannon Casler

My name is Shannon. I’m an artist and grower with a deep appreciation for the natural world. I met my husband, Tony, through our mutual interest in snakes, and together, we initially kept and bred many species—including gaboon vipers, which later inspired our business name (Bitis being genus that gaboon vipers belong to). As a grower, I specialize in Aloe species and hybrids, as well as related genera such as Gasteria and Haworthiopsis. I’m drawn to Aloe because they’re resilient, fast-growing, and incredibly variable. Each one is like a small, living sculpture. Tabletop Aloe hybrids are extremely collectible due to their compact size and ease of care. They’re prolific, and very satisfying to cross-pollinate and grow from seed. Their wide range of shapes, colors, and textures makes them fascinating and rewarding to cultivate. Alongside my work in horticulture, I create small sculptures and jewelry inspired by reptiles, invertebrates, and more, sometimes with added botanical elements as well. While we are no longer breeding snakes, my deep appreciation for them continues to influence much of my creative work today. As an amateur rockhound, I also frequently incorporate gemstones and rocks into my work. My artwork is a celebration of the strange, the misunderstood, and the unloved, with an emphasis on the often-overlooked, easily-missed details of the world around us.

Tony Casler

My orchid journey began as a teenager in 1993 when I happened upon an orchid show at the local mall. I was instantly fascinated and went home with a small mericlone of Brassia Datacosa 'Coos Bay' AM/AOS. From that point on I always had at least a few orchids, even managing to maintain a couple of favorites during my six years of service in the US Navy. After settling in South Carolina I built my first greenhouse in 2014 and received my first AOS award in 2020 to Paphiopedilum Wössner Black Wings 'Bitis Botanical' AM/AOS. The name Bitis Botanical was suggested by my wife Shannon to commemorate our love of snakes and plants. Since then we have received a total of 19 AOS awards, including two FCC and an upgraded AM to the plant that started it all, Brassia Datacosa 'Coos Bay'. 

We are members of the following organizations: