Jessica Parker, Director of Development
Expertly propagated plants to take home today!
Our volunteer community at the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley work tirelessly to propagate plants, and we are now re-opening our nursery to the public after a three-month closure. Garden guests can shop from a diverse selection of plants including California natives, cacti, succulents, trees & shrubs, insectivores, herbs, and perennials. Proceeds from plant sales keep the Garden growing and help us strive to be a source of inspiration and to serve as a much needed space of reprieve.
The sale of special and hard to find plants are an enduring part of the Garden’s mission, and our talented team of volunteer propagators are committed to cultivating new plants for the public to take home. The sale of special and hard to find plants are an enduring part of the Garden’s mission, and our talented team of volunteer propagators are committed to cultivating new plants for the public to take home. Many plants are cultivated from the Garden’s own plant collection, allowing shoppers to truly take a piece of the Garden’s beauty home with them. With a spike in interest in gardening, these sales provide a unique way for people to enhance their green spaces, while supporting the UC Botanical Garden. One UCBG volunteer propagator, Susan Van Dyne describes in the following detail new succulents for sale:
“The fat fleshy leaves of succulents are irresistible in a wide range of shades from dusty blues, vibrant greens to red-edged rosettes. They love the sun and need less water than most plants (water thoroughly about once a week in the Bay area), so succulents are both beautiful and responsible gardening choices.”
Another UCBG volunteer propagator, Mary Porter, has this to say about carnivorous plants:
“Carnivorous plants are especially good for beginners. The only thing these fascinating bog plants need is to be placed in a saucer with 2” of water and at least 4 hours of sun. We have beautiful pots of both Sarracenia, American Pitcher Plants, and Dionaea, the huge Venus Fly Trap known as ‘B52’ at very affordable prices.”
An additional reminder of what it feels like to return to work in our volunteer propagator program at UCBG comes from volunteer propagator Louise Schiller:
“I had a visceral reaction. I felt I had just been wrapped in a large shawl and was surrounded by old friends.”
Green, outdoor spaces have never been more important or more precious to the health and vitality of our Bay Area community. As we begin the process of moving out of strict isolation in our homes, the Garden plans to safely open to as many visitors as possible, and over time, gradually resuming more regular activities. The Nursery is open to the public on weekend mornings on the Garden’s Tour Deck and Tribute Plaza, and proceeds support the Garden’s collection and vital work in conservation. We welcome the opportunity to help you bring a new unique plant home from the UC Botanical Garden.
New Garden Nursery Hours:
Public Nursery-only Open Hours (Garden collection closed): Saturdays and Sundays through August, 10 – 11:30 am
Open daily, 12 – 4 pm with admission
