Situated on 14 acres just outside Santa Cruz, Soquel Nursery Growers is one of our go-to local growers that specializes in California natives, perennials, shrubs, grasses, vines, and succulents. In recent years Soquel has expanded its California native propagation efforts. Under the guidance of General Manager Curtis Ferris, the nursery now grows hundreds of varieties.
“We’re growing more and more natives. We’ve always grown plants we think are ecologically responsible, plants that provide nectar, forage or habitats,” explains Curtis. “With California natives there’s an aspect that’s personal to me…that the plants you put in your yard are telling a story. What many people see in a garden might be the extent of what they understand about nature. Having that representation of wild spaces will hopefully inspire people to protect them.”
Curtis’ work helps support native pollinators; Soquel was one of the original growers that ceased using Neonicotinoids (an insecticide that impairs pollinators) well before it became news.
Curtis and Soquel Nursery are innovative growers,” explains Sloat’s horticulturist Katy Thompson. “They’re ecologically and community minded. Curtis is fair, his plants are quality, and he has a great heart.”
Our collaboration with Soquel Nursery began three decades ago; a partnership where both Sloat and Soquel Nursery evolved as family-owned businesses deeply rooted in community and ecological values.
“We’ve been working with Sloat Garden Center for over 30 years. We’ve always had an amazing relationship,” says Curtis. “There’s a degree of creativity that you only find when you have customers like Sloat that are supportive of growers like us.
It’s been very successful. It’s good stuff.”
Find Soquel Nursery plants in our stores year-round. When you support Sloat Garden Center you support local growers!
