East Bay Nursery

This is why old garden favorites are old garden favorites. Camellias. Beautiful evergreen foliage, a range of colors and types, masses of spring color.

Looking for a tree that needs little water, loves our summer dry climate, grows from 10 - 15 ft tall and wide, tolerates windy sites, is attractive to birds, and is great on slopes for erosion control? That's a brief description of the Knife-Leaf Acacia (Acacia cultriformis). A tree with masses of lemon yellow flowers, silver-gray foliage that's shaped like knife blades, and that thrives in our east bay soils. In addition, it also acts as a good screening tree. It's in full bloom in the nursery right now.

We are excited to share a poppy that is new to us. The Sundew California Poppy (Eschscholzia caespitosa 'Sundew') is a bright yellow, compact plant, forming tufts of finely divided, almost thread-like, leaves. It's diminutive size is just right for rock gardens, native gardens, pots and planters. 'Sundew' is an annual growing in clumps from 4 to 12 inches. It reseeds as do most poppies and blooms from March though June with an abundance of satiny, yellow flowers. Sundew will brighten any garden. It loves sun and dry soils once established. Native bees love it as do bumble bees.

Our latest new plant introduction at East Bay Nursery, Ozothamnus 'County Park Silver', is an evergreen alpine plant with stunning silver foliage. This unique plant is a great addition for your drought tolerant or rock garden. Grown for its bright silver foliage covered with wooly hairs, it will even produce small creamy white flowers from time to time. It grows from 3-6" tall and spreads from 18-24" wide. Full sun, moderate water until established, and well draining soil is a must for it to really show its stuff.

Our garlic sets and seed potatoes are in- fresh and ready for planting. We have six varieties of garlic sets and 11 varieties of seed potatoes. If you haven't tried home grown garlic or potatoes, this spring is the time. We've had a wet winter and are looking forward to a warm spring and mild summer weather- just right for garlic and potatoes.

Our annual citrus tasting event is fast approaching and will be held on Saturday March 2nd from 11:00 to 1:00. This is a great opportunity to taste the range of flavors that come from citrus that we have available. Deanna from Generation Growers will be here again this year to provide us with tasty samples of citrus fruit, as well as sweet citrus treats, and even citrus infused water.

We are pleased to offer the unique ceramic planters of Johnathon Q. Swanson. His handmade, original planters provide the perfect setting for the succulents he selects for them. His planters combine contemporary modern design with original succulent arrangements. His variety of sizes and designs are now available.

The Lilac Vine (Hardenbergia violacea) provides a splash of color just when the garden needs it most. This winter blooming evergreen vine spreads to over 10 feet by twining stems and blooms with strings of violet or white showy flowers. Foliage is frost hardy, wind resistant, needs some summer water and shows off best in full or part sun. It is a great vine that grows well yet does not overwhelm the rest of the garden. It fills any trellis or arbor with winter color and by combining it with a summer blooming vine like Clematis creates color and foliage interest all year.

Poppies, poppies, poppies! We've got 'em. California Poppies, Oriental Poppies, Lady Bird Poppies, Opium poppies and Iceland Poppies are all available in our bedding department in a wide range of colors. Originally from the near east and southern Europe, they grow readily in our own Mediterranean climate. Poppies can be an herbaceous perennial or annual depending on the species. Papaver somniferum(Opium) and Papaver commutatum(Ladybird) are annuals while Papaver orientale(Oriental), Papaver nudicale(Iceland) and Eschescholzia californica(Californa) are perennial. All are easy to grow and a pleasure to enjoy. Now is a great time to add a range of colors to your garden.

If you missed buying bulbs for spring color this last fall, all is not lost. We have a variety of flowering bulbs for your garden now. Tulips, Daffodil, Giant Crocus, Grape Hyacinth, Byzantine Gladiolus, and Ornamental Onion are in bud or bloom now. These can still planted for early spring flower color and as a bonus most of these bulbs will naturalize in your garden and bloom for next year and for years to come.

At least hummingbirds can afford a home in Berkeley! We do have a nice environment to raise a family.

Going to seed? Our new shipment of seeds has arrived in time for your spring and summer garden. We have organic herb and vegetable seeds as well as heirloom annual and perennial flower seeds. We also feature a range of wildflower seeds and varieties of California Poppy seeds. If you haven’t planted from seed, we have all the supplies you need to make growing from seed successful and fun. If you need seed trays, seed starter mix, starter food, planting tools, tray covers and labels we have them. Don’t miss the excitement and satisfaction of growing your garden from seed.