The Garden Company

I love these guys! Everyone there seem like they really love their jobs and are always helpful and friendly. They have a great selection of more unique varieties of plants and usually just a couple dollars more than the big box stores. Actually I’ve found products there that are cheaper than anything comparable online. Every time I’ve gone in for advice on something I’m interested in, the person has most likely had experience with the plant (s) I’m considering and always gives great advice. I never feel any pressure to buy anything and they are always willing to set aside or special order anything. Always a great experience.

Best nursery in Santa Cruz because of the excellent staff and premium plant selection. The staff is always helpful and they will go out of their way to assist you in whatever your planting mission is or garden problem that needs help. Quite amazing. Not only a gem of a nursery, but great gifts and an excellent selection of beautiful bird baths.

Not cheap but service if you need it and well, it’s pretty uniquely special in many ways

They have an amazing and versatile collection of plants and flowers. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. Their service is reasonably priced and I would definitely choose them the next time I am looking for plants/​flowers.

This a truly great local nursery. Everyone who works here is very knowledgeable, helpful, and the stock is extensive. They also have an excellent selection of pots, & will pot plants for you if you buy both the plant & pot there. They have a good succulents dept, and do sell 6-​packs of various types for $ 4.99. Succulents prices & selection are way better than any other sc nursery. Plants are always very healthy. Also wonderful for gifts!

Absolutely love this place. I alway get great advise and help.
I am probably here at least 2x a month or more. considering this is a owner operated small local business the prices are comparable to the larger shops.

This is an amazing place with informative and helpful staff. They are patient with me as I am new to gardening and purchasing plants. I have been continually impressed, never intimidated by my lack of knowledge and appreciative of their willingness to share their knowledge with me.

A cute little nursery in Santa Cruz! Recently when we were driving to the Natural Bridges State Beach, we saw this nursery on our way and decided to stop by. They have several varieties of flowers displayed just outside the shop. Check out the shop itself, they carry a lot of essential things for your garden. The people are very welcoming and friendly. You can’t leave this place without buying one of their cute little flower pots.

I live right by the garden center and love to come with my family every Christmas to pick out a tree to put in our living room. Give this place a try and come for really great service and a great selection of plant and garden products!

Very nice plant selection and some unusual plants for planting for Santa Cruz weather and other zones. I found a group of curly willow trees here that are great for floral arrangements or an unusual hedge. They also have some interesting vines that no one plants anymore. The vines I was most impressed with are the giant clematis. Annuals are fresh and abundant. They have a little noticed vegetable area in the front of the store with some unusual herbs like stevia and an assortment of thymes. Call ahead to see what they might be stocking now.
The people here are very helpful, friendly and love what they do is the vibe I like here.
I once took a wreath making class here with a bunch of locals and it was FUN x 10! The conversation was light and friendly. The materials were from some local gardens and they made some beautiful wreaths if you have the knack for it which everyone seemed to have thanks to the help of the owner/​instructor.
I like alot here but what is great is the little indoor gift shop which is garden oriented. They have herb and vegetable picks in lots of styles, greeting cards from local artists, lanterns, table linens, wreaths, glass wasp catchers in pretty colors, outdoor metal sculpture, small and large fountains, planting kits, tools and holiday items during Christmas.
They also have an indoor plant area that has some wonderful indoor plants. These are nursery quality indoor plants and orchids. I bought my first chocolate scented orchids here.
The plants are a gardeners delight and the gift shop is worth a look if you find yourself in west Santa Cruz.

I love this place, truly is as good as it gets! The insight and knowledge has helped me grow so much as a gardener and pass it along to my neighbors and passers-​by who admire my garden. I live in Seabright and I schlep over to the Westside for their wonderful little gem of a nursery, though it helps that I ventured in when my BF used to live over there.
They started me off small when we got a few hanging plants. Easy. Then we broadened into succulents in baskets. Some fared better than other. Then I decided to fill a box with succulents and put in on my fire-​escape in my then home in the city. Then they got to big and I needed another box. Then I wanted to learn how to tend the roses at the BF’s house that the landlord neglected but had obvious beauty. They taught me how to do that. Oh those roses were wonderful once I brought them back!
Then the plants I moved down here and we got a big new garden and all the people at the Garden Co. held my had through everything. From citrus to winter veggies, to gophers and slugs. I think some days they’d see my car pull in and hold their breath. I would come laden with about 20 questions, and each one was dire, or so I thought. Now I come with just 2 or 3, but they are always just as helpful and just as nice. Plus they always recommend some fantastic products, or let me test out something I looked up online, despite its validity, they have it in stock.
They selection of clippers, pruning shears, gloves, saws, all those notions is also amazing… (currently making a bag with pockets to put all of these in– wooo organizing!) I have never faltered when I got a recommendation on those items. The items that are breaking down? the cheaper ones I got as a big store– obviously. That was obvious, but They are so helpful in guiding me without TELLING me what I HAVE to have, but what is more comfortable.
As for someone saying they couldn’t return something. I was surprised, because I worked very hard on a gift for a friend (with the Fairy Garden extraordinaire herself) but then this friend never really came through to make this gift. With receipt in hand, I was allowed to return items, quite easily. Though I definitely kept the plants because who doesn’t love nemesia or strawberries?
And I always take advantage of them potting plants if you buy the pot and the plant. I go through enough potting soil and dirt as it is, thats a wonderful little free-​be, is it not?

I love to get lost in the lush beauty of the garden company. They give me so much inspiration for my yards and if you buy a pot and a plant they will pot it for free! Lots of plants and garden décor and extremely friendly and knowledgable staff. There is a great spot inside filled with Home Décor and great gifts too! Love having this place on the west side

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this place!!! It is so unique and great customer service. I have been shopping here for years and apologize for never taking the time to say thank you! I have literally seen this business blossom.
Thank you to the owners, the managers, the staff and the wonderful friendly customers that I have met here and exchanged stories of growing up in Santa Cruz.
I can’t wait until my return to pick up my Rangpur Lime Tree!!!

I used to buy all my plants, soil, and fertilizer here despite the higher pricing because they are a small business super close to my house.
However, I recently had a horrible experience with the manager at this nursery. After spending over a thousand dollars at this little store to landscape my recently-​purchased house, I tried to exchange two small plants for a different color the day after I purchased them. I wasn’t asking for a refund, just an exchange for the same plant in a different color.
The container had a «Garden Company» sticker on it, and a staff member specifically remembered helping me select the plants the day before, yet they refused to exchange it. Ok, fine. What’s way worse though is that the manager kept insinuating that I had stolen the plants. Right. I stole two $ 7 plants.
Fortunately, this escapade led me to discover the Far West Nursery, which is a further drive from my house but OMG! It’s huge! Their selection is amazing! It’s cheaper – but still locally owned! Seriously, I think they have over 2 acres of plants – go check it out! You’ll never go elsewhere :)

Thank-​you for making my day– my birthday visit yesterday found me up to my eyebrows in beautiful plants, with only a checkbook in my bag. No problemo. sure I had a business card, but in this day in age of check writing typically it’s a drill in homeland security lite without proper ID.

They have such a great selection of both indoor and outdoor plants, as well as a nice variety of pots and other garden-​themed gifts. The staff is very friendly and helpful.

I love the garden company. They have a great selection of plants, and also gardening supplies and gifts. The staff are very familiar with plants and the growing needs of different plants. I love this place, and appreciate the personalized and friendly customer service I get there.

Charlie and Maria have the best garden shop in Santa Cruz County! The fact that their employees have been there so long (25+ years in one case) is a testament to the «family» nature of thie family business. If they don’t have what you are looking for, they will try to get it for you. They call with the status of your order, stay in touch and can recommend alternatives if they can’t get your plant.
Highly knowledgeable, everyone there strives to be as helpful as they can. They never blow you off or look irritated or bored with your trivial gardening questions. Even when they are super busy, they will stop and give you the attention a customer deserves. That is why they have been there so long, and that is why they will stay in business.
Super selection of all kinds of outdoor and indoor plants — they actually get excited when new hybrids come on the scene, or when special plants arrive.
Amanda does a fabulous job with the gift shop. Come here first if you don’t want to drive all over town looking for a gift… ESPECIALLY during the holidays.
LOVE.

After coming here once I am in love with this place. It’s so expansive and has so many types of plants. I could see myself going there just to walk around and take in the scenery. I love the huge giraffe sculpture!
I found a type of poppy that I’d been looking at many garden centers for, here at the Garden Company.
I’m so glad I stumbled across this place because it will now become my go to garden center!

Whoa, I totally have been living the cloistered life when it comes to Santa Cruz garden stores. I had always gone to San Lorenzo Garden Center (now Probuild) for plants and trees or to Aptos Gardens… At the Garden Company I had the wonderful experience of happening upon Lance. Lance is so knowledgeable and helpful. I had questions about two varieties of persimmon that I was considering for my garden. Well, I come to find out that there are tons of varieties and I walked out with a totally different variety (chocolate– yum) in mind — thanks all to Lance. Their gift area of the store is incredibly statisfying. The garden company reminds me of my all time favorite, Bainbridge Gardens which I get nostalgic for around this time of year (fall). I now will only be coming here for my garden items!