Flora Grubb Gardens

I finally made it to Flora Grubb Gardens in Marina Del Rey after meeting a friend for lunch last week.  As the restaurant placed me less than thirty minutes from the nursery I decided the time was right to stop by, even if we were building up to a heatwave.

I was familiar with the nursery's location, which had operated for decades under different management as the Marina Del Rey Garden Center.  In fact, for a time, fresh out of graduate school, I worked for the hospital directly across the street from it.  I left the hospital for greener pastures after a couple of years but while living in one nearby beach city, followed by another, I shopped at the MDR Garden Center frequently over the years.  My current home is further away but I dropped in periodically even after that move.  I can't remember when I last visited but I think it was prior to the start of the pandemic.  When I heard that Flora Grubb had acquired the space in May, I immediately planned to visit but it took me over two months to act on that plan.

I was curious as to how extensive the changes would be.  The first thing I noticed was that parking was a lot easier.  When visiting MDR Garden Center, I was often forced to park elsewhere and space in that area wasn't always easy to find.  I'd always thought the MDR Garden Center was more attuned to the requirements of our warm, dry climate than many other nurseries I frequent but Flora Grubb Gardens has kicked that up another notch.

Palms and succulents held pride of place at the front of the nursery

All the plants I saw were in pristine condition and the stock leaned heavily toward the kind of plants I use a lot in my current garden.

The mix of agaves shown here included Agave attenuata, A. geminifolia, A. 'Swordfish', and A. victoriae-reginae

The succulents shown here included Pilocereus azureus (aka blue torch cactus), Cleistocactus colademononis (aka monkey tail cactus), and Aloe doratheae 'Canary Yellow'

They made excellent use of the stretch of land adjacent to the Marina Freeway as shown in this series of photos

The extensive stock of drought-tolerant foliage plants, clockwise from the upper left, included: Acacia covenyi, Cussonia spicata (aka cabbage tree), Fatsia japonica 'Spider's Web', Leucadendron 'Hawaii Magic', L. 'Safari Goldstrike', L.'Safari Sunset', and Leucospermum 'Royal Hawaiian Brandi' (or 'California Sunshine', I can't remember which but I already have both)

Lots of the plants were sold in large three and five gallon pots.  I was impressed by their descriptive labels.

Online sources say that Protea 'Claire' is similar to 'Pink Ice'.  It might be a candidate for one of my front garden beds, although I've yet to get flowers from my 'Pink Ice'.

Plants in smaller pots were available.

Lots of small succulents

Clockwise from the upper left: bromeliads, bedding plants in 6-packs, a variety of shade plants, more shade plants, flats of groundcovers, and house plants

This display surprised me.  I didn't see any tags that identified the genus of these plants but I guessed they were tropical (Vireya) Rhododendrons.  I foolishly failed to ask but, after checking for a Rhododendron 'Butterball', it seems very likely that's what they were.  I've been interested in trying one for years.

The nursery is well laid out and comfortable to explore.

Decorative displays were spare but stylish

I couldn't figure out the purpose of what appeared to be a concrete igloo but I kind of liked it.  Maybe it's intended to serve as a shed to hold garden tools.

I didn't buy anything but it was hot and I wanted to get on the freeway to head home before traffic picked up.  I'll definitely be back, though.  There's a Protea and a Rhododendron to take another look at and, if I redo my front garden succulent bed as planned this fall, I may be the market for some large agaves.  The Cussonia spicata is also calling my name but first I need to find a spot for it.

One mystery remains.

I couldn't find an explanation for this RV.  'Pretty Problem$' turns out to be a comic film released for limited distribution in October 2022, directed by Kestrin Pantera.  But what is it doing in a nursery parking lot?  My theory is that, with locations in both San Francisco and Marine Del Rey, the Flora Grubb Gardens staff may be using it as a mobile office.

All material © 2012-2023 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party