On Sunday I gave a talk at the Monterey Bay Area Cactus and Succulent Society. They meet every third Sunday of the month at the Grange Hall in Corralitos just outside of Watsonville. Renowned for its fertile soil and mild climate, the Watsonville area is a leading producer of fruits, vegetables, and berries, especially strawberries. It’s also home to a number of horticultural nurseries, including Monterey Bay Nursery, a wholesale grower whose plants are a staple of independent garden centers all over Central and Northern California; Sierra Azul Nursery, a retail nursery specializing in proteas and Mediterranean plants; Succulent Gardens, in the early to mid 2010s the home of the beloved Succulent Extravaganza; and Navarro’s Mixed Nursery focusing on succulents and other water-wise plants.
I’d known of Navarro’s for a number of years, but for one reason or another I’d never been there. When I suggested a stop at Navarro’s to my frequent partner-in-crime Justin who accompanied me on Sunday, he was game so I finally got a chance to visit.
Navarro’s Mixed Nursery is located right on Highway 1 outside the small town of Castroville, the self-proclaimed “Artichoke Capital of the World.” (In 1948, pre-Hollywood fame, Marilyn Monroe was the first Artichoke Queen.)
Navarro’s caters to landscape designers, homeowners, and succulent collectors alike; they also offer design and installation services. The nursery grounds are “just” a little over an acre, but they’re packed to the gills with over a hundred thousand succulents ranging in size from one gallon to 24" boxes.
Unfortunately, Justin and I only had about 45 minutes to explore before we had to dash off to the Monterey Bay Area Cactus and Succulent Society meeting. This was definitely not enough time, but I hope the photos below (some were taken by Justin) give you an idea of what there is to see.
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| Flowering Agave attenuata; often considered a weed in areas where it thrives, but a perennial favorite of mine |
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| Very happy Dudleya brittonii |
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| Calla lilies growing like weeds in random places |
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| Aeoniums positively thrive in the mild Central Coast climate |
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| I can’t remember the last time I’d seen such a variety of variegated aeoniums |
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| I couldn’t even begin to name them all |
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| Agave desmetiana ‘Galactic Traveller’ (if any of you are looking for a larger specimen, Navarro’s the place to go) |
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| Variegated Agave victoriae-reginae |
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| Variegated Agave ferox, so darn tempting |
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| In the end, $250 was just too much for me, although I think it’s a fair price for specimens this size |
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| One of the most beautiful variegated Agave maculata I’ve ever seen |
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| Variegated Aloe ‘Hercules’, too! |
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| Even this Mangave ‘Lavender Lady’ had streaks of variegation |
Justin and were the only customers at the time, which gave us the opportunity to chat with Manny Navarro himself. He’s a constant presence on the nursery’s social media accounts (
@NavarrosNursery on Facebook,
@NavarrosMixedNursery on Instagram) and a tireless promoter of all thing succulent. If you’ve ever watched any of his short videos, you know he’s a bundle of energy. That’s how he is in real life, too. His enthusiasm is infectious.
Navarro’s my kind of nursery: lots of nooks and crannies, so you have no idea what might be waiting just around the corner. I love a good treasure hunt, and Navarro’s a great place for that. I just wish I’d allowed more time to explore.
Of course I couldn’t leave empty-handed. My haul is small since we had a limited amount of time, but I’m thrilled with what I found.
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| Gasteria excelsa, specimen 1 |
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Gasteria excelsa, specimen 2
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| Gasteria excelsa is the largest gasteria species and excellent for landscaping. It has the potential to grow to 2½ ft. and tolerates shade better than most aloes or agaves. |
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| Echeveria agavoides ‘Ebony’ |
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| I already have an ‘Ebony’, but this is such a beautiful plant, I couldn’t pass it up |
Navarro’s Mixed Nursery is at 1700 Watsonville Road in Castroville. They’re open every day from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm. For more information,
visit their website. You can also follow them on
Facebook and on
Instagram.
© Gerhard Bock, 2025. All rights reserved. To receive all new posts by email, please subscribe here.
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