33
« on: July 29, 2020, 08:32:10 PM »
This is my review of my visits to Several East Coast and West Coast tropical fruit nurseries. First I’ll cover the general differences between East Coast and West Coast Nurseries then I’ll discuss each nursery. The nurseries I will review are:
East Coast-
Excalibur
Pine Island
A Natural Farm
Florida Nursery Mart
Crowleys
Green Jungle
Top Tropical
Pokey’s
Edible Landscaping
Fruitscapes
West Coast-
Bob Wells
Exotica
Clausen
Mimosa
Champa
Shamus O’leary
A Tropical Concept
So, what’s the difference between East Coast and West Coast nurseries?
The first thing you will notice is price. On the west coast they put 3 gal trees in 5 gal pots and charge 5 gal prices. In general, you are going to get a lot bigger tree on the East coast for a lot less money. Trees on the East coast tend to be more of what you would find in the Caribbean and what is popular with the Caribbean communities. Trees on the West coast tend t to be more of what you would find in Asia/Mexico and what is popular with the Asian/Mexican communities. What does that mean? There are more named varieties of some fruits on either coast. Some types of plants are easier to find on one coast than the other. I found several varieties of wax/rose apple and guava on the west coast. I also found that white Sapote varieties were more abundant on the west coast. Overall, whatever is popular is available popular on both coasts. There is plenty of citrus, mangoes, guavas, tropical cherries, and sapodillas on both coasts.
One last thing. Although I refer to all the places as “nurseries” most of them are plant resellers so they are not doing any grafting on site or growing anything from seed to sale.
East Coast-
Excalibur
The property
This a big property with a large variety of tropical and subtropicals. Just about anything you can think of has been on this property at one time.
The staff
The staff is pretty knowledgeable. The owner’s wife can be nasty. One visit she is fine the next visit she is short and mean especially when her staff makes a mistake.
The website
Like almost every place I visited the website does not have a correct current inventory. The other issue is if you call the staff will not always give you correct information about the inventory. You might be greeted with a terse reply if you say, “I just called an hour ago and asked if you had X and so and so said you did.” See the comment above in the staff section.
Prices
Prices there are on par with Florida prices
Quality
Usually on par with most other sellers in terms of size and health. One issue I have had with their plants is fungus, scale and fire ants. If you get a plant from them repot it immediately and do an anti-fungal and insecticide spray. I would say this is good general advice but especially from them. Your experience may differ.
Pine Island
The property
This is another big property with a large variety of tropical and subtropicals. This is the first nursery I ever visited and purchased from. It used to have just about anything you can think of. Even some unusual stuff. Now not so much.
The staff
The staff is pretty knowledgeable.
The website
The website does not have a correct current inventory. If you call the staff does give you correct information about the inventory. The issue might be that they can’t tell you when something you want will be in. Unfortunately, this applies to almost everyone else too.
Prices
Prices there are on par with Florida prices
Quality
Usually on par with most other sellers in terms of size and health.
A Natural Farm
The property
This is a small/medium property with a variety of tropical and subtropicals. It well organized so you can come in and walk around and find/discover what you want on your own. The staff and owner treat you like a relative. What can I say? The place is well organized and they have several not fruit edibles on site. Topi tambo, ginger, turmeric, greens, they got them.
The staff
The staff is pretty knowledgeable.
The website
The website does not have a correct current inventory. Close very close. I have never called about a plant so can’t tell you if they do a good job or not.
Prices
Prices there are on par with Florida prices
Quality
Usually on par with most other sellers in terms of size and health. Maybe a little healthier.
Florida Nursery Mart
The property
This is a small/medium property with a variety of tropical and subtropicals. It well organized so you can come in and walk around and find/discover what you want on your own. The staff is young and willing to help if you need it and polite. The place also has not fruit edibles on site. Peppers, tomatoes, greens, they got them.
The staff
The staff is pretty knowledgeable.
The website
The website does not have a correct current inventory. I have never called about a plant so can’t tell you if they do a good job or not.
Prices
Hands down beats everybody on price. Why? See below.
Quality
In terms of health and size they usually have big health plants. Many of their 3 gals look like other peoples 5 gals. Maybe a little healthier. If you are looking for something common like guavas, mangos, etc. they usually can’t be beat.
Crowleys
This is a small/medium property. At the time of my visit they had a variety of tropical and subtropical fruits and some floral specimens too.
The staff
The staff is pretty knowledgeable (it was Mrs. Crowley when I was there). She was really nice. I unfortunately left a bag with my lunch on her property after my purchase. I hope she doesn’t think I was dumping trash. Oops.
The website
I have never checked out their website so I can’t comment.
Prices
Prices on par with other Florida nursery’s maybe a little higher.
Quality
Good quality plants are found there.
Green Jungle
This is a small/medium property with a variety of tropical and subtropicals. It’s well organized and everything is clearly marked. The owner is the staff. Bob Hopper is great to work with and he knows what is on his property. Last time I was there it was closed for covid. I hope Bob is alright. He is an older gentleman but super spry.
The staff
The Bob (the owner) is knowledgeable. Great guy.
The website
I have never checked out their website so I can’t comment.
Prices
Prices on par with other Florida nursery’s. Usually better.
Quality
Bob sells big healthy plants. Some 3 gals look like other people’s 7 gals. Really.
Top Tropicals
This is a medium property with a variety of tropical and subtropicals and some unusual stuff. I didn’t really walk around so I can’t speak to it’s organization. They seem to specialize in some things that you won’t find anywhere else. The first time I visited them they were in Punta Gorda. That was a long time ago. Now they are farther north.
The staff
The staff is pretty knowledgeable. I think the guy who runs it is…. Russian?
The website
The website is extensive but not reflective of what they sell. It is however one of the easiest to access resources for tropical plants with pictures on the web that I have found.
Prices
Prices seemed high to me. Almost west coast level maybe higher. I need to visit again.
Quality
I didn’t buy enough stuff to give them a fair assessment. I didn’t buy any of the common stuff and what I did buy was too exotic to be categorized because I have nothing to compare it to.
Pokey’s
The property
This is small/medium property with a variety of tropical and subtropicals. It well organized so you can come in and walk around and find/discover what you want on your own. The staff is young and willing to help if you need it and polite. The place also has non fruit edibles on site. Peppers, tomatoes….they got them.
The staff
The staff is pretty knowledgeable. Pokey is there sometimes and he is a pretty good joke and story teller.
The website
The website does not have a correct current inventory. I have never called about a plant so can’t tell you if they do a good job or not.
Prices
Pretty good and on par with Florida prices except for their avocados which are a little high. They probably have the best avocado selection of any place I have been to though so… still think their prices are high but you can get the cold tolerant avocados there and I couldn’t find that stuff anywhere else.
Quality
In terms of health and size they have healthy plants. I like him. He is an honest dealer.
Edible Landscaping
If you are in the Mideast region, as far as I know these are the only people in business doing anything close to the Tropical trade and they do mail order. This is a medium/large property with a variety of subtropicals but don’t expect a lot (i.e. no mangoes, only cold tolerant guavas (pineapple guava). They used to have tropical guavas for mail order years ago as well as some sweet citrus varieties. Now they just don’t have them. But they can get them for you if you really want them. It is well organized so you can come in and walk around and find/discover what you want on your own I don’t think they sell tomatoes or peppers or anything like that. I could be wrong.
The staff
The staff is definitely willing to help if you need it and they are polite and super knowledgeable about what they have and how to care for it. Actually, they are great. They helped me get some Texas persimmon plants so they can probably get you anything you want if you ask in advance of prime selling season or at least point you in the right direction.
The website
The website does not have a correct current inventory but it is close and maybe the closest to being perfectly accurate. Every time I have called about a plant they knew if it was in or not and when it would be available.
Prices
A little on the high side but they are the only suppliers of what they sell in my region and they the sell good stuff. I would say they are definitely fair.
Quality
In terms of health and size they usually have big healthy plants.
Fruitscapes
The property
This a big property with a large variety of tropical and subtropicals. According to the guy who helped me they have everything but they didn't have everything the day I was there but they did have what I was looking for which was purple caimitos. They seem to also be a fruit seller and there was a lot of stuff on the tables. I would have gone on a fruit buying rampage but I was there for fruit tree hunting not eating.
***side note**** I shopped at Florida Nursery Mart Excalibur and Jene's on this trip 08-20 that's why comments about them are included in this section.
I had just left Excalibur about 2 and half hours earlier. Excalibur had a lot of fruit for sell too; big canistels, lots of sapodillas etc. I snagged a loquat tree that I never heard of before called Ray's Fav at Florida Nursery Mart earlier that day that was way too expensive. Had to get it even though it looked like a tall 1 gal in a 7 gal container.
The staff
The staff I met was a lady with glasses who was selling fruit and a tall young guy who said he also updates the website and another lady who is one of the owner's wife. I also believe I spoke with one of the owners. Looked like he was around 45. If I am correct then him and his wife were helpful and polite.
The website
Like almost every place I visited the website does not have a correct current inventory. According to the tall guy who helped me if he spent time updating the website he wouldn't have time to work at the nursery. That tells me they have a lot of stuff and you need to know what you want and call ahead. I called two months in advance and I was told that caimitos would be ready in August. I called again one month in advance and I was told that caimitos would be ready in August. I called a week before I arrived and they said they were ready in 7 gal. When I got there they were ready. I rolled the dice and was lucky and I also found the 7 gal Silas woods and a 7 gal Makok which I was going to buy at Excalibur but they didn't have. I also got a ross sapote and a canistel called F2 plus I scooped up a Smathers white Saopote. I was hoping for Younghans. I suppose I will eventually find it.
Prices
Prices there are on par with Florida prices
Quality
In terms of size I'm going to say they were a little on the small side. You know that 3 gal to 7 gal transition size that you are happy to get for 3 gal price and a little disappointed at 7 gal price? In terms of health the plants all seemed healthy except for the white sapote that seemed a little sun burnt. If it was raised in full sun bravo. That means I won't have to baby it, so it's not a knock its just an observation. Also there was some black sooty stuff on the leaves of one the sapodillas. I will hit it with some copper then some neem and hope for the best.
West Coast-
Bob Wells
The property
This is a medium property with a variety of tropical and subtropicals. It well organized so you can come in and walk around and find/discover what you want on your own. The staff is young and willing to help if you need it and polite. Lots of citrus here and they ship everything except citrus.
The staff
The staff is pretty knowledgeable.
The website
The website does not have a correct current inventory but it’s very, very, close. There was only one thing that I couldn’t find so they seem to be pretty current. If you call they will tell you what they have and what it costs.
Prices
On par with other West Coast prices.
Quality
In terms of health and size they usually have bigger than west coast average plants plants.
Exotica
The property
This is a medium/large property with a variety of tropical and subtropicals. I can’t call it well organized but you can come in and walk around and find/discover what you want on your own. I heard about it from a YouTube mention. It was kind of overhyped to be honest. The place is not terrible. It’s just not so good that it should be oohed and awed over.
The staff
The staff is pretty knowledgeable.
The website
The website does not have a correct current inventory. If you call you may or may not get someone to answer. They don’t seem to know much about their inventory. That said they have a lot of stuff.
Prices
On par with other West Coast prices; maybe a little higher. It did have somethings that I didn’t find at other places like an Australian beach cherry. How often they replenish their inventory of the special things I can’t comment on.
Quality
The plants seem healthy but they are small for the price. They were willing to sell really small plants in the 1 gal size that would not be available for sell at other nurseries and they sell them at lower prices and the prices for those are fair.
Clausen
The property
This is a medium/large property. Right around the corner from Exotica. I think they specialize in citrus because there was a lot there. I can’t call it well organized since I came for few specific things and they were right up front so I didn’t walk the property. The staff is willing to help if you need it and polite.
The staff
The staff is pretty knowledgeable.
The website
The website does not have a correct current inventory. The first time I went they had what I wanted except for the “Egyptian guava”. The second time I went they didn’t have the guava or the Indio mandarinquat I was looking for. If you call you will get an answer and they seem to know what is on site.
Prices
On par with other West Coast prices.
Quality
They have good plants and the white sapotes I got were healthy although unnamed cultivars.
Mimosa
The property
This is a medium/large property with a variety of tropical and subtropicals. I can’t call it well organized but you can come in and walk around and find/discover what you want on your own. Lot’s of the labels were hand written. To be honest the inventory was kind of sparse. They did have many named varieties of wax apple. You really can’t find named varieties on the East coast in my experience. There were several named varieties of Atemoya and Cherimoya and Sugar apple. I don’t know how often there have things in stock because I only visited once. I don’t remember seeing any citrus. The place in the middle of the most Chines ethnic neighborhood I have ever seen. All the signs were in Chinese and English. That’s right… Chinese first then English. It is the only place in America that I ever went to that had Cathay Bank ATM’s. To be honest I wish I had skipped Exotica and Clausen’s and went there first. Real Chinese food was there not the fake stuff you usually get but I digress
The staff
The staff was one old Asian man who seemed like he didn’t have time to talk or explain much of anything. The guy was almost comical in his curmudgeoness. He was kinda rude and dismissive but it wasn’t racial since I saw him treat every body that way. To the Vietnamese woman who spoke to him in Vietnamese he said in the thickest Chinese accent, “Hey, I’m Chinese I don’t speak your language. Speak English!” To a Chinese customer I heard him say, “You don’t know what you want. Come back when you decide. If you don’t see it, I don’t have it!”
They don’t take credit cards like every other place I visited. I told the guy I had to go to the ATM and when I returned 15 min later. However, he did open the gate to sell me the plants I had picked out. All that said don’t expect much customer service.
The website
The website does not have a correct current inventory. If you call you may or may not get someone to answer. They don’t seem to know much about their inventory.
Prices
On par with other West Coast prices; maybe a little higher. It did have somethings that I didn’t find at other places like named varieties I called out above.
Quality
The plants seem healthy but they are small for the price.
Champa
The property
This is a small property with a variety of tropical and subtropicals. It was pretty well organized. It’s small enough you can walk around and see what you want. They have all the usual suspects in terms of tropical fruit. I don’t remember seeing any citrus. The place in the middle of a very Asian community so I think that influences what they have much like Mimosa. This is the only place I went to that had Canistel (Bruce and I got the last one) , green sapotes and mamey sapote. I would have got the green sapote but they wanted $75 for a plant that was barely a 3 gal. Most of the stuff I would have really wanted was not in stock. There is a video on youtube that shows a place called Champa that looks full of plants. It didn’t look like that when I went there.
The staff
The staff was one guy who was watering the plants. He seemed occupied but willing to help.
The website
The website does not have a correct current inventory. I didn’t call so I can’t tell you how reliable they are.
Prices
The prices seemed high. It did have somethings that I didn’t find at other places like the pouterias I called out above.
Quality
The plants seem healthy but they are small for the price.
Shamus O’leary
The property
This is a small/medium property with a variety of tropical and subtropicals. It is well organized so you can come in and walk around and find/discover what you want on your own. The staff When I got there was one young guy with glasses and another guy watering plants. The one bad thing I would have to say about this place is my godson went there and he had a negative experience. Basically, he was charged an additional $20 for help with to puttting a white sapote in a box that he had brought himself. I have shopped plenty of places but I was never charged for anything like this. He was there shopping for a gift asked the lady for help she points him to the 3 gal white sapotes helps him pick one out then rings up the plant. She gave him two small chicos to taste. The lady never told him there was a charge for this and he just swiped his card thinking “she said the plant costs X amount so this is what I must pay”. Turns out I had bought the exact 3 gal pot size Redland sapote for $20 less a week earlier.
The staff
The staff was one guy who was watering the plants. He seemed occupied but willing to help.
The website
The website for the most part seemed up to date.
Prices
The prices seemed high. It did have somethings that I didn’t find at other places but not a lot of choice on variety.
Quality
The plants seem healthy but they are small for the price even compared to other West Coast places.
A Tropical Concept
The property
This is a very small property with not much. It was totally unorganized. It’s basically a small parking car lot. It’s small enough you can see everything when you drive up.
The staff
The staff was one guy and I assume his wife. They both looked pretty scruffy. He quite talkative and willing to help. Gotta give them struggle points. I will visit and buy there every time I visit Phoenix if for no other reason that the guy is trying so he must love it.
The website
I didn’t look so I don’t know
Prices
The prices seemed high for what he had. He cut me a deal so I bought a tree.
Quality
The plants seem healthy to be out in full sun. Nobody else I visited on the west was doing full sun except Mimosa. I bought a mango tree that got confiscated at the California border. Yes I am salty. Now I have another reason to visit the guy again.
Show Posts