Carman's Nursery – Bonsai Starters, Dwarf, Rare & Unusual Plants

Azalea Double Beauty
Caper plant, photo by Sherry Hall

Carman’s Nursery, located in Gilroy, California, is a small, third generation family owned nursery specializing in rare and unusual plants, such as bonsai starters, dwarf conifers, herbs, rock garden plants, unusual perennials, and less common fruiting plants, including capers, named varieties of fig, kiwi, and pomegranate. We also have a wide variety of variegated plants, collections of Rhodohypoxis and miniature ivies, hardy succulents, as well as many plants suitable for the backyard garden railroad enthusiast.

Carman’s Nursery continues to propagate most of our own plants. As we are a small nursery, we are able to give you, our customers, personal attention toward finding or discovering what you need in our specialized selection of plants, as well as the proper planting and care for the plants.

See the PuPS on Facebook!

California does indeed have fall color, and we are in the midst of it! Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) leaves have dropped and are in puddles of gold on the ground. The Washington thorn (Crataegus phaenopyrum) and Acer pentaphyllum (a rare maple native to China) are competing to see which can sport more shades of pink, yellow, and pale orange in their leaves. And I see red out there in the nursery, too—in the tiny leaves and berries on Cotoneaster horizontalis perpusillus. The Euonymus alatus 'Compacta' leaves dropped about a month ago—does the common name "burning bush" give you an idea of the color? And one of my favorite maples, Acer griseum, the paperbark maple has turned completely red in just the past week. I love this one partly because the leaves look so much like poison oak that it freaks some people out!

I'm pretty jazzed about the PuPS—PopUp Plant Stars. This is a unique new collaboration of small, local, owner-operated nurseries I've formed with Terra Sole Nurseries, Gold Rush Nursery, and Cole Canyon Farm. We're creating an exciting new way to bring "Plants to the People" with our PopUp Plant Fairs. Stay tuned—we might just "PopUp" in your neighborhood next!

For all my customers on the caper plant waiting list, these plants have slowed their growth and are losing their leaves for the winter. I think it's safest if I keep them going over the winter, and I'll be in touch next spring when they start leafing out again. I'd like to thank my friend Sherry for letting me use her photo of a caper plant in bloom on this page. It gives you an idea of what you can look forward to

There are a few normally open days in December when I'll be closing for special events (the 2nd, 9th and 11th, for instance) so please call to make sure I'm open if you're driving from any distance. I look forward to showing off some cool new plants on your next visit to Gilroy. Remember—I'm just across town from the outlets, but in a whole different world of shopping!

I'd like to leave you with a quote sent to me by my friend Amy:
'How beautifully the leaves grow old. How full of light and color are their last days.'
–John Burroughs

Cheers,
~Nancy

New! Shows & Sales...
See our Calendar for more!

November 20, 2011 - Next PopUp Plant Fair, Blossom Hill Farmers' Market.

December 3, 2011 - 5th Annual Bonsai Yard Sale and Swap Meet, Fresno, CA

Please see our Calendar for more details on these events!

Visitors to the nursery

Nursery Hours

Please note: A side effect of our air time on the KKUP FM radio show, Farm and Garden Show, is that the nursery will be closed for most of the day, October 27th. I’ll open the gate once I get home, but I don’t know how long that will take. Be sure to call and see if I’m home before you drive to visit the nursery on Thursday. I’ll be open for normal hours on Friday the 28th—10am–5pm. Thank you.

We are normally open Thursday, Friday, and Sunday from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
However, if you are driving from some distance, please call first to confirm. Occasionally during the year we close the nursery in order to participate in various garden shows. On Saturdays during the spring and summer you can find us at several Farmer’s Markets, including Saratoga and Morgan Hill. See our Calendar for our current schedule.

Directions to our Nursery

We are located at 8470 Pharmer Road in Gilroy, California.
Pharmer Road is off of Watsonville Road, 7/10 mile north of Hecker Pass Hwy, 6 8/10 miles south of Monterey Road.

More Coming Soon

My very patient webmaster is dragging me kicking and screaming into the 20th century (let alone the 21st!). But soon this website will have pictures and plant lists and all sorts of delights for plant lovers. In the meantime you can or call (408) 847-2313 during normal business hours.

We look forward to hearing from and serving you!