Embracing the Oddities at Curious Flora Nursery
By Rachel Trachten | Photo by Zach Pine
“I Love the Weirdos and the Rarities, and it’s why we chose the name that we did: to embrace the curiosities that we find amongst the plants we grow,” says Colleen Wheeler, co-owner of Curious Flora Nursery. “We’re dedicated to bringing back those oddities that are so hard to find within the nursery trade.”
Wheeler had been heading up research and development at Annie’s Annuals when the beloved nursery at 740 Market Avenue in Richmond closed in 2024. She approached her colleagues Carlos Castillo and Memo Galarza, who had both been with Annie’s for over 20 years and wanted to stay and try to rebuild the business. Wheeler took that as an invitation to move forward. She and her mom, an avid gardener and former computer programmer, took over the lease and co-ownership of the nursery and its physical assets. The intellectual property of Annie’s Annuals (the name, customer list, website, and many years of plant-related research data and promotional materials) was sold to another buyer.
It’s a beautiful day at the office for Curious Flora’s co-owner Colleen Wheeler and nursery manager Guillermo “Memo” Galarza.
At Curious Flora, customers will find just about every plant that was available previously plus an expansion in the California natives department, including many drought-tolerant offerings. Wheeler is also passionate about edible plants: “One thing we’ve made sure of is that we offer a wide scope of veggies deep into the season because, as a farmer, I know we never had just one planting date. You always grow successions through the year.” She says this is good news for anyone who waited until June before planting their tomatoes.
Wheeler relishes the chance to get to know customers. She likes encouraging gardeners to ask one another for advice, and she finds that she’s as often learning from customers as much as she’s teaching them. The nursery hosts regular classes to inspire that exchange of information and build enthusiasm.
“I really love it when I see two strangers talking in the nursery,” Wheeler says. “The classes are a great way for people to interact with people they might not otherwise chat up in the nursery.”
About those weirdos, rarities, oddities, and curiosities that Wheeler likes to offer?
Cobb Mountain lupine
Illustration by Charmaine Koehler-Lodge
One is Lupinus sericatus. “Common name, Cobb Mountain lupine,” Wheeler says of one of her favorite plants. “It’s endemic to Northern California and has proven to be wildly versatile and adaptable in the garden. It has truly silver foliage that catches the light beautifully. It puts on a dazzling flower display in the spring, sending up spires of purple-to-mauve blooms that attract a host of pollinators. I love that I can plant this native lupine in sun or shade. It will grow well in garden beds that receive no supplemental water through the summer and will also thrive in more conventional garden conditions. Truly a rare beauty.”
Another is Dais cotinifolia, commonly referred to as the pompom tree, Wheeler says. “This fantastic small tree is perfect for our relatively small Bay Area gardens. It’s native to South Africa and puts on a spectacular show of pink flowers in early summer. It is a plant that is hard to come by. It was a bit challenging finding seed, so we were delighted to find we had excellent germination.”
She also mentions Kennedia nigricans, commonly referred to as the black coral pea vine. “The flower is as close to true black as any flower I’ve ever seen,” she says. “With the striking black and yellow blooms, it’s a true standout. It is native to Western Australia, but it’s a fantastic plant that I strongly identify with this nursery.”
Come see these rare beauties at the nursery, and check out Curious Flora’s classes and events, too. One summer highlight coming up is Daddy Day, a Father’s Day event for dads who garden or anyone who feels like a daddy to their plants.
Writer Rachel Trachten and photographer Zach Pine always enjoy the chance to explore local neighborhoods and come home with new foods, plants, and other goodies. Read Rachel’s stories at clippings.me/users/rachel_trachten and learn about Zach’s environmental art projects at zpcreatewithnature.com and sandglobes.org.
