Nestled on the narrow plains between the rugged Santa Ynez mountains on the north and the Pacific Ocean on the south, the California Central Coast enjoys a mild, Mediterranean climate with temperate nights and soft, ocean breezes.From this splendid setting has sprung an orchid industry that produces more orchids than any other region in the country.
If you are captivated by the diverse beauty of orchids, be sure to explore the Santa Barbara area orchid growers on the California Orchid Trail.
California’s central and southern coasts became a Mecca for orchid hobbyists in the early part of the 20th century. Wealthy families who established estates to enjoy the Mediterranean-like climate of coastal California sought the services of renowned horticulturists and landscape architects to establish their lavish gardens.
A cottage industry bloomed. As estate collections grew, patrons hired landscape directors to manage huge crews of gardeners and obtain the most stunning plants. Several key estate nurserymen later went on to open or manage their own orchid selling empires along the California Central Coast, offering some of the finest species and hybrid orchids anywhere, and the greatest concentration of orchid growers in one location in the country.
Now with nearly a half-century of experience, California Orchid Trail growers are leading the world in producing a wide spectrum of orchid varieties, including plants that are more resilient and beautiful than ever before.
Retail sales (at wholesales prices) at each location.
ORCHID GROWERS – NORTH TO SOUTH:
Cal Orchid
1251 Orchid Drive
Santa Barbara, CA 93111
805-967-1312
Hours: 9am-4pm (Monday-Saturday)
In the early 1970s, owners James & Lauris Rose began their orchid careers in the commercial realm, both working for Santa Barbara Orchid Estate. They met and married, eventually purchasing their own nursery across the street from Orchid Estate in 1987. The inventory at Cal-Orchid is very diverse and reflects the interests of not only the current marketplace, but also many trips made to foreign locales.
James has long been known to have a sharp eye for the unusual. They are located on the Pacific Coast in Santa Barbara, two short blocks from the beach. They maintain 25,000 square feet of intermediate temperature controlled greenhouse as well as an additional 25,000 square feet of saran-covered shade area. They offer plants for everything from coastal Southern California gardens, greenhouses to windowsills.
VISIT THE WEBSITE: www.calorchid.com
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Santa Barbara Orchid Estate
1250 Orchid Drive
Santa Barbara, CA 93111
805-967-1284
Hours: 8am-4:30pm (Monday-Saturday)11am-4pm (Sunday)
Located on five acres of beautiful coastal Santa Barbara, the Orchid Estate is just 500 feet from the Pacific Ocean. Santa Barbara Orchid Estate was founded by Robert J. Chrisman, a legendary orchid grower. The estate was managed by Paul Gripp in 1957, and later, in 1967, he purchased it. Paul Gripp retired in 1986, and currently, his two children, Parry and Alice are the owners.
The Orchid Estate is one of the world’s foremost collectors and propagators of orchid species and hybrids, specializing in outdoor temperature tolerant varieties.
VISIT THE WEBSITE:
www.sborchid.com
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Gallup & Stribling Orchids
3450 Via Real
Carpinteria, CA 93013
805-684-1998
Hours: 10am-5pm (Monday-Friday) 8:30am-5pm (Saturday-Sunday)
Gallup & Stribling has been a premier supplier of orchids throughout the world for more than 50 years. Founded by Aleck Stribling as Aleck’s Orchids in 1947, the business became a partnership when Emmet Gallup joined in 1954. It expanded into its present corporate form in 1959. Gallup & Stribling’s home farm occupies 48 acres along the central California coast just south of Santa Barbara, one of the largest in the country.
With more than 1.5 million square feet of greenhouse space, it is a state-of-the-art breeding, growing and distribution facility.
Visit the website:
www.gallup-stribling.com
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Westerlay Orchids
3504 Calle Real
Carpinteria, CA 93013
805-684-5411
Hours: 8am-5pm Monday-Friday, 10am-3pm Saturdays
Founded in 1978 as Westerlay Roses, Westerlay Orchids is a family-owned and operated commercial grower of orchids. The company was started by Joe Overgaag following his emigration from the Netherlands to Carpinteria, and later he earned the distinction of being among the first in the nation to widely apply hydroponic growing technology to flowers. In 2003, Westerlay leveraged its superior greenhouse technology and the area’s climate to enter the strongly growing potted orchid market.
Westerlay Orchids currently grows approximately 600,000 Phalaenopsis and cymbidium orchids annually and continues to evolve. Westerlay Orchids sells to wholesalers, supermarkets and home improvement chains in California and adjacent states.
VISIT THE WEBSITE: www.westerlayorchids.com
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Hatfield Orchids
3793 Dufau Rd.
Oxnard, CA 93033
805-901-0340
Hours: call to schedule
georgehatfield@sbcglobal.net
Hatfield Orchids is owned and operated by George Hatfield, who has more than 15 years of experience in raising award quality Cymbidium orchids. George is active in both the Cymbidium Society of America and the American Orchid Society, as well as several Southern California regional orchid organizations.
George is an orchid judge for both the CSA and AOS, and is currently the Chairman of the Santa Barbara judging region for the CSA.
VISIT THE WEBSITE: www.hatfieldorchids.com
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FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE ORCHID TRAIL:
www.californiaorchidtrail.com
