Sunset Color Nursery

Unfortunately, It looks like Sunset Color Nursery has gone out of business. Sad because they were around since 1906, according to their sign. I even called their number just to confirm and it’s been disconnected.

I own a nursery and a landscape contracting company. I have driven by this place for years too and finally stopped in. I guess it has been a year since the previous reviews, and maybe the place has gone downhill. I thought it was a dive. Weeds, deteriorating tables, just overall tired. They had some scented geraniums, but other than that it’s all run of the mill plants they are buying from wholesalers and re-​selling at higher prices than most places. Not impressed.

I agree with the 2 previous reviews. This was a fun nursery to go to as the two ladies there really loved what they are doing. They are very knowledgable and will teach you. Like holistic ways of using plants. They had a great plant there that attracts aphids so you plant them near your roses. Loved all the geraniums! They had so many different kinds there included scented! There’s a scented one that’s citronella — you rub it and it gives off the scent to deter bugs! They have other lovely varieties too! St Elmos Fire was unusual. We’ll return there for more plants as we plan out our garden
The other plus is you are on the hillside of San Ramon so you feel like you are away from everything. It’s been a fun little get away at lunch time from work. And be on the lookout when they have a sale as you can get plants at $ 2-​$ 3

I’ve driven by this place ever since I was a kid, but now that I’m all mature and domestic I finally pulled over and checked this place out. My husband and I were impressed enough that we plan on returning in another month when more of their plants are in bloom.
There were 5 – 6 greenhouses and the plants were in various stages of growth. As we were walking through one of the greenhouses, one of the ladies who works there walked up to us to introduce herself. She asked us if we’d been there before, and when we said no, she gave us a brief introduction to this place.
Basically:
1. They sell wholesale and to the public
2. They primarily sell perennials
3. They grow the plants from seeds to full grown, so all plants are local and are not going through the temperature shock that imported plants often die from.
4. They will consult with you about what you are looking for by asking you questions about the sun in your yard, the colors you are looking for etc.
5. They care for these plants like children (since they have nurtured them from the seedling stage), so they really care that the right plants go to the right yards. This is reassuring since I’ve wasted plenty of money on plants which don’t last more than a couple months.
We went there slightly early in the season so the plants aren’t flowering yet, we plan on returning when we can get a better look at the plants we will purchase and the frosty part of the season has passed.

This is such a cool little place. There are plants everywhere, and they are well taken care of. I love that when I go here, there is always someone working on the plants, and tending to the plants. They are pretty knowledgeable about the plants they sell, and are interested enough in finding out about new plants, that they will research and try to find plants they don’t carry.