Burkard Nurseries

Visited Burkard Nurseries on 5 June 16. It is at the end, I suspect the closed out of business sign should be up at any time… sad.

This is a review for their landscaping services. I would give them 4 stars for the work once it was actually done — Frank took the time to design something I liked and the work was done well. But actually getting anything done was like pulling teeth and so sadly I would not go to them again. The phone message system is antiquated and phone calls were often not returned. Frank would commit to dates and then not turn up citing another job which was going over. I get it, but a big part of running a business is communication and doing things when you say you are going to. I don’t think I should have to chase someone when I am the paying customer. Almost a year later I am still waiting for the map of what plants were planted where so I know what is in my garden and how to look after it. Numerous phone calls and promises made but not kept. The next stage will be done by someone else.

We were talked into buying a $ 45 plant to go on our hillside. The Burked sales guy was adamant it would work at that location and with the soil we had. Despite concerns about the how expensive the plant was, we bought it. It died within a month. When we called Burkards about getting a refund or exchange, they flatly refused. We have never had a problem with other nurseries like OSH giving refunds if plants they sell die.
Burkard charges a premium for offering quality and service, but it provides neither. Avoid them. There are better options out there.

These are the most helpful people they really know their stuff. The plants are second to none but prices are higher than OSH or Home Depot but the staff is much nicer and better qualified. Have been here many times and will keep coming back.

I came here to get some plants. Their plants are nice but very pricy. While i was wandering around the nursery and observing the plants, Sergio (the Worker) asked me if i need help.
We started talking about plants. He had a great knowledge about all the plants. He advice me very well.
Based upon interaction with this Nursery–
In a scale of 1 — 10 (with 10 being the best) i would give Customer service (because of Sergio) a 10. The Nursery itself a 5.

Burkard’s May not be the least expensive nursery in town but it was explained to me that because they’re a smaller nursery they’re unable to return unsold stock to the growers and that is why some of their pricing is higher. I love to come here in the spring when their dogwoods are blooming. Yes, some of their plants are a little overgrown but that means they’ll naturalize more quickly in your yard. Come here for expert advice, to pet some friendly cats, to get a decent variety of plants, and to support a family-​owned Pasadena establishment. I would love to see someone step in to manage and help this place fulfill the potential I know it has.

What happened to this once fine nursery? The condition of the plants reminded me of a fire sale, the garden supplies seemed to be running out, and the prices were ridiculously and unreasonably high. I used to love this place, but now will have to go up the street to the Lincoln Avenue nursery, whose quality singer superior, selection much better, and prices more in line.

Super nice staff. Crazy high prices (like 2x retail). Selection always looks like leftovers. :(

Wow. I was told by a local hardware store to come here for some seeds for my lawn. I called and the man said he’d search for them and call me back. It’s now much later in the day and I found myself nearby so I decided to stop in. I told a woman in her 60s with a long light colored blunt bob (no name sorry) what I was looking for and she said (and I quote) «well, he didn’t call you back did he?» and said that because the guy hadn’t called I should have known that they didn’t have the item. Really? Someone doesn’t call a potential customer back because they don’t have something? And when I stop in, you’re rude about it? Won’t be coming back here and will tell local hardware guy that he might not want to continue sending clients.

This is a 3^rd generation family business, run now by Frank and Penny Burkard. It’s the best source for a wide variety of plants and trees in San Gabriel Valley. Besides the extensive plants available, these people really know their horticulture. You can ask them anything and they will share information and knowledge generously. You can trust their word and contract services. They do the job right.

My husband and I are both clueless about plants. Honestly, all the indoor plants we had had in the past did not live long.
Janice helped us more than any Nurseries can. She spent a lot of time talking to us and answering a lot of beginner questions. Frank hand picked our indoor plants for us and gave us 20% discount. They REALLY care about making their customers happy and building long term relationships.
I would have given this place 6 stars if possible.

INDIANA JONES & THE NURSERY OF DOOM
Arriving in the Burkard Nursery parking lot, I don my weathered fedora and strap on my trusty whip, remembering to take my newly sharpened machete with me down their long, narrow side entrance parallel to Orange Grove leading to the fabled treasure trove of cacti and succulents spoken of only in legend and hush whispers.
I hack and slash my way through weeds and foliage three feet high. Cacti, once in pots, have blasted through their plastic bases and burrowed their roots deep within the earth. Further in, I reach the killing fields: empty and overturned plastic pots bearing no hint of the botanical life that once grew within except for the dog eared sticker adorning each 1 gallon container reading: «$ 21.00».
Finally, as I am about to give up all hope, the vista finally opens up revealing large wood and cinderblock pyramid structures upon which rest cacti and succulents that appear to be untouched by human hand in decades. As I gingerly move one pot, the one next to it moves as well! I realizes that in the intervening years between waterings many plants have grown together in a desparate attempt to share the scarce resources of water and attention.
Death is everywhere. Wilted and dried out cacti litter the floors. Hanging baskets trail sporadic strands of green amidst cascades of brown. Only the hardiest of cacti survives.
No matter how long my stay,
nor how deep I venture,
nor how loud I cry,
not a soul acknowledges my presence in this Botanical Mausoleum.
Then, «Why?» I ask, «have the shelves not been stripped bare by collector, poacher and graverobber alike?» Then answer soon reveals itself and in doing so, unearths the curse that befalls any who dare venture as deep as I. For within each of the few magnificent specimens, that through fate or fortitude managed to survive, is a plastic white stake, upon which contained a cryptic curse that once read had the effect of a poison dart to the heart. Some examples:
«Agave potatorum cv. kichiokan $ 135.00»
«Echinocactus grusonii forma cristata $ 175.00»
My inability to decipher a single word did not spare me from the toxic poison each dart contained. Seeing such beauty and knowing that it shall never be removed from this Nursery of Doom felt as if my heart had been torn from its ribcage and held before my unbelieving eyes.

So sad to see a wonderful nursery go downhill the way Burkhard’s has. I stopped in today and was appalled to see so many weeds choking pathways and plants. I was looking for succulents because they used to have a great selection. So many of the pots were clearly untended. Not wanting to bring home weeds with the plants, I left without buying a thing. I won’t be back despite the fact I have gone there for years.

Burkard Nurseries used to be *the* place to go for tomato plants.
Now the place is a mess: The variety and number of the vegetable plants is substantial; it’s too bad most plants are old and withered, with plenty of dead ones — and yet all are still marked with absurdly high prices.
There won’t be a next time for Burkard, even with a Groupon deal. Instead, I’ll get fresh vegtable plants, and terrific service, up the street at Lincoln Ave Nursery.

Burkards used to be the place to find unusual plants. Now the prices are triple of elsewhere, lots of dead plants around and staff has a bad attitude! I won’t return.

Went today to purchase vegetable plants at the recommendation of daugher’s science teacher at PCC. Fabulous selection of healthy veggie plants!!! Got some great recommendations from very helpful staff.

What can I say… Overpriced: 100%, neglected plants: 90%, the place feels forgotten: 100% and so on. The owner doesn’t honor the refunds, store credit only. I think it would be great if somebody purchase it, renovate it and make a happy place, until it looks different, I am not going there any more, I feel depressed afterwords :(
I do not recommend this nursery.

Some friends and I wanted to grow a garden together, so I asked around for a reliable source of healthy tomato and kale plants. Wholly moly! :-) I’ve never been to a nursery that has about 100 varieties of tomato plants! Great customer service, too. A month later, and our plants are growing well in the garden.
Small, but serviceable

The prices here are about 20% higher than anywhere else in the neighborhood. They have a lot of workers that don’t really like to help. They toss a lot of dead or dying stuff out in the dumpster. I’m seriously thinking about dumpster diving just for the sake of saving some plants!

I want to like this nursery, really I do.
I’ve been coming here occasionally for 8 years. The staff is friendly, helpful and knowledgeable, the plant selection is good. The problem is that they are way too expensive for what they offer. I would pay $ 7 for a 4″ plant if it were rare or unusual or perhaps presented in a artful way. But the same plant can be purchased at a local big box for $ 1.99. In some cases the plants are sourced from the same wholesaler. Yes, support your local businesses but within reason.
On the whole Burkards is looking a little ragged around the edges, the displays are haphazard and there are dead (not dormant) plants in the retail area. I don’t want this nursery to go away but something needs to change.