The Vivero Difference
Something we hear a lot here at Vivero Growers from our customers is that they love our plants because they “do so well”. We hear it all the time. We appreciate hearing this but also it is not surprising. Here at Vivero Growers Nursery, we grow the majority of our perennials, shrubs and succulents here at our nursery.
Why is that important?
It means that most of these plants have “grown up” here. Whether we start them from a cutting, seed or liner, our team cares for them from day one.
This gives them a huge advantage when they leave our nursery and go to your home. Planted in the right conditions- soil, irrigation needs and sun, they are destined to shine.
Locally Grown Matters
Have you ever bought a beautiful perennial from a grocery store or big box store and have it crash soon after planting? Imagine buying what you thought was a Texas native, only to come home and find out it isn’t. Or worse, being sold the wrong plant entirely (ouch, the number of people that have told us they were sold the wrong Pride of Barbados variety). These sadly are typical results when you are buying from places that don’t know what they are selling. Knowledge and experience is how we have accumulated so many of our loyal customers.
Most people don’t realize that plants from grocery stores or big-box chains often spend days in dark trucks traveling from controlled environment greenhouses. They are grown in perfect conditions. These plants are never exposed to our harsh Central Texas climate. By the time they hit the shelf, the plants experience heavy stress as they come off the fertilizer “IV” which keeps them looking perfect upon arrival.
Because we operate a working nursery and not just a retail storefront, professional growers constantly watch over our plants. The entire team is dedicated to making sure that our plants grow healthy and thrive.
At Vivero Growers, we do things differently. In the video above, you can see how we propagate our Four Nerve Daisy from right here on our property.
Why Austin Grown Plants Win:
True Acclimation: Our perennials breathe Austin air and drink our water from day one. They don’t go into “shock” when you plant them in your yard because they are already home.Quality Control: Because we manage the entire lifecycle—from cutting to sale—we maintain a rigorous standard of health that big-box stores simply can’t match. Healthy roots and thriving plants.
We use integrated pest management. What does that mean? It means we introduce thousands of beneficial insects to protect against garden pests. When you pick up a plant at our nursery it has not been sprayed with dangerous chemicals days or hours before you put it in your shopping cart.
Expert Selection: We propagate what thrives in our specific Hill Country soil and heat. If it’s in our nursery, it’s earned its spot. We also grow countless other perennials that are acclimated to the area and thrive here.
We Sell What Does Well
There are so many beautiful plants that we see in magazines and when we go to other cities. Wouldn’t it be great if we could grow all those here? But you can’t. There are a few plants that you COULD if you really worked at it (Azaleas and Gardenias to name a few that we get a lot of requests for). Yes, you CAN but with a lot of work.
Our recipe is simple. We focus on plants that do well here with simple care. Plant it in the right soil, check the drainage, give it the required light and meet it’s watering needs. This works. It is easier on you the gardener and homeowner as well as easier on the plants. If it is a good product for us, it is a good plant for you.
Texas natives are an obvious, but you do need to be mindful of where in Texas they are native. Texas is a big place. Keep that in mind. Having said that, Salvia greggii and Gregg’s mistflower are two tried and true popular choices for butterfly gardens as well as tough plants in the landscape. The Pride of Barbados is not a Texas native but is well acclimated to the area and thrives here. We grow these from seed that is collected from our plants that have been here for over 14 years.
Plant plants from Vivero Growers Nursery. Your garden will thank you!
