About GDNC Cactus & Desert Plant Nursery
specializing in cactus and desert plants
Family-owned and operated, GDNC Cactus & Desert Plant Nursery has been serving the Coachella Valley for over a decade. Armed with a friendly and knowledgeable staff, GDNC Nursery takes pride in its quality inventory, unique exotic plants, and a ranch-like atmosphere away from the city but still within a 20-minute drive of most cities in the Coachella Valley.
Our nursery was originally founded to fulfill landscaping needs. From its very inception, the focus of the nursery was to select and care for plants that were suited to the hot and dry climate of the Coachella Valley. With many of our plants being acclimated here for years, you can always buy with confidence.
large nursery with wide selection of plants
Tip: While purchasing your plants, you can also conveniently order for them to get delivered, planted, and watered automatically (irrigated) via our expert staff.
The founder, Ernesto Gutierrez, started the nursery by growing agaves, aloes, cacti, and desert blooming plants based on his decades of landscaping expertise in the Palm Springs area. The nursery grew over the years, and now also includes a wide selection of succulents, citrus trees, desert trees, desert shrubs, yuccas, palm trees, and more in its vast 15 acre property.
SCENIC location in the Coachella valley
Tip: You could easily spend hours browsing this beautiful nursery. Come visit and take in the views of the mountains and iconic windmills, and even spot animals like our neighbor's camel on your way to our entrance as well as our guinea hens and roosters.
Ernesto’s plan is to continue to expand the nursery and to share his knowledge on beautiful, water-conscious, and easy-to-maintain landscaping for those in Southern California and beyond.
Questions for Ernesto
How did you get into landscaping?
I started landscaping in 1981 after I moved to Coachella Valley from Chicago. I worked for someone else, quickly learned, and rose up the ranks. I loved my job because I loved working in the outdoors and especially with mother nature. I felt a strong connection to the plants.
The practical side of it was that I barely spoke English, and had little to no computer or technical knowledge, so working with nature was something that I could do. I was grateful to be given the opportunity.
How has landscaping in the Palm Springs area changed?
Tropical plants were much more popular than drought-tolerant plants and desert landscaping. It seemed that everyone wanted lush grass and a tropical yard.
Although demand for tropical landscaping hasn’t gone away by any means, desert landscaping really took off lately. The recent water restrictions and the rising awareness of water conservation among people in the desert area really accelerated the shift towards the desert landscaping trend in Palm Springs and the surrounding desert.
What's your favorite part of your job?
Payday. And of course, I'm not the one getting paid since I’m the owner. I'm the one that's paying my employees! I love to be able to help them secure a living and provide for their families. In fact, some of them have been here for twenty-plus years. Anyway, ever since I can remember, my dream was to create jobs for people.
the Team’s Favorite plants
We asked a few of our team members what their favorite plant was. Here are their answers.
“San Pedro Cactus. It blooms beautifully, and even in the shade. Also, it's resistant to both heat and cold.” - Ernesto Gutierrez, Founder and CEO
“Mexican Fence Post because of its colors. I love the contrast between the white and the green.” - Melissa Gutierrez, Vice President
“Agave Blue Glow. It has a beautiful form and red outline. I also like that it reminds me of San Diego, where I used to live.” - Calvin Valdovinos, Nursery Manager
“Agave Truncata (Artichoke Agave) for its unique shape and color.”- Jessica Chhin, Office Manager
