Deep Roots About Us

WELCOME to Deep Roots Garden Center, the South Bay's premier destination for native plants and water-wise gardening.

The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) plant hardiness map divides North America into 11 hardiness zones, each of which represents an area of winter hardiness for agricultural and garden plants. Zone 1 is the coldest; zone 11 is the warmest, a tropical area found only in Hawaii, coastal Southern California and southernmost Florida. Zone 11 represents areas that have average annual minimum temperatures above 40 F (4.4 C) and are therefore essentially frost free. That means us! We who live along the coastal strip of the South Bay live in zone 11 and as such we can grow a wide variety of plants and flowers year round without fear of losing plants to frost (most years at least... there are always exceptions).

Sunset Zones versus USDA Zones

Gardeners in the western United States sometimes are confused when confronted with the 11 Hardiness Zones created by the USDA , because we are used to a 24-zone climate system created 40 years ago by Sunset Magazine. The Sunset zone maps, which cover 13 Western states, are much more precise than the USDA's, since they factor in not only winter minimum temperatures, but also summer highs, lengths of growing seasons, humidity, and rainfall patterns. Together these provide a more accurate picture of what will grow here.

If you live in the western U.S., you'll find that nurseries, garden centers, and other western gardeners usually refer to the Sunset climate zones rather than the USDA plant hardiness zones. In fact, the Sunset zones and maps are what are listed for each plant in Sunset's Western Garden Book and Western Garden CD-ROM, which are considered the standard gardening references in the West.

However, the USDA zones are still of importance to western gardeners, since the USDA zones are used in the rest of the country. When you read general garden books, you need to know your USDA zone in order to be able to interpret references correctly.

Plants we can grow...

Because of our milder climate and low rainfall averages many plants that grow well in other parts of the country will not do well here. Some plants and fruit trees require a dormant period during the winter in order to thrive. Dormancy only takes place in cold temperatures, and for some plants our winters are simply not cold enough.

Soil type plays an important role also. In some South bay areas the soil is sandy and fast draining, other parts are adobe clay and slow to drain. Low rainfall, and the use of chlorinated irrigation water from hose pipes means that our soil is highly alkaline. Many plants need a more acid soil than is found in our gardens.

One of the main reasons that plants we love do not thrive in our gardens is that they are not matched with temperature requirements, soil type, water requirements or shade requirements. We are now faced with water restrictions in the Western United States. This means that we are required to grow plants that need less water. There are hundreds of beautiful plants that fall into this category and we at Deep Roots are dedicated to providing you with plants that not only will grow well in our particular growing conditions but that also are beautiful, lush and long lasting.

What we can do for you...

The staff at Deep Roots have lived and gardened in the South Bay for over two decades in all soil types. We have hands-on experience of what will grow and thrive here and what will not. Sure we could sell you a wide variety of plants like other nurseries in the area do.. plants that are not really suited to the sun, the sea air and limited water, but we prefer to offer you a wide choice of plants that will actually grow here and not die out within 6 weeks of getting into the ground... Save yourself a lot of money and a lot of work replacing plants time and time again by consulting us first about which plants will grow well in your particular garden space. You may not be able to grow everything you want, here in the South Bay but we can help to achieve the look you want with the judicious use of carefully selected plants.

If you love the edgy modern look of sculptural plants and succulents consult our nursery experts Jon and C.J. who have grown a wide variety of these plants in their gardens and on their decks.

If it's trees you are interested in or are having problems with consult our resident arborist Jermaine.

If you love English Cottage gardens, many of the plants you see growing in the misty moisty and mild climate of England will not grow here. However consult our resident English gardener Barbara, who has lived here for 27 years and has succeeded in creating an English garden right here in the South Bay using water-wise plants and strategic placement.

All of the plants pictured on this page are water-wise plants and enjoy dry conditions. The three plants at the top of the page like full sun, and three at the bottom like shade.

Whatever your requirements the staff at Deep Roots are dedicated to providing the right plant for the right space. We live here and garden here and we care deeply about our region and our neighbors. We want you to succeed in your garden ventures. Come and see us, ask us anything related to gardening. If we don't know the answer we will find it out for you and let you know.