Spadefoot Nursery is a different plant nursery. Our aim is to help you restore our habitat for wildlife. We never use pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. While most nurseries are informed by the agriculture industry, we are informed by ecology. Plants are part of a larger whole, of which we belong to. They are literally the habitat in which many organisms live. They provide nesting materials for birds and solitary bees. They are food for insects (adults and larvae). And each region of the planet has its own narrative which has evolved over millions of years. Our goal is to help restore the relationships between what is left of our local, wild fauna and flora, right down to the microbes in the soil. We encourage you to give some of your backyard back to the migrating and resident fauna that is trying to find its place in the shattered ecologies we have left behind.
Retail Location
2831 East Broadway Boulevard
Tucson, Arizona 85716
(behind Jen’s Organic Home & Baby)
(520) 909-3619
Sales@SpadefootNursery.com
ABOUT
We are a locally-owned, family business. We mostly grow plants native to the SW USA and Mexico, though we also grow some edible plants, and a few botanical curiosities. Our emphasis is growing plants that support wildlife. We never use pesticides, and grow our plants with organic plant foods.
Native plant nerd and horticulturist Peter Gierlach (Petey Mesquitey) began Spadefoot Nursery in 1996 after moving from Tucson to the Apacheria in Cochise County. For the past few years his plants have mostly been available at the Bisbee Farmers’ Market. You may have heard his radio show on KXCI called GROWING NATIVE.
In 2018, his daughter Katy and her partner Jared (a botanist and horticulturist) decided to expand the Spadefoot brand and sell plants in Tucson. Today they all collaborate to make native plants (as well as heirloom garden vegetables and herbs) available in southern Arizona. During 2018, Katy and Jared were selling plants in Tucson at pop-up sales around town. Since July of 2019, they are located in a retail space behind Jen’s Organic Home & Baby at 2831 E. Broadway Blvd. in Tucson. Spadefoot Nursery strives to be a safe and inclusive space for flora, fauna, and human alike.
MISSION
Spadefoot’s mission is more than just selling plants. Spadefoot aims to help you create a safe space in your own corner of the world for the wild to exist; whether you live in the desert, foothills, or in an urban area. We also provide heirloom vegetables and herbs.
Partners
founder and grower.
Petey is the manager of the Chihuahuan office (in Cochise County) mostly responsible for propagation, though he can sometimes be found at the Bisbee Farmers' Market
selling plants.
petey mesquitey
business manager and marketing. Daughter of Peter, Katy handles all aspects of business and sales at the Sonoran office
(Tucson, Arizona).
katy@meowmeowmedia.com
katy gierlach
grower and marketing. Son-in-law of Peter, Jared is responsible for propagation and sales in the Sonoran office (Tucson, Arizona).
sales@spadefootnursery.com
Jared Mckinley