Norrie’s Gift and Garden Shop
SHOP HOURS: 10am – 4pm
Tuesday – Sunday
This is the best time to plan and plant your garden!
In and around the Central Coast, Fall is prime planting season with cooler temperatures, autumn rains that increase soil moisture, and still-warm soils that let roots grow while top growth slows, giving plants a stronger start before spring. At Norrie’s Gift & Garden Shop we have a large selection of climate-suitable plants for you to choose from, grown right here by our talented nursery staff and volunteer propagators. You are sure to find something for every garden space — large or small, sunny or shaded.


Norrie’s Gift & Garden Shop
Featuring locally made crafts, artwork and jewelry, plus a wide variety of extraordinary plants grown on site!
Current Arboretum Members enjoy a 10% discount on gifts and plants! See our Membership Levels and the great benefits of membership plus the participating nurseries in our Garden Center Discount Program or renew now with the button below.
Check Inventory or Buy Plants Online!
Our home gardens provide critical food and habitat for our native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Norrie’s outdoor nursery is always stocked up with a great selection of plants from Mediterranean climates around the world including but not limited to:
California Natives * Australian plants * Chilean plants * South African plants * Succulents
Read our plant descriptions below or learn more at shopucscarboretum.com


Want to volunteer?
Norrie’s Gift & Garden Shop is looking for more volunteers! Working at Norrie’s is a great way to support the Arboretum while welcoming and interacting with fellow bird, plant and garden lovers from all over the world. Minimum of 2 three-hour shifts per month, 4 shifts per month preferred. All training provided on site. Visit our Volunteer page to learn more.
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All proceeds help to support the general operations of the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden.
History
Norrie’s was built in 1994 with generous donations from Elspeth Bobbs, who was an ardent supporter of all things botanical. In a 2007 NPR interview at 87 years young, she offered her world view: “I’m sorry to say, I’d prefer less people, and more gardens. Gardening is about dreams. And it doesn’t matter if the dream doesn’t come off because you’ve enjoyed the dream.” To honor Elspeth, the Arboretum & Botanic Garden named the shop after her daughter Norrie, who died in a tragic accident. Learn more and continue reading below.