Nursery crawl in Mount Shasta: Spring Hill Nursery

My mother-in-law lives in Mount Shasta, a small town at the base of the 14,179 ft. volcano of the same name, about 40 miles south of the Oregon border. On a recent visit, we did something I hadn’t done in a long time: we went on a nursery crawl. Well, “crawl” might be a bit of an exaggeration, seeing how there are just two nurseries in town. However, considering that greater Mount Shasta City has a population of barely 4,000, it’s actually quite amazing that it can sustain two independent nurseries. The fact that Mount Shasta attracts a diverse range of people, from outdoor enthusiasts to spiritual seekers and believers in Bigfoot and other mythical beings, and has the highest real estate values in the region may have something to do with it.

In contrast, Davis has a population of 66,000 and one of the best public universities in California, and all we have is one small independent nursery and an even smaller Ace Hardware garden center, both with limited selections. 

Location of Mount Shasta vs. Davis/Sacramento. The distance is 170 miles.

Our first destination was Spring Hill Nursery, established in 1997 on two acres adjacent to Mount Shasta City Park (which, coincidentally, is where the headwaters of the Sacramento River are located).

The beefiest carts I’ve ever seen at a nursery

Haha, so true!

One thing I noticed immediately were the colorful display beds. Every nursery has them, but here they’re beautifully integrated into a park-like setting. This is the kind of place you come to when you’re stressed and need to unwind.

Located at an elevation of 3,600 ft., with the mountain rising another 11,000 ft. above it, Mount Shasta City is in zone 7b/8a according to the 2023 USDA Hardiness Zone Map. That corresponds to average annual minimum winter temperatures of 5 to 15°F. The inventory at Spring Hill Nursery reflects that; some plants that would be perennials in our zone 9b climate are sold as annuals.

Abutilons are borderline in zone 7b but worth a try

Sold as annuals here, perennials where I live

Perennials that apparently thrive in Mount Shasta but would die a quick death in Davis:

This is one of those plants I have only seen in photos. It's a Pulmonaria (thank you for the ID, unknown reader).

A wilder ginger (Asarum) from Little Prince of Oregon Nursery

I know sempervivums are dime a dozen in many places, but to me, they’re exotic because they’re so challenging to grow in our hot-summer climate.

Perennials

Conifers, in a park-like setting

If I ever lived in a zone 7 climate, this is what I’d grow

I wouldn’t be mad if this chair-and-table set magically appeared in our backyard

Trees sitting on the ground like in somebody’s backyard

The cutting garden is one of several demonstration areas

This alien figure made me chuckle. Mount Shasta is a hotbed for alien conspiracy theories (more info). There are plenty of TV episodes and some movies about aliens and even an entire vanished race living in caverns below Mount Shasta. Here’s a 2021 movie called Illuminate, free on Tubi. Watch at your own risk, but at least you get to see the mountain.

I didn’t know all the plants in the display beds, but alien they weren’t

There was a small section with plants that deer apparently aren’t fond of, but this sign says it all

Wild carrot or Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota) may be a weed to some, but look at how beautiful it can be

I love the flowers — little balls unfolding

This espaliered apple tree...

...looks like it’s been here for a year or two

My MIL’s plant haul

And yes, there is a view of the mountain from the nursery

Spring Hill Nursery is located at 1234 Nixon Road in Mount Shasta. It’s open daily, from spring to fall, from 9 am to 6 pm. Visit their website for more information, including a calendar of events. It looks like the nursery is a very active hub, not just for gardeners, but for the community at large. Stop by if you ever find yourself in Mount Shasta!

After we were done at Spring Hill Nursery, we headed to the second Mount Shasta nursery, Native Grounds Nursery. Click here to read my post.

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