Theodore Payne Foundation

Our California Native Plant Landscaper Certificate Program (CNPLC) is a job-training program for landscape professionals developed and taught by highly respected native plant experts. Designed with the professional —and the aspiring professional— in mind, this four-week course is offered...

On any given day, the Theodore Payne Nursery in Sun Valley offers 500-600 different native plant species and cultivars, along with expert advice. The nursery is open year round and most plants we sell are grown on site. Visit the Potting Station for ceramic containers, our custom potting soil and decorative...

Classes and workshops for adults are held in our Education Center and various locations in the L.A. area. Topics include native plant horticulture, garden design, maintenance, plant ID and propagation; lawn alternatives; birds, bees, butterflies and other garden wildlife; native foods; and much more!...

Theodore Payne Foundation's Living Collection includes the native plants in our demonstration gardens and nursery, as well as plants grown in containers as mother stock. The Living Collection provides visitors with beautiful and inspiring examples of California's native flora and are also planted...

The Theodore Payne Foundation offers field trips and classes for K-12 students. For more information, contact info@theodorepayne.org

Propagation is the heart of Theodore Payne Foundation. Behind the scenes, our production team grows more than 75,000 plants each year from cuttings and divisions from our mother stock, as well as from seed, bulbs and purchased "starts."

Our propagation crew includes four full-time...

Theodore Payne Foundation's Seed & Bulb Program builds genetic diversity in the urban environment by providing native seed and bulbs to home gardeners, researchers, school gardens, education programs, community groups, and for restoration efforts, as well as through propagation in our own nursery...

The Theodore Payne Foundation store sells books for adults and children, garden tools, t-shirts, hats, and more than 200 species of California native plant seed, including dozens of beautiful spring wildflowers. Visit our website for online sales through our e-store at theodorepayne.org.

The non-profit Theodore Payne Foundation was established in 1960 to carry on the work of Theodore Payne, a pioneering nurseryman who opened his first business in 1903 in downtown Los Angeles, selling California native plants, seed and bulbs.