Coffee cans, Caesalpinia pulcherrima and a pinch of greek magic.

 

Started as a small backyard business growing Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Greek immigrant Demetrios Vlachos and his son, Niko, collected coffee cans to fill with native soils and elements to create viable, nutrient-rich homes for their self-scarified seedlings. Selling and growing this stunning variety opened a world of opportunity, eventually allowing the Vlachos’ to cultivate new specimens on land they purchased nearly 10 years after managing a successful homegrown operation.

Now flourishing for over four decades, V&P is one of the largest wholesale growers local to Arizona, managing over 280 acres throughout Queen Creek and Chino Valley. The nursery grows subtropical and drought-tolerant varieties from regions across the world, supporting their adaptation to our rich desert climate in thoughtful, responsible ways. In addition to nurturing these specimens and acclimating them to our desert home, the company proudly grows an array of varieties native to Arizona, including vines, trees, shrubs, perennials, succulents, and ornamental grasses.

V&P is always in the process of developing new and unique cultivars, mindful to blend successful, established horticultural techniques with modern, sustainable new approaches. Many of the nursery’s varieties are trademark or patent pending, with new specimens on the horizon.

As it continues to expand, V&P remains focused on its core values to not only improve upon its plant product selection and quality, but remains steadfast in its commitment to the continued engagement, education and accessibility surrounding horticulture, the communities it serves and the future of the industry at large.