Succulent plants are big business for Scott Valley family
A Siskiyou County family saw a boom in the popularity of their little products during the pandemic.
The Jopson family owns Mountain Crest Gardens, a succulent nursery with 15 acres of greenhouse space in the Scott Valley.
While they have sold succulent plants cacti and other less-prickly varieties since 1995, their online shop was inundated with orders during the pandemic, according to company president Tom Jopson, 69, and his son, vice president Matts Jopson, 36.
“We sold at least a couple million plants last year,” Matts Jopson said. “We grew by 80%, starting in April.”
Demand for the drought-tolerant easy-to-grow plants usually peaks around Mother’s Day and wanes in the fall, Matts Jopson said, but even December sales were more than twice what they were in past years.