At Green Thumb Nurseries we believe in providing exceptional customer service and supplying the best quality plants possible. Founded in 1959 at its current location, Green Thumb Nurseries has grown to provide plants to customers from Vancouver Island, the gulf islands, the lower mainland and beyond.
Over this time we have experienced many trends and experimented with new varieties allowing us to improve the selection we provide to our customers. We have been able to test many of our varieties thoroughly and for that reason we are continuing to grow much of the same product as we did years ago only updating existing options with those we have assessed to be better or unique.
Our History
When Gerhard and Gertrud Gerke and their young children first arrived at the property in Nanaimo now known familiarly to locals as ‘the Green Thumb property’, they were greeted with acres of forest and a three-walled shack they’d call home for the fall and winter of 1959. The family quickly started transforming the property into the well-known plant nursery site it is today and quickly moved from a table under a tree in the Gerke family’s yard to the location it currently occupies along Hammond Bay Road.
Today it’s common to hear people reminiscing about their days working on this property as a summer student, and often about how their parents also got their first jobs there. This property has been a part of so many people’s lives since the Green Thumb Nursery and the Green Thumb Garden Centre began over 60 years ago.
Our Vision
Gerhard certainly had a vision for the property (a vision that sometimes came in conflict with Gertrud’s wishes: she wanted to build a proper home for their growing family; he decided to use the money for finishing that home to instead finish expanding the nursery’ terraces! )
At the heart of Gerhard's vision was the desire to contribute to his community and help people find joy in their surroundings and we are honored to continue that mission into 2025 and beyond.
We are now the caretakers of both a thriving Nursery and Wholesale business as well as a constantly evolving Garden Centre that we hope to leave to our own children one day.
Jarrett and Kyle Gerke