Whiting Nursery originated in St. Helena in 1948 as Abbott Nursery. The nursery was owned and operated by Merle Abbott and his wife. Merle was the son of a prominent Doctor who worked at the St. Helena Hospital in Deer Park. The nursery was located on the corner of Adams St. and Railroad Ave. Merle Abbott sold the nursery to Jack Champion in 1953. Mr. Champion operated the nursery for four years at the original site under the name Champion Nursery. In 1957, he sold the nursery to David and Margaret Whiting who changed the name to Whiting Nursery.

David Whiting was Jack Champion's cousin. David and Margaret had moved to St. Helena from England where they had met while David worked as a medical technician. David worked for the nursery for a couple years before purchasing the nursery from his cousin Jack. Mr. Champion moved to Ft. Bragg in Mendocino County where he continued his career in the wholesale nursery business. David Whiting enjoyed a very prosperous career in St. Helena. He was a well respected nurseryman and loved to travel and visit other nurseries. He found time to be a City Councilman for many years. David had a popular weekly radio talk show on the local Napa Valley radio station, KVON. David retired and moved to Kansas. He passed away in July 1999.

In 1980, Whiting Nursery moved from it's Adams Street location to 900 North Crane Ave. In July, 1986 David retired from the nursery business and sold the nursery to Kevin Twohey. Mr. Whiting moved to Kansas to be near their daughter during their retirement.

Kevin earned his degree in Horticulture from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 1975. He owned and operated a commercial landscape business with his brother Mark from 1975 to 1982 in San Diego, CA. From 1983 thru 1986 Kevin worked in northeast Nevada on a cattle ranch in Elko County. Kevin decided to return to the horticulture industry, learned the nursery was for sale, and negotiated a purchase agreement in the Spring of 1986.

In November of 2004 Kevin moved the nursery to it's present location at 738 Main Street in Saint Helena. This beautiful three (3) acre site is anchored by the historic Logan/Ives residence built in 1875. The nursery grounds are beautifully landscaped under mature Oak, California Bay, and Deodar Cedar trees. A ‘barn’ houses the nursery gift shop and ‘garden pharmacy’.

Our staff prides itself in exceptional customer service and we offer the finest quality plant material and gardening products available.