Historical Marker · No. 434
Site of "City Gardens" Nursery of Louis Pellier
San Jose, Santa Clara County · California
Erected by the State Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with the San Jose Historic Landmarks Commission, 1977
The bronze gives Louis Pellier the prune and his brothers a supporting line, but Pierre did the carrying. He sailed back to France and returned in December 1856 with about 500 pounds of scions and seed, the prune cuttings, the story goes, pushed into potatoes to stay moist. Louis grafted them onto native plum stock and handed cuttings to other growers, and the orchards followed. By 2012 a printed city sign stood on the cleared lot. The park rebuilt in 2023 set the 1977 bronze back up, near a living d'Agen tree descended from the Pelliers' stock.
What the plaque says
Site of "City Gardens" Nursery of Louis Pellier Pellier, native of France, and founder of California's prune industry, came to California in 1849. In October 1850, he established a nursery called "City Gardens" on this site. Here, aided by his brothers Pierre and Jean, he introduced the French prune, "La Petite d'Agen", during the winter of 1856-57. California Registered Historical Landmark No. 434 Plaque placed by the State Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with the San Jose Historic Landmarks Commission, November 29, 1977.
Where it stands
37.33773, -121.89591 · Directions
More markers nearby
- Luis María Peralta Adobe — steps away
- St. Joseph's Catholic Church — 0.4 mi
- United States Post Office — 0.4 mi
- Site of World's First Broadcasting Station — 0.4 mi