Andrew De La Rosa

Andrew de la Rosa sources and places rare plants through a network of growers and collectors built over years of trust. A Los Angeles native, he’s drawn to plants with age, unusual form, and a history he can trace, sometimes going back decades. His work has taken him across borders and on one-way flights in pursuit of a single specimen.

Andrew also sourced the plants at AKILA LA and hosts our regular plant sales at the store. We met up with Andrew at a friend’s greenhouse in Los Angeles to talk about the underground world of plant collecting, what makes a specimen worth pursuing, and the plants he’s still searching for.

How did plants become more than just a hobby for you? Was there a moment when it clicked?

I think when I realized I was being a part of this underground network of growers and collectors, which can only be done with years of trust and friendship. It all clicked once I finally gained access to plants that are not available at any in-person or online storefront.

What are you looking for when you’re sourcing a plant? What makes one feel special to you?

Always prioritizing rarity, shape, and how readily available they are in the States. The most special quality is age. It speaks to the years of care that has gone into this one plant. At the same time, it's important that I am able to trace its pedigree back, sometimes all the way back six decades or so.

What’s a plant you wish more people appreciated?

Bursera microphylla, or a frankincense tree. As a Los Angeles native, it's important to highlight California native plants, but it also smells incredible and is drought tolerant.

People tend to think collecting is about rarity. Do you agree, or is there something else that keeps you interested?

Yes and no, but it all depends on the category of plants. Rare bonsais are more sought after with rarity and age, yet a rare succulent may only appeal to two or three people (literally).

What’s the most memorable plant you’ve ever tracked down or moved?

Took a one-way flight to New Mexico on a sourcing trip, ending up finding a rare tree named fouquieria fasciculata growing in someone's yard, which I knew my client not only wanted but needed for his collection. It was the largest one available in the States, so I had to act fast. 26 hours later, the tree was planted at the client's home in Bel Air.

We’re surrounded by some pretty incredible specimens here. Which one has your attention today, and why?

Pseudobombax (seen in the below photo). I imported / saved these from Veracruz, Mexico three years ago from being thrown away due to road development. This one in particular is about 35 years old, its spherical shape makes it special as they are normally lumpy and not easy on the eye.

You’ve spent a lot of time in greenhouses, nurseries, and collectors’ spaces. What have plants taught you that you didn’t expect?

Even the most experienced growers have often killed hundreds, maybe even thousands, of plants themselves. It has taught me to not be so hard on myself when I overwater a plant, leading to its rot.

What are you excited to grow, find, or learn next?

Orchids.

What’s one plant in your collection you’ll probably never part with?

I bought a mini plant collection from the University of Arizona's (now defunct) botany department. In this collection is one beautiful bonsai that I had not and still have yet to see anywhere else.