Mission Santa Cruz Agriculture: Grapes, Fruits, Vegetables, Herbs, and Flowers

Mission Santa Cruz (founded 1791) maintained extensive gardens and orchards to support its community. Crops included:

Fruits

• Grapes (wine, raisins)
• Apples, pears, peaches, plums, cherries, figs

Vegetables

• Corn, beans, squash (Three Sisters)
• Onions, garlic, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers

Herbs

• Basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, mint, sage

Flowers

• Roses, lilies, daffodils, irises, tulips, sunflowers

These plants provided food, medicine, sacramental wine, and aesthetic value, blending Old World imports with New World staples.