Exploring Life & Business with Edward Bonilla of Bonilla Nurseries

Today we’d like to introduce you to Edward Bonilla.

Hi Edward, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In 2017, a close friend of mine, Taurino Ruiz, reached out and asked if I’d be interested in helping expand sales for his nursery. At the time, I was working a full-time marketing job and saw it as an opportunity to earn some extra cash on the side. As I began making sales and learning more about the business, I quickly realized there was so much more potential than I imagined.

The more involved I became, the more I started to see an opportunity to build something of my own. In 2018, I decided to invest in myself and take the next step. I bought a van for $800 and a trailer for $500 and began operating independently as a plant broker, which ultimately became the foundation for Bonilla Nurseries.

At the time, I was still working my full-time marketing job, so for a while I was essentially living two lives. I would wake up at 3 or 4 in the morning to make deliveries before the day started, keeping a change of clothes in the back of my van. After unloading trees and finishing the morning routes, I would park the trailer, change in the van, and head straight to my 9-to-5 job.

My marketing job became extremely demanding, so I took a step back from the nursery business. When the pandemic hit, my brother Warren took an interest in the industry, which pulled me back in (full-time now), and so we joined forces to grow Bonilla Nurseries. He later took an interest in the landscape side while I continued to pursue the nursery.

I spent countless days and nights sending emails, making cold calls, reaching out to whoever would listen, and meeting people face-to-face which has allowed me to build relationships and put my name out there.

In January of 2026, I had the opportunity to expand the business to over 40 acres in Camarillo, California. That expansion allowed me to significantly increase production while maintaining quality to better serve a growing client base across the West Coast.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it definitely has not been a smooth road. Once I walked away from the safety net of my 9-to-5 paycheck, everything was on me. There was no backup plan. No guaranteed income. Just my van and the sales I could bring in. There were times when business was painfully slow, but I was willing to do whatever it took to keep going. I personally delivered trees out of state and took deals with super tight margins because, to me, every single sale meant I could still pay bills and keep building toward something bigger.

I quickly realized I didn’t want to be just another broker buying from other people and selling. I wanted to build something real, a nursery of my own, but when you’re starting with very little, it can feel almost impossible. Eventually, I found a small plot of land at a price I honestly could not afford, but I took the risk anyway. It was terrifying, but I believed in what I was building more than I feared failing. I slowly began to build stronger relationships, earn trust from clients, and reach a wider clientele. Just when I would begin to gain a little bit of momentum, I would get hit with break-ins, and what felt like setback after setback. Instead of letting these setbacks break me, they fueled me and gave me even more reason to work harder and eventually build something that I could be proud of.

What helped me overcome the struggles I faced was the hard work, resilience, and grit that were instilled in me from a very young age. I grew up watching my parents work tirelessly and sacrifice so much to provide for me and my brother. Seeing that level of dedication left a lasting impression on me and shaped the way I approach obstacles today.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Bonilla Nurseries is a tree nursery focused on helping homeowners, landscapers, and developers create privacy and enhance outdoor spaces through high-quality trees. While we carry a variety of specimen trees, our bread and butter is Ficus Nitida. Our Ficus Nitida inventory ranges from 5 feet tall up to 50 feet tall, and we offer delivery services to clients across the West Coast

What sets Bonilla Nurseries apart is that, although we now operate on a larger scale, our mission has remained the same: quality over quantity. We are specialists in what we do. Rather than trying to be everything to everyone, we’ve chosen to focus primarily on Ficus Nitida so we can offer a level of consistency, knowledge, and care that sets us apart. We hand-grow, maintain, and carefully select every tree before it is delivered to our customers, which allows us to stand behind the quality of what we provide.

We now have a team that cares for our trees every day, but I am still personally involved in production, quality control, and sales. That hands-on involvement has always been important to me because I want every client to feel confident in what they’re purchasing. We care about the overall experience, not just the sale, and we want our clients to be happy with their trees long after delivery.

What I’m most proud of, brand-wise, is that I’ve been able to build Bonilla Nurseries into a reputable and trusted business in a highly competitive industry. We’ve carved out our place in the market by focusing on quality, maintaining strong relationships, and providing a level of service that feels personal.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
I grew up in North Hollywood, so the San Fernando Valley is my home. I always appreciate the ethnic diversity and how much culture the city has. Not necessarily a dislike, but I would like to see more greenery around our city, especially with all of the new construction we’re seeing.

Pricing:

• pricing information is available on our website

Contact Info:

• Website: https://BonillaNurseries.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonillanurseries/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bonilla.nurseries.1/
• Twitter: https://x.com/boninurseries
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@bonillanurseries
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/bonilla-nurseries-camarillo

Image Credits
Michelle Fernandez
Delmy Franco