CLOSED - due to COVID-19 virus
The Chico Seed Orchard (CSO) is located on 209 acres, in Chico, Calif. There you will find the Comanche Trail, a one mile self-guiding nature trail that meanders through a unique botanical area in Edgar Slough. Some of the plants along the trail are remnants of exotic species that were planted when this was a Plant Introduction Center. The CSO is located at 2741 Cramer Lane and is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Development started in 1904 when the site was assigned to the Agricultural Research Service for the purpose of plant breeding research and plant introduction from all over the world. The facility was originally named the Plant Introduction Station. Two of the station's early accomplishments included introducing the pistachio in 1917 and the kiwi in 1934. The "mother" and "father" kiwi are still at the CSO and are the oldest producing kiwi in the country.