Adarna Plant Co. is run by Kathleen and Avi Penhollow — Kathleen sources and grows the plants, Avi builds the site and the systems behind it.
Kathleen wasn’t always a plant person. Like most people, she liked having them around — but it wasn’t until she started growing her own that it turned into something closer to a passion. Before that, she was already running an online-selling business, the one that eventually grew into Ilocos Emporium, of which Adarna is now a part.
Kathleen is originally from San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, in the Philippines. She moved to Hawaii almost a decade ago, which is where she and Avi met. A stretch in Missouri followed — Avi was working on his doctorate in education — before a family event brought them to Southern California. Then came a new baby, and life changed the way it does: Kathleen stayed home, and somewhere in that new rhythm, plants became the thing that filled the space and sparked something real.
These days, Avi says he’ll sometimes find Kathleen just standing in front of her plants early in the morning or late at night — quietly checking on them, or just looking. He jokes that he’s not sure if he or the plants come first anymore. (He’s kidding. Mostly.)
Avi isn’t Filipino himself, but he cares deeply about language and culture, and wants their son to grow up proud of his Ilocano heritage. He’s put his own research and design background to work building the systems behind Adarna, in support of what Kathleen started.
The name comes from the Ibong Adarna, a Filipino folk epic about a bird whose song could cure what nothing else could. We didn’t inherit the name from tradition — we chose it, because it felt right for what we’re trying to do here.
The house has grown, too. Kathleen’s mom and dad now live with them, and work alongside the Adarna team — three generations under one roof, plants included.
Three generations, plants included.
Most of our rare plants sell during Kathleen’s live shows on Palmstreet — real-time, first-come, and often gone in minutes. Follow along to see new imports as they arrive and catch the next show — find us there as adarnaplantco.
The Care Guides are where we’ve put our energy first so far: real knowledge from actually growing these plants, written to help yours thrive too.