Our Story
Back in 1949, Burt Sperber used to work part-time at the MG Nursery located in North Hollywood, CA.
After owner Mossimo Giannulli died, his widow sold the nursery to the 19-year-old Sperber, who bought it with his father for $700 in 1949.
Benefiting from the post-World War II building boom in Southern California, Sperber’s privately held company grew steadily as it did landscaping for residential developments, schools, and freeways.
Burt Sperber
Burt Sperber worked part-time at MG Nursery North Hollywood
Burt Sperber purchased MG Nursery and renamed it ValleyCrest
Burt’s decision to step down from the leadership role in 2001 allowed his son, Richard, to lead the company on a new journey.
ValleyCrest merged with another national landscape company and Richard retired.
Richard Sperber created Sperber Landscape Companies.
Sperber, headquartered in Westlake Village, CA serves as the parent company to a growing list of landscaping partners across the country, including Sperber Landscape Services
Residential middle-class homes with picket fences in North Hollywood, CA in 1950
He renamed the nursery to ValleyCrest and devoted the next five decades of his life to building it into the largest landscape services company in the United States, relying on his passion and hard work.
In spite of Burt’s success as founder and chairman of the nation’s largest landscape services company, Burt preferred to be called the “head gardener.”
Burt Sperber (left)
ValleyCrest is a well-known company for their iconic landscaping projects such as Atlantis Resort, L.A.’s Getty Center, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Leisure World. The Sperber Family, through ValleyCrest, has pioneered many landscaping techniques and products that are still being used today. For almost 50 years, the company has been involved in various landscape projects.
After mentoring his son Richard for years, Burt’s decision to step down from the leadership role in 2001 allowed his son to lead the company on a new journey toward growth and success under his leadership.
Richard rejects the notion that landscaping is a numbers game focused solely on profits. Drawing from a lifetime of experience and industry wisdom, he insists that “doing right” by employees and clients is the true path to success. For him, cultivating loyal teams and lasting relationships has always taken priority over financials.
Richard Sperber
Sperber attributes his achievements to the patient nurturing of talent, open communication, and a genuine passion for the landscaping business. Focusing on Sperber’s core values of integrity, relationships, and craft rather than just the financials paints a more engaging perspective on his leadership philosophy.
As CEO, Richard spearheaded national expansion, growing it to become one of the largest landscaping companies in America. Following a merger with another national landscape company in 2014, Richard retired but soon re-entered the industry he knew so well.
After five years of retirement, Richard felt inspired to carry on his father’s legacy. He embarked on a mission to construct a new abode for individuals who are passionate about landscaping. In 2019, Richard united a team of the industry’s top talent and created Sperber. Richard says, “As long as I have great people working with me, there is really no limit to how fast we grow.”
Sperber, headquartered in Westlake Village, CA, serves as the parent company to an expanding list of premier landscaping partners across the nation. Through these partners, Sperber provides top-notch landscaping services and a corporate culture that honors the hard work and skill of its employees.
Sperber is the continuation of a legacy that originated in 1949 — a heritage of excellence in landscaping and the legacy of a family that is still growing.
