In San Diego and Beyond...

Planning your visit

You might easily spend a week or more touring San Diego's terrific succulent nurseries and destinations. Each has a distinct character, so as you winnow your selection, do read the descriptions and watch the videos.

Larger (multi-acre) nurseries tend to be east or north of downtown because land is more affordable away from coastal and urban areas. Due to unpaved paths and hot sun, wear a hat, sunscreen and closed-toed shoes. Bring drinking water.

Small specialty growers may charge to give a tour (especially if they're one-person operations), but the fee can usually be applied to purchases.

Some may close close during heat waves, high winds or rainy weather. Also, if it says "by appointment only" and you don't call first...well...you may be greeted by large barking dogs and a locked gate.

Hours and days of operation change, so visit websites or social media pages before heading out.

If a nursery isn't set up for shipping and you're unable to transport plants, box and ship them to yourself as cuttings (no soil). Agricultural regulations may require a phytosanitary certificate.

Check this page often. More are continually being added, thanks to a surging demand and ideal climate. And occasionally, some close.

Headed farther north? Scroll down for beyond-San Diego destinations.

* Those with an asterisk are must-sees if you...

• have limited time
• want an hour or more of memorable exploring
• prefer a location that's easy to find
• have a companion indifferent to succulents but likely to enjoy a great setting with lots to see.

Looking for a particular plant?

If you find that nurseries listed here don't answer their phones or return calls, it's probably because they're understaffed and can barely keep up with walk-in traffic.

A work-around is to consult a succulent personal shopper. Tari Colbry, for example, frequently visits retail and wholesale nurseries and growers and knows what they carry.

San Diego Nurseries and Destinations

Kindly tell nursery managers or owners that Debra sent you!

In or near downtown San Diego

-- Pigment floral boutique and design shop, three locations: North Park, Pt. Loma and Del Mar. Clientele are urban professionals who love plants but have very little space for gardening. Known for succulent terrariums and a plant-your-own potting bar. See my video: Visit Pigment, San Diego's Chic Succulent Boutique 

*-- SD Cactus & Succulent Society Club meetings are free and open to the public, generally on the second Saturday of each month, 1 to 4 pm, Room 101, Casa del Prado, Balboa Park. Semiannual shows and sales: winter, 2^nd weekend in Feb; summer, 1^st weekend in June. On this site: Where to Find Rare Succulents. On YouTube, see my CSSA playlist.

--Scripps Coral Reef Garden, 8755 Biological Grade, La Jolla. This tucked-away, streetside installation within sight of the ocean is planted with succulents that resemble undersea flora. Located on the Scripps Institute of Oceanography campus in front of the Eckart Building. On weekends, park next to the Naga Entrance to the campus or along La Jolla Shores Drive. On weekends, park at the Birch Aquarium and walk down (Note: going back up is strenuous!)

-- Public garden along the canyon east of Balboa Park, adjacent to Park Blvd. & Zoo.

East County

-- Hunter’s nursery, 3110 Sweetwater Rd., Lemon Grove. Family-owned for 50 years; full-service nursery.

-- Public garden: Water Conservation Garden 12122 Cuyamaca College Dr. West. Display gardens and waterwise landscaping ideas.

-- Planter Paradise. 1146 East Chase Avenue, El Cajon; 619/440-6563. Huge inventory of imported pots at bargain prices. Small on-site succulent nursery.

 

North County inland

Bonsall

*-- Waterwise Botanicals, 32151 Old Hwy 395. Manager: Tom Jesch. Extensive selection of succulents and low-water plants mainly for in-ground gardens and landscapes. Good aloe source. Lovely display gardens. Look for catfish and turtles in the two ponds. Site of the original Succulent Celebration, and more recently "Free Succulent Saturdays" that have a festive air, with food trucks and vendors. Now open daily.

 

Escondido

-- Desert Theater, 9655 Kiwi Meadow Lane. Nine acres of landscape succulents and thousands of large specimens. Go midwinter when the aloes bloom. BY APPOINTMENT ONLY: call owner Brandon Bullard, 760/594-2330. Mainly wholesale, so if possible, bring your landscape designer. See my videos: Discover Large Landscape Succulents  and Spectacular Aloes in Flower

-- Oasis Water Efficient Gardens, 10816 Reidy Canyon Trail. Outstanding selection of succulents for containers and small gardens. Owned by Altman Plants, the largest grower of succulents and cacti in the US (they supply Lowe’s & Home Depot). The location is rural and the signage faded; getting lost trying to find Oasis is a rite of passage. Go north on N. Broadway and turn left on Reidy Canyon Trail. Ahead is a gate that goes into Altman's growing grounds. Just before you get to it, turn right onto a lane that leads through another gate into the retail nursery. Manager: Carmen Contreras. Closed Sunday and Monday. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 8 am to 2 pm. I sourced these articles (among others) at Oasis:

• Echeveria Bonanza at Oasis
• Dwarf Aloes Perfect for Pots
• How to Pick Succulents for Special Pots 
• Red & Pink Aeoniums: Varieties and Care

*-- Public garden: San Diego Zoo Safari Park, 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road (35 mi. north of the San Diego Zoo). Baja and Old World Succulent gardens are proudly tended by C&SS volunteers. See 200 species of succulents and the largest collection of boojum trees outside of habitat. Aloes blaze in midwinter in the park's Africa section. On this site, see: South African Succulents at the Safari Park   and my corresponding video on YouTube.

-- Hidden Agave nursery. Horticulturist Jeremy Spath offers collectible, desirable Agave species and hybrids via mail and at his home nursery by appointment. More on this site: See Hidden Agave Nursery's Rare Agaves. Also on YouTube.

 

Fallbrook

-- Rare Succulents. Collectible, greenhouse-grown cacti and succulents cultivated with German precision by renowned succulent horticulturist Petra Crist. By appointment, 562/618-7250. Shipping available. See my video.

-- Rojas Succulents. 2005 E. Alvarado; 760/271-4962. Closed Sunday. Carlos, son of founder Rosalina Rojas, manages the 1-1/2 acre specialty nursery. Known for uncommon garden succulents, variegates and collectible rarities. See my article Rojas Succulents Nursery Tour and video.

-- Silverthorn Ranch, 1826 Alturas Rd. Owner Wayne Loomis' family has grown cactus in CA since 1942. He now has eight different growing grounds on 50 acres with 200,000 square feet of greenhouses. Silverthorn is known for Yucca rostrata 'Blue Velvet', giant Dracaena draco, golden barrels, rare aloes and Arizona saguaros. The nursery is wholesale, but "we will entertain wholesale to the public by appointment," Wayne says. Call or text him at 760/535-9824.

 

Ramona

-- Peter Walkowiak, PW Plants Exotic Plant Sales & Landscape Design. 404 Lor Lar Lane. Seed-grown caudiciforms, unusual succulents and cacti. Peter is a legend in the C&SS for his tireless service and award-winning, rare and collectible specimens. BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Call first: 858/382-1797. See my video.

 

Rancho Santa Fe

-- Rancho Soledad Nursery, 18539 Aliso Canyon Rd., Rancho Santa Fe. Wholesale. Twenty-five acres of succulents and tropicals for garden beds and landscapes.  Known for aloes and agaves.

San Marcos

-- Green Thumb Nursery, 1019 W San Marcos Blvd.; 760/744-3822. Open daily. This large garden center has the best selection in North County of ceramic, glazed and terracotta pots of all sizes. Green Thumb, which also has locations in Lake Forest, Ventura, Canoga Park and Santa Clarita, is a good general source of well-tended ornamental plants for gardens and landscapes, from trees to groundcovers; plus tools, supplies, fountains and furniture. Occasional succulent events.

-- Javier Flowers & Garden, 1970 N. Twin Oaks Valley Rd.; 760/591-0271. Open daily. Maria and Javier have long been my go-to for cut flowers and flowering perennials. Recently this mom-and-pop florist-nursery on 11 acres has beefed up their inventory of easy-care succulents perfect for landscapes. Good selection and prices.

Vista

-- Botanic Wonders nursery. Online sales; open to the public by appointment (760) 519-9987. Founders Al Klein and Anthony Neubauer specialize in odd, rare and collectible cacti, caudiciforms, succulent bonsai, and fat-trunked trees. See my YouTube tour and the article/gallery on this site. 

-- DR Cactus, 1850 Warmlands Ave., Vista; (760) 402-2551, cactuscarrasco@gmail.com. David and Rosa Carrasco offer an extensive selection of succulents. People assume it’s “Doctor Cactus” but DR is their initials. 8 to 4:30 M-F, Sat. 8 to 3:30; closed Sunday.

-- Fairview Nursery and Botanical Gardens, off Fairview Lane in East Vista. By appointment; contact owner Josh Allen, 760/505-0457. Rare, colorful Aloe species and cycads; hybrids by Josh; large greenhouse of cactus and succulent rarities (most in 4-inch pots). See my video of the nursery and the article/gallery on this site.

-- Gardens by the Sea, 1315 Tower Dr., Vista. By appointment; call (760) 840-0270. Vast selection of low-water landscape plants on 4-1/2 acres. Primarily wholesale, but retail visitors can get bargains. Horticulturist-owner-landscaper-nurseryman Mike Hirsch probably can track down what you're looking for. For decades Mike owned and operated a popular nursery with the same name in Leucadia. This location is approx. 30% succulents. No pots nor garden accessories.

-- Grigsby Cactus Gardens, 2326-2354 Bella Vista Dr; 760/727-1323. Closed Sun-Mon.; open 9 to 1:30 Tues-Sat. Collectible cacti and succulents. Mostly mail order. Arguably the oldest succulent specialty nursery in the San Diego area. Grigsby has seen better days, yet is worth visiting to see large in-ground specimens and to shop for unusual plants and rarities in the retail greenhouse.

Palomar Cactus & Succulent Society meetings are the fourth Saturday of each month, with a few exceptions, at Grace Presbyterian Church, 1450 East Vista Way. Public welcome. Annual spring show & sale the fourth Saturday in May.

Vista Succulent Nursery, 2106 Victory Dr. (760) 626-6642. Extensive selection includes echeverias. Bargain prices. Up a long dirt driveway behind some houses; watch for the signs. Open daily 9 to 4 except Friday and Saturday.

North County coastal

Cardiff

Public library landscaping at 2081 Newcastle Ave. is by Jeremy Spath of Hidden Agave Nursery.

 

Carlsbad

*-- Public garden: Meditation Gardens at the Self Realization Fellowship, 215 K St., (between 2nd and 3rd streets). The lush, immaculately tended garden is tropical but does include succulents, plus breathtaking ocean views and soothing water features. Come prepared to be quiet, observant and respectful. Food and drink not allowed.

 

Del Mar

Public library landscaping at 1309 Camino Del Mar is by Jeremy Spath of Hidden Agave Nursery (above).

 

Encinitas

-- Barrels & Branches, 1452 Santa Fe Dr. Idea-packed nursery in a lovely setting. Hosts events, classes and workshops. Also design services.

-- Moonlight Beach, 400 B St. Look for the noteworthy residential succulent garden across the street.

*-- Public garden: San Diego Botanic Garden, 230 Quail Gardens Dr. The underwater-themed succulent garden designed by Jeff Moore and the late Bill Teague is near the administration offices, south of the main parking lot. Succulent plantings by region are northwest of the main parking lot.

-- Weidner’s Gardens, 695 Normandy Rd. Good source of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana (numerous floral colors), succulents for containers and garden beds, and tillandsias. See my video and post about the nursery's succulent display garden.

 

Leucadia

Gardens by the Sea -- new location, see VISTA above.

Solana beach

-- Solana Succulents, 355 N. Hwy 101. Additional parking in back. Jeff Moore, a renowned designer, horticulturist and author, has had this small nursery for decades. It’s crammed with interesting plants. Retail space is small, but Jeff can obtain larger specimens for landscapes. See video.