'It's a party for people who love plants': 6 San Diego plant shops and nurseries to explore (2024)

San Diego’s Mediterranean climate offers a range of local challenges and opportunities when it comes to growing trees and plants, making the process of buying and growing them unique and exciting.

Across the county, there are several small-scale and family-run nurseries and plant shops that make purchasing a new leafy green a memorable experience. Many of them even offer activities such as workshops and free classes and open spaces and peaceful gardens to wander through or have lunch.

“(Nurseries) are all very individual… and have their own personality,” said Sheryl Lozier, the co-founder of Summers Past Farms in El Cajon. “That’s why people should go nursery-hopping, because these people pour their heart and soul into them.”

This guide includes six unique nurseries and plant stores for the next time your home needs a little more life.

Mission Hills Nursery is the oldest nursery in San Diego, opened in 1910.

(Maura Fox / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Mission Hills Nursery claims the longest history among garden centers in San Diego. It was opened in 1910 by the horticulturalist Kate Sessions, nicknamed the “Mother of Balboa Park” for planting hundreds of trees there in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Beyond her impact on the park, she introduced several now iconic varieties of plants to San Diego and opened three nurseries in town, including in Coronado, Pacific Beach and Mission Hills, the latter of which is still nestled in the hills overlooking the San Diego Bay.

The history alone is enough of a reason to give this nursery a visit, but it also helps that it’s a great place to shop and get plant-care tips. Though the Sessions family no longer owns the nursery, staff members still share Sessions’ expertise with customers, says store employee Felix Ramirez. For example, he said, Sessions was very knowledgeable about the types of trees to plant in specific locations so store employees use her insight to guide customers on their purchases.

Visitors should keep an eye out for the nursery’s chickens, which help keep pests and weeds away, as well as the garden cat, Critter, who can be seen wandering around the shop. 1525 Fort Stockton Drive, San Diego. (619) 295-2808. missionhillsnursery.com

Plantology Cafe’s co-owner Erik Baltadano said that all the plants are sourced locally from Vista, Encinitas, San Marcos and Fallbrook.

(Maura Fox / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Erik Baltadano and his sisters Jennifer and Nallely have a deep connection with plants; their father has worked in the garden industry for more than 30 years and used to sell plants at the Oceanside swap meet. So it wasn’t a surprise when they opened Plantology Cafe three years ago in the North County community. All the plants are sourced locally, Baltadano said, from Vista, Encinitas, San Marcos and Fallbrook.

The store is focused on plants — selling around 300 in the cozy space, including succulents and air plants on a small back patio — but the experience is elevated by the fact that visitors can sip on a beverage while they peruse the selections, or sit at one of the tables in the back among the greenery. The mural on the store’s front entrance, with its colorful and detailed images of plants, also draws customers in. 913 S. Coast Highway, Oceanside. (760) 805-3258. instagram.com/plantology_oside/?hl=en

Plants Por Favor in South Park waters all its plants with rainwater collected on site.

(Courtesy of Marysol Meza and Yolanda Avila)

Plants Por Favor is a neighborhood plant shop in South Park that doubles as a community space, hosting events such as pottery and herbal tea blending workshops, yoga classes and even open mic nights. A trip to the store feels like a visit to a friend’s house — with a sweet garden in front of a classic South Park home, it’s instantly welcoming.

Marysol Meza opened Plants Por Favor with her husband, Luis Lopez Lira, in 2022, inspired by a love of plants and the mental health benefits that comes with taking care of them. By carving out an hour to connect with her plants and tend to their needs, “it’s also a time for self care,” she said, adding that “once you start noticing they are happy or giving you new leaves, that’s like the cherry on top.”

The majority of the plants sold at the store are native to California and Mesa says that the plants — those for sale and those grown in the garden — are watered with rainwater that she and Lopez Lira collect on the property. 3011 Ivy St., San Diego. (619) 319-7059. plantsporfavor.com

The event area at Summers Past Farms in El Cajon on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024. Events like wine tasting and craft fairs are held throughout the year.

(Kristian Carreon/For The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Summers Past Farms opened as a nursery in 1992 but has become much more than that for visitors. With a large grassy field, coffee kiosk, soap and gift shop, chicken coop and various gardens, the space offers a respite from the city — or even just from a stressful day. If shoppers are only there to buy a plant or a bar of soap, it’s still worth it to spend time strolling around the property or sitting on the patio listening to the chirps of birds. “It does so much for you,” said Lozier, who founded the farm with her husband, Marshall, more than 30 years ago.

Lozier is excited about the recent arrival of plants such as delphiniums, strawberries and herbs, and said the farm’s nursery also carries plants that are known to grow well in East County, such as geraniums. “The most rewarding (part) is we get to share this with everybody and we get to meet so many people in our community,” Lozier said. 15602 Olde Highway 80, El Cajon. (619) 390-1523. summerspastfarms.com/index.htm

Walter Andersen Nursery offers free Saturday gardening classes.

(Maura Fox / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Gardeners and plant enthusiasts can take advantage of a free, first-come, first-served gardening class every Saturday morning at Walter Andersen Nursery locations in Point Loma and Poway. The courses cover subjects such as how to care for citrus plants and maintain healthy soil, as well as guidance on raising more unusual plants like staghorn ferns or bonsai. “We try to specialize in carrying unique things… and help people be successful on every aspect of their planting journey,” said Olivia Betterton, the nursery’s manager.

Along with the free classes, Walter Andersen stands out for being one of the oldest nurseries in San Diego, opened in 1928 and still owned by members of the Andersen family. Betterton says that not much has changed at the nursery over the generations, including some of its customers, whose parents and grandparents shopped at the store, too. Point Loma and Poway locations. (619) 224-8271. walterandersen.com

The pond on a rainy day at Waterwise Botanicals in Bonsall.

(Maura Fox / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

On just under 20 acres, Waterwise Botanicals in Bonsall is home to hundreds of different plants, from roses and perennials to shrubs and succulents. But searching for a new plant here also comes with an escape to nature. There’s a large shade awning with several picnic tables underneath, plus ponds with turtles and fish, including catfish, bluegill and bass. While a majority of the plants at the nursery are for sale, it also has a hillside for growing plants that visitors can walk through, admiring the plant life along with views of nearby mountains.

“We love that idea of being a destination where families can come, get in the country where it’s beautiful and be able to touch living things instead of their telephones,” Tom Jesch, who founded the business with his wife Jackie nearly 30 years ago.

On the first Saturday of every month, Waterwise Botanicals also hosts a free succulent event, when all adult customers can take home one succulent plant on the house. Vendors and a food truck come out, too, and, according to Jesch, “it’s a party for people who love plants.” 32151 Old Highway 395, Bonsall. (760) 728-2641. waterwisebotanicals.com