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Nursery
updated: Apr 20, 2011, 11:29 AM

Would appreciate recommendations on the best nursery in the area, a nursery with wide selection and good prices. I'm especially looking for agave and phormium right now, but would love to browse a good nursery.

Places People Are Talking About:

Ace Hardware	Botanic Garden	Cactus Mart
Chia Nursery	Doug Knapp	Giovanni's Pizza
Green Thumb	Island Seed & Feed	Island View Nursery
Ken Koster	La Sumida	Nopalito Nursery
Ron's Nursery	San Marcos Growers	Seaside Gardens
Terra Sol	Toro Canyon Nursery	Windmill

What People Are Saying:

COMMENT 165640	2011-04-20 11:38 AM
most of the best nurseries, like San Marcos Growers, are wholesale only. I would shop at Giovanni's in Carpinteria. The owner Bob is very knowledgeable and very nice.
AQUAHOLIC	2011-04-20 11:41 AM
Terra Sol ...I would live there if they let me...
COMMENT 165642	2011-04-20 11:42 AM
Knapp
COMMENT 165652	2011-04-20 11:52 AM
Ditto Terra Sol -- That place always puts me in the mood to til some soil. They're especially great for succulents but also have vegetables, groundcover, house plants, etc.. Also if you go south a bit, try Island View Nursery. More pricey but a huge selection, and just a nice place to walk around and get ideas. Sort of depends what you're looking for though -- if it's roses or orchids or potted palms, different nurseries tend to have their own specialities.
COMMENT 165671	2011-04-20 12:29 PM
Doug Knapp or Windmill on 246 in Buellton. Huge selection, large property.
COMMENT 165673	2011-04-20 12:30 PM
I like La Sumida, too. Lotusland's garden shop has some interesting plants, including agave (no phormium that I know of). Unless you're a member, you'll need to pay the entrance fee & go on a tour to enter, though. (Membership was changed to unlimited visits each year, so as long as they aren't booked, you can schedule a reservation and just let them know you'll be stopping in the shop only. Course, if you're already there, just stroll through the garden!) I am not sure if La Sumida has either of the plants you want. But as it's down the street from Terra Sol, it's easy to check out both.
COMMENT 165676	2011-04-20 12:33 PM
OSH
COMMENT 165689P	2011-04-20 12:47 PM
Windmill Nursery, on Hiway 246, in Buellton is well worth the drive for selection & MAJOR savings. Otherwise, Doug Knapp's is the place if you need it fast & local (Goleta)
EDHATBARBARA	2011-04-20 01:03 PM
I simply love Island View nursery in Carpinteria.
COMMENT 165703	2011-04-20 01:18 PM
Toro Canyon Nursery in Carpinteria. Huge selection, very friendly, knowledgeable and 2 locations. Ask for Alfredo, Lily, Erick or Freddy they will be more than happy to help you.
COMMENT 165714	2011-04-20 01:35 PM
Knapp
COMMENT 165736P	2011-04-20 02:07 PM
Doug Knapp at the mountain end of Carlo in Goleta.
MESARATS	2011-04-20 02:25 PM
Knapp for specialty plants, La Sumida and the tomato plant lady at Saturday farmers market for vegetable plants
COMMENT 165749	2011-04-20 02:27 PM
I prefer Terra Sol - I often go there just to walk around and look at the beautiful plants!
COMMENT 165753	2011-04-20 02:29 PM
Another vote for Terra Sol. My favorite for quality plants, and helpful employees. And I miss Phil & family from Sterling nursery in Carp. For years they sold flowering plants at the Saturday Farmers Market is SB.
COMMENT 165776	2011-04-20 03:37 PM
Terra Sol.... I got there too sometimes just to walk around.. it's so relaxing... very nice staff!
COMMENT 165818	2011-04-20 05:14 PM
Just a reminder that the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is having their plant sale till the end of April. I found the prices were below other stores and some of the succulents were not common. You do not have to be a member to buy plants or shop at the gift store.
POWDRELL	2011-04-20 05:58 PM
We're partial to Island View in Carpinteria.
COMMENT 165827	2011-04-20 06:23 PM
I love going to both Terra Sol and La Sumida. Between the two of them you kind find almost anything you need.
COMMENT 165865	2011-04-20 08:37 PM
Terra Sol!
COMMENT 165869	2011-04-20 08:43 PM
Island View in Carpinteria.
COMMENT 165886	2011-04-20 09:55 PM
Seaside Gardens in Carpinteria, Terra Sol in Santa Barbara.
MTNDRIVER	2011-04-20 10:04 PM
A place that is not exactly close by but excellent for cacti and succulents, including agaves, is the Cactus Mart on Howe Rd. just off highway 126 (just west of Torrey Rd.) in Piru. It's only open Thursday-Sunday to the public. Huge selection of succulents, very good prices, and also lots of ceramic pots at great prices. Only cash and checks. We stop there whenever we happen to be driving through that area and never leave without at least a few succulents if there's room in the car. They have some great large plants, some very unusual ones, but what draws us is the bargain prices on 4-inch and 1 gallon plants. Also the Cactus and Succulent Society has an annual sale at MacKenzie Park--I think it's in May?? Great deals, lots of interesting plants.
COMMENT 165911	2011-04-21 06:50 AM
My favorite is Seaside Gardens in Carp: quality plants, excellent help and an excellenr selection. Next comes Terra Sol in Goleta and Turk Hesslund's in Montecito. For lots of choice, Knapp and Island View are also good. Plus--if you know your plants-- Ace Hardware can sometimes bring in winners at a very good price. .
COMMENT 165915P	2011-04-21 06:55 AM
La Sumida!!
COMMENT 165928P	2011-04-21 07:22 AM
Knapp
COMMENT 165936	2011-04-21 07:40 AM
Green Thumb on Victoria in Ventura. I have nothing against the local guys; especially Knapp...but GT is HUGE.....and it's often quite an experience to just wander there and check out varieties that are not available anywhere else.
COMMENT 165979P	2011-04-21 08:32 AM
Locally, Terra Sol (small but varied and lovely); Doug Knapp (large selection); La Sumida, good selection; the best for roses. In Carp, Island View. Why not go to all of them!
COMMENT 165999	2011-04-21 08:52 AM
Why not go Native?? Easier on the water bill and less maintenance for a more sustainable landscape and the birds, bees and butterflies will love it! Come in and meet the Nursery Manager, Bruce Reed, for expert advice and enjoy the huge selection in our April Plant Sale!
SEEDLADY	2011-04-21 09:07 AM
Seaview Gardens in Carpinetria. Across 101 from Santa Claus Lane. Big selection of water wise Mediterranean-zone plants from all over the world. Huge demonstration gardens divided into sections from South America, South Africa, the Mediterranean basin, Australia, and California. Very informed and attentive staff, and the manager, Jose, has been with the nursery since it started--he is very wise in the theories and practices of water-wise gardening, which can be challenging in heavy coastal soils. I called ahead and he gave our group of seven a 45-minute tour, complete with explanations of the why's and how's of Mediterranean gardening. Large selection of agaves, aloes, and smaller succulents. They give great character to a garden! Chia Nursery is nearby and also has a demo garden. Island View is close, too--you could really get your plant jonesin' taken care of in Carp.
GAIAGAL	2011-04-21 09:26 AM
If you are looking for native and/or drought tolerant plants, Nopalito Nursery 4107 E. Main in Ventura. The SB Botanic garden also has a great selection. For other plants, Knapp Nursery on Carlo in Goleta has great prices. Terra Sol is beautiful and inspiring but a little pricey.
COMMENT 166063	2011-04-21 09:57 AM
Doug Knapp; Terra Sol.
ESL TEACHER	2011-04-21 11:37 AM
Terra Sol gets my vote. Mike the owner goes out of his way to help his customers.
COMMENT 166136	2011-04-21 12:03 PM
Green Thumb in Ventura - awesome place and very helpful/knowledgeable staff.
COMMENT 166138	2011-04-21 12:11 PM
La Sumida in Goleta is incredible. Ken Koster Quality Tree care has the best prices & selection of exotic palms (apt. only). Ron's Nursery in Grove Beach has everything & it is so fun to look around!
COMMENT 166146	2011-04-21 12:21 PM
Depends what you're looking for. For gorgeous, expensive decorative stuff--Island View in Carp, for sure. That place is fun to walk around even if you're not buying anything. For amazing, organic, super-reasonably-priced vegetable starts to plant in your garden, I ONLY go to Island Seed & Feed on Fairview.
COMMENT 166209	2011-04-21 02:48 PM
I would also vote for the Nursery at the Botanic Garden! Not only are the prices below retail, they have the most knowlegable staff ~ can't put a price on that!
COMMENT 167632	2011-04-26 08:38 AM
Go Knapp! This nursery is amazing. I wish more people knew about it. Not only do they have amazing prices and beautiful plants, but they also have a wholesale site for all the landscapers out there. (though the retail prices are already amazingly low) best prices on phormium in town. Fruit trees, veggies, natives, landscape essentials, huge trees and shrubs. Did I mention I love this nursery :) Plus the small family owned friendliness that makes for a great experience. I have to say the SBBG nursery is right up there as well, especially if you are looking to go native!
COMMENT 273566P	2012-04-21 09:26 AM
For native plants (besides the SB Botanic Garden), The Manzanita Nursery in Solvang is a great place. Diverse selection of not only native, but native to our area plants. Also very knowledgeable staff and good prices. Also, this isn't as important, but it's in a beautiful setting - 880 Chalk Hill - and you can combine it with a wine tasting or two at local wineries! They don't do any publicity, so I hope they get some hits from Edhat. So important to support small local places....