December 6, 2024
47 Garden Stores to Shop Now, According to Designers and Landscaping Pros

Marina del Rey Garden Center always has the latest and greatest selection. I often walk the nursery at lunch to see what is currently in bloom and how different plants look throughout the year.” —Michael McGowan, KAA Design Group

Terra Sol Garden Center, Santa Barbara, California

Terra Sol Garden Center has extremely knowledgeable plant people. They have very unique plants and also a great selection of water-smart plants. They also always have a great selection of pots and fountains, as well as decorative garden objects and gifts.” —Margie Grace, Grace Design Associates

Eye of the Day Garden Design Center, Carpinteria, California

Eye of the Day Garden Design Center has an exquisite selection of pots, fountains, and decorative objects. They also have a very knowledgeable and creative staff supported by the owners, who are fabulous—this ends up being helpful to me but also to my clients. They also have lots and lots of in-stock items, which is refreshing and rare in today’s order-online world.” —Margie Grace, Grace Design Associates

Porch, Summerland, California

Porch is where shelter and nature converge. It has a unique blend of nature-inspired, modern furnishings for both the garden and home, along with simple, elegant, and beautiful gifts. There is always a well-edited artful blend of rugged and refined style.” —Margie Grace, Grace Design Associates

Emily Joubert Home & Garden, Woodside, California

“I love Emily Joubert Home & Garden, in the heart of Silicon Valley, which is owned by Judy Cottingham. We became friends when I was working on a property for an executive at Apple. I went in to grab a couple of flowers for the installation, and she went out of her way to be helpful. Judy’s knowledge of plants and outdoor furnishings is next to none; she is also hilarious and fun and travels extensively, which I love.” —Kathryn Ireland, Kathryn M. Ireland

Flowerland, Albany, California

“I love to stop by Flowerland because they have a curated selection of outdoor plants, from five-gallon rare or unusual plants including Proteas and Leucadendrons to veggies, citrus, and succulents. They also have an indoor shop with great indoor plants, planters, and beautiful gifts and home decor. Plus there’s a cute coffee truck on site so you can grab coffee and a snack while you shop.” —Leslie Bennett, Pine House Edible Gardens

East Bay Nursery, Berkeley, California

East Bay Nursery is another go-to for everything outdoor related, including great garden tools. We shop there a lot for their large selection of annuals, perennials, and veggies, but they also have larger items like fruit trees and shrubby evergreen material. During the holiday season, they have an extensive festive display in their indoor shop with the best selection of ornaments.” —Leslie Bennett, Pine House Edible Gardens 

Crimson Horticultural Rarities, Oakland, California

“Sometimes we do interior plant installations, and when we need a really unique plant or planter I always go to Crimson Horticultural Rarities. They have the best selection of artist-made planters and hand-picked super unusual plants. It’s such a beautiful space, and it’s fun to go there for inspiration and to pick up something special.” —Leslie Bennett, Pine House Edible Gardens