A Succulent Lover's Guide to Northern California Nurseries
But although I like nurseries generally, I am interested in succulents particularly, and these reviews are all about how useful these nurseries are for succulent fanatics like yours truly, NOT in general.
In the leftmost column, you'll find contact information, maps, and links to each place, along with my overall "succ rating." Basically here's the meaning of my scores. If I don't think a place is worth visiting at all, or it has no succs, I'm not listing it.
1/5 = Worth popping by only if you happen to be standing outside it.
2/5 = May have a few virtues, but not worth going out of your way for.
3/5 = Solid choice. Worth stopping for a look if you're already in town.
4/5 = Seriously succs. I dare you to leave without a plant.
5/5 = OMG--a succ-er's dream! Worth a pilgrimage to get here.
The Potting Shed
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A teensy, lovely shop with good-looking echeverias and a nice selection of air plants. The prices are high ($4 for two-inchers, plus pots that sell for about 15% less elsewhere), but it's worth a visit if you're already in the area. You won't find anything particularly unusual here, but they use their tiny space well, and the store's various plantings are sure to spark your creativity. Bonus tip: the nearby Barefoot Cafe is a great coffee and breakfast stop.
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Berkeley Horticultural Nursery
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Although their succulent selection isn't large, it's well-selected, particularly for Northern California growers (e.g., I found a greenovia here in 2011, when they were even harder to find than they are now). The nursery is located in a lovely North Berkeley neighborhood, and as is typical in Berkeley, the prices are moderate to high. Parking is limited, so expect a few blocks' walk. Somewhat inexplicably, they are closed on Thursdays.
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Berkeley Dry Garden
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Berkeley Horticultural Nursery
Overall succ rating: 3/5 |
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Cactus Jungle
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Half Moon Bay Nursery
Overall succ rating: 4/5 number address (map) Nursery website Yelp link |
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Golden Nursery
Overall succ rating: 3/5 1122 2nd Ave. San Mateo, CA (map) (650) 348-5525 Nursery website Yelp link |
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Redwood City Nursery
Overall succ rating: 2.5/5 number address (map) Nursery website Yelp link |
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Wegman's Nursery
Overall succ rating: 3/5 number address (map) Nursery website Yelp link |
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M&M Nursery
Overall succ rating: 2.5/5 number address (map) Nursery website Yelp link |
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Roger Reynolds Nursery and Carriage Stop
Overall succ rating: 2/5 address (map) (xxx) xxx-xxxx Nursery website Yelp link |
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OC Succulents
Overall succ rating: 9.5/10 number address (map) Nursery website Yelp link |
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Waterwise Botanicals
Overall succ rating: 9/10 number address (map) Nursery website Yelp link |
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Gardens By the Sea
Overall succ rating: 9.5/10 number address (map) Nursery website Yelp link |
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Glorious Gardens
number address (map) Nursery website Yelp link |
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Solana Succulents
number address (map) Nursery website Yelp link |
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