Such a unique nursery filled with highly inspiring and interesting plants. Everything seems healthy and well tended. Beautiful environment and friendly staff. read more

This is the coolest plant nursery I have been to yet! We got an olive and eucalyptus tree and they're so healthy and well priced. It's really nice to just take a deep breath and enjoy this gorgeous place. The cashier was very friendly and informative, too. I wish I lived closer but it's worth the trip out there. read more

If you are in Sauvie island, you can stop by this beautiful nursery! Very relaxing to walk around and take in the beautiful sights! read more

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If you're wondering if you should visit Cistus, just GO. I had my first visit today, and I felt like I was meandering somewhere beautiful in California. Stunning plants, knowledgeable staff, curated place. You can tell the owner is invested and knows his stuff, and must be a highly creative person also. Just... GO! read more

I didn't need anything. I just wanted to visit this island nursery. Now I want to create a beautiful greenhouse with exotic plants and bright light. It was a gorgeous Sunday morning and I had the place to myself. I felt like I was in a retreat and loving every peaceful moment. This place is well designed and plants are designated to the spaces specifically for regions they thrive in. No guesswork needed. A bit pricey, but so worth it. Take a walk through and you will be pleasantly surprised. Time to start planting!! read more

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Ever been to a truly great botanical garden? No? Well, here's your big chance! Jim, the proprietor of Cistus Nursery, apparently used to manage a major botanical garden; his nursery showcases his mad skills, in the exquisite layout of his beautiful nursery. Each biome is represented here; each microenvironment presented in a series of "rooms" (some enclosed in a conservatory-like greenhouse, some outdoors, encircled with living fencing), from arid desert to wet-tropic water plants. The only commonality? They'll all thrive locally! And scattered among the lush greenscape are elegant benches, soft chairs, complete with gardening magazines on the coffee tables... basically, a visit to the nursery feels like a holiday at a rich uncle's manor-house. All I needed was a cup of tea... read more

First a disclaimer: I know Sean Hogan, the owner, and used to work for him at Cistus. That said, I am in a position to really give you the dirt on Sean and Cistus Nursery. I can unequivocally say that Sean is every bit as nice, fun-loving and caring (about his customers and employees alike) as he is smart about plants and horticulture. And that's a lot! The couple people that mentioned in their reviews that the employees were not polite really surprised me. I haven't worked there for quite some time, but we always cared for customers. Cistus is a working nursery, and things are casual there, so there won't be someone following you around trying to get you to buy something. While it is true that you might have to "ring for assistance," all of the staff has always been quite knowledgeable and eager to share their knowledge and excitement about plants... and about your project. Sean has always been very helpful, friendly with customers and enthusiastic about each project. Sean himself is not only truly expert about the wonderful plants at Cistus, he has always been an avant-garde designer, bringing new plants and new ideas to the Portland area and beyond. Truly, he has had a major impact on the horticultural landscape of Portland. He also has a broad network of connections in the community that allow him to make recommendations beyond the scope of Cistus. No, I was not paid for this review. ;-) I just want to give you the best advice you're going to get on Yelp... Go To Cistus! Go on a Springtime weekend and meet the jovial man for yourself! read more

Wow the plants they have here are amazing. Some are on the pricy side but it was definitely worth going here to get my agave for the front yard. read more

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I am new to having a garden, so this was my first summer to visit nurseries with my yard in mind. This place was an inspirational oasis. It felt special and exotic. I look forward to coming back. read more

What a lovely nursery. This is such a great spot to get away from Portland and find some truly unique plants. I would totally send even the most finicky person here! read more

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Love plants - like the strange and unusual ones ... Come and visit this nursery. Plan to stay a while and visit all the areas set up for the plants needs. They set the plants in an area that like to be treated the same way so you won't plant a water loving plant next to a desert one by accident.. It is an interesting way to display nursery plants and I enjoyed my visit. read more

If you haven't been, then you need to go. Driving up I felt like I wS going somewhere private and exclusive. Once there I was so impressed with the entrance and the selection of the plants is so unique and out of this world. This is a very rare nursery with an exotic feel to it. The fact that it's never crowded or well heard of it just as awesome. read more

My plant scientist hubby and I made a special trip out to see this particular nursery that was co-owned by Parker Sanderson, someone who had at one time managed the UC Davis Arboretum, one of my favorite places in the Sacramento Valley. We were sorry to have missed making his acquaintance, but it seems that everything he created and/or maintained, he did so with much thoughtful deliberation. Cistus is a wonderful place you shouldn't miss when you're in the Portland area. read more

A charming nursery with unusual plants at a great price. Shop and buy but don't engage the staff too much -- they're total know-it-all snobs and you'll get an earful and possibly a chiding! Damn.... read more

Bought a Clematis x cartmanii 'Joe' for my mother in Maine. Cistus was the only nursery in the USA that carries what she wanted. It was well-packed for the cross-country trip and both the shipping and the plant itself were very reasonably priced. My mother couldn't be happier! Thank you. read more

Cistus Nursery - Unpacking Clematis x cartmanii 'Joe' - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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This was the only nursery I could find selling this particular species of fern from the Sonoran Desert (Wavy Cloak Fern; Astrolepis sinuata) - and in Oregon! The fern was carefully packed and still looks beautiful after a few days in the mail. It should fit nicely in my vivarium. read more

Cistus Nursery - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Don't miss out in this amazing nursery experience, it is right in your backyard, and worth the drive. The staff is so full of knowledge and the plants are fabulous and unique and unusual. You can easily spend the afternoon shopping and relaxing. We are on our 2nd house landscaping with plants from Cistus, guaranteed to be show stoppers for passers by your yard. Loving peering out the window and having those passers by stop the car and point out different plants that caught there eye. read more

Very knowledgeable, helpful and friendly staff. It was great to wander among the offerings and see mature specimens planted in their garden beds. read more

What a great Portland nursery. The garden is out of this world. I had no idea that Eucalyptus and Olive trees grow so well in Portland, agave and yucca too. The plant selection is really great with lots of natives and more unusual stuff. It's kind of far out on Sauvie Island, but the drive is beautiful and Cistus is worth the trek. It's the coolest, if not the best nursery in Portland. read more

Went in to see what a mature Yucca rostrata looked like, left with a plant I couldn't find anywhere else (other than ebay). Worth a trip over because they are filled with hard-to-find plants (and I've been to hundreds of nurseries all up and down the wester US.) read more

Need unusual plants? This is a place that will transport you to another world. Walking around the grounds is like taking a trip to some exotic land. read more

Got to say we were really sad that the service has declined so much since we were here before. The place has a beautiful vibe to walk around and we have always loved the geographic separation of types of plants, but the young woman behind the register left much to be desired. Not only was she clueless about basic availability of plants (surprising to me considering cistus is really good about telling you what isn't isn't in stock on their website!) But she was practically unfriendly she was so uninterested in speaking to us and interacting with us. last time we were here the guy working there was so friendly and welcoming and this day when they were barely any customers it was like we were infringing upon her time she spent staring out into space. along with that we have learned that they now nickel-and-dimed on pots and actually wanted to charge us an extra $5 to bring home a $60 plant because of the seemingly extra special plastic that it was in. just incorporate that stuff in your prices but don't tell someone you're going to charge them even more for a plant that costs more than three times one another nursery would charge (we bought a similar one for less than $20 at Xera)...then being told we'd have to return the planter and wouldn't actually get the $5 back but would have to actually SPEND it with them (so basically you give it back and exchange for a coupon). Considering we drove over 80 miles to get there we are not planning on driving back to return a plastic pot. the entire time she spoke to us in a monotone with zero understanding of why that sounds kind of crazy, so at this point in time we're probably not going to return as this is not how you treat customers or nickel-and-dime them especially for the prices. it's a lovely place but you've got to make it worth the drive...for everyone, not just the wealthy folks. read more

I live on a houseboat and between the kayaks, windsurfer, bike and way more stuff, there is no room for plants. Plus, I travel a lot and it hurt too much to come home and find my neighbor who absolutely promised to WATER THE PLANTS forget just one thing. You guessed it. But when I sailed down to PDX (no, not with the houseboat), visited friends and was told they had planned an excursion to Cistus, I was ready. Call it my vicarious gardening urge, but I never fail to note plants and location. I like hearing someone who knows plants explain intricacies few are aware of. Yeah, they can be a bit uppity, but it is only because they know and care and most idiots don't specialize in either. Even though I bought nothing, I learned a lot. My friends took home enough plants I had to share my lap with a couple of new additions to their family. Cistus is a solid thumbs up place. read more

This small nursery tucked away on Sauvie Island isn't for those looking for Blue Wave petunias on sale at Home Depot, or your typical hybrid rose. Instead you'll find an always different and amazing selection of new, odd, hybrid and rare plants. Don't expect masses of flowers, this is about texture, color, rarity and since most of the plants are smaller - and hence easier to plant, you're not seeing mature things which might bloom after a few years. After 4 years of adding things to my garden, I still discover new must haves - loquat trees, abutilons that have grown into 7' houseplants, conifers in shades of gray and blue, odd edibles, tiny gems like a hardy miniature cyclamen whose corms are above ground. It's not a nursery for everyone, but then it's the ultimate nursery for real gardeners, people looking for something interesting, or special or novel. The selection is every changing so it's worth multiple trips throughout the season as things sell out and new things roll into availability, it's really a dream find when you think you know plants and then encounter varieties, species and hybrids you're completely new to and stumped by. If you live in Portland, drive out, the size and selection is different from the smaller mail order plants. Ask questions and bring your iphone to search names because the variety is amazing, you can get things hardy and borderline and tender, so depending on whether you have full sun, sheltered areas, a greenhouse - there are lots of options. I have some jaw dropping plants from this nursery which is a regular at the hardy Plant Society spring sale. Owner Sean Hogan isn't always there for questions, but his staff is very nice and it's a place you go and take your time. Besides, Sauvie Island is so beautiful to drive in and next door you'll find the wonderful berry farm Columbia Farms. And there's a great scratch and dent sale at the end of season, from which I have a stupendous plants like a variegated clerodendrum with huge leaves that was $2 in a gallon pot and has flourished in my backyard. You can also get on wait lists for highly limited plants. Besides the beautiful drive 20 minutes from the city, it's just an amazing shopping experience where you can stock up on eucalyptus (some of mine are 20' in 3 years), Oregon-hardy olives, succulents and leaves of all types. This is somewhere you go - WALK AND WONDER. Nature is amazing, and this nursery promotes that. Take your time. read more

This nursery does have some unusual plants. I was really excited to be visiting after reading the favorable reviews but was disappointed. The service is nonexistent, and the prices are high. I was expecting it to be a lot more beautiful than it was. No one greeted us or asked if we needed help. The counter has a sign that says to call for assistance. The saleswoman barely spoke to us, did not smile, had no interest in answering my son's polite question, and did not thank us for coming in or for the sale. We bought 3 small plants for $66. We then drove directly to Joy Creek Nursery in Scappoose, and were treated so cordially and well--The contrast was hilarious! read more