My wife is a real estate broker and occasionally asks me to put together creative plantings as gifts for clients. Cordova Gardens is the perfect spot for finding what I need. They have a really good selection of artsy, high quality ceramic pots and unlike most nurseries they also have a several thousand foot green house filled with tropical house plants. When you walk in, even on a cool day, its like suddenly being in Costa Rica. Inside the Cordova greenhouse you'll find everything from inexpensive 4" bromiliads, orchards and dracaenas. If you have a few more bucks in your pockets they also sell great looking large indoor palms, figs, indoor giant birds of paradise etc. Outside Cordova Garden are adding new succulents all the time and have an adequate supply of bedding plants and perennials too. Prices are good and if you're like me and like a nursery thats not just like all the others, Cordova's is worth a visit...regularly. Cordova Gardens is on Encinitas Blvd. about a mile or so east of I-5 on the north side of the road. read more

My husband and I came in on Sunday after a horrible experience with another local San Diego nursery. This is a smaller nursery than the massive one we had dealt with previously but sometimes smaller is better. We were blown away by the owner - he was incredibly helpful, knowledgeable, and patient. We placed a very large order at 4pm on Sunday and it was delivered to our home by 10am on Monday morning, super fast! I highly recommend working with this nursery and I will definitely be going back for more plants, trees, and pots. Two thumbs up!! read more

Totally agree about the lack of customer service. Had to search around the whole place to find anyone at first. Things aren't marked well in the store and on the receipt. Sketchy. When obviously struggling in front of the main check out guy/owner in finding matching plates to pots, he just watched me frantically struggle running back and forth to find the right sized while he stood there with no other customer. Got a couple gorgeous plants, but I will be finding another nursery next time thank you. read more

I love this place. Took one of my pots over there and made the most beautiful succulent bowl right on premises. Also a huge healthy fit. They are so nice and knowledgeable...and TONS of succulents. What a GREAT family! read more

Cordova Gardens - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - Encinitas, California

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I've been meaning to write this review for a long time! I have been going to Codova Gardens for 10+ years. I love to just walk around and enjoy the serenity of this beautiful place. I am far from a green thumb so every time I visit I have lots of questions. What time to plant, where to plant, drought tollerant (or me proof) plants, design? Jose is always there to help me and we have built a great rapport over the years. The service has always been A+, which is why I continue to visit after all of these years. I love the feeling of this family owned business rather than the big box stores! The prices are always more than reasonable and the selection....gorgeous. They also have lots of statues and fountains to make your garden a tranquil place to spend your time. I think my favorite thing they do are all of the succulent arrangements. Thank you Cordova Gardens for always meeting or beating my expectations at each and every visit!!!! read more

Shopped there many times and dealt with the dad who was knowledgable and friendly. Just finally got to know the son and had to deal with him. Not a nice man at all. Rude and offensive. I will not go back. read more

Well, what I have found is that the owner is very friendly and helpful but the son is a total jerk. I talked to the owner on the phone and he was so friendly and helpful and when I got to the nursery the son was there. He was rude and acted like I was bothering him. I almost left but they do have a good selection of beautiful plants. My advice to the owner is have your son either find a new career or get an attitude adjustment because he is hurting your business. If not for him, I give it 5 stars. read more

I needed a very specific color and size for a ceramic pot and had gone to two other places, but did not find anything close to my needs. I stopped by Cordova and there was a wonderful selection. My phone died and I had to leave, but they held the pot for me and cleaned it beautifully. I returned today, and the owner remembered me, and one of his guys loaded the pot and the succulent potting soil very securely in the back of my SUV. I did not need any plants today, but I do, I will return for some of their beautiful plants. read more

I'd rather pay more and have someone helpful and nice answering questions. Every time I've been there its the same guy that acts extremely bothered and mad when he has to deal at all with the customers. Lots of nice succulents though, but again customer service is everything. If I have to deal with a jerk of a clerk it taints the thing I'm buying and I'm never happy with it. It always reminds me of the creepy clerk. read more

Cordova Gardens is a jewel nestled in Encinitas. We Always enjoy our visit's here to experience their vast plant selection. We leave with lovely plants, great horticulture tips and smiles. Our first visit to Cordova Gardens was for tropical palms. We were recommended Kentia palms which are flourishing and look so majestic in our yard! With our current water conditions and water wise landscapes we have picked out many different varieties of beautiful succulents recently. Thank you Joe and Jose for all your useful gardening tips! read more

HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE!!! RUDE, INATTENTIVE. DO NOT GO TO THIS PLACE. They acted like it was a bother for me to be there. Prices are much higher....same plants are a fraction of the price at Home Depot and you get a one year guarantee....Trust me. STAY AWAY!! read more

121 months after buying our fountain and pump from Cordova Gardens, the pump finally died yesterday. Their great crew came out today to install a new pump and get the fountain flowing again and it works perfectly now. We still cannot recommend them any higher ... excellent service and follow-thru from Cordova!!! read more

My new #1 favorite place to shop for indoor plants! That have a wide and healthy selection of different plants, including some rare ones. They also have outdoor plants, fountains, etc. The owner's friendly and adorable lab followed my friend and I around the nursery. One of the workers checked to make sure we were comfortable with the dog, which was very considerate. The dog was so lovely! Made the whole experience magical. The owner was very friendly too. Overall a great place to shop, and I will be back! read more

The unfriendliest place I've ever been for plant-shopping! I've tried this place several times, and I've had the same negative experience each time. (I will not go back). Very little help, and the attitude is poor, bordering on rude. I went down the street to Armstrong Garden Centers, and the person I talked to there couldn't help me enough! read more

Cordova Gardens stand behind the products they sell. I've never seen another company that is so understanding and care about customer satisfaction as they do. I highly recommend Cordova Gardens for all your outdoor and indoor garden decor. Best company in town ever. read more

I walked into this gorgeous nursery and was amazed at the layout, the careful placement of everything and the selection. There is a huge indoor plant selection. It felt like an oasis! Paco, the parrot, was particularly adorable (he kept saying hello until I finally went over and said hello back)...LOL.... I met Joe, the owner, and he couldn't have been nicer. He shared some things about the fountains and all the product they have available... I can't wait to go back with my husband to purchase some items and spend more time just admiring the care that goes into this nursery! read more

It's not that I don't love this place, it just is what it is and it won't be the only place to stop on a day for gardening inspiration. Half the grounds is devoted to fountain and statuary, so.. They seem to have left annuals and flowering plants to other nurseries in favor of succulents. The prices in this department are fair I guess, not great and definitely not discount. I do love their greenhouse with indoor plants. This is where you will spend money you didn't plan on. Everything is super healthy and beautiful. You will want one of everything. The guys I've seen working here won't bother you, but if you engage them, they become really friendly and helpful. read more

Nice indoor plant selection, but not the best customer service. Go to Sunshine instead. They're cheery and helpful

Beautiful garden with a lot to see, except someone to help you...the person today that helped me was on a personal phone call talking about a million dollar home he was selling. I had so many questions and plants I wanted to buy I felt like I was bothering him... So, I just took one plant paid and left to go to another nursery. That's just to bad read more

Called to check on solar fountains. The man who answered the phone was a bit condescending and short with me. Me thinks they could use some customer service training. read more

Two stars for their nice selection of fountains, bowls and plants...but the service is just horrific. Every single interaction I've had with the workers has been extremely rude. I would have taken my business elsewhere if my landscaper didn't already have us set up there. read more

This place is amazingly beautiful! Succulents as far as the eye can see!! All prices for those who want to spend a lot or a little. Just being at/in Cordova Gardens is heaven! I bought several succulent varieties and they are all thriving! :) read more

Friendly people. Great selection of fountains and flowering plants. Prices are very reasonable.

Zero service and they couldn't seem to care any less. Prices good, but I'd rather pay more to people who care.

I love this place. Great selection of outdoor pots, I have purchased many and love them all. And they deliver!! Their greenhouse is very impressive too. Fun place to walk around, there is so much to enjoy! read more

My experience with this Nursery is that the product is good but the service could be much better. I purchased a fountain and they gave me a competitive price. Also, the plants and grounds are beautiful. However, the customer service attitude was definitely lacking. I felt like I was a bother rather than a valued customer. I write this review because I think they have a good business otherwise and may want to work to improve their level of service based on the customer's perspective. read more

amazing selection, very knowligeable owner but not very friendly (by nature ), very good prices . the indoor selection is very nice

Really love this nursery! They always have what I am looking for and more. Very nice man and his son run the business and they are always very helpful. We also bought our home fountain there and after five years it is still running perfectly. I definitely recommend this nursery! read more

They have always been my go to nursery for fountains and repair. They have a wonderful selection of novel and traditional plants for indoor and outdoor. Their staff is extremely knowledgeable and friendly. read more

We purchase all of our large office plants and some of our exotic landscape plants from Cordova. We love the knowledgeable staff and the relaxed attitude. Their inventory is always unique and everyone is always very helpful. It feels like a neighborhood nursery. We never walk out of there empty-handed. read more

I purchase two fountains earlier in the year and asked if I could keep them on site until our construction and yard was ready. They had no problem doing that. Unfortunately I wasn't able to have them delivered for about 5-6 months and they also didn't have a problem with that. When my fountains were delivered the guys were Excellent!!!! They were very professional and very meticulous and I couldn't have asked for a better job! I was VERY happy with the resolutes! read more

It is a nice garden center with beautiful plants. I go there to find succulents that are not available at big box stores. Tips: go visit before the weekends to get a more personal service. read more

Very disappointed with this business!!! Ordered a fountain from them because they seemed to have the best prices, only to find out that the pump is not included as with a few other nurseries that I checked with. Ok fine...whatever. Quoted 3-5 weeks, ordered it march 23rd and just picked it up yesterday may 15th, thats almost 8 weeks! Made several calls around 4 weeks to get status and just kept putting me off. Finally told them that I needed to have it installed for a party on the 18th of may and he said that it was scheduled to come in on the 23rd of may. He called manufacturer and was able to get it delivered to a different nursery where they reluctlantly picked it up and brought it to their nursery. Went to pick it up and had to wait around until his guys were off break. Horrible customer service the whole time start to finish. Its too bad, it is a very nice facility with great selection of plants and fountains, just can't deal with the bad service. will definitely not be going back, too many other great nurseries to visit like green thumb in san marcos where the employeees are all so helpfull. read more

My wife and I were shopping for a fountain and decided to check out Cordova Gardens. We were pleased with the vast selection of pottery and fountains that were available. Not only did we find the perfect fountain, but we also found several large pots and hanging plants that look great in our home's entry way. The owner Joe was very helpful in assisting us with choosing the right fountain and pots. They delivered the large fountain and pots and even set them up at our home. Since then, we have become regular customers there due to their great selection of beautifully healthy indoor & outdoor plants and succulents. I regularly consult Joe for advice on the right type of plant or flower to use at various areas of my home's landscape. They are definitely worth checking out. Their prices are competitive with other nearby nurseries. You may walk out with more than what you intended on purchasing due to the beautiful selection and availability of landscape needs. read more