Made a trip to Alpine to visit exotic gardens. Had a nice breakfast at Janet Montanas, then headed over at 9:30 to find some treasures. Neat spot with a variety of cactus, euphorbias, and succulents. Great prices and friendly service. I always enjoy funky garden yards, so much fun exploring. read more

Exotic Gardens - Beautiful plants we took home! - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - El Cajon, California

I had been passing by this hidden gem for a few years, but I finally decided to check it out this time. It's not your typical plant store, but they have a pretty impressive selection of unique and rare cacti. I managed to find a few, and if I had more space, I would definitely add more to my collection. It's also very affordable! The owner was very knowledgeable and helpful. This small local business is definitely worth checking out and supporting! read more

See all

Prices are great! $10 for cuttings of TBM, $7 per foot of bridgesii, and the smaller ones in pots were $5 or less. If you're in the area, you might as well stop and see what you can find. read more

See all

Love this place. Carl is awesome and has the best prices and friendly service. Do not miss out on this hidden gem.

Friendly and knowledgeable owner, great selection. It's worth the drive from San Diego

Carl the owner of exotic gardens is a kind patient sweet person. He is so knowledgeable about trees and succulents. I was lucky to find him when I needed about a 1-ton elephant palm removed (I didn't want to just chop it down). He was such an expert in how to remove it and keep it living and he did it! WOW, this huge and I mean huge tree was dug and then crained out and he said it is now in the middle of his nursery. When Carl says he will get it done, he does! He also removed my neighbor's sago palm and it was really large. He has the professionalism and quality that I wish everyone had. I want to go see the nursery I heard it is fantastic! read more

Exotic Gardens - A difficult job that Carl was exceptional at doing! - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - El Cajon, California

This place is a gem! Carl is so knowledgeable and helpful and strong. You definitely have to take your time exploring all this place has to offer. During one visit my husband couldn't fit all the plants in our car so Carl followed him to our house and helped him unload. Wow! His prices are very, very good and his plants are beautiful. Be aware that some may not be for sale because Carl propagates them. We've been here twice just this month and will be back again. read more

See all

Great selection of cacti euphorbia and succulents. We already have a few cacti from Carl and they have been doing really well- healthy and seem to be growing. We like to come here every now and then to see what he's got -- we recently got a jade from here. So pretty. And his new cacti on display is impressively tall!! read more

Exotic Gardens - Jade - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - El Cajon, California

See all

Got the Exotic Garden itch again and acquired three more beautiful/handsome cacti. Carl was super helpful and aided in loading some of these into our small sedan. I just wish our front yard at home was bigger. I've purchased cacti online and the prices are ridiculous for 3 inch pots and the like. The prices have always been fair and excellent here and we got a greater than 3 footer! read more

See all

This place is cool and they have good prices on succulents. It's not very fancy, it kinda looks like someone's empty lot, but I wasn't going for the aesthetics I was going for good prices on succulents. They have an excellent variety as well and the have various sizes, but they have lots of little ones, I guess for people that want to start small. Small ones are also good for arrangements. You can get some little succulents from $2-4, better than Lowe's and Home Depot prices and your supporting a local small business owner read more

Exotic Gardens - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - El Cajon, California

Great variety of succulent & airplant and catus! Their price is the best, no where else in SD can beat them. The store although doesnt look the best, but definitely worth your time to take a trip here. They are closed Monday and Tuesday so make sure avoid those two days. read more

We were on the hunt for a new succulent nursery to check out and Exotic Gardens came up as an option. I'm glad we drove out to this place because we spent an hour just looking at all the different succulents they have to offer! The staff here is very knowledgeable and helpful in finding the exact plants you want and what can fit your budget. Once we had an idea of the plants we wanted, we were told how to take care of them and were even shown some cheaper ones if we didn't mind having a smaller plant to begin with. It was a little confusing when we first got in because no one was around and we didn't know where to park. Once we sorted that out we happily walked around the lot. The prices are way cheaper than Home Depot or Armstrong and the plants are super healthy. We'll definitely be back for more! read more

Exotic Gardens - So many different types! - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - El Cajon, California

See all

Great selection of more unique cactus and succulents. Carl was there to help us in the rain !

I like this place, Carl is super helpful and patient and has good prices on his plants. It's not your typical Walter Anderson style nursery, but definitely worth stopping bye and seeing if you find a few plants that you like! (Or be like me and bring a trailer!). Note, It's pretty much a one-man operation, so if Carl (the Owner) is busy with something else you may find yourself unassisted, but take your time and look around and when you do talk to Carl, he'll take his time with you. And some plants may not be for sale if he is waiting for it to produce seeds so he can germinate new plants. read more

Exotic Gardens - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - El Cajon, California

This place is the equivalent of a small junk yard! No employees to be found. No pricing on anything. Very few plants and those they have are very neglected. To call this place a business is a joke! read more

Awesome selection of cacti and good if you need cacti soil in a pinch.definitely worth checking out if you're a cacti head.

This place is amazing and Waaaay under any Home Depot or Lowes prices. I love that this place is very knowledgeable about their products. We used two nurseries for our front yard and back. We used Exotic Gardens succulents for our drought tolerant landscape. We get tons of people coming by the house taking pictures. read more

Exotic Gardens - We love our succulents !! - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - El Cajon, California

See all

I love this place. It is not very fancy, but Exotic Gardens has earned a special place in my heart. EG is different than some other garden stores: for example, Armstrong has the sound of a Mozart string quartet playing in the background, EG has the sound of heavy metal. The "store" consists of a dirt floor with a net-type shade. But this, to me, just adds more charm. I love this place because it is in the "hood", the employees are always really friendly and helpful, and they can drill a hole in any glass/clay container for only $1. Succulents need good drainage, and I've killed many because I was previously unaware of this (this was also before I discovered EG). If you do not have a green thumb-- this is the place for you! Succulents are very forgiving and low maintenance. If you're not sure how to care for your succulent, just ask the employees. read more

Exotic Gardens - Some of my arrangements (pottery was purchased elsewhere). - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - El Cajon, California

I love plants! Except I have a hard time keeping them alive :/ My only option is to buy succulents, so I was super happy when I found this nursery. The have a wide variety of succulents and other plants that don't require watering on a daily basis!! Their prices are very cheap and when I've asked for bigger pots they have given it to me for 10cents or sometimes for free. They do take credit cards, their machine might be a little bit slow but it works. This is not a crowed place so there's only one or two people tending the whole business. read more

They have A LOT of variety here! It's a little messy, but you're not here to socialize, you're here to find some cool plants to add to your succulent garden, right??? The price is right and it's just so fun to come here and see what they've got! My nephew and cousins are HUGE succulent fans and I can imagine getting them some future gifts from here! :) I heard a rumor that one of the owners might be autistic. Not sure if that is true or not, but all the same they make my nephew, who is autistic, VERY happy with their plant offerings! :) Check it out if you love succulents. read more

See all

My husband and I stopped in here while on a vacation in San Diego and we are so glad we did! The owner of the place was so kind and helpful and you can tell he is passionate about what he does. If you're looking for succulents and cacti for a great place, this is your stop! We will definitely be back next time we are out here! read more

Carl is amazing, very knowledgeable and very helpful. On top of all of that, his pricing is very reasonable. The negative reviewers here that talk about the fact that prices are not listed and that the nursery is not an otherwise a sterile grid in terms of layout are completely missing the point. Carls understands succulents with a level of expertise more in line with a botanist than any of the more basic knowledge of many of the employees of your chain nurseries that also want to charge you $450 for a 20" cactus. Don't go when you are in a hurry. Give yourself time to explore the pockets of his property and to interact with Carl. Karen's and Kyle's aside, most people will find it enjoyable. read more

We moved in August and have driven past this corner of Mississippi and El Cajon numerous times. I never had noticed this little nursery. About 2 weeks ago I happen to notice it for some reason and decided to stop and take a look. What a great find! They also had exactly what I was lokking for and had seen elsewhere at 3 times the cost. What a selection they had to choose from. I was looking for a fern , "stagshorn" to be exact to hang on the fence of our outdoor area at home. Low and behold they had small,medium,large, xlarge specimens to choose from. I bought 3, 1 medium and 2 small. After getting home I realised all three would be overkill so I used the bigger one outside, shaded,and the two small ones in the bedroom. They turned out great, especially at night with the light of the lamp shining on them creating a shadow on the ceiling. They also have carved out stones that you can create your own garden in. Everybody working there is so helpful and friendly. Of course I am partial to Anna. She was so pleasant and from Hawaii as well so it was a great chatting about "back home". It's a great place to take a break from the hustle and bustle......... read more

Exotic Gardens - "create your own" garden - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - El Cajon, California

See all

This place is great. There are so many different types of succulents there and at reasonable prices. Carl, the owner, is very nice and extremely knowledgeable. read more

This place is awesome for succulents! I live in Houston TX and every time I visit San Diego I stock up on some great finds that you can't get in our area. The staff here is knowledgeable on plant care. Just great! read more

Exotic Gardens - Some of the succulents available at Exotic Gardens - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - El Cajon, California

This store is most useful if you are looking for succulent, drought tolerant plants, that range from exciting rare specimens to your everyday fare, that is both economical and attractive. This would be a good place to find small plants, hanging plants, ground covers, to mid-sized plants, and even a fair amount of trees, especially tree aloes. They carry a variety of aloes and uncommon agaves, as well as other special cacti, succulents, tillandsias, staghorn ferns, and bromeliads, all priced well below competitors. Shopping here always feels good, because you are supporting local, honest, hard-working Carl, who is always there for you if you have any questions . A great place to find additions to a collection, or to dress up your patio, yard or well lit indoor spaces. This will not be the best place to find things suitable to dim, poorly lit interiors, however, you might on occasion find that sort of thing here, the selection of plants, pottery, and more, is never exactly the same. read more

Exotic Gardens - 2212 el cajon blvd store front - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - El Cajon, California

I found heaven and it's a dirt lot off of old route 80. If I ever own the kind of home that can be landscaped, I am making a bee line for this place. They have a huge selection of beautiful, healthy, BIG cacti and succulents all at very reasonable prices. Also, the small staff is very welcoming and helpful, and seems to have no problem letting me roam around quietly looking at plants for half an hour. They also have a great selection of air plants at much lower prices then some other spots I've been to. If you're like me and you're not always down to navigate a big crowd of people who dress better than you, I would ABSOLUTELY recommend this place over stores like Pigment for your planting needs. There's also a sweet little dog hanging around, politely asking for pets. Seriously, what more can you ask for? read more

This is a hidden spot on El Cajon Blvd that has some awesome succulents and cacti! You will find some unique varieties of plants here...a bit pricey but worth a look if you are looking for some rare finds. They also sell soil and it's not at all expensive...I grocery bag full of soil for a couple of bucks. Check out my photos to see what I did with some of the plants I purchased from this place...they turned out great! :) Support this locally owned business and the people that work there by purchasing your succulents and cacti here! read more

See all

Love this place!! Carl is awesome and very knowledgeable on all cacti!! Great choices on airplants too! A must go!!

MISLEADING PICTURES. I was drawn in by the pictures I saw on yelp. My mom, daughter and I took the drive out there and what we saw was nothing like the pictures. They had cactus, agave, all of that stuff but the warehouse gazebo had barely any succulents. The air plants looked dry and dying, the string of pearl plant had rock hard soil with a bunch of sand in it and looked like it hadn't been taken care of. There was no variety, the staff was unhelpful. No one greeted us when we came in or walked around. If you're looking for a bunch of cactus and drought tolerant plants for your yard great. But I was extremely unimpressed. read more

A friend suggested we try this nursery and we were so disappointed. We asked to see particular type of tree and were told they are scattered throughout the 3 acres of property, and walked off. I saw someone had a flyer and thought it provided a map. Instead it was 4 pages that listed the types of plants they sell, without a guide on where to find anything. None of the plants have a name or description of any kind so good luck trying to find them. There are little side trails throughout the property, leading to old junk items strewn about and dead ends. It is easy to get turned around so definitely don't go alone. If you are hoping to see something specific, do your research ahead of time as they suggest you look online for information about the item. read more

This may, at one time, been a great place but now seems to be in sad shape. There are large specimen succulents but the smaller plants in the shade house were few. The ones that remain seemed extremely dry and neglected. Very sad. read more

This simple little garden area is full of surprises! You need to walk past the front area with the large cacti and big succulents back to the greenhouse on the right hand side to find the little pots of rare plants. The Exotic Gardens has rare and exotic offerings for extremely reasonable prices. read more

This place is a wonderland for cactus and succulent lovers. The short trip out east, during record breaking triple digit weather, was definitely worth it. The large outdoor space is wall to wall in drought-tolerant eye candy. Prices are extremely competitive, especially if you don't mind taking on less than perfect medium to big varieties. I ended up taking home quite of few unusual succulent specimens and a neglected Opuntia macrocentra that I plan to nurse back to health. Workers were very knowledgeable and helpful. It goes without saying that I will be returning again, but I'll be better prepared to brave the heat and pick up thorny plants. Too bad I missed them in their heyday when they were located in my neighborhood. read more

See all

Not really an accurate account of the place since I came here for succulents and sadly they are fresh out of them and the employee said they won't have them replenished for a couple of weeks. They had a great selection of air plants that just came in however if that is what you seek. read more

Exotic Gardens - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - El Cajon, California

This place is UNREAL! Not only do they have amazing plants for incredibly reasonable costs, but their staff is so friendly! I bought 4 massive cacti and they loaded them into my jeep with a smile. I was shocked. HIGHLY recommend Exotic Gardens, you won't be sorry! read more

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOOOOOOOOVE!!!!! the best deals on succulents and cacti IN ALL OF THE LAND!!!! carl is the cactus king!!! i go here pretty much weekly. cactus are ADDICTING. once you start buying them, watch out- you will be HOOKED. you think you can buy just one? oh no no no. the staff is always friendly and helpful too. pretty much one of my favorite hang outs nowadays, haha. read more

This nursery specializes in succulents and other plants that tolerate dry conditions. While its overall selection is limited, its selection of these plants is quite outstanding. If you want to reduce your water usage to save money or be ecologically friendly while still having a visually striking garden, this might be a good place to go. Also, many of the plants sold here require very little care. The people who run this place really know what they're doing. Not only do they grow everything themselves, but the owner has a pretty good amount of experience dealing with each of the plants. Not only will he be able to give you more information than a typical staff-member at a nursery, but he knows the limit of his own knowledge and will be very straightforward if you ask him a question that he doesn't know. My experience with nurseries has shown that a lot of people B.S. their way through most customer's questions, and I really respect this business for not doing that. I think the prices here are still very reasonable. Consider that when you buy a plant here, you are getting something that was grown locally with minimal intervention. If you plant it in your garden here, it's much more likely to thrive than a plant that might look better or equally good, that you purchased from a commercial nursery that was watering it heavily and treating it heavily with various chemicals. read more

If you're in the market for succulents, you really should check this place out before you pay more for less elsewhere. My wife and I (thanks to Boulevard B's recommendation) gave this place a try, and I'm thrilled with the quality of product we got for the money. Lots of amazing plants, great advice, and friendly service. The only thing that's missing is the overhead you'll end up paying more for elsewhere! read more

If you like succulents, even just a little bit, you must visit! They have stuff I have never seen and I have been researching a succulent garden for a few months. The prices are really, really great. I am so glad I came in, and I know I will be back soon. read more