It's closed!! June 2025. Empty lot. All gone. So sad I used to go there for advice and good prices. Anyone know where they went or another option? read more

Shelly is a delight and so, so informative. She has revitalized my garden and how I approach it. World Wide Exotics has the most interesting selection of succulents, cacti and shrubs. So worth the trip up to Sunland, and I am so glad I found this place before they close (they are retiring) this fall. read more

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Store that carries snack and drinks from abroad. We bought Kit Kats from Japan, Lay's from China...in a variety of flavors you can't get readily in US stores. Worth the visit! read more

World Wide Exotics - Hidden in this strip mall in La Mesa, across from Farmer's Table. - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - Los Angeles, California

By far my favorite nursery to visit!!!! Ken and Shelly are very knowledgeable!!!! The place for exotics is here!!! Best selection of cactus and agaves & succulent's!!! From small to large. read more

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I am surprised this wonderful business doesn't have thousands of reviews. They sell the most beautiful, exotic plants. I purchased succulents for my business about 6 years ago and now again for my backyard. Shelly the owner is such a beautiful person. She explained the plants to me in detail and helped me pick out the perfect ones for my backyard. Not only did she do that but accommodated and opened on days they were closed and didn't even hassle me for it. Not to mention that their prices are very reasonable and affordable. I can't wait to be back again for my front yard. read more

I had been searching for succulents to redo my yard for a while. The only nurseries I found that had an OK selection were really expensive. Thankfully a landscaper I know tipped me off to World Wide Exotics. Imagine succulents as far as the eye can see. Imagine strange and wonderful plants that look like they came from another planet. Imagine if you will, staff that is actually friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. This place is awesome. It's huge, almost to the point of being overwhelming. I spoke with Sarah and she was able to direct me to some good options. They have a ton of aloes, agaves, and ground cover and a good selection of other native and drought-tolerant plants. I also saw some of the biggest air plants I've ever seen. Check out their website before you go. I scored by going on a day that everything was 25% off. It's kind of a trek to get there, but it's worth it. read more

I love it here..to walk around and buy maybe one, special, forever plant! THey have lots of "exotic" plants from all over the world, how did they get them? Talk to the owners, they have lots of great stories of maybe or maybe not smuggling things in suitcases....Definitely worth it to go just to see the 10K cactus they got over there. Only 2 drawbacks: 1. their prices are a bit steep, but the plants are UNIQUE, not the normal home depot ones you see (for that go to Foothill, they actually contract to Home Depot...) 2. That 10k cactus...It takes over 1000 years to get that big, and only grows in 1 specific desert in Mexico. Which means...someone went to the desert, dug it up from the place it grew and thrived for 1000 years to then turn around, put it in a constricted pot and sell it. The cactus is beautiful, but I have a hard time with this thought. read more

Long the professionals favorite- Such great prices! I found out about World Wide from our neighbor who is a landscape designer. Huge selection of agaves, aloes and succulents. Their stock is well suited to the different soils and climates of Los Angeles area. Their prices have always been reasonable for unusual and hard to find exotics as well as more common planting favorites. read more

I'm writing this because I want there to be a 2014 review for this wonderful place. It was recommended by my brother and I'm so grateful! Shelly is an expert willing to take the time to educate customers. I had a great time wandering with her and talking through my project. Her pride and passion is evident. And the prices are amazing. Skip the impersonal big box experience and come here instead. read more

Definitely worth the trip out to Sylmar! If you need succulents for your landscaping - this is the the place to go. The mother-daughter team are very knowledgeable and helpful. In addition, the prices are fantastic. I purchased very sizable, healthy plants for a fraction of the price I would have spent at the big in-town nurseries. I believe they are only on the weekends (possibly only Saturday) and they only accept cash. read more

I met Shelly Jennings at the Hollywood Farmer's Market, where she and her husband Ken, set up shop on Sundays. My landlord had ripped a 12 year-old fuchsia bougainvillea out of my garden, and I was in garden shock and mourning. But I decided to create a garden that would attract butterflies and hummingbirds. So, with Shelly's expert help, Sunday by Sunday, she suggested different varieties of blooming, beautiful and hearty plants. I bought one plant at time, and before I knew it, I had the most beautiful garden just outside my office door. Mornings and evenings, hummingbirds hovered, nestling their long noses into purple exotic plants while butterflies flitted from one pink pod flower to another. I had an entire wall of pink jasmine - it was magical. You can't get any cheaper therapy than a garden - so in these economically challenging times? Buy yourself a plant, and before long you, too, can have a garden. I was forced to move from my beautiful garden, but last week, when I smelled the pink jasmine blooming in the 'hood, I stopped by Shelly's stand and bought myself a new jasmine plant to start a new garden. If you have time, drive out to the nursery and see acres of exotic plants, and best of all all the baby exotics... so cute! read more

The staff at this nursery was very helpful and so much more knowledgable than Home Depot or Lowes. They pointed me in the right direction for drought tolerant flowering plants. I am slowly replaced grass areas with low maintenance low water varieties and they understood my ideas immediately. On top of it all, the prices were completely reasonable. I will never buy a plant froma big box store again! read more

Totally worth the drive! A plant that's $20 at Cactus Center will run about $9 here! You have to know what you're doing..it's not a place for a Sunday stroll, but if you are looking for specific plants at wholesale prices, this is the place. I went there with a friend who's a landscape designer, but I think anyone can go. Best to call firstto find out if they're open, I suppose. The place is hard to find--you have to drive down a long dirt road. It's near a big stable. read more

This place is only open on Saturdays but whether you're a casual or professional gardener of succulents and cactus you must check this place out. It has a huge collection of plants spread out along the side of the 210 over what must be at least a couple of acres. The woman who owns it always has great advice about the plants I've purchased. And, the prices are lowest I've seen anywhere in L.A. Definitely worth a trip to Sylmar. read more

I have just come back from my first visit to this nursery and I am very impressed. Their selection of drought-tolerant plants is outstanding and I found specimens that I have never seen at other nurseries. The owners are very knowledgeable about drought-tolerant plants and willing to spend time with you to explain the needs of each individual plant (water and sun requirements, size at maturity, etc.) All of the plants here are grown on premise. If you see plastic pots with names like Monrovia, it is because they are recycled/reused. Best of all, the prices here are the lowest that I have found -- sometimes even cheaper than Home Depot or Lowes -- and most of the plants are available in smaller sizes, which is really great when you are trying to stretch your budget. The only drawbacks are that they are open one day a week (Saturday) and do not take credit cards. If you are starting a drought-tolerant garden or yard, this is the place to go. read more