Sacramento sits in the heart of California’s Central Valley, where a long, sunny growing season and a deep agricultural heritage make for an excellent nursery scene. From a beloved local chain with over a thousand reviews to destination nurseries with cafes and exotic-plant specialists, the region has something for every gardener.
Whether you are planting fruit trees, hunting for a rare houseplant, or filling pots for a patio, there is a Sacramento-area nursery for you. Here are ten of the best, with addresses, phone numbers, and hours to help you plan a visit.
Before you go
Nursery hours, locations, and details change with the seasons and over time. The information below was accurate when this guide was compiled, but please confirm current hours, address, and stock on each nursery’s own website or Google listing before making a trip.
How we chose these nurseries
This is a researched roundup of well-regarded Sacramento-area nurseries, chosen because they appear consistently across local recommendations and reviews and have strong reputations among Central Valley gardeners.
We have favored independent, locally owned garden centers and plant shops known for quality plants, climate-appropriate selections, and knowledgeable staff over big-box stores. A few of the best are just outside Sacramento, in Loomis and Auburn, and we have noted each location so you know what to expect.
The 10 best plant nurseries in Sacramento
1. Green Acres Nursery & Supply
The region’s beloved all-rounder, with a 4.7 rating across more than 1,000 reviews at its Jackson Road location and several stores around the area. Green Acres is a full-service nursery with a huge, locally sourced selection of plants, trees, and supplies.
Reviewers rave about the knowledgeable, genuinely happy staff and the quality and variety, several mention prices beating Lowe’s and Home Depot, plants set aside and held for them, and alerts when a wanted plant arrives. One sums it up: happy staff leads to happy plants.
It is many locals’ first choice and a natural starting point for any Sacramento gardener.
- Address: 8501 Jackson Rd, Sacramento, CA 95826
- Phone: (916) 381-1625
- Website: idiggreenacres.com
- Hours: Mon to Sat 7am to 7pm, Sun 8am to 7pm
- Rating: 4.7 stars (1,000+ Google reviews)
2. High-Hand Nursery
A true destination nursery in Loomis, with a 4.7 rating, that is part garden center, part experience. High-Hand pairs a beautifully maintained nursery with a popular cafe, a brewery, a winery, live music, and an art gallery, all on one lush site.
Reviewers describe the artistry and love that pour into the plants, and the joy of strolling the grounds before or after a meal. There is even a succulent-potting station where you choose a container and plants and assemble your own. Reservations are recommended for the busy cafe.
It is well worth the drive from Sacramento for a half-day outing as much as a plant haul.
- Address: 3750 Taylor Rd, Loomis, CA 95650
- Phone: (916) 660-0117
- Website: highhandnursery.com
- Hours: Mon to Sat 9am to 5pm, Sun 9am to 4pm
- Rating: 4.7 stars (340+ Google reviews)
3. The Plant Foundry
A wonderful independent nursery and store on Broadway, with a 4.5 rating, beloved for unusual and unexpected plants. The Plant Foundry stocks cool and uncommon finds, corpse flowers, living stones, unusual cacti, and natives you do not often see, at honest prices.
Reviewers praise the happy, healthy plants and the friendly, helpful staff, with names like Dena and Shane mentioned for walking customers through their plant needs, repotting help, and beginner guidance. They also mix and sell their own soil and carry a nice seed selection.
One honest note: a reviewer had an issue with a soil mix, so as with any shop, results can vary, but the plant selection and service earn strong praise.
- Address: 3621 Broadway, Sacramento, CA 95817
- Phone: (916) 917-5787
- Website: plantfoundry.com
- Hours: Seasonal, confirm current hours before visiting
- Rating: 4.5 stars (320+ Google reviews)
4. Exotic Plants Ltd
A unique Fulton Avenue plant shop, with a 4.6 rating, specializing in exotic and unusual plants, bonsai, orchids, and carnivorous plants, with striking moss wall art and a space for plant-art creation. It feels more like a gallery than a typical garden center.
Reviewers love the wide variety of plants they had never seen before, the friendly, knowledgeable staff, named reviewers mention Jeff for thoughtful plant tips, and the fun discount-rock you pick at the register. Plants run a little pricey, which is the main critique, but the selection is special.
It is a great stop for collectors and anyone wanting something out of the ordinary. Note it is closed Mondays.
- Address: 1525 Fulton Ave, Sacramento, CA 95825
- Phone: (916) 922-4769
- Website: exoticplantsltd.com
- Hours: Tue to Sun 11am to 5pm, closed Mon
- Rating: 4.6 stars (140+ Google reviews)
5. Fair Oaks Boulevard Nursery
A charming, well-loved nursery and gift boutique, with a 4.4 rating, praised as one of the best in Sacramento for its selection and service. It offers ornamental and fruiting plants, bonsai, and a treasure-filled gift shop.
Reviewers mention finding unusual plants and trees they had not seen elsewhere in town, plenty of herb and flower varieties, and warm, friendly staff and owner, plus a resident shop cat helping in the bonsai section. The boutique draws special praise for unique gifts, ornaments, and decor.
A lovely, personal nursery that rewards a slow browse.
- Address: 4681 Fair Oaks Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95864
- Phone: (916) 483-1830
- Website: fairoaksblvdnursery.com
- Hours: Daily 8:30am to 4pm
- Rating: 4.4 stars (200+ Google reviews)
6. Talini’s Nursery and Garden Center
A neighborhood garden center on Folsom Boulevard, with a 4.5 rating, that many locals consider a gem. Talini’s offers a wide variety of plants, trees, seeds, indoor plants, pottery, and outdoor decor, with clearance sections worth browsing.
Reviewers describe a beautiful shop with friendly, helpful staff, and appreciate harder-to-find items like peat moss alongside the usual fare. It is a favorite alternative to the big-box stores for everyday garden needs.
One honest note: a reviewer felt some plants were not as well kept and parking is limited, so it can be hit or miss, but the neighborhood loyalty runs deep.
- Address: 5601 Folsom Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95819
- Phone: (916) 451-8150
- Website: talinisnursery.com
- Hours: Daily 9am to 5:30pm
- Rating: 4.5 stars (120+ Google reviews)
7. Emigh Ace Hardware (and Garden Center)
Not a pure nursery, but a Sacramento institution worth knowing: Emigh is a beloved, family-run Ace Hardware on El Camino Avenue, with a 4.7 rating across more than 1,700 reviews and a genuinely good indoor and outdoor garden section.
Reviewers describe a 60-year community relationship and the kind of curated, knowledgeable, personal service big-box stores cannot match, with one calling it the best hardware store in Northern California. The garden center, flowers, and seasonal plants get repeat praise alongside the hardware.
A great one-stop option if you want plants plus everything else for a project.
- Address: 3555 El Camino Ave, Sacramento, CA 95821
- Phone: (916) 482-1900
- Website: emighhardware.com (or its Ace Hardware store page)
- Hours: Mon to Sat 7am to 7pm, Sun 8am to 7pm
- Rating: 4.7 stars (1,700+ Google reviews)
8. Green Acres at Eisley’s (Auburn)
A historic nursery in Auburn now run by Green Acres, with a 4.7 rating, carrying on the legacy of Eisley’s, famous for its poinsettias since the 1950s. It is a big, well-stocked garden center with houseplants, gardening, trees, shrubs, and ground cover.
Reviewers call it one of the best nurseries they have visited in a decade, praising the huge selection, healthy plants, and an amazing gift shop, with friendly staff, fresh popcorn, and good music adding to the experience. Longtime customers still order its poinsettias each year.
Worth the drive from Sacramento, especially around the holidays.
- Address: 380 Nevada St, Auburn, CA 95603
- Phone: (530) 885-5163
- Website: idiggreenacres.com
- Hours: Mon to Sat 7am to 7pm, Sun 8am to 7pm
- Rating: 4.7 stars (480+ Google reviews)
9. Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply (Grass Valley)
A well-known organic and edible-gardening specialist in Grass Valley, in the Sierra foothills northeast of Sacramento, with a 4.2 rating. Peaceful Valley focuses on organic, non-GMO gardening, with a large selection of fruit and nut trees, berries, perennial edibles, seeds, and natural pest control.
Reviewers who shop in person praise the huge selection of bare-root fruit trees, California natives, and organic supplies. It is a destination for serious edible and organic gardeners.
One honest, important caveat: its mail-order side draws mixed reviews, with several customers reporting slow shipping or disappointing bare-root deliveries, so it is best visited in person, where the selection shines.
- Address: 125 Clydesdale Ct, Grass Valley, CA 95945
- Phone: (888) 784-1722
- Website: groworganic.com
- Hours: Mon to Sat 9am to 5pm, Sun 10am to 4pm
- Rating: 4.2 stars (150+ Google reviews)
10. Local plant shops and seasonal sales
Beyond the big names, the Sacramento area has a growing crop of small, independent plant shops and seasonal plant sales worth seeking out for houseplants and a personal touch, the kind of boutique spots and pop-ups that change and move around the region.
These smaller shops often have the most curated, collector-friendly houseplant selections and the most personal service, though they can change location or hours seasonally. Local plant groups and the Sacramento area’s botanical and master-gardener plant sales are great sources for current favorites.
Because these smaller shops and sales change frequently, always confirm current details and dates before making a special trip.
- Tip: search local plant-swap and houseplant groups for current Sacramento favorites and seasonal sale dates.
- Note: master-gardener and botanical-garden plant sales are excellent, affordable sources for locally adapted plants.
Tips for shopping Sacramento nurseries
A few things help you get the most from a Sacramento nursery trip. Lean on the local independents for plants suited to the Central Valley’s hot, dry summers and clay soils, since locally grown and adapted plants establish far more reliably than generic stock.
Plant in fall when you can. In the Central Valley, autumn planting lets roots establish over the mild, wet winter before the brutal summer heat, while spring is the busiest, best-stocked shopping season.
Ask the staff for advice tuned to the local climate and your sun exposure, since locally knowledgeable employees are one of the biggest advantages of an independent nursery over a big-box store. And always inspect a new plant for pests and healthy roots before buying.
Which Sacramento nursery is your favorite, or is there a local gem we should add to this list? Leave a comment below and let me know.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best plant nursery in Sacramento?
Green Acres Nursery & Supply is the big, beloved all-rounder with multiple locations and over 1,000 reviews. For a destination experience, High-Hand Nursery in Loomis is a favorite, and for unusual and exotic plants, The Plant Foundry and Exotic Plants stand out. All are highly rated.
Where can I buy houseplants in Sacramento?
For houseplants, Green Acres, The Plant Foundry, Exotic Plants, and Fair Oaks Boulevard Nursery are local favorites with strong indoor-plant selections, including unusual and rare finds. Most Sacramento garden centers also carry a good houseplant section.
Are these nurseries all inside Sacramento city limits?
Most are in or near Sacramento, but several of the best are in nearby towns, such as High-Hand in Loomis and Green Acres at Eisley’s in Auburn. All are an easy drive for Sacramento-area gardeners.
What is the best time of year to plant in Sacramento?
Fall is ideal in the Central Valley. Planting in autumn lets roots establish over the mild, wet winter before the hot, dry summer. Spring is the busiest shopping season, and the long season suits a wide range of plants.
Why buy from a local Sacramento nursery instead of a big-box store?
Local nurseries stock plants suited to the Central Valley’s hot, dry summers and clay soils, often locally grown, and their staff give advice tuned to the local climate. That regional knowledge is hard to get at a national chain.
