Made in SF with ❤️
San Francisco may be known for its iconic fog, but don’t let that fool you – it’s a fantastic city for cultivating your own urban jungle! I can direct you to the best plant store San Francisco. The mild climate and diverse microclimates make it possible to grow a wide variety of plants, both indoors and outdoors.
Understanding San Francisco’s Unique Climate
San Francisco’s climate is often described as Mediterranean, but it’s a bit more complex than that. The city experiences cool, foggy summers and rainy winters. This means you may need to choose outdoor plants that can tolerate both consistently cool temperatures and occasional dry spells. Additionally, the city has distinct microclimates, with some neighborhoods experiencing more fog, wind, and humidity than others. Learn more about San Francisco’s weather here.
Get Started Growing Plants in San Francisco
- Read “the Bible” and know your microclimate: The Bible of plant-growing in San Francisco is “Golden Gate Gardening” by Pam Pierce. Just recently re-released for it’s 30th anniversary, this is the go-to for anyone serious about gardening successfully in the Bay Area. Pam has spent years teaching horticulture at City College San Francisco and this book is a wealth of knowledge. I highly recommend picking up a copy. Before choosing plants, research the specific conditions in your neighborhood and look up your USDA Hardiness Zone. Some areas are foggier and windier than others.
- Take classes: Sloat Garden Center and Garden for the Environment have a whole host of workshops that you can take. Some are virtual and some are in person. Many of them are free. At the Garden for the Environment, you can learn to compost, grow your own food, and even learn about beekeeping.
- Plant in the right season and protect from frost: Most plants thrive when planted in the spring or fall, when temperatures are mild. San Francisco summer is really in September. Sloat has lots of growing tips and a local monthly calendar that you can reference. While it rarely experiences snow, San Francisco can experience occasional frosts during the winter time. Protect your plants by covering them with frost cloth or bringing them indoors.
- Water wisely and fertilize: San Francisco gets most of its rain in the winter, so you’ll need to supplement watering during the dry summer months. You can potentially utilize an irrigation system or I like to use a terracotta spike amazingly called the Plant Nanny. Also great for vacations when you can’t water your plants, Plant Nannys work by slowly feeding your plants water with wine bottles (which you may or may not have from any trips to wine country in Napa or Sonoma). Be sure to water deeply and less frequently to encourage strong root growth. If you decide to grow citrus trees, take care to make sure that do not get overwatered by the extensive rain. Use a balanced fertilizer to provide your plants with the nutrients they need to thrive.
Choosing the Right Plants
Here are some plants that thrive in San Francisco’s unique climate, no matter where you are in San Francisco:
- Succulents: Surprisingly, these drought-tolerant plants love the city’s sunny, dry summers and can handle the cooler temperatures and high humidity. I really like Rock Purslane, which grows like a weed and has bright purple flower tendrils.
- California natives: These plants are adapted to the local climate and require less water than many other species. The California poppy is a great example.
- Citrus trees: San Francisco’s mild winters allow for growing citrus trees like Meyer lemons and Bearr limes. They’ll need protection if it gets too cold, but with proper care and patience (trees take a long time to bear fruit), you can enjoy fresh citrus fruit right from your backyard (or balcony!).
- Herbs: Many herbs thrive in San Francisco’s climate (even the foggy ones), including rosemary, thyme, oregano, and mint. You can grow them in pots on your patio or windowsill or plant them in a sunny spot in your garden. A word of caution if you decide to grow mint: you should plant this in a container or it might take over your whole garden! Sadly, I’ve had no luck with basil whatsoever.
Where to Find Plants in San Francisco
San Francisco is home to a vibrant plant community, with many excellent nurseries and plant shops SF to choose from. Here are a few of my favorites:
For Outdoor Plants and Houseplants
SF Plants
SF Plants is a favorite of mine on Polk Street in the Nob Hill area. It’s nestled in the same building complex as Crustacean and Golden Veggie Market on the 2nd and 3rd floors. The 2nd floor shop level seems to mostly focus on houseplants, while the 3rd floor shop has more succulents and outdoor varieties. I don’t believe they have any garden vegetables here though. This shop also has many pet-friendly plant options and a fantastic selection of pots and plant accessories too. Plus, the staff here are super friendly and are always willing to share their plant care wisdom.
Flora Grubb Gardens
Flora Grubb Gardens is a plant lover’s paradise. This expansive garden center has everything you could ever want for your indoor and outdoor garden. They specialize in drought-tolerant plants, which is perfect for San Francisco’s climate. The space itself is gorgeous too, with plenty of inspiration for your own green space and a coffee shop to boot. I don’t know about you but I can always use a cup of Joe while I browse for plants.
Houseplants / Indoor Plants
The Plant Lady SF
In the Ingleside neighborhood right on Ocean Ave, this charming shop is a treasure trove of unique and hard-to-find houseplants (and carnivorous plants too). The owner, Jeannie Psomas, originally started the store on Instagram but opened a physical store in 2021. They have adorable cat pottery planters and plant accessories. It’s a bit off the beaten path for some, but they also do delivery via their website if you don’t want to come out this way! Also, in a stroke of dumb un-luckiness, a stray car tire recently flew into the store and broke their window while Jeannie was on a hard-earned vacation. My friend, Alyssa (@sendoodz), had just done a beautiful glass mural for them a few days earlier as a part of the Ocean Avenue Association‘s Wine and Art Walk. Amazingly in just a few days, not only was Alyssa able to create a new mural for them until the glass is replaced, and the shop is open and shoppable again!
The Mellow
For those in the Haight Ashbury area, The Mellow is a wonderful place to go. This boutique plant shop offers a small but nicely curated selection of indoor plants, with a focus on low-maintenance varieties. The vibe here is, as the name suggests, mellow, making it a relaxing place to pick out your next plant — there are plant misting machines throughout the shop for the plants (and maybe for you) that give a spa-like atmosphere! This plant store also has a coffee shop inside for your afternoon-pick-me-up. During the nighttime, they also host concerts called Mellow Sessions, in which they partner with local musicians. This is a perfect date-night activity or fun hang with fellow plant or music lovers.
For Outdoor Plants and Houseplants and Garden Vegetables
Sloat Garden Center
Sloat Garden Center has several locations around the Bay Area, but the Sloat branch is my favorite. It was supposed to get turned into condos, but thankfully that plan got nixed. For now, the Sloat location is wonderfully spacious and large and they apparently are one of the largest pottery importers in the US. They’ve got a wide variety of indoor and outdoor plants, gardening supplies, and helpful staff who can consult you on the perfect plants for your home’s climate. They also carry a bunch of citrus trees from local suppliers like Four Winds Growers. I got my drawf meyer lemon tree from here, which is a perfect candidate for San Francisco weather. With multiple locations across the city, there’s bound to be a Sloat near you (they even have a Sloat in Marin)!
Where do I find the cheapest plants?
Of course, I want to support our local plant shops in San Francisco, but if you are on a very tight budget, Trader Joes, Home Depot, and Lowe’s, and Costco are probably your best bet. Alternatively, if you have patience, you can often buy plants that are on the smaller side and grow them to be larger yourself. Sloat occasionally will have sales and promotions and their pottery deals are fantastic. You can also ask for cuttings from friends or join plant and Buy Nothing groups on Facebook.
Conclusion
Caring for plants in San Francisco can be a rewarding experience with the right plants and techniques. Embrace the unique climate and microclimates, and you’ll find that your garden and/or houseplants can flourish year-round!
Happy planting! 🌿
