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 San Diego Specialty Plants & Gardens

Open Monday-Saturday 8am-5pm

Sundays 9am-2pm

Waterwise Botanicals is more than a nursery and welcomes both homeowners and the landscape trade industry. We are always striving to assure convenience and confidence as we continue to offer quality and diversity of plant material. We have acres of beautiful nursery and growing grounds, including demonstration gardens, ponds, and a shade house full of creative treasures to inspire you.


We invite you to come and explore our location out in the country away from the stresses of daily life. We like to describe ourselves as having a touch of “rustic elegance”. Take time out to sit in our gazebo in the Cottage Garden, or bring a snack or lunch to enjoy at our picnic tables near our ponds.

Salvia greggii pruning demonstration at Waterwise Botanicals!

By Jackie Jesch • September 3, 2025
Also known as Autumn Sage, we like to call them “Crayon Sage” because of their dazzling variety of vibrant colors! This hardy, drought-tolerant plant is a pollinator favorite, bringing butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds into your garden year-round. What you'll learn in this video! Pruning Tips for Thriving Salvias: Prune regularly to keep plants full and blooming In summer: Cut back stems, but leave green leaves In cooler months: Cut back more heavily to rejuvenate growth Fertilize with a high-nitrogen formula to keep them lush and thriving Explore Waterwise Botanicals Come wander through acres of lush demonstration gardens, meet the butterflies, and enjoy the beauty of nature. Find your perfect Salvia and so much more! 📍 Open to the public 7 days a week 💵 No admission fees & Free parking

Opuntia Ellisiana – Thornless Prickly Pear Cactus at Waterwise Botanicals

September 3, 2025
Meet the ultimate multi-purpose plant! Opuntia Ellisiana is a beautiful, cold-hardy, thornless prickly pear cactus that’s edible, low-maintenance, and fire-resistant. This unique cactus not only protects your home and property but also provides delicious and nutritious food. CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FULL VIDEO! 🌸 Bloom Time: Spring to early summer, producing vibrant yellow flowers that add seasonal color and attract pollinators. 🍐 Edible Fruit & Pads: The young pads (known as nopales) can be cooked into flavorful tacos and dishes, packed with nutrients and superfood benefits. The cactus also produces bright, juicy fruits (tunas) in late summer to fall that are sweet and refreshing. 🔥 Fireproof Planting : Because its pads are full of water, Opuntia Ellisiana will not ignite easily in wildfire conditions, making it a smart choice for fire-wise landscaping. (Disclaimer: While we cannot guarantee no homes will be 100% protected, this plant’s water-filled pads are highly resistant to burning.) 👉 Explore more of our HOT SHOTS fire-wise plants on our website. CLICK HERE TO VIEW A LIST OF OUR HOT SHOTS COLLECTION! 🌿 Visit Waterwise Botanicals – open 7 days a week with free admission and parking. Wander nearly 20 acres of gardens and inspiration!

A Plant Nursery & Nature Experience

It’s been said, we are a “Plant Lover’s Paradise”, so as you wander our growing grounds under the beautiful skies, in the hills of North County San Diego, discover the intriguing beauty of our drought tolerant selections and much more… Enjoy the diversity of succulents, or the structure and dynamic impact of cacti. Walk through row upon row of romantic roses and see the dance of ornamental grasses in the breeze. Delight in the grace of colorful perennials, and explore our shade house, a wonderland of fun, gifts and temptations.

Waterwise Botanicals is a place to dream and adventure… wear your comfy, but sturdy shoes and bring a camera to capture the ambiance of our unique nursery, rich in wildlife and nature. You are likely to see birds, and lizards, along with fish and frogs in our ponds. Occasionally, a turtle or two will climb out on a log to sun bathe. We are a working, growing, evolving nursery, so you will observe workers in the fields, or tractors loading plants and mixing soil, making your visit much like the fun of a field trip!

Waterwise Botanicals Events & Workshops

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