I'm sure there must be some compelling reason why there are side-by-side competitive garden centers across from Heron's Head Park. The other one has a branding advantage since it's actually called Heron's Head Nursery and actually looks like a nursery, This one right next door is far more eclectic. They offer a nursery as well but also some interesting features like a camera obscura, a band stage, and live chickens and goats. The owner also sells outdoor art pieces and handmade xylophones. It's definitely not your mother's nursery...unless your mother is a poultry-loving percussionist. RELATED - Exploring Baypoint/Hunters Point? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3AOvRKv read more

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Came to buy native plants, learn more about our unique California native plants, after looking for anyone to ask/ talk to for over 15min. The owner (or person who works there ) was drunk, smelled like alcohol (mind you it was around noon mid week) and did not seem to care one bit on giving much attention to his plants(not to mention costumers). His radio was full on volume when I tried to ask something. The 1 star it less for this person's lack of service manners. It is for the very neglected, poor way they kept their plants on. Most plants on display seem to be super dry, shrunk and sad. It looks like maybe this place used to be a beautiful, when someone cared for it. Probably supporting native plants at one point, but now is it so run down, more like a dumpster (with some nice chicken to break the monogamy of yellow/brown dying plants). Too bad, as this place was highly recommended by the California native plant society, they sure need to update the records. read more

Tricky to find but well worth the journey. A wonderful place to wander about and pick out plants that will actually grow in SF read more

Bay Natives is truly unique. An arty nursery where you can see alot of beautiful, native plants grown in a "funky as the old San Francisco" setting. There's places to sit, bring a thermos or a picnic and relax. You can bike there, take a Heron's Head hike, sit at the skate park by the creek on Illinois, visit Building Resources, hear live music at the New Farm which borders City Grazing. Goats, chickens, live music, two gorgeous nurseries, eggs for sale it's a chance to get off your screen and walk around a truly unique area of San Francisco. Worth every second and every dollar thank you! read more

I really enjoyed visiting Bay Natives for the first time recently. The environment of this store is different from the average place where people get plants from, everything is pretty old-fashioned and a little run down. There was a large variety of native plants and they were well-kept. Some plants (the bigger ones such as the prickly pear cactus) looked like they would take some work to restore to a fully healthy plant though. Most plants (native, low-growing, shrubs) were really healthy and cost around $10-$15. There were free-ranging chickens and Bay Natives sells their organic eggs around $1. Considering that Bay Natives isn't a big company run by many people, I truly think that this place is a 4.5/5. I say -0.5 because during checkout, the man ringing us up seemed really disinterested/annoyed. That may be the way that he talks, but it wasn't pleasant and a business is still a business. He mentioned something about the carnivorous plant outside dying. The other employees were nice though, we had a good conversation, laughed, and chose a free grass from the Yelp Check-In before I left. read more

Reviews for this business are all over the place! Personally I had a great time! When I asked for help Paul kindly helped me, showed me a ton of options, and answered my many questions. He showed me around the garden and the updates hes been making. He even let me pet one of his chickens and meet some baby chicks. Super chill and I left very happy. Yay Paul! read more

Wow! Really amazed on how rude this business is. I just called to ask for a certain plant .. Paul answered my question then just hung up the phone. Will definitely not ever do business with this store. read more

Is this place the best or what? I love my my boogie Flora Grubb but for SF vibe there is no beating Bay Natives. Its fun just walking around and discovering all the variations among the chickens, goats, live music and camera Obscura. Bring your own food and drinks and ... um... smokable plants and enjoy the music, the weather and people. And buy a plant or two while your at it. read more

A great nursery with a fun atmosphere and super helpful staff. Very tight community with extensive knowledge in their craft. If you're looking for outdoor plants then this is absolutely the spot to go. Stick around for the live music every Saturday and Sunday. Love this hidden gem. read more

I loved the free-ranging chickens and goats (though, the goat den seemed a little cramped...). The store setup was also very cute and welcoming. They also had a band playing the day I went and coffee. However, the one thing that I didn't like was the cost of a chives plant I bought. It was $10! When I asked how much the chives plant was, the seller didn't even know how much it cost...he said, "Hmm, I can't remember." I noticed that he didn't have a change for $10, so I believe that's why he charged me $10. It should have been more like $5. I know it's a perennial, but it's so small and I can only use it three times this year. To rationalize the cost, I just hoped that part of my purchase was a donation to support the goats and chickens. *I came from Berkeley just to check out the place, but probably won't come back to buy plants. read more

Bay Natives Nursery - This tiny chives plant was $10!! (overpriced) - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - San Francisco, California

The place was nice.. they had a band playing.. Nice place to bring kids to see the chicken and goats while you shop. Found a beautiful plant and when we went to pay, the person said the price posted on the pot was actually more. We paid the extra because my husband really liked it. read more

Accidentally stumbled here when our destination was the park right across this place. It was a neat place to go around and check out the plants. I thought it was really interesting that they have goats in the back. It's like a museum for plants and they had a wide variety of them. We never encountered any employees. I think it was because we visited near closing time and they were busy watering the plants and tending the animals. Watch where your crossing because trucks cross here often! read more

Bay Natives Nursery - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Great selection, friendly chickens, and a camera obscura. All of my plants from here are happy with no care at all in their native habitat in my backyard. Thank you! read more

Cool place. Chickens and goats next door. Friendly helpful staff. I'm bummed they were out of milkweed but so happy more people are planting local varieties and saving the butterflies. I've been here twice in two weeks. I should just move in. read more

Really friendly folks with a wide selection of native plants. They helped me pick out some items appropriate for my space a couple months ago and the plants have been flourishing outside with zero intervention ever since. Really stoked to have a low-maintenance, butterfly & bee friendly space thanks to Bay Natives. Bonus: they've got such great chickens! read more

Went there last week - they really didn't have much of a selection. Maybe it's too early in the season. But probably worth going back soon. Suspect they do have natives that are otherwise difficult to find. We did get some joy out of the huge local goats though. read more

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A cute nursery with friendly staff. I planted the trees about 2 months ago and they seem to be doing fine. My only issue is that I spotted the exact same trees, same size at Home Depot for half the price. I understand that being a local nursery, Bay natives nursery might be a bit more expensive but paying double seems a bit much. read more

Interesting outdoor Nursery at Pier 96 in San Francisco. Free-range chickens roaming about. Friendly, helpful staff.

The staff all wear masks, when speaking with them they kept a safe distance. I brought my 16 month old daughter and we felt safe. I love that they goats and exotic chickens there. We ended up staying for about an hour and didn't feel rushed. I'm actually headed there now to re-pot a plant. read more

Very painful to have to write this review as I have been a Bay Natives customer for a while. But after their self described 'drunk' employee flipped me off, waved his middle finger 2 inches from my nose, and repeatedly shouted "F*CK YOU! F*CK YOU!" I'm done. My crime? He had stuffed a small tree into my car that I wanted to purchase. They way he'd done it, he had the branches filling the driver seat and passenger seat. I told him I didn't want to drive like that because it wasn't safe. So after he stuffed the tree in, stripping off foliage and spilling dirt from the container in my car, I had the audacity to take the tree out and try to load it safely. Apparently this meant I was pushing him around, because that's when he started cussing at me and saying how he was "..tired of people pushing me around!" He was so furious that I wouldn't drive with the tree the way he loaded it that he got right up in my face to tell me he wouldn't sell it to me, the way he was shaking I was afraid he was going to become violent. Again, it really hurts to write this, but that was such a horrific experience that I was anxious for my own safety, so I feel like I have to say something. read more

I cannot recommend this business enough! So many rare, unusual, and ornamental natives and functional bay area applicable plants you may never have seen if you didn't go. Last time I went there were also chickens, goats, and a camera obscura! Also community! Hats off to whoever selects and grows these unusual plants. If you are in the "bird and butterfly" crowd, their selections will get your colleagues talking! Such a local gem!!! read more

Three of my 15 plants died within the 1st week. They never answer email. Kinda bummed.

Dropped in to find some California native plants to plant in our backyard. The staff were knowledgeable and nice. I think prices are a little high, however. For the particular plant that we were looking for, we were quoted $10 a gallon from one of our landscaping friends, and the price at Bay Natives was $12 a gallon (so about a 20% premium). Really appreciated the interesting atmosphere with chickens and goats all around, so it was a nice experience. Parking is easy in their little lot. read more

It was my 2nd time at this place last weekend, this place is 45 mins away from me but was at sfo and thought sure, I'll go an extra miles since I enjoyed the 1st visit here and bought a lot of stuff. When I came in, I asked this older gentleman probably in his 50s rugged looking guy for a flowering native plant that will survive full shade. He pointed me to this one specific plant outside the counter door. I responded, is there another option? Then his rude demeanor said, that's it. There's no other option, what's wrong w this plant? What are you expecting? In my head as a customer, nothing wrong w the plant but I do want to know if there are other plant more suited for my taste. I asked the 2nd time, so you are telling me there's no other plant in this entire store that will survive "full shade" he's even ruder this time w his no answer. This guy just has poor customer service and just plain rude. I'm happy to take my business elsewhere and will never return to this store. Such a waste of time. read more

I've followed Bay Natives on Facebook for a few months now, and when I learned that they would be having a sale at one of the gardens on the Go Native Garden Tour this month, it was a no-brainer that I'd have to stop by. They don't have a physical nursery that you can go peruse (one of the reasons I wanted to be sure to hit the sale), they do all of their sales online, but they do deliver in the SF Bay Area or you can pick up your purchases at their administrative office in San Francisco. These guys know their stuff; I was interested in purchasing some manzanita and some madrone, and they were very helpful in helping me pick which plants would be happiest in my south San Jose yard, and what kind of conditions they'd need to thrive. They were very friendly and approachable, and they make it easy to pick plants that are going to thrive not only because they're native and they belong there, but because their plants are all healthy and beautiful. I'd give them five stars if they had a retail location; overall that doesn't take away from the excellence that is Bay Natives, it's just a personal preference that I like to see a plant before I bring it home. I definitely recommend Bay Natives, & will be hitting them up again soon for some more plants as I strive to make my yard a naturally native place. Thanks guys! read more

Bay Natives is one of my favorite places in the city, and a true San Francisco gem for native plants. When I replaced my garden with natives years back, Bay Natives was a life saver, they always had the varieties that I was looking for. My wife and I brought our son with us today, he got to feed goats, meet chickens (they roam around all over the property), and see, smell, and touch all the various plants in the nursery. Paul the owner is extremely friendly and informative. He knows exactly what will survive in various climates in the bay area. Since the day they opened the nursery, it has attracted birds, native bees, and butterflies, that swarm the on site garden in the back. One star for great customer, Paul is the man! One star for the mass selection, and healthy plants One star for the kid friendly atmosphere One star for an actual native nursery in the industrial part of San Francisco One star for on site goats and chickens Add them all up... five stars! read more

Went today for the first time. Great vibe. Goats, chickens, and live music some days. Wanted some coastal natives for my yard, local to SF, outer Sunset area. Tamia was super knowledgable and very helpful. Skip the fake, plastic lawn, and instead get some natives that are drought tolerant at Bay Natives Nursery - plenty to choose from. You, and the birds, butterflies, and bees will be happier that way :-) read more

Beautiful nursery for natives with companion nursery for standard plants..all great quality...weekend bonus free outdoor music ...and those chickens running around are so cool too! A real San Francisco experience! read more

What a cool discovery! Great selection of interesting plants, helpful and accessible staff, goats, trains, great for kids and adults too. read more

Bay Natives Nursery - Cool and interesting garden stuffs - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - San Francisco, California

Love Bay Natives! I have bought 3 toyons, one elderberry, an angelica plant, two twinberries, a fremontia, sages, a manzanita, and more for my urban garden. All are thriving! Sometimes I worry about the plants for a year or two as they seem to struggle, and then they take off! So have patience and you will be well rewarded with foliage, flowers, berries, birds, and butterflies. My neighbors ask how I do it. I buy from Bay Natives, put the plants in the ground, and wait. Aside from benefiting the environment, it's a heck of a lot easier than trying to create artificial conditions for plants that derive from somewhere else. read more

What a neat surprise! While I was searching for strictly indoor plants and therefore didn't buy anything, I love everything about this nursery. We pulled into a parking spot right by a bunch of goats, which instantly put a smile on my face. Not something I expected to see at a plant nursery in the Bayview. The chicken coop was fun, too. I'm certain that if I were a chicken, this is the place I'd want to be. I'm giving this place 5 stars because: 1. Their name clearly explains what they sell. I think having a single source for native plants is wonderful. The friendly employee watering the plants told me they mostly specialize in outdoor plants and trees - not container gardening. 2. The goats and chickens 3. Ample parking 4. The wooden xylophones 5. The random plants that I'm betting are not for sale. I finally know what poison oak looks like in person. read more

Being a new gardener to the city, my husband and I are always on the look out for plants to experiment with. This nursery is definitely the coolest nursery I have visited in the area. From the variety in native plants + edible plants (I found tarragon!) to the goats, chickens, and friendly owner. So glad we ventured out to Bay Natives and will be returning! read more

Love this place. Incredible selection of Bay Area native plants; best for outdoor/landscaping concerns, but a lot of plants that work indoors as well. It's a delight to visit: the happy chickens and chicks waddling around, and the amazing percussion instruments made in-house. Beautiful setting right on the Bay, too. read more

Weird nursery. Everything was limp and not very enticing to buy. I didn't see one person that worked there. And it had minimal plants. Will not be visiting there. read more

Best source for native plant species in the Bay Area. Very helpful staff as well. I will be going back soon to replant my new front yard!

If a native plant nursery were plopped down in the middle of Burning Man, this would be it. Except everyone is wearing clothes. Check it out as a resource for native plants. A very cool place unlike any other type of nursery. Go with an open mind. India Basin is industrial and hip part of town, just south of DogPatch. The owner and nursery are what makes San Francisco a special place still. read more

Very over priced and the plants don't look to be in such great shape. I was looking to buy a mantilla poppy. They wanted three times as much as elsewhere in town and were essentially selling a root bound stump in a pot. The roots were growing out of the drain holes... Mantilla poppies don't transfer well if their root ball is disturbed. I suppose one could try to cut the pot off and hope for the best. However, that situation combined with cutting it back in the middle of growing season makes me wonder about their knowledge and care of their stock. read more

Accidentally stumbled upon this place while bike riding last weekend, took a look because I was bored, and within 5 minutes I decided this was my favorite store in all of San Francisco. It's strange to even call this place a store because it is so much more than that. It is a farm, with chickens that you can watch (the owner(?) called it chicken TV!), fresh eggs for sale, and lots of goats that you can feed stray grass to from the Goat Food box. It's an art gallery, with fun and unique chairs and tables handcrafted and upcycled from extra wood -- there was even wooden xylophone, and the owner(?) played a song for us! It is a forest, with hundreds of plant and tree varieties, large and small, some with fruit, others with flowers, where you can almost get lost in the different sections and aisles. And lastly, it's a museum, of all the wonderful and native beauty that our SF Bay Area has to offer. Walked out with a $6 grassy ball and a full heart from knowing places like this exist right next to us. read more

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this place! When we decided to tear out out back yard and plant all natives this was a major source for our plants! They have a great selection and it seems to keep getting better and better. We first visited them the week they opened and the difference in the selection from then to now is really amazing. Their prices are very reasonable too! If you are looking for something specific you can always call first to make sure they have it. read more

So happy to find this place today! We are new homeowners with a yard in need of lots of TLC. Being interested in going the native route, I found this place on line and went in to find out what would work with our microclimate, soil, shade, and fog. I came away with a long list of plants that Bay Natives carries that are potential plantings for us. Paul really seems to have a love for California native plants and particularly for the San Francisco climate. I had stopped in at another local nursery, and when I asked about natives, I got a big shrug. Really grateful these guys are here! read more