Such a cute little nursery! Also, maybe I don't know typical nursery pricing, but I thought everything was pretty lowball in terms of pricing (but I don't normally deal with outdoorsy-plantsy stuff, so who knows). Boyfriend and I brought his sister here to pick out some plants for her bedroom as part of her redecorating scheme. They have a pretty cute little selection of succulents (even some pre-designed setups too, laid out in the front of the shop), and I was thrown that the little 2 in. plants were only ~$3 each! HOW CUTE! They also sell some planters and plates and other planty knickknacks for a decent price (I got the dish my succulents sit on for about $5). I didn't really interact with any of the employees here, so I don't know if their customer service is off or not (which seems to be the main complaint about this place). Overall, I really like this nursery (shop local when you can!) and I plan on coming back soon to buy some air plants for my office! Hopefully I'll have more success keeping THOSE alive than I seem to be having keeping my succulents alive... read more

Encinal Nursery - Mini succulents! - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - Alameda, California

I wasn't planning on buying any plants this holiday weekend (famous last words), but somehow the stars aligned and the beautiful, massive Monstera I saw on Instagram had not been purchased by the time I got to it. Got some details over Instagram as soon as the nursery opened today, then immediately got on the phone to buy it. I had previously purchased plants over the phone (including a giant golden pothos I had also seen on IG), but I usually go in to pick things up myself. This time, the staff member that helped me out also checked out which pots were available that would work for my new plant (thank you!), and I selected one sight unseen. The nursery repotted the Monstera for me in said pot and delivered to my house - all in the space of about four hours. The praise from my previous reviews still applies: the plant is even better in person (probably one of if not the nicest Monstera I've ever seen in someone's house - except this time it's in my house!), and it was transported with care and delivered by two friendly staff members. I always feel like I'm getting a good value here, especially because they offer services like repotting and delivery. I haven't seen this size Monstera available for what I paid anywhere else; if anything, other specimens I've seen have maybe been about half the size or smaller while being at least $100 more expensive. Encinal Nursery always comes through. read more

I'm so happy my coworker introduced me to this place. Now I have a place I can visit at lunch. The workers here were pretty knowledgeable and I was able to find some pretty cool succulents. This place also has some really neat flowers. I never thought I would go that route but I ended up leaving with some and they're beautiful (a new hurdle I'm going to have to learn to cross) In the back they have this large greenhouse full of ferns, flowers and succulents. Even a lot of other house plants. The prices are pretty average. I was hoping to get some herb plants but they informed me "Winter is coming". I will say this place has pretty well priced ceramics and they also have wooden planters!!!! Just what I needed to being growing my tomatoes in the coming months!! And it was nice to see that they also make room for selling Christmas trees. I will definitely be coming back from time toting to catch the best for the season. read more

Encinal Nursery - Front view - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - Alameda, California

Greg and his team are the best. They are always helpful and have a great selection of healthy plants that do well in this area. Whenever I pick a plant, they offer suggestions on care and ask if I need plant food or soil. They were have delivered large orders to my house on several occasions and are prompt and friendly when they arrive. I have purchased plants from big box stores before and my success rate at keeping them alive is probably half that as what I get when I buy from Encinal. Factor in my time and money, plus the overall experience of shopping there and Encinal Nursery beats the competitors every time. read more

Best nursery I have been to ! They have everything - beautiful pots , plant stands, indoor houseplants , herb starts , seeds - they have it all ! And great customer service . Love this place ! read more

I've been going to Encinal Nursery for 20 years. This spring I did all my garden shopping there and the staff was super pandemic safe with gloves masks and lots of cleaning. Today I went with about $400 worth of soil supplements fertilizer and plants on my list and of the 5 staff members I saw, one was half masked with his nose uncovered and 3 others had no mask or masks around their chin or neck. I know they are outside but they were moving plants and pallets around so respirating and in close proximity to customers and other staff, no distancing. I'm so disappointed and sad that a local business doesn't exercise appropriate care. Two stars, not zero, for 20 years of service but not masking is not cool at all. read more

Came for some kind of flower bush. Unfortunately I fell in love with the hibiscus but wouldn't be ideal for the pot I have. Very nice place and layout is great. A lot of plants were ok great condition. A lot of choices but this is my first time building a garden sooo I don't know if you can trust me. Prices were good and comparable to Home Depot. Again I'm a beginner at this. Something stuck me as odd, not enough workers out helping around the place. I was greeted with an odd look, maybe because I'm black and natural hair. She knew some but was alil unsure about most things. I need a pro to point me in the right direction. I give you measurements and how much time I have to care for the babies and in return give me a few of the best plants to have. One thing was the planter boxes they over charge for them. Well to me. My advice just build your own box. Would I come back? Yes read more

Flowers are blooming, customer service is wilting. The MOST important ingredient for any business is wonderful customer service. If you want to see and experience an amazing nursery with friendly customer service who WANTS to make their customers happy go to Orchard Nursery in Lafayette. read more

Great collection and excellent customer service. When they did not have the spiral aloe, I asked if they might be able to check which nurseries might have them. A few days later, I received a call from Encinal and suggested I call the Dry Garden in Oakland, which has a few. read more

Great local nursery and recommended for all your plant and nursery items. The staff is very friendly and knowledgable and take time to help people. It's not the cheapest place but it's worth it. read more

There is literally nothing bad to say about this place. I have yet to walk away disappointed in my various visits for plants.

I must admit, I am totally oblivious when it comes to anything green. Up to now I haven't even had an place with a garden, so I never HAD to do anything with plants. But now I moved into this place that has two decks and not much sun. What should a girl do when the patio looks so damn uninviting? Yes, plant stuff. So this is where Encinal Nursery comes into play. Those people are great! Very patient, very knowledgeable and I never thought one second that they considered me to be an idiot for asking all these questions. And the best thing. one of the decks is almost done and looks terrific! Thanks! read more

Superlative. The place is smaller - but higher quality in terms of staff and selection - compared to other East Bay establishments. Special orders can be made weekly for anything not immediately on hand. While the indoor plants are beautiful (and affordable), I was skeptical about making larger, outdoor garden investments here. After visiting other Bay nurseries, I was blown away by the staff at Encinal. Advice received here is not just informative, but also heartfelt, considered, and ethically-minded. They listened attentively to my landscaping needs/wants (everything from "full sun" to the superficial "please, no yellow-flowering trees") and gave me guidance that went above and beyond not only what I knew but also what I'd received from other Bay nurseries. Actual example of exceptional advice: "It can be hard to imagine what this young plant will look like when it's fully grown in as a hedge. Two houses up from here is a mature, well-manicured version, if you'd like to check it out in person before you commit." And: "Please don't buy plastic sheeting to kill the invasive weeds in your yard. (Oxalis, ugh.) Use cardboard with a layer of mulch on top, as it's much better for the earth and creates no waste. Here, take some cardboard with you!" Quality over quantity elevates Encinal's people and plants. This is as good as it gets short of hiring a landscape designer! read more

Nice selection that constantly changes so there's always new plants to see on every visit. The staff is invariably helpful.

Staff was very helpful. I was able to find a cute succulent set for my principal. In and out in under 15 minutes :)

Beautiful well laid out nursery. Quite a few hard to find tropical houseplant and succulents. Some rather large specimens as well. I walked out with a few plants as did my daughter. Staff was friendly and let you meander thru the plants without too many interruptions. Definitely will be heading back to this nursery. read more

Encinal Nursery is an oasis in the middle of the Alameda. Besides having the best plants in the East Bay, they have beautiful gardens you can stroll through, and listen to their fountains and seeing their amazing arrangements and designs. It's inspiring. If you're like me, you kill plants, but at Encinal Nursery the workers will teach you how to take care of them. They have good information and advice. If you're like me, you will enjoy just being there and taking in the serenity of the place. read more

The staff and service are always helpful and informative. You can't beat their prices anywhere else for plants and pottery!

Such a beautiful place to visit if you're a plant lover... I think anyone would love it regardless of that. The front of the nursery had sections for flowers, succulents, and trees. I was able to see a ginkgo biloba tree in person. Inside the greenhouse was so surreal. A giant monstera, philodendron hastatum (silver sword) growing in the ground, an enormous euphorbia variegata. It was like a tropical jungle! Even though I walked out empty handed it was still a pleasure to walk around and look at what was in stock. Things were reasonably priced too. read more

This place is a gem! I'm so lucky to have found this place. They have a wonder selection and the staff is so friendly and knowledgeable. I was able to get my bro and sis-n-law a beautiful house warming indoor tree. I will def be back to get more lovely plants and trees for myself. read more

Encinal Nursery - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - Alameda, California

Staying safe for COVID. Friendly, helpful staff. Great selection of indoor and outdoor plants. We picked up some firewood and noticed some nice Christmas trees. read more

Really lovely people I met with a very sweet girl who explained what air plants were - so I brought one. Then met Adam who was very kind and answered all my questions I asked a lot .. they have a beautiful selection of succulents and coleus. I brought a gorgeous princess plant , a couple of coleus and a air plant will definitely be back ! I don't love close but will make another trip because it was such a great experience thank you read more

Encinal nursery has been my go to place for getting all kinds of plants , indoor plants , half-sun and full sun ; flowering plants, fruit trees and herbs . They have a great selection and also some very interesting looking Species ! They have new shipment weekly (?) and every time I go there there is something new to look at. I have met the owner some time ago , he is a super kind, generous and cheerful old man , he said he was born when the store was first founded and opened by his grandpa . He is super helpful and knowledgeable and answered all kinds of technical gardening questions. But lately in the past year I haven't bump into him since . I hope he is doing well and I wish to see him again . Sorry to say but the other staff are not as passionate and helpful as he is . Despite that , I am still giving 5 stars review because their plants are beautiful and healthy and the owner old man is truly respectable . read more

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Great nursery with plenty of plant options for your indoors or outdoor options. I'm a huge fan of their begonia selection which became more plentiful once spring arrived. Nice small business nursery. They also are knowledgeable about your plant issues. I only wished they had longer hours during the summer time for me to stop by after work. read more

Selection is good and prices are acceptable for a relatively small nursery, however, I think the plants are friendlier than the people working there. My wife and I've been there many times purchasing items and the employees all have a very difficult time saying "hi, how's it going or how are you". The owner should educate that a greeting to all customers is required, especially to repeated customers. It's only right, not just at a business setting, but everywhere and everyday in life. For that reason, my family will no longer patronize this establishment until these adults learn how to treat people correctly, at least at a child level where parents teaches their children to say "hello" to people they know and not to strangers. After they learn this, then extend the "hellos" to strangers. The owner is also guilty of this behavior, indicating that his parents did not teach him correctly read more

I bought my saucer magnolia 3 years ago. Last year I wasn't able to experience spring since i was on vacation. This year, am truly convinced that the magnolia they gave me isn't bearing any flower. I paid a lot for this plant. I tried to replace the soil and check the acidity, no luck. They gave me just a tree. read more

They had the rose trees I was looking for. Very helpful staff and they carefully loaded them into my truck.

So, I went in for houseplants, succulents, and cacti. I have to say.... Prices- are pretty reasonable for a small business nursery. Selection- they have quite a bit and some of the most gorgeous large houseplants like ficus Elastica ruby which I hadn't ever seen that large before. The cacti were very nice! I was a huge fan of their pot selection. It was nice to see pots that were different and more modern looking. Customer service- no one really greeted me at all or asked me if I wanted any help. That was kind of off-putting but when I went to check out the service person was really nice and helpful. Location- great place, easy to find, plenty of parking read more

I love cacti! They not only have a huge variety of outdoor plants, herbs, and outdoor succulents, they also have a beautiful indoor section for cacti and indoor succulents. There's also a section for air plants!!!! There's a decent variety of pots and even a few fairy garden items. The workers seem educated and we're able to tell me about the speed and size of growth for the plants I purchased. Being a plant noob, I greatly appreciated it. read more

This place is amazing. I love the selections and the staff are so fun, friendly, knowledgeable, and take care of you! They have an amazing selection of indoor plants (rare and common) and outdoor plants. I have bought many plants from this nursery and have never had a problem. They all are thriving and I will continue to buy from them as the selection is always new and exciting. I am writing this review because of a recent experience. I bought a rope Hoya from them and it was looking good for a few days then it started to looks as if it was over watered (but I hadn't watered it) I called and they told me to bring it in and see what they could diagnose (which is amazing for a plant store to do so openly, it's like a plant vet) The person who helped me was amazing. They diagnosed the problem of the old plant, gave me a new plant, and helped fix the old one and in turn gave it to me for free to see if it would heal itself. They gave me instructions and were so helpful I will always recommend this nursery for anyone looking to buy plants for their home or garden. read more

I love this nursery! Everyone is so friendly, they have a great plant selection at reasonable pricing compared to others in the area and are very helpful when you have any questions. read more

Extensive collection, helpful staff. Parking can be tough, and the prices are a little on the high side.

Encinal Nursery has always been my go-to place for plants, plant food, and our annual Christmas tree since we moved to Alameda. While their tree prices can be rather steep, the trees are quality and hold up without turning into an unintentional Charlie Brown Christmas Tree within a week of your purchase as so many do from places like Home Despot. Several weeks back, I made the annual Christmas tree pilgrimage alone and knew that our house "tree space" usually best fits thinner but potentially very tall trees. If we get anything too wide, everyone ends up climbing or stepping over branches when trying to get from the living room to the kitchen. It also makes ornament hanging an inevitable lesson in futility. So, while examining their large variety of shapes and sizes of pine trees, I asked some man working there (who I initially didn't notice was tall and skinny) in the Xmas Tree section about my preferences.... Me: I REALLY need to find something, well, um, you know, tall and skinny.....*hand gesturing tall height and thin width*" Helpful Nursery Worker (HNW): *pausing reflectively* Oh....REALLY??? Me: (doing a double-take as I finally realized I *was* talking to someone tall and fairly thin) .. Me: Oh....*laughing* Sorry! I MEANT in terms of a Christmas tree. Our living room has kind of an odd dimension to fill in terms of a tree.. HNW: Ah, I see. Oh Well... Darn! Uh, let me take you over here to look at the silver-tipped pines...... The cost of the pines were way over my budget this year, but we did find a perfect tall, thin one at the edge of the lot, windblown with leaves from the outside and probably the least expensive one there. As I was going inside to pay, I recognized another gentleman working there who helped me save my heirloom tomatoes from ground squirrels in the past. Instead of some kind of poisonous concoction, he sold me containers of gray crystals that were crystallized "predator pee." The crystals warded off the obnoxious ground squirrels due to the fact that they thought one of their predators was peeing around my plant containers lying in wait to have the pesky squirrels as their lunch. For the first time this year, we have had, what he identified as, a "roof rat" problem. Those critters have been scampering around driving me crazy for the past month almost always in the middle of the night. I asked if he had any more of those "magic crystals" to ward them off. "Oh, ya' mean the hyena piss? No, we don't carry it anymore. I don't believe they make it anymore. But, if it's roof rats, you're going to need something more like this. Wait right there" He then went and got me a package of bars of hard-core rat poison, which I later tossed around the overhead crawl space like emergency flares. When I finally got inside the cashier area to pay for the tree and emergency roof rat flares, the tall, thin worker was in the midst of getting the details of a tree delivery order for some very affluent looking couple. I said to carry on and I could wait to pay but just couldn't resist quipping: Me: "So, I heard you are all out of hyena piss!?" This caught him off guard and giggling in his sleeve while the couple looked absolutely shocked and dumbfounded at both us and then one another. This is a place where true memories can be created and it will grow on you, literally! read more

This plant nursery is outstanding.. Great selection of common and some rare plants, also reasonably priced. They also sell lots of really cute plant pots and they can make drain holes in those that don't have them right on the spot.. pretty neat! read more

It's a nice nursery and larger than you think looking from the outside. The staff at the nursery try to be helpful. I've only talked to 3 people nice enough but for a local place you'd expect friendlier. First experiences with the place... I bought some 2 Japanese maples from them. They have a nice variety. a few days later i went to the Home Depot in Fruit-vale (10 minutes away, with a large garden section) they had the maples! The more expensive one i bought was prettier but cost 4 times more which probably is not worth it b/c i could of bought 5 different maples for the price of 2. Depends if you want to support your local nursery but he price difference can get pretty steep. Second experience... I ask for a delivery of some sod. they called me a day earlier and said they would want to deliver it early as they had the sod already and hey will leave the sod where i needed it. Delivery guy shows tells me he doesn't deliver it to the back yard so leaves it in the front yard. My house is 3-5 minutes away, 1 mile away and charged me $40 for delivery. I moved the 230sq ft of sod myself with a wheelbarrow to the backyard. If i'm in a pinch for time or convenience I will keep going for now for small items for now. I suggest you browse around if you have the time. Waiting for something to bump up my rating. read more

Nice nursery no doubt, but the customer service and friendliness from the staff is LACKING! Big time!!! We visited the nursery the day after Thanksgiving to get our Christmas tree, and there were definitely slim pickings for our tree height preference. Maybe if we wanted a bigger and taller tree, the selection would have been better? Whatever, that still doesn't take away from the fact that we weren't greeted, not asked if we needed any help, or even a "we'll be right with you"...and were just ignored completely. We took our business elsewhere! read more

So far, not very impressed with the customer service. Was ignored upon arrival and basically just dismissed when I asked questions about gardening at the counter- even though I had called prior to coming to ask if I could come in for advice AND there was nobody in line behind me. By dismissed I mean the guy's demeanor was uninviting and his answers to the few questions i did get in before he tried to get away were abrupt at best. Then he just started talking to another customer who walked in. He wasn't rude but he was clearly disinterested in helping me. Fortunately a kid named Connor who worked for them talked to me outside after the fact, and he had a wealth of information to share. He apologized for the character of the guy inside and said it was always a bit like that - not much patience for beginners... Seems to me like HE should be the one running the show. From the look on his bosses face (the guy who "helped" me prior) he did not share the sentiment... Almost kind of looked like he was in trouble for talking to me. Hope not. Not sure if I'll go back, despite the lovely selection and sweet Connor. read more

Such a cute nursery with a huge selection. Came here for a house plant/succulent and there were so many to choose from. I had to control myself and only buy one but will definitely come back in the future to buy more. They also had a large selection of pots with different sizes. Not all pots had drain holes but they can drill holes for you. read more

They have such beautiful plants here which are very healthy. This nursery also has a cute section which carries very tiny houseplants if you are a beginner gardener like me and don't want to commit to a bigger plant. read more

Encinal Nursery - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - Alameda, California

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I can only echo the reviews documenting the off-putting customer service. If I could give zero stars I would. I was never greeted, and I was standing right in front of the gentleman behind the counter. There was only one other customer in the entire store. Counter guy had just finished helping her. At one moment, she, the other customer acknowledged the fact that I had walked in and was standing there. She stopped talking, giving counter guy the opportunity to greet me, or to say something like, "I'll be right with you, " but no such luck. Counter guy just turned his head in another direction and remained silent. It felt very uncomfortable, as if I had just walked in on some kind secret transaction. I have nothing to say about the nursery itself. If the customer service is terrible, I really don't care how good the product might be. I took my business elsewhere. read more