Solana Succulents

Solana Beach, United States

4.7

Closed now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 858-259-4568
Website:
www.solanasucculents.com
Address:
355 N Hwy 101, Solana Beach, CA, 92075
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.3 miSolana Beach
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Street
Bike Parking
Yes

Today

Today 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (Solana Beach) 05:28 Friday, 30 May 2025

Business hours

Monday –
Tuesday –
Wednesday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Description

Specialties

Solana Succulents carries both rare and common succulents, along with both manufactured and handmade pottery. We are one of the few sources for collector specimen plants (crests, caudiciforms, rare variegates, etc.), and the knowledge of how to care for them. We also offer design and installation ideas for succulent landscaping.

History

Established in 1992.

Solana Succulents has been located at the same site on Hwy 101 in Solana Beach for 20 years. It is primarily a one-​man operation that grew out of a passion for the plants. We (okay, I’m using the Royal ‘we’) are well-​known within the horticultural community, particularly for display gardens at the San Diego Fair and Home and Garden shows. The garden that has endured in the public’s imagination was the 2002 «under the succulent sea» garden, using succulent plants and lava rock to create a terrestrial reef.

Meet the Business Owner

Jeff M.

Business Owner

I’ve lived in Solana Beach most of my life and became interested in succulents after viewing a display of bonsai succulents at the Del Mar Fair in 1984. Made the progression from casual hobbiest to obsessive-​compulsive collector to street-​fair vendor to nursery owner. Still a bit of an obsessive-​compulsive when the right plant comes along. I enjoy helping people with their passion for plants and truly enjoy coming to work every day.

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20 reviews of Solana Succulents

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Place rating: 2
San Marcos, CA
The sign in front said «Solana Succulents,» so I know I was in the same place as the other reviewers. That said, I have no idea why my experience was so different from theirs.
Much of his inventory was in dire need of water, and many plants were so dead they had shriveled and blackened. Nothing is organized, and several large plants with sharp projections made passage difficult at best.
The owner didn’t seem to want to be bothered helping us much (when my wife told him what she was looking for, he said «Oh, then you know what you want» and walked away). His prices are on the high side, but the quality of his inventory certainly doesn’t justify his prices.
He isn’t the only succulent vendor around, and we’ll be heading back to Leucadia for ours. A very disappointing experience.
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
Great selection here for all kinds of succulents. Very nice people working here and knowledgeable about the succulents and such. Will come here whenever we buy more succulents! :)
Place rating: 4
San Diego, CA
Really cool place. It’s like a succulent maze!
Beware of the creepy giant iguana in the cage. I walked by it not knowing it was there and i freaked out!
The guy working here could be a little friendlier but he was pretty helpful.
Definitely check this place out!
Place rating: 5
Golden, CO
Great plant selection. Knowledgable and friendly owner.
This garden has so many interesting succulent varieties to choose from. There are many sizes to choose from as well. There is a back section that you might not see from the 101.
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
Jeff is a very cool guy. He responded to my emails right away and had a great selection on what I was looking for. The location is in a neat part of town so I recommend checking out and getting a few of this choisiest plant then head down for some pizza or a smoothie. He gives great advice on plant care and you can tell he really has a passion. I hope everyone checks this place out the next time they need to buy presents for a housewarming party, decorate their own home, or want to browse some cool succulents.
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
One of the few people in the US who can talk about plants like a PhD botanist and who also has a network of collectors who focus on the rare and unusual, Jeff Moore is a resource on the West Coast for people looking for specimens of unique succulents from all over the world.
With plants from South Africa, Madagascar, Somalia and other exotic locales, Solana Succulents is THE place to go if you want a specimen succulent or a collection of unique plants.
Can’t wait for his book — Solana Succulents is a must stop for anyone interested in rare plants.
Place rating: 4
Oakland, CA
We went there because we LOVE succulents! Jeff, the owner, is a knowledgeable and friendly guy. He has cuttings for just about anything you may be looking for, and an amazing assortment of air plants. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough room in our car to buy everything we wanted; but are happy with the choices we made. Next time we’re in Southern California, we’ll pack less clothes so we can bring more home.
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
I’m not quite sure what to add that is original or unique. If you take the time to skim through the handful (plus) of comments… it pretty much stands to reason if you’re searching Unilocal reviews for plants (specifically succulents) that you have already been sold on this place. And if you are still up in the air with a final decision, let me add the last few nails…
(1) Why could you possibly want to contribute to corporate big business when you can come here?
(2) This place is sooooo f’ing cool. You could almost bring a book, kick back, and hang for the day.
(3) The prices are perfectly reasonable (not ’boutique’ prices)
(4) There are plants (and pots!) here that you won’t find anyplace else
(5) The owner is just a super chill guy who loves plants. plain and simple.
Well… there you have it. To sum up: Cool Plants (check); Cool Guy (check); Cool prices (check).
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
Very knowledgeable and an excellent eye for rare specimen plants. Jeff has a network of collectors in CA and elsewhere on top of having a deep knowledge of botany and horticulture. Solana Succulents is a real find.
Place rating: 4
Oceanside, CA
Came in because of all the Unilocal reviews and I’m glad my fellow Unilocalers didn’t steer us wrong! Jeff is knowledgeable and friendly. We took our time looking around, the place is not too big but jam packed w/​plants and pottings everywhere! The pricing is about the same as other places but his plants are pretty nice. And even nicer that he gave us a little military discount. Always grateful for that! If you’re looking for succulents, make sure you make Solana Succulents a must stop!
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
Jeff Moore is actually a «succulent garden designer» and should be advertising himself as such. Have you ever been to the San Diego Botanical Garden, formerly Quail Garden, in Lucadia, CA? There is one section of that garden that is designed to look like coral gardens and tide pools — under the ocean translated into a succulent garden. It is jaw-​droppingly beautiful and like nothing I have ever seen. We are in the landscape industry and it takes a lot to impress us. Please, Mr. Moore, will you start advertising yourself as a designer and come and help me create my own succulent garden? Or publish your book so that we have better odds of figuring it out for ourselves?
As you can probably tell, I am very impressed with this nursery owner. There are interesting plants here but I am even more impressed with Jeff as a designer and author/​photographer.
No, I am not his old friend. My husband and I just met him today and trekked all the way out to Solana Beach just because we had seen his work at the S.D. Botanical Garden a few months back. If you need an expert to help you out, go visit Jeff Moore at Solana Succulents.
Place rating: 5
Huntington Beach, CA
I found this place by accident today while driving by and decided to stop by. They have a great selection of common succulents and cacti, plus some more unique things. It’s a fun place to walk around, so try to plan some time to spend here checking everything out. The prices are reasonable and I will go back for sure.
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
I’ve been looking for potted succulent centerpieces for weeks, and couldn’t come up with anything. I found Solana Succulents through google search and figured I’d give it a shot. While they didn’t have any pre-​made potted centerpieces, Jeff offered to make me some if I brought him some pots.
He put together some amazing arrangements and definitely exceeded my expectations. He didnt even charge me anything extra for putting it all together.
Thanks to Jeff, i have 6 beautiful centerpieces and they cost me less than $ 100. I’d definitely recommend this place!
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
This is such a great place. You will not find a better variety anywhere. The staff also is happy to help, and very knowledgeable about how to take care of and what to expect from every kind of plant they have. I will definitely be going back!
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
I love this place. It’s packed full of hard to find succulents, ones I only ever see in books and the more common ones. This has become my go-​to place for any succulents. The prices are reasonable and the owner is so knowledgeable and helpful. They do have some higher priced items, but it’s priced well for its size and kind. Each time I’ve been there, the owner goes over the care of the plants I buy. Like another Unilocaler said, set aside an hour for perusing the plants. There are great turns and lanes packed with plants that I long to buy.
Place rating: 5
Palm Springs, CA
This place is a tucked away, hidden treasure. It’s best to park in back and walk in through the back. Plan on spending an hour in here easy! So much to look at and small plants to find… tucked away in little crevises.
Jeff is very knowledgable and always has time to talk to you about plant care.
It’s fun walking around through this plant maze. Great selection and prices. Every kind of plant imaginable is in here. Airplants and orchids, succulants and cactus… and cute pots.
Be sure to say hello to his bearded dragons!
Place rating: 4
沖縄県, Japan
I’m not certain, but I believe every succulent and cactus in the world seems to be represented here, and for the most part, they’re for sale.
A nice owner, and fun place to walk around near Solana Beach, whether or not you buy something. Be careful, we got pricked by a few cacti walking around.
The presentation makes the store as fun and pretty to look at as some public gardens, and doesn’t seem like a store at all, but more of a passion or collection.
Place rating: 5
Encinitas, CA
Solana Succulents is a great place. I have no idea how Jeff fits so many plants in a smaller space like that.
I collect succulents and stop by Jeff’s quite frequently. He’s always nice and has a ton of information to share with you. His cactus mix is great and I rarely use anyone else’s. Also, Jeff is a great designer.
And, at this time of year he has the ‘Living Wreaths’ of smaller echeveria and the like. If you keep these watered they can last forever, not just the holidays.
Great selection and great service. Fun to walk around in, even if you don’t collect succulents/​cactus.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
It’s a great place, and Jeff is so nice.
Place rating: 5
Cupertino, CA
Awesome! This place is filled to the brim with almost every succulent imaginable. As you walk in, its immediately apparent what their specialty is if the name didn’t make it clear enough. The pathways are littered with exotic species from echeverias to aloes, it was a dizzying experience. I have always been a fan of succulents, somewhat for the name itself… succulents, its kinda dirty. And for their impressive uniqueness. Some blossom with vivid flowers and some grow to prehistoric proportions.
Not only is this place head to toe succulents they also have some Bearded Dragons (lizards with a spiky beard). The owner has them on display in a large cage, which completely blends in with the environment. Succulents are perfect for dry weather and lizards love the desert, so its well designed match. The guy there, possibly the owner, knows where every succulent is amazingly. Some types are teeny tiny and some are as big as a fridge, but this guy knows their exact location and everything about them, I felt like I was in good hands. I walked away with 3 small ones and 1 gorgeous aloe with red piping and spots… time to plant.