Exotica Rare Fruit Nursery

2/21/2018

So many fruits trees to choose from it's the best!I got about 5 plants from here and they're doing great: San Pedro, pineapple guava,red pitaya,mango & soursop!

2/25/2018

Very neat nursery set up.  It's like a jungle as everyone says, so it's unlike any plant store.  
The positives and why I'll visit again:
A lot to look at.  I must've missed several variety of plants, there's a lot to look at.
Seasonal inventory.  I think they will have more stuff when it gets warmer.  I was in the market for Jambu or rose apples.  I bought a tiny one from them, they will have larger specimen in a few months.
Really nice guys working there, they are patient even when I'm asking dumb questions.
The negatives and what you should watch out for if you are going:
As others have stated, the nursery is disorganized.  The staff knows exactly where everything is, we don't.  The signs for the plants are not labeled very well.  
The prices aren't really marked for many plants so you will have to ask.
The prices are probably on the high side.

The bottom line: I will always pay more if the selection is greater than the big box stores.  Where else are you going to find rare tropical type plants in San Diego?  I will also pay more for better quality of plants.  How many times have you bought from Home Depot and when planting in soil found that the plant barely had spouted roots?  

I think if you are interested in rarer fruit trees, you need to check this place out.  Try their ice cream bean, buy a dragon fruit plant or mango tree (I did all three).  It's worth the trip.

3/24/2018

I called Steve, one of the owners about two weeks ago and asked if he has a specific plant and what size.  He confirmed he has it in a 1 gallon and told me it was $10. I went there today and picked it up plus a few other items One of his  workers processed my credit card for the entire bill. After I paid with my credit card, Steve came out and checked what I bought and decided not to sell me the 1 gallon for $10 but wanted to repotted it in a 5 gallon and charge me $40 after I had already bought it, what the heck!!!! Never heard of anything that crazy ever!!! I reminded him that I already paid for it, technically he was now taking my property. The guy is unprofessional and not so sober in my humble opinion!  His employee was so embarrassed by this and felt so horrible that he kept apologizing.  I will not recommend this place to anyone based on this experience, he seems either flaky or prejudiced and unprofessional. The plant in question didn't even look healthy so do most of their plants, but I was willing to pay $10 and try to nurse it back to health. it probably would've died anyway,

9/21/2017

• 1 check-in

So my homegirl wanted to check this place out so we did and it's about 15 degrees cooler here! They have tons of exotic fruit trees and a lot of them I've never even heard of. The employees are cool and probably a little too cool because the one guy seems real chill. I came at closing which I hate doing but I didn't try any fruit but next time I will.

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• See all photos from Vincent C. for Exotica Rare Fruit Nursery

10/30/2017

Well worth the drive from Los Angeles. It's like paradise. Enjoyed viewing all their exotic plants. And of course could leave with just the specific tree I had so much researched for. I came home very happily with my plants and trees which included: tamarind, coffee, mango, jack fruit, passion fruit, silk floss and my most difficult to find "tejolote" aka Mexican Hawthorne.
Love this place. Will definitely come back.

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• See all photos from Alma R. for Exotica Rare Fruit Nursery

2/20/2018

This place is worth the drive from LA. Try going in Late summer or Early Fall when majority of fruit is ripe so you can partake of their fruit samples table. Highly recommend.

2/5/2017

• 1 check-in

If you are into plants and love tropical fruit trees that you would not normally see at your local nursery, then this garden located in Vista is it.  My better half and I came here to  look at some fruit trees and they did not disappoint.  This place comes up on you right away so if you are not paying attention, you will miss the entrance.  They have several trees that I did not even know can grow here.  The gentleman who assisted us was very helpful and we walked away with a mango tree, blackberry and dragon fruit.  I'm sure during the summer this place is amazing. I was told that when they harvest the fruits, they put them out for customers to eat and try so they can taste the fruits before they buy the trees. I will definitely return this summer.  I love that they have different types of mangoes and went home with one ha ha ha!!!!

12/3/2017

We have been here a couple times before, and even though I wasn't impressed with the staff, we made a few purchases. The last trip I made we drove 4 hours just to come here for a specific mango tree my wife wanted. Steve told my wife that even though he had the tree, he wouldn't sell it. WTF? After a 4 hour drive? I was very upset, but it is his place so I had to just suck it up, but that is the last time I ever give them my money.

2/25/2017

• 1 check-in

I am not a gardener. Plants just die as soon as I purchase them, so I just buy fake. But my husband on the other hand, has a knack for gardening. We came here as we were driving through Vista and I remember watching a YouTube video featuring this nursery.

They have a lot of tropical fruit plants/trees and a whole lot of other stuff that don't bear fruit. The owner is a really nice mellow fellow. Super cool guy. He answered my husband's questions and showed us where to find specific plants that he was looking for. He even gave us some tangerines to eat. The lady gave me a white Sapote fruit that I ate when I got home. So sweet and delicious.

9/28/2017

Exotica Rare Fruit Nursery is an amazing place to visit even if you're not shopping for plants.  Here you will find mature trees with many different fruits! There is even a table with many different fruits for sampling.  Eve will show you different plants and advises which trees would grow best where you live. This nursery is really fun to walk around in.  They have such a variety of awesome trees and shrubs.  Great place!

6/24/2016 Updated review

• 1 check-in

Awesome people. I didn't feel like i have to buy something. They have so many trees to choose from. Thanks to them i was finally able to try mulberry for the first time. It was delicious, especially the white mulberry. I am definitely coming back.

Watch this:
m.youtube.com/watch?v=sb…

8/4/2016

• 1 check-in

Everyone at this nursery is so helpful and knowledgeable really loved all the exotic rare fruit trees purchased a lemon meringue mango which is rare and hard to find we are still looking for a
Kalamata  olive tree!  Exotica is helping us research

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  Exotica rare fruit tree nursery is the best flutter free

  Exotica rare fruit tree nursery is the best flutter free

10/25/2016

I got my Alphonso mango from here. Very hard to find mango tree. Planted it about 6 weeks ago it is started to sprout out new branches. Very happy with size of tree for the money I paid. MIMOSA in La also had the tree but a lot smaller and almost double the price. Will be back for sure.

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  Alphonso Mango

  Alphonso Mango

12/29/2015

• 3 check-ins

Wonderful nursery, great selection, awesome prices, nice people! I could have spent all day here.

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10/11/2017

Although you can't compare Exotica's inventory to the more commercial San Diego nurserys, it's professionalism is comparable to the best of them. I haven't been to the other exotic fruit tree nurserys although the yelp reviews suggest the other places have trouble with pricing and customer service, not the case with Exotica. The prices are mostly transparent and if something costs more there seems to be a good reason like more labor or time spent growing something. Leo was incredibly helpful even though I was asking tons of stupid questions that could easily have been answered had I consulted crfg.org. Fortunately, I was only able to purchase half of the items I wanted because a lot of springtime items were sold out so now I have another reason to come back in 6 months! Next time I'm going to give myself a little more time so I could walk around the place and take it all in.

7/3/2016

• 2 check-ins

Best range of exotic trees/plants for your garden. Staff is helpful! I got one Dragon fruit tree, the last graft by Paul Thompson and also two guava plants! $35

7/12/2016

Was looking forward to coming here. I drove an hour and a half. Unfortunately, upon arrival at 4:30, they were completely closed without an explanation, when it clearly shows on their hours that they were supposed to close at 6 pm that day.

From what I could see from the gate, they seem to have a wide variety of unusual plants, though messy. I suppose that next time, if I ever decide to make the trip, I'll heed their operation hours posted on their website and just call to see if they are open that day.

12/12/2015

• 1 check-in

• Listed in Yelp 100 Challenge 2015

I've been looking for a tree to train as a new bonsai so I stopped here to see what they had.  I've lived in the area for a good 15 years now and I must have passed their sign a thousand times - I'm really sorry that I haven't thought to stop before now.

This nursery is unique in San Diego.  It is an eclectic sampling of amazing trees / plants from around the world. Laid back with open arms to welcome all who stop by, the pathways draw you in and wind you around the grounds through forests of ice-cream bean, Jak-fruit, Jelly palm, Mulberries, and dozens of others.

My favorite find was the Silk-floss tree from South America with its pink and white pods swaying in the breeze along the top branches with streams of silky white hairs hanging down from it.  The flowers on it were simply amazing and I can honestly say that I've never seen anything like it.

Complimenting the trees were the staff who were very helpful and showed me around the grounds discussing the pros / cons of each tree they thought might make a good bonsai.  The clincher for me was the tasting table near the office.  Loaded with fruit samples from the various trees they sell, it was like taking a tour through wild lost places left in the world.  

Overall, Exotica reminded me of the markets that I've visited on my travels outside the U.S.  It wasn't like shopping at one of the giant warehouse stores where their only goal seems to be pushing costumers through as quickly as possible.  Shopping here was fun and a great learning experience.

1/31/2015

• 1 check-in

This is a very good nursery. There is a large variety of tropical plants.
We got a meringa, mango, ginger plants and some seeds. Great place, plants, and good prices.

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  Ginger, maringa, and seeds.

  Ginger, maringa, and seeds.

9/21/2016

Exotica Rocks.  I love going there.  I am planning a  100 plus tree mango  orchard of all different types of fruit outside of Palm Springs CA    So far I've bought 40 different mango cultivars. ( they have 140 different types)  Steve totally gets it. He and everyone at Exotica are very helpful.
I'm totally in awe of someone that has lived out his dream planting exotics, air lAyering, growing seedlings and educating others with information and samples of fruit many folks haven't seen.
I always feel like I'm surrounded by plants that have been well loved.
I will always go back there for plants