Dream Garden - Los Angeles, California

Blue Dahlia

Not Just Another Review
I want to share a little story about Dream Garden and how I came to know this very special place with its very special owner John.
We were just starting to get back to a semblance of normality after Covid, but I’d suffered devastating losses in terms of income. I had to go home to Tx for a sick family member, and couldn’t afford to maintain my apt while away. So I packed up, gave away and sold everything, not knowing when I’d return.
I was especially concerned for my precious little cactus Priscilla that I’d had since she was a tiny little boo bud! She’d helped me through some pretty tough emotional times.
I decided to find a nursery that would perhaps adopt her. I admit it; I cried at that idea, but knew she couldn’t travel with me, and had to go someplace special.

I found Dream Garden by doing an online search for nurseries and thought the pics were lovely, and as soon as I stopped by to take a look, I knew this had to be the place!! There were tons of beautiful succulents, and other lively, lush plants, their display like a fantasy plant oasis. ... the layout not anything like the usual nurseries I’d been to.
And I thought if they would just take her, this would be a great home.
I introduced myself to the owner John and told him my story, and how I had to give Priscilla up because I didn’t know when I’d be able to come back, and asked if he would adopt her.
He looked at me calmly and seriously and said “No”. My heart sank. And with a mischievous half smile, he said, “but I’ll take care of her for you until you get back”.
I couldn’t believe it! Joy & relief rushed over me! I think he had sensed in those few moments how much this little plant meant to me, and he was kind enough to make this offer.

Eight months later, I had made it back to LA, found a new home, and came to pick Priscilla up. And sure enough, John had taken wonderful care of her and she was just gorgeous!!! Radiant like all the other plants at Dream Garden!

Sometimes these days it seems that so many people are just so disgruntled, or angry and detached from basic humanity. I told this story because it’s as much about the humanity and warmth I felt from a total stranger as it is about the amazing plant life at this nursery.

Not only is John one of the kindest people I’ve ever met, he is also like a Zen master when it comes to plant care and knowledge. He’s got that 6th sense thing going on lol!!
With few words, and soft-spoken, he’ll tell you exactly how to care for and raise your plant babies.
I recently went back and bought a couple of new small plants and look forward to my next visit for larger ones!
If you’re looking for a really special place to buy your plants, run by a very gifted and special owner… this is definitely it.

Leslie Alexx

I always drive by this place and see a ton of really cool huge planters but never actually made it in, up until recently. I was in need of repotting my birds of paradise and needed a big planter so I walked in I was greeted by the gentleman that works there I believe he was the owner. Immediately greeted me asked if I needed help but I was kind of just poking around and wanted to explore so I looked around at first. Then when I wanted pricing he was super helpful I ended up buying three pots he explained to me that one pot that I had was actually created by hand and the little indents were actually made by thumbprints. I loved that he explained that, since I did like that pattern I thought it was a cool story once I got my pots I went inside his little office with a bunch of pots inside to pay with my card and to my surprise I saw on the corner of his desk a mini monstera! Love an unexpected surprise the rhaphidophora tetrasperma I had been looking for for literally the past 2 months from all the nurseries close to West Hollywood even a trip to the Flower District in Downtown LA I could not find this plant everyone kept telling me to come back around May because they would have some then that they hadn't seen them in years blah blah blah so I asked the gentleman if he had more of these and of course he walked me over to the greenhouse and I found a beautiful baby to take home FINALLY! So so happy with the selection and the pricing is absolutely phenomenal if you're looking for something that has a little bit of character I highly recommend going here for Planters the selection of plants was incredible 10/10

Phil Selway

This is by far the best nursery in Los Angeles!! From unique plant selections, a very knowledgeable and helpful staff, great pots and excellent prices, this is the only nursery you need. I have been coming here for almost 8 years and my garden and patios are incredible thanks to John! Coming to the Dream Garden is just a great experience!!

Lise S.

This is one of my favorite nurseries. They have a large selection of interesting succulents, lots of unusual outdoor trees and landscaping plants of all sizes, and a greenhouse with many beautiful houseplants. They are constantly getting new types of plants in so you never feel like you've seen everything. Staff are friendly and helpful, and it's never been overly crowded when I've gone.

Sara Hubbell

Our favorite place! The absolute best selection. Always helpful and offer great advice too. The pots and planters are just as unique as the plants.

Kevin Peake

Best plant shop in Hollywood. John the owner is absolutely awesome. He has the best selection of plants and a lot of very rare cacti and succulents. I needed a perfect size fiddle leaf fig he got new ones from his supplier and sent me photos to pick the one I wanted. I also got this amazing and huge cactus (I don’t even know what it’s called) for my business Next Health. John delivered and planted it and it looks amazing! It is the perfect showcase for our storefront.

elizabeth leahy

The owners of Dream Garden are very easy to work with, and most helpful . John has a talented, artistic eye for design and will
Offer his advice on choosing just the right pot. Great selection, pricing is very reasonable too! A must visit for beautiful pottery! and beautiful interior and exterior plants!

Sarah Tillman

This was an amazing experience with very reasonable prices, and I will go here for all my plant needs in the future. The owner was incredibly helpful and patient. I started by browsing and choosing a few small plants I liked (great selection!), and he made excellent recommendations about which of these would be best as a gift for my specific occasion and instructions on how to care for them. I was able to completely customize my gifts after choosing the plant - from the vase, to the bottom saucers, to the color of the soil/rocks. I am delighted they came out reflecting my personal aesthetic and not "off the shelf." I was very picky about presentation and he graciously searched around the store for exactly the pieces I wanted and added some of his own unique touches when he planted them. Some of the vases didn't have matching saucers so he kindly included different but complementary ones as part of the vase - and they ended up looking even more unique! His cute little kids even helped me load everything securely into my car in boxes. 🙂 For 3 beautiful plants + vases + saucers + soil and rocks I paid probably half as much as I would have in most West LA nurseries. When I came back late the next day to purchase another impromptu gift I had eyed before (the glass cactus, his own design), he spent 30 minutes past the 7pm closing time discussing with me different ideas for a large plant I've been wanting for my living room. Thank you, I'll definitely be back!