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December 2023 by Holden W
Great nursery very reasonable
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November 2023 by Zack Abbey
If you want native California plants go see Bob!I've been using Matilija nursery for over 10 years, in a professional capacity on habitat restorations sites throughout southern California, and finally in my home yard after I killed and removed my lawn. Over the years I've used Bob to contract grow specific species for specific habitat restoration projects and dropped by to snag 20 or 30 plants to supplement other restorations sites. Just this past year I was able to source, with Bobs help, over 200 individual plants comprised of 35 different species of plants to create my own personal habitat restoration site at my home in Camarillo. Bob is very knowledgeable and always eager to have a chat about plants, nature, or really anything. I always refer people to Matilija, and will keep doing so for as long as Bob is doing his thing.
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July 2023 by Mia-danielle H.
They have natives I've been trying to get a hold of for a while! Great selection and multiple sizes of the same species.
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June 2023 by Rose C.
I was looking for a specific Heuchera. I email an inquiry and received a response the next day. No, they don't have it period. I found a nursery in Thousand Oaks that was willing to order it for me. Thank goodness! That's all I really wanted was someone to help me out. This nursery clearly didn't want to be bothered.
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April 2023 by Simon Kiddle
I was looking for some native sages, the owner was extremely knowledgeable, friendly & helpful.
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April 2023 by Alex
Great selection, great prices. Bob is helpful, patient and kind. The property the nursery is on is a sanctuary in and of itself
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April 2023 by Ginger P.
This guy ruined my holiday weekend. I called to inquire about their hours before I drove an hour to Moorpark. If I wanted to take the scenic route and stop somewhere along the way, more like two hours. It was noon, and he assured me I could make it by closing at 2pm. I asked if he still gave a discount for recycled pots, and he said yes. He also said calling ahead is always a good idea, because sometimes he's too busy with customers and works alone. So, he can spend more time with you. None of the plants are labeled or show prices. They usually aren't in bloom, either, and the reception is spotty, so you can't identify plants with an app. You can call ahead and ask him to put an order together for you if he isn't too busy. Back to that, you know what he didn't tell me on the phone when I called and he encouraged me to come over before they closed? That he was swamped and working alone on a gorgeous afternoon. So, I get there and pull the pots out of my trunk. He shows me where to leave them then walks away with another customer. I wander around for awhile, and he's helping everyone but me. I ask him where to find certain plants, and he sends me off in the general direction. After about the third time, he just gives me a dirty look and runs off in a hurry to help another customer. This is about 15 minutes before closing, which he seemed pretty firm about. Mind you, I'm a repeat customer, though it had been awhile since I visited last. Everyone left at 2pm sharp, and I'm alone with this man who had treated me rudely for the past hour. I had put my plants aside by the pots, which he says he'll give me $10 for. "That should cover your gas." He offers me water, soda, junk food and I'm getting pretty annoyed. You know what would have been nice is an apology. But this guy is such a jerk, going over the Latin names for the plants, which I know, but it's still irritating that he seems like he's correcting me. He said one of the Mexican tulip poppies was not such good quality. "I'll find you a better one." So, we walk all the way over to the poppies where he could have helped me an hour ago. And he picks a poppy that looks just like the one he said wasn't that impressive. "Ignore the yellowing leaves. It has a nice bud." Fine, but then he charges me for the other poppy, too. So, he just walked me over to buy stuff that I didn't ask for while questioning my judgment. He goes back to his trailer to ring me up, brings the receipt and helps me load the last plant into my trunk. Noticing a bumper from an accident that my insurance company agrees was not my fault, he makes some wisecracks about my driving. Then when I look at the receipt, he didn't deduct the $10 for pots! Seriously, he isn't the only native plant nursery, and I'm also side eying his iris hybrids he loves to brag about. I bought the Chatter Liaison, and it's much shorter than my others and hardly blooms. Some of the sedge that he recommended took over my yard, too. He just pushes stuff on you, even when he has nothing better to do than assist you.
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October 2022 by Madeline S.
Beautiful nursery, reasonable prices, great selection of California native plants. The gentlemen helping us was very knowledgeable and provided me with a little itemized sheet so that I can remember what I have when I get home to plant. Great!
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October 2022 by Jonell Kelsey
Vast array of beautifully cultivated native plants. Ask questions and you will get great advice on planting and growing.
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August 2022 by Renee Gray
Matilija is the best native plant nursery in Southern California! Wonderful owner and staff, beautiful nursery in Moorpark off Balcom Canyon. I've been going here for several years and I have been 100% successful with their plants. The selection is incredible and they are lovingly cared for. It is hard to find native Milkweed for Monarchs, but they have lots of narrow-leaf milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis) and showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) for your baby butterflies.
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July 2022 by Garry S.
it can be a little tricky to find but they have a fantastic selection of native plants. tons of sage/salvia and irises too. i suggest verifying they are open since it's not a traditional garden store.
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May 2022 by Paul F.
Yes, a very friendly guy that’s eager to assist. But the positives end there, as this is NOT your typical nursery. Very, very limited selection of plants, shrubs or trees; you cannot landscape the front of your home based on his plant selection. It was a real disappointment visiting this nursery.
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March 2022 by Matthew M.
This nursery is an unpolished gem. I've been redoing my front and side-yard with native plants and have been to Matilija three times now, each time buying a few dozen plants. Each visit has been great. They have a good and changing selection and they sell at wholesale prices, 20-40% less than a typical native plant nursery (many of which buy their plants from Matilija.) Bob is incredibly knowledgable, patient and friendly. He can tell you what everything is, how big it will grow and how to plant/care for it. I love his gentle and helpful presence. The only downside is that the plants aren't labelled so you will probably have to ask Bob where/what some of the plants are--I am becoming better at identifying with each visit. And use the printout of the plants you bought to identify which is which later. (if you only buy a few it wouldn't be hard, but I buy dozens) It helpful to know in advance some of the plants you are looking for, but to also be flexible and take Bob's expert recommendations, as he will help figure out what will work well for your location (and what won't). And then you get cool native plants you wouldn't have otherwise considered.
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January 2022 by Auntie N.
I've been here twice to purchase Native Plants, and this is the place to get them; even those that are normally difficult to find. The nice thing is, Matilija Nursery, propagates & grows their own plants, many from seed; so they know what they are doing and you're not going to pay more from a nursery that buys from another source. The 1st time I went for Matilija Poppies: they had just begun to germinate, so they were not ready, but Bob gave me the information I needed to germinate the seeds I have. I was able to purchase lovely White Mountain Sage & Native Milkweed and Bob gave me very clear directions on how to transplant it & what to expect, as the Milkweed dies back, but regrows in spring. I did have to wait a bit, as there were a few other customers who arrived before I did, but I was shown where the plants I was wanting to buy were. The 2nd time I went Bob had the Matilija Poppies & told me to wait a few weeks, as the roots were not completely developed enough to plant; he also showed me the Pacific Coast Iris... We did have to go to the office to look at the photos, as not all of the Iris were labeled yet, so now I have a better idea of which ones I want. Of course I'll be going back in a week or two. I also like that Bob will respond to my FB queries as to what is actually available & what more, if anything, that I need to do for my plants. Do know that Matilija Nursery is a bit off the beaten track, but it's not too difficult to find... Do not go if you're in a hurry; if there are other customers, you're going to have to wait your turn, but if the plant is blooming, you'll have at least lovely specimens to look at while you wait!
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October 2021 by EVOO R
California Native Plants sold here.