Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s Fall Plant Sale Returns November 7 

Plant now, thrive later: Annual event helps home gardeners take advantage of California’s fall planting season 

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (October 23, 2026) — Santa Barbara Botanic Garden invites the community to get growing at its annual Fall Plant Sale on Saturday, November 7, 2026, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Garden’s Nursery, 1212 Mission Canyon Road. The event offers a chance to purchase a wide variety of California-native plants from the Garden’s nursery, along with expertise and guidance from knowledgeable staff and volunteers to help gardeners make the most of the fall planting season. Advance shopping reservations are required here. 

Fall offers an ideal opportunity to introduce California-native plants into home landscapes. Shorter days, cooler temperatures and seasonal winter rains support root development, giving plants time to become established before the heat and dryness of summer. Planting now allows gardeners to work with California’s seasonal rhythms and give new plants a stronger start. 

“Now that this year’s heat is subsiding and with an El Niño cycle under way, this fall and winter will be a great time to establish some native plants in your garden,” shared Matthew Straka, retail manager for Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. “To establish new plants, they need good watering to get those roots deep into the dirt to help them when the heat and dryness returns next summer. It’s also a great time to scatter annual wildflower seeds in your garden to get you ready for a stunning spring show of color.  

The benefits extend beyond the garden itself. Native plants provide habitat and resources for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife. Choosing plants suited to local conditions can also help gardeners reduce landscape water use once plants are established. From adding a few native plants to expanding an existing garden, fall planting is a practical way to support biodiversity at home. 

During the sale, the Garden’s nursery staff and volunteers will help shoppers select plants, answer gardening questions and offer tips for getting started. Native plant inventory will be replenished hourly throughout the event. 

Plan your visit 

• Public Shopping: Saturday, November 7, from 1 to 3 p.m. 

• Garden Member Early Access: Garden members may shop an expanded inventory from 9 to 11 a.m. and receive a 10% discount on plants. A separate member reservation is required. 

• Reservations: Each reservation includes one parking space and one hour to shop. Advance reservations help manage parking and event capacity. Shoppers should arrive at their reserved time. 

• Garden admission: Garden admission and guest passes are not required to access the sale. 

• Shopping assistance: Wagons will be available, and volunteers can help transport and load purchases. 

• Animals: Only service animals are permitted during the event due to anticipated crowds. 

“The Garden’s Fall Plant Sale kicks off our native planting season, running from November through April, when we stock larger amounts of plants in the Nursery to help you with your planting needs,” continued Straka. “If for some reason you can’t make the sale, never fear; our Nursery is open 7 days a week from 9:30-4:30, so come by and speak with us about any planting questions that you may have.”  

The Nursery will be closed November 4–6 for both in-person and online purchases while staff prepare for the sale. 

For details and public shopping reservations, visit the Fall Plant Sale event page. Garden members should reserve through the member early-access page.