Katsura Garden — Local services in San Francisco

This place is heaven for plant lovers! It's a cute small shop in the Japan Center that's run by a sweet Japanese lady. I have to stop by every time I'm in Japantown, to do some plant shopping and/or to admire all the amazing plants.

They have a little bit of everything. A wide selection healthy plants, from beautiful bonsais and orchids to both common and rare houseplants! Some of the really rare plants are not for sale and only for viewing. I love to look at the huge monstera Thai constellation in the back. Its leaves are massive and gorgeous!

They also have a big selection of decorative planters and other plant supplies in the back. It's the perfect place to visit for...

Love this place, very zen, humble, indy mom & pop vibe. It's one of the only places where I can find decent Bonsai substrate and supplies.

Their trees are WAY over priced, but they gotta pay rent I suppose. They also don't care about horticulture whatsoever. NEVER take their advice about caring for plants. They will tell you anything you need to hear to buy something.

Trees such as Junipers CAN NOT live indoors, but unfortunately I've heard the staff tell several individuals otherwise just to make a sale. It's sad to think how many people end up with cold, dead trees in six months because of this shop's gross negligence :(

Pictured is a Cryptomeria starter I bought...

I don't have a green thumb, but my girlfriend does. On the other hand, I am enamored by the art of bonsai.

Katsura Garden is a beautiful store. Dense from floor to ceiling with gorgeous plants of all shapes and sizes, as well as supplies, and clearly tended by a shopkeeper who cares about the stock.

The bonsais themselves ranged in size and price, from a few inches to several feet, and $20 to $2,000. Some beautiful specimens that must have taken years to shape.

I did not buy a bonsai because I would accidentally kill it. But my girlfriend bought a nice little spider plant, and we are...