Where Native Plants Thrive, We Thrive When native plants flourish, they create gardens full of life where everything is connected. Songbirds return, butterflies flutter by, and the landscape feels alive in a way that ordinary gardens do not. The 2026 San Diego Native Garden Tour invites visitors to explore this living connection across private gardens throughout the San Diego City region south of I-8 and west of SR-125 — all within San Diego’s coastal zone. This self-guided, two-day tour features gardens in southern San Diego on Saturday and in northern San Diego on Sunday, highlighting how native plants bring beauty, biodiversity, and resilience to urban landscapes. Visitors will see a variety of gardens — from small urban retreats to expansive landscapes — each with at least 60 percent native plants. Many feature plant signage linked to Calscape, the California Native Plant Society’s online database for California native plants, connecting guests with detailed plant information and design ideas through the tour booklet and website. Behind the scenes, a vibrant community of garden owners, artists, designers, volunteers, sponsors, and partners brings the tour to life, sharing creativity, expertise, and passion for native plants. For the first time, select gardens will offer Garden Tour T-shirts — beautiful, wearable art designed to share the tour’s spirit beyond the weekend. Tickets are now on sale, with EARLY-BIRDPRICING THROUGH THE END OF JANUARY. Artist applications are open through January 31, 2026, and sponsor applications are open through February 21, 2026. Proceeds support CNPS San Diego’s outreach and restoration programs, including the Bird Park Teaching Garden in Balboa Park. The California Native Plant Society - San Diego Chapter on Facebook / Instagram
