GOING WILD WITH NATIVES ANNOUNCEMENT: New Native Plant Nursery Opening Soon!
By Susan Lewitt, for Let’s Talk Plants! October 2026.
New Native Plant Nursery Opening Soon!
Walker’s Wildlands may already be open when you read this! Extensive searching led Walker to Fallbrook where he found a property that he is now developing into a much-needed native plant nursery. This will help make more native plants available to southern California for landscaping your garden and support the local biodiversity. Support of the local biodiversity can be seen by all the local species that meander through the property by claw or wing, and that encompasses alligator lizards, as well as Pacific Tree Frogs, Turkey Vultures, and Road Runners as they check on their space in this nursery. Walker and his team have been doing consulting, landscape design, and plant installation to fund the start of the construction of this nursery. Walker also works with nonprofit organizations to help spread the word about his new nursery and the importance of native plants.
Walker tells me, “Of course I have favorite plants, (I love purples and pinks like Showy Penstemon, Chaparral Bushmallow, Blue Eyed Grass, and Lupines) but plants local to the area you live, especially endemic and rare species, are always a good idea to grow!”
Adapted from the CNPSSD Events page: What does it take to build a native plant nursery from the ground up—and why does growing a wider diversity of local species matter? Walker, founder of Walker’s Wildlands, shared the story of creating a small North County nursery with the support of family, friends, and community organizations. He explained how native landscaping projects and plant sales have helped shape the nursery as it works toward a full retail opening. This nursery is one more option to help support our biodiversity especially since they will be specializing in local native species, a sector lacking in representation among the existing large nursery brands.
At the heart of Walker’s work is his philosophy of Conservation Through Cultivation and a commitment to making a broader range of locally native plants available to gardeners. Behind every uncommon native plant in cultivation is someone who decided it was worth growing. Walker’s Wildlands has made it a priority to grow species that are often difficult to find or still rarely used in gardens, including Tetracoccus dioicus, Adolphia californica, Monardella viminea, Agave shawii, Epipactis gigantea, and Keckiella antirrhinoides.
Drawing on his experience in propagation, nursery production, and native landscaping, Walker shared what it takes to grow and maintain a diverse selection of native plants. He also reflected on the changing availability of native plants in our region, the challenges facing small native plant nurseries, and how the nursery and landscaping sides of his business work together.
Walker is the founder of Walker’s Wildlands; a North County nursery focused on local and less commonly available California native plants. Raised in the Escondido and San Marcos area, he brings together propagation, native landscaping, community partnerships, and a strong belief in conservation through cultivation.
By the time this article is published, this nursery may already be open to the public. Please check the website for updates: WalkersWildlands.com. Here is additional contact information for appointments and consultations: 760-783-6140, by email: Wilsonesque@outlook.com, and Instagram: Walkers_wildlands
