What's Growing On

Find the best plants, trees, and shrubs for the season, including new varieties and top picks for planting right now. Explore expert gardening tips, water-wise solutions, fresh veggies and herbs, and a diverse selection of houseplants—all in one place to help you create a thriving garden.

fall flowers and foliage with osteospermum, pansies, rudbeckias, snapdragons and coleus

Hello, Fall—is that you?

Cooler mornings, shorter days, softer golden light and pumpkin-spiced everything—fall may arrive quietly in the Bay Area, but the garden knows it’s here.

It’s the season for rich autumn color, fresh cool-season flowers, textural grasses, and trees and shrubs that bring renewed interest to the landscape. Even better, fall’s mild temperatures make it an ideal time to plant, giving roots time to establish before next summer.

Ready to welcome the season? Visit SummerWinds and discover beautiful fall color for your Bay Area garden.

Explore Fall Favorites
Fall is Coming rudbeckia, fall color palette with pansies, ornamental cabbage, salvia.

Fall is Coming - Is Your Garden Ready?

We've put together a helpful guide with simple things you can do now—from preparing beds and containers to checking your soil and irrigation, planning your fall color palette, and knowing when it's time for the next phase of fall planting.

Fall Color Guide
two images with bugloss, ferns and evergree next to a pink flower with the words, dry shade gardening on the image

Tough Spot? Try Dry Shade Gardening

Have a shady, dry corner under a tree or next to your house where plants struggle to survive? With the right plant picks and simple strategies, you can create a thriving, low-maintenance garden—even in the trickiest conditions.

Explore Dry Shade Gardening
September Gardening Calendar: A bag of E.B. Stone Organics Organic Compost, fresh-picked tomatoes and peppers, someone mixing soil, planting bulbs, splitting geraniums, and someone adding food scraps to a compost bin.

September Gardening Calendar

September is the perfect time to transition your Bay Area gardens from summer to fall. Check out our list of gardening projects for September to consider:

September Calendar
Tropical plants: white plumeria, cordyline, aralia, orange hibiscus and orange canna.

Your Backyard. Your Tropical Escape

You don't need a passport to enjoy a tropical escape. Bold Bird of Paradise, colorful Hibiscus, graceful palms, lush Elephant Ears, Cannas, and more can transform your backyard, patio, or balcony into a relaxing retreat. Discover inspiring ideas, planting tips, and tropical favorites that can turn almost any outdoor space into your favorite destination.

Check Out Tropcial Gardens
Curb appeal; enhancing your landscape with plants full of color and texture.

Create Beautiful Curb Appeal This Summer

Simple front yard ideas for big spaces, small spaces, and everything in between.
Your front yard is the first welcome home. Whether you are refreshing a small entryway or planning a larger landscape project, even simple updates can dramatically transform the feeling of your home.

Our new curb appeal guide walks you through:

  • Choosing the right garden style
  • Building strong landscape structure 
  • Adding color and texture
  • Creating a polished, welcoming look

Plus, our knowledgeable Bay Area nursery team is here to help every step of the way — backed by our impressive plant guarantee for extra confidence.

Learn More
SummerWinds Nursery High Performance Organic Potting Soil surrounded by edible plants at SummerWinds.

Your Soil Is About To Get An Upgrade

Give your plants a first-class upgrade with NEW SummerWinds High Performance Organic Potting Soil—a premium organic mix designed to help plants grow stronger, healthier, and more resilient. Whether you're planting flowers, vegetables, herbs, or houseplants, this high-performance soil provides the ideal balance of moisture retention, drainage, and natural nutrition to support strong root growth.

Find Your Soil Upgrade