Nursery

Learn about Milkweed

Exotic Milkweed (A. curassavica) and the Spread of Disease in Monarchs

Why NOT to Rear Monarchs or Queens

The Back to Natives Nursery at Santiago Park in Santa Ana grows locally native plants for sale to the public, contractors, and for habitat restoration. Proceeds from sales at our Nursery support our environmental education and habitat restoration programs.

When you Visit:

    • Please leave your dogs or other pets at home, we are connected to the Santa Ana Police Canine Training Facility, and we are growing plants for habitat restoration. Your dog could compromise Police training and our habitat restoration efforts.
    • Wear sturdy shoes: we require a sanitizing shoe bath for all visitors who enter the premises (everyone must step into a tray filled with a shallow layer of sanitizing solution at the gate). Click HERE to learn more.
  • Be sure to obtain directions – we aren’t easy to find! See below…

YES we are growing locally native milkweed! Southern California Native Milkweed does go dormant from around the end of November to around the end of February/March (as it should!).

The BTN Nursery has closed until further notice. The City of Santa Ana no longer patrols the park or responds to calls of burglaries and vandalism so Park Santiago is no longer safe for volunteers or the Back to Natives Nursery. We have liquidated all equipment, and are no longer growing plants. However we still have hundreds of black plastic pots to give away! IF you want some please call 949-509-4787 or email info@backtonatives.org

Please scroll down for directions. If the gate is closed or locked, we may have run to the restroom at the Nature Center! Please be patient, we should be right back 😀 However we always suggest to call before making the trip out!

The Back to Natives Nursery in Santiago Park features a 36’x36’ greenhouse and two large shade structures covering 4000 square feet of growing space where interns and  volunteers learn to propagate plants for habitat restoration and to raise funds for environmental education programs.

The nursery is also open for educational programs and volunteer events, or by appointment. Always a good idea to call 949-509-4787 before swinging by. Nursery questions? btnNurserySantiago@backtonatives.org

Directions:  PLEASE obtain directions before getting in your car!  If you use your GPS and go to this address, you WILL get lost! If the gate is closed or locked, we may have run to the restroom at the Nature Center! Please be patient, we should be right back 😀 However we always suggest to call before making the trip out! We do apologize, but the Office Phone had been lost for the past couple of weeks. We have it now and are returning calls!

pr_partner_logo_116x137This is the closest address to the nursery:

600 E Memory Lane
Santa Ana Ca, 92705

The Google links are more precise.  https://goo.gl/maps/rdjIC

Google Link (from the 5 fwy): https://goo.gl/maps/9MIzC

Google Link (from the 22 fwy): https://goo.gl/maps/M0Shb

Parking:  After you turn in at the Santiago Nature Reserve Sign, drive past the Nature Center and park. Carpooling is recommended. Parking is extremely limited. Here is a map.

Santiago Park Nature Reserve Sign

Where to meet us: 

1. Walk east down the road, away from the street and the Nature Center, past the pump station block house on right and reservoir control room on left.

2. Turn left at the gate just before the railroad bridge. If you make it to the Archery field you have gone too far!

This is the gate:

Up the path and into Native Plant Paradise!

native-plant-nursery_1




No donation is too small, and any support that you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Donate to the Back to Natives’ Nursery at Santiago Park.

For volunteer opportunities,click HERE.

Thank you to these Donors for helping the
BTN Greenhouse become a reality!

Rachel Ameser
Alice Apkarian
Ara Apkarian
William Ayer
Lisa Bravo
Deborah Brin
Scott Burau
Christine Carrier
Don Cribb
Virginia Dodge
Stephen Ehrenberg
Roberta Fox
Naomi Gruenthal
Rosemary Hackett
Curtis Hildt
Becky Hinton
Carol Hinton
The Hoffman/Jastermsky Family
Sarah B Jayne
Eden Kennan
Debbie Koken
Sharona Keshrim
Kevin Lam
Doug McCaulley
Jennifer McElfresh
Steven Morton
Leon Nash
Julianne Nichols
Tricia Nichols
Jeannie Pascuzzi
Heather Pritchard
Susan Rodriguez
Mitchell Shatzen
Melissa Teeling
Eileen Tsai
Margaret Weir
Lori Whalen
June Yamada
Deloitte
City of Santa
Ana, Parks & Recreation Department
Mothers Market & Kitchen, Santa Ana

BTN is a California Non-Profit Public Benefit Corporation and is a Non Profit Public Charity under section 501(c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to BTN are deductible under section 170 of the IR Code as of February 13, 2007. We are qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers or gifts under section 2055, 2106 or 2522 of the IR Code.