New San Antonio bonsai nursery offers classic and Texas-native species

A new backyard nursery on Harbor View Street is giving San Antonio-area bonsai newcomers something the hobby often lacks: a local place to see trees in person, ask questions and leave with material that fits South Texas conditions.

High Water Bonsai Co. introduced itself as a fresh retail stop and a community-friendly entry point into the hobby, with owners Drew Galloway and Martin Martinez presenting the nursery as a place where bonsai is open to both beginners and growers who already work at a higher level. The business sits at 9106 Harbor View St. in San Antonio, and its presence adds a hands-on option in a city where starter material has often meant relying on distant sellers or stock that is not always suited to the climate.

What sets High Water Bonsai apart is the mix of classic bonsai species and Texas-native material. That matters in a region where heat, wind and long dry spells can turn a learning tree into a costly lesson. The nursery’s website says it has thousands of trees grown in San Antonio and that it also sells supplies, soil, pots and tools, a combination that turns a nursery visit into a full stop for someone building out a first bench or looking to refine an existing collection.

The shop is also leaning into education. High Water Bonsai offers a nursery-visit booking page, promotes upcoming workshops and events, and sells gift cards in amounts of $10, $25, $50, $100 and $250. For a hobby built on observation and repeated repotting, that kind of in-person access can matter as much as the trees themselves. A product page on bald cypress underscores that approach, describing the species as one of the most dramatic and fast-growing bonsai available, with the kind of development that can reward a beginner’s first serious work.

The business is not a casual side project. High Water Bonsai, LLC was filed with the Texas Secretary of State on March 7, 2025, and is listed as in existence. Its principal office and registered-agent address match the Harbor View Street site, tying the nursery’s retail face directly to the operation behind it.

San Antonio already has a bonsai foundation for the nursery to plug into. The San Antonio Bonsai Society says it has been celebrating bonsai for more than 50 years, and it offers free lectures, demonstrations and exhibitions open to the public, with meetings held at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. The Native Plant Society of Texas also maintains a database of Texas plants available at native nurseries, part of a broader regional push toward climate-appropriate planting. High Water Bonsai’s emphasis on local stock, workshops and easy access fits neatly into that landscape, giving the city a new place where bonsai can start at ground level.