Welcome to Subtropica
Subtropical plant nursery and online store
We are a small boutique nursery providing Subtropical fruit trees & plants that have proven to be reliable in New Zealand's temperate/subtropical climate, plus a few of a more experimental nature, for the adventurous!
We grow most of our plants ourselves, in organic potting mix, which contains organic slow-release fertiliser. Any treatment for pests or diseases is done with organically acceptable sprays, such as Eco oil, garlic and seaweed. Any subsequent fertiliser is also organic. A few plants may be bought in, and these may not have been organically grown. The right time to plant subtropicals is when the ground is warm and they can get established. This will vary from region to region, and even from garden to garden, but the best time is from spring to late summer/early autumn.
Plants can be ordered via our on-line plants catalogue and payment made by credit card or online banking.
Orders are delivered by Aramex couriers within New Zealand or pick up from Gisborne, by arrangement.
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Rare plants in small quantities are sometimes sold via auctions through Trade Me. Search in 'members' for 'Subtropica1' on Trade Me for these listings.
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THE NURSERY IS WITHIN A PRIVATE RESIDENCE AND IS NOT OPEN FOR VISITORS.
Happy gardening - Teresa & Cris
About us
Subtropica is based in Gisborne, proudly run by Teresa and Cris. Building on a strong foundation established over 25 years, we bring fresh energy and new ideas to the nursery, while honouring the quality and sustainability that Subtropica customers know and trust. The original Subtropica orchard in Waipu remains a key component of the nursery, providing access to some of Subtropica's unique plants. ​​
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As nature and plant lovers, we are passionate about growing healthy food and plants, while leaving a positive impact on the environment.
Our love of the sun and the ocean led us to the East Coast of New Zealand where we settled on a citrus orchard. We are BioGro certified, and primarily grow organic Valencia oranges, tangelos, and navels, along with a variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs.
Since being here, we have embarked on our own sustainable journey, establishing a thriving food forest based on the principles of permaculture, organic cultivation, and syntropic agriculture.
Living on the orchard and experiencing the rewards of growing healthy, organic fruit and plants deepened our passion, and inspired us to establish the nursery on our beautiful land in Gisborne.
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Our mission is to inspire sustainable living by supporting our community in growing healthy, resilient gardens and thriving food forests with subtropical plants and edibles, nurturing a deep connection between people and the land.
We are always on the lookout for rare and unusual plants suited to New Zealand’s climate. If there are plants we currently don't stock, or something interesting we should consider, please get in touch!
For larger orders for food forests, landscaping or orchard projects, please contact us to discuss.
If you’re interested in stocking our plants, we’d love to hear from you.
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Thank you to all our customers for your ongoing support — we look forward to growing with you.
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Three good reasons to buy your plants from Subtropica
