Welcome to Subtropica
Subtropical plant nursery and online store
We provide Subtropical fruit trees 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 are ordered via our on-line 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 sold via auction through Trade Me. Search in 'members' for 'Subtropica1' on Trade Me for our 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, run by Cris and Teresa. Having taken over from Kelsey and Simon in February 2025, we're excited to build on their foundation while staying closely connected with the original Subtropica family.
As nature and plant lovers, we are passionate about growing healthy food and leaving a positive impact on the environment. Our love of the sun and the ocean brought us to the sunny East Coast of New Zealand where we settled on a citrus orchard.
We primariry grow organic Valencia oranges, tangelos, and navels, as well as various other fruits, vegetables, and herbs, all based on permaculture, organic and biodynamic practices. Life on the orchard is exciting and no two days are the same.
Since being here, we’ve made significant progress with starting our food forest and sustainable journey. Living on the orchard and enjoying the rewards of growing organic fruit & plants inspired us to pursue our passion further, leading us to establish the Subtropica nursery on our beautiful land in Gisborne. Our goal is to share our love for sustainable practices and help others cultivate their own thriving gardens with subtropical plants, edibles & more. The original Subtropica orchard in Waipu remains a key component of the nursery providing access to some of Subtropica's rare and unique plants.
We are always on the lookout for rare and unusual plants that can grow in NZ. If you have something that we might be interested in, please get in contact!
Thank you for your support!
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