Canterbury seed sourced native plants grown on site – wholesale plant nursery open to the public
We have a selection of hardy native plants ideal for easy care residential urban gardens, lifestyle blocks and rural farms. Our plants are suitable for living shelter belts (with or without centre pivots), riparian planting, erosion control, habitat creation and wildlife corridors
Open by arrangement outside business hours – please email us
Business hours – Saturday 10am to 3pm
205 Jarvis Road, Motukarara (10mins from Lincoln)
Diverse Plant Range
Important for plant health and
a balanced life to the land
Reared from Seed
Plants will grow and establish faster, stronger and look fantastic quicker
Purposeful Planting
Usefull for shelter, water retention and wildlife benefits
Our Story
Our aim is to supply the local Selwyn, Christchurch and Banks Peninsula community with native Canterbury plants that originate specifically from the region, so that they will grow and establish faster, stronger and look fantastic quicker. We want to give locals the possibility to create a positive wildlife rich environment at the best price possible. Our low overheads ensure our prices are affordable.
Our Plant Selection
Our range is about personally growing locally sourced native seed species that are strong and thrive into the future to restore, protect and create natural habitats. Our plants have established strong root systems, are grown in various planter bag and root bag sizes and are ready for planting.
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Anemanthele lessoniana
Wind Grass / Gossamer Grass
Vigorous grass, forming large clumps. Attractive flowing, drooping foliage. Requires little to no maintenance. -
Carex buchananii
Leatherleaf Sedge
Distinctive sedge characterised by its compact, upright tuft of cinnamon-brown, hair-like leaves with elegantly bleached and curled fine tips. Suits well-drained soils. Evergreen and hardy. Lends itself well to architectural designs within the garden. -
Carex Comons “Red”
Bronze curls Sedge
Has a pinkish/bronze colour and is very effective when planted in groups or as a single specimen. Commonly used as ornamentals and in landscaping. Will grow in a wide range of situations and conditions, tolerating both damp and dry soils. Also useful and attractive in containers. -
Carex flagellifera
New Zealand Grass / Hair Sedge / Glen Murray Tussock
Dense reddish tufts. Grows in all soil types. Suitable for Revegetation and Riparian planting. -
Carex secta
Makura Sedge
Large green to orange-green fast growing hardy tussock. Drooping cutty edge leaves. Great for bank stabilisation and riparian planting as they can be planted straight into pasture and don't require shelter. -
Carex testacea
New Zealand Grass / Hair Sedge
Rich-green and brick-orange foliage. Great for mass plantings, coastal gardens and low maintenance city and courtyard gardens. -
Chionochloa flavicans
Mini Toe toe
This miniature tussock produces flowing green foliage and weeping flower-heads in summer. Great for mass planting. Performs well in sunny, free draining areas
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Chionochloa rubra
Great for use in many situations as it is so tolerant. It looks great in mass plantings, among other natives or incorporated in a border.
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Coprosma propinqua
Mingi Mingi A large, tough shrub with interlaced foliage. A key revegetation plant for riparian plantings as it can be planted straight into pasture and doesn't require shelter. Tolerates a variety of soils from wet to well-drained. Important food source for native birds. -
Coprosma robusta
Karamu Fast growing and hardy. Provides excellent shelter and competes very well with gorse. The bright orange seeds attract birds. Great for riparian planting as they can be planted straight into pasture and don't require shelter. -
Coprosma rotundifolia
Round-leaved CoprosmaHardy, fast-growing and low-maintenance, but require winter pruning. Typically, they are found in ornamental gardens for their unique form. Suitable for hedging or shelter and as a restoration species. The flowers and orange-red berries are attractive to birds and insects.
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Cordyline australis
New Zealand Cabbage Tree Hardy, fast growing and adaptable to either dry or swampy conditions. Produces nectar for bees and birds. Great for riparian planting as they can be planted straight into pasture and don't require shelter. -
Dodonaea viscosa
Green Ake Ake
SALE $5.00 Fast growing hardy small tree. Resistant to drought and exposure to wind and sandy soil. Prefers well drained soil. -
Dodonaea viscosa purple
Purple Ake Ake
SALE $5.00 Excellent establishment tree for natives and for shelter and erosion control. Very hardy for establishing in difficult soil. The long shining leaves are rich purple-red that intensify in winter. -
Fence posts
1.8m H4 pine half round unpointed posts - $8.00 each (incl GST) Re-purposed vineyard posts available individually or in bundles of 50 posts -
Festuca glauca
Blue Tussock
Small bluish-green tussock. Great for mass planting in dry exposed sites as it is very hardy -
Griselinia littoralis Canterbury
Broadleaf / Kapuka Canterbury
A cultivar of G. littoralis. A dependable, quick-growing shrub forming a dense, attractive hedge. ‘Canterbury’ is known for its’ attractive dark red stems and finer rich-green foliage. Can handle a wide range of soil and climatic conditions. Evergreen. Hardy. -
Grisslinia littoralis
Broadleaf / Kapuka
Round-headed branching tree with beautiful glossy bright green leaves, ideal as a hedge. Extremely hardy and will tolerate almost any soil or situation. -
Hoheria angustifolia
Narrow-leaved Lacebark
Quick growing attractive, compact, flowering tree, good for hedge lines, shelter and as a specimen tree. Narrow, toothed leaves and masses of small white flowers in summer. Attractive to pollinators. Hardy. -
Juncus pallidus
Giant Rush
Ideal for wetland revegetation and riparian planting around streams and ponds. It also works well as a border in urban plantings or mixed with others as it grows in a tidy clump of erect bright green architectural spiked leaves -
Kunzea ericoides
Kānuka
Endemic to the northern South Island with physical characteristics differing slightly to other Kānuka species . Showy-white flowers early spring to summer. Great for native re-vegetation projects. Resistant to Mānuka blight. Moderately frost tolerant. -
Kunzea robusta
Kānuka
Tolerates dry, rocky, exposed ground. Showy flowers that attract bees, birds and insects. -
Libertia grandiflora
NZ Iris
The largest of the New Zealand Irises. Suitable for bordering or edging and ground cover. Great for mass planting in sun or semi-shade. Evergreen and hardy. Tall stems of pure white flowers are held up above the leaves in spring. -
Millpark compost mulch
From $100 (incl GST) per cubic metre Sustainably made onsite over 9 months from local green and organic waste. It will reinvigorate and condition your garden soil, enhance water retention and provide organic matter and nutrients for all of your plants. -
Olearia paniculata
Golden Ake ake
Particularly tough in dry and windy conditions, making this shrub particularly useful for shelter and establishing plants in reasonably difficult situations. Sweet smelling flowers attract birds and bees
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Phormium cookianum
Mountain flax The large root system is good for erosion control on banks and bunds. Tolerant of dry, cold and exposure. The nectar from the flowers provides a food for tui and bellbirds. The smaller growing species of the two native flax generally available. -
Phormium cookianum purpurea
Purple Mountain flax The large root system is good for erosion control on banks and bunds. Tolerant of dry, cold and exposure, evergreen and hardy. Fantastic food source for native birds. Smaller than its green form. -
Phormium tenax
Swamp Flax / Harakeke A large growing hardy robust green flax with upright habit. Large dramatic flower heads add interest and attract birds (Tuis and Bellbirds love it). Very hardy tolerating wind and cold conditions. Well suited for wind breaks. -
Pittosporum eugenioides
Lemonwood
The tallest Pittosporum tree, at 10m-12m with long light green glossy leaves. Quick growing for shelter or hedging, can be frost tender when young. Very attractive to pollinators. -
Pittosporum tenuifolium
Black Matipo / Kohuhu
A small evergreen tree 4m-6m. Quick growing and very frost hardy. Is common in regenerating forest throughout much of New Zealand. Provides excellent shelter. -
Plagianthus regius
Ribbonwood
One of New Zealand’s largest deciduous trees. Tolerates dry exposed sites, also a wide range of soils, including riparian edge. -
Podocarpus laetus
Hall’s Tōtara Suitable for hedging. Evergreen. Similar but hardier than P. totara and requires protection while young. -
Podocarpus Matapouri Blue
Blue Tōtara A very attractive form of Tōtara with an upright pyramidal habit. Excellent as a specimen tree or planted as a dense trimmed hedge. Tight blue-grey needle foliage and attractive bark provides a striking contrast in the garden. Very hardy and easy to grow. -
Pseudopanax arboreus
Five finger
This versatile plant is often used in native revegetation projects, planted for screening and shelter, included in a mixed planting, or planted to attract birds. Tolerates wind however does best under a shady canopy. Hardy. -
Pseudopanax crassifolius
Lancewood
A spectacular slow-growing specimen with narrow, green, softly-serrated juvenile leaves. Gives an architectural look to even the smallest of spaces. Becomes a bushy-topped tree with a clean, slender trunk. Attractive to pollinators. Hardy, but frost-tender when young. -
Pseudopanax ferox
Fierce Toothed Lancewood
Very similar to P.crassifolius although a lot slower growing, however much hardier. Has a distinctive architectural appearance that looks good in contemporary gardens. It can be grown in a pot. -
Sophora microphylla
Kowhai
Commonly known as weeping kōwhai and small-leaved kōwhai. It is the most widespread of the eight species of kōwhai. Survives in very exposed conditions
The Nursery
We may be the smallest nursery in the local market, at just 30,000 plants, but this gives us the ability to connect plants to customers in a personal way.
This also gives us the unique ability to always be the most cost-effective nursery in town. Its low input, low impact personal farming in low numbers.
Many places are not based upon the full story. The full story is one of environment, resource, sustainability, diversity and return. Our full story is one of exactly this and is applied to our business, home and property. After all, it’s our own business, home, and nursery that we personally built and have pride in.
Millpark became zero energy in March 2023
Join us in our journey to end sole purpose planting and the stripping out of the land.
Join us in our journey to bring back diversity and balanced life to the land.
Reared from Seed
Plants will grow and establish faster, stronger and look fantastic quicker
Diverse Plant Range
Important for plant health and
a balanced life to the land
Purposeful Planting
Usefull for shelter, water retention and wildlife benefits
Our passion lies in demonstrating the sustainability of planting in a method that has zero negative impact on land and resources but rather leave them in a better state.
How it Works
Our aim is to ensure that our plants become yours at the most suitable time. We have set up a convenient pick up space for you to collect them.
Please let us know by phone or email which plants interest you and when you prefer to collect them and we will have them ready for you.
Or come and visit us for advice with selecting plants.
As we live and work on site, we can offer flexibility with regards to day and time and are open every day.
Handle with Care
We do not deliver – and establish faster, stronger and look fantastic quicker
Diverse Plant Range
Important for plant health and
a balanced life to the land
Purposeful Planting
Usefull for shelter, water retention and wildlife benefits
Our Journal
Wildlife benefits
Join us in our journey to bring back diversity and balanced life to the land.
We want to give locals the possibility to create a positive wildlife rich environment.
Our Focus
Our focus lies in demonstrating the sustainability of planting in a method that has zero negative impact on land and resources but rather leave them in a better state.
Join us in our journey to end sole purpose planting and the stripping out of the land.
Local Project Donations
During our journey, we will not only donate our time and plants to local projects, but we will plant tens of thousands of plants on our own property, showing in time the positive effect everyone one of us can have on the environment.