William SmithPlant nurseries used to be my least favorite places. I’d walk in with a specific plant in mind, only to find dusty pots and a sheer lack of selection—it was enough to discourage any gardener.
After too many trips to garden centers that felt more like warehouses, I finally found nurseries that changed my perspective completely.
These places combine a passion for plants with exceptional service, creating havens for green thumbs.
If you’re looking to add something special to your garden, here’s my list of the best nurseries in Auckland.
How much does it cost to get a plant at a nursery in Auckland?
It costs at least 5 NZD to get a plant at a nursery in Auckland.
This price is just an estimate. The actual cost will vary depending on the size of the plant, the type, and the nursery you go to.
1. Touch of the Tropics Garden Centre & Nursery
Address: 62 Trig Road, Whenuapai
Contact Details: +64 21 809 089
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 8 AM to 4:30 PM
- Saturday – 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
- Sunday – 9 AM to 4 PM
What truly sets Touch of the Tropics apart is their excellent plant care support. I love the convenience of sending a photo and getting instant, free advice over the phone.
For extra assistance, their team offers regular visits during the first 3 to 6 months to ensure your plants thrive.
Many also raved about how they ensure your plants have optimal watering and fertilizer levels. They provide guidance on watering and fertilizing while helping with weeds, pests, and diseases.
Their collection of subtropical plants is stunning. It features bird of paradise, Bougainvillea, and Strelitzia.
Their fruit plant selection is equally impressive. Their Pacific rose apples and pear are equally healthy and vibrant.
Plus, their nursery is set up easily for loading your plants. They even have a bulk plant delivery service, which is really convenient.
However, their website only lists fruit varieties. Browsing the full selection before visiting can be challenging.
Helpful staff and a lovely setting
“Do not come here as you will end up spending more money than you’d planned! Every time I go in, I walk away with so many lovely plants. What’s so special about this place, besides the helpful staff and lovely setting, is that they have many unusual plants that you don’t see often in other garden centres. If you’re after hard to find varieties, this is the place to go. Plenty of acers, tropical plants, formal and country garden varieties to suit every landscaping requirements. They will help you source a specific plant if required too. My go-to nursery.”
–Madame Butterfly, Google Reviews
Beautiful plants at great prices
“Beautiful plants at great prices and really helpful people! Abby helped me so much and I’m so excited to plant everything! I would definitely recommend coming here, the selection is excellent :)”
–Emma L, Google Reviews
2. Black Bridge Big Tree Nurseries NZ
Address: 436 Puhinui Road
Contact Details: +64 9 278 1575
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday – 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Black Bridge Big Tree Nurseries is a must-visit for anyone seeking mature trees, shrubs, and hedging plants. Their vast collection is impressive, with everything from citrus trees to exotic evergreens.
However, the layout can be a bit confusing—clearer signage or a map would be helpful.
Regardless, the plants were in excellent health, which is what matters most. The character olives particularly stood out with their gnarled trunks and lush foliage.
I also loved their range of native New Zealand trees. It includes the majestic Kauri and the elegant, weeping Titoki.
The Callistemon Kings Park Special (Bottlebrush) stood out with its vibrant red flowers, but my favorite was the Purpureum (Ake Ake) with its striking purple foliage.
On top of that, the staff were incredibly helpful. I appreciated how they thoroughly discussed planting techniques with me.
Their delivery team also deserves praise for their professional and careful handling of trees during transport.
Offers a really good range of healthy trees
“Really good experience dealing with Black Bridge Nursery. Linda was really helpful and drove us around in the buggy to select the trees we wanted. There was a really good range of healthy trees, and once ordered we were able to have them delivered on the date we required for a reasonable fee. Overall a very good experience.”
–J & C “NZ Travellers”, Google Reviews
Walks you through the process with photos and advice
“Great service and excellent product. I wanted to replace a tree that had died and needed it to match the existing trees in the row. They walked me through the process with photos and advice. The tree when delivered was the perfect size and was very healthy. Definitely recommend.”
–Charlene McGurk, Google Reviews
3. Gordons Nurseries
Address: 159A Scenic Drive
Contact Details:+64 9 817 3498
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – 9 AM to 5 PM
At Gordons Nurseries, each plant showcases robust health—a testament to their gardening expertise. I was especially impressed by their mature kawakawa and flaxes, which were ready to make a bold statement in any garden.
Customers frequently praised the stunning native groundcovers. These are ideal for filling in empty spaces and adding a touch of natural beauty.
The smaller plants were equally captivating. The vibrant Coprosmas and hardy hebes stood out for their striking colors and textures.
I appreciate the meticulous labeling, too. It included the plant’s common name, Māori name, and a concise description of its growing needs—an invaluable resource for new gardeners.
Plus, the staff are always eager to offer advice without being pushy. Many customers appreciated their guidance in finding the perfect plants for their backyards.
The only downside was the weekend crowds, which made parking difficult. The nursery also felt less serene during these busy times.
Excellent selection of native plants
“Excellent selection of native plants, much cheaper than pretty much anywhere we looked for the same plants. Very knowledgeable staff. They have wheelbarrows instead of trolleys, and it’s very hard to not fill one up.”
–Tim W, Google Reviews
Great selection at a good price
“Great selection, good prices and really helpful with insightful comments on positioning. Great location too – for those living out west! Thank you”
–Troy G, Google Reviews
4. Jungle Flora Bamboo
Address: 108 Parker Road, Oratia
Contact Details: +64 21 256 4935
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
Jungle Flora Bamboo is a must-visit for anyone seeking beautiful, low-maintenance bamboo for their garden.
Their selection of clumping, non-invasive varieties is impressive. These options are a great choice for those concerned about bamboo spreading.
Customers praised the ease of care. They also highlighted the rapid growth they experienced with guidance from the nursery.
I was impressed by the Bambusa textilis gracilis (slender weavers bamboo) and its upright canes, ideal for a natural screen. Meanwhile, the compact Bambusa multiplex (green goddess) is perfect for smaller spaces.
The staff’s genuine expertise and enthusiasm were standout features. Their deep understanding of urban gardening and personalized advice made my visit exceptional.
However, their appointment-only system can be frustrating. It makes spontaneous visits more challenging.
Makes the selection process easy
“I have purchased multiple times from Jungle Flora, it’s always a pleasure dealing with them. They make the selection process easy and provide delivery. Beautiful healthy plants every time. Knowledgeable and lovely owners. A great place to find out more about the very interesting world of bamboo and all of the varieties. They will help you find the perfect one for you.”
–Donna Stanish, Google Reviews
Well priced healthy plants
“We found Jungle Flora bamboo plants to be very well priced and healthy, ready to plant. We look forward to watching our new hedge grow.”
–Mischa Davis, Google Reviews
5. Auckland Palm Centre
Address: 40 Paremoremo Road
Contact Details: +64 22 508 6020
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – 8 AM to 5 PM
The Auckland Palm Centre’s most striking feature is its exceptional collection of healthy, thriving palm trees.
The plants’ lush foliage and sturdy trunks reflect their excellent care. Even unusual varieties like sago palms and native Nikau palms are in top condition.
The sheer variety is top-notch. I found everything from the classic Kentia palms to the striking architectural forms of the Sentry palms.
Their range of size is just as remarkable. They offer options for both small gardens and large-scale landscaping projects.
But while they offer some cycads and subtropicals, their primary focus on palms might be limiting for those seeking a broader selection of plants for landscaping projects.
Even so, I also appreciated the staff’s expert advice. They provided helpful recommendations and answered all my questions without being pushy.
Beautiful place that’s worth a visit
“Amazing service from Mike, really happy with the palms. Beautiful place, definitely worth a visit. Will be back soon. 🌴”
–Juliet Allardice, Google Reviews
Offers a huge selection of palm trees
“I bought 2 palm trees today for our terrace. They have a huge selection and are super competent. I received very good advise. Highly recommend.”
–Pascal Tavernier, Google Reviews
