Southern Woods is one of the South Island's largest and most progressive plant nurseries, based in Ōtautahi Christchurch and supplying healthy, hardy plants to retail and wholesale customers across New Zealand. What began over a generation ago as a forestry nursery has steadily expanded in range and headcount — the site is now home to more than 50 staff and millions of plants, grown for projects large and small, from suburban borders to farm shelter belts and large landscape schemes.
The range is genuinely wide: New Zealand natives (including wetland species), specimen trees, shrubs, hedging, climbers, conifers, ferns, grasses, flaxes and strappy plants, perennials, and rhododendrons, camellias and hydrangeas, alongside fruit and nut trees, specialist forestry species, timber and firewood trees, and even truffle-inoculated trees. A purpose-built plant centre — home to what the nursery calls Christchurch's largest range of plants — is open seven days, backed by an online store shipping nationwide with free click-and-collect from the nursery.
Beyond the plants themselves, Southern Woods offers design and consultancy services with site visits and landscape plans, free quotes on uploaded plant lists, a dedicated trade and commercial supply channel, and a deep advice library covering fruit tree care, rootstock, eco-sourcing, truffles and glasshouses. Seasonal happenings — think winter fruit tree pruning workshops and Matariki weekends at the plant centre — make a visit as much about ideas and inspiration as it is about plants.
Southern Woods is one of the South Island's largest and most progressive plant nurseries, and its story starts, fittingly for Canterbury, with forestry. What began as a forestry nursery has, over more than a generation, steadily expanded its range and its team. Today the ever-growing Christchurch site is home to over 50 staff and millions of plants, producing trees and shrubs for projects across New Zealand — from a single tree for a suburban backyard to farm shelter belts, restoration plantings and large landscape schemes.
Based in Ōtautahi Christchurch, the nursery supplies retail and wholesale customers nationwide, describing itself as forward-thinking, people-focused and passionate about achieving the best environmental outcomes for New Zealanders. Its own taglines say it plainly: 'Canterbury grown', 'plants for good', 'growing for our future'. The team sums up the culture as being 'all about growth', across every aspect of the business.
The range is one of the widest in the South Island. It spans New Zealand natives — including wetland species — specimen trees, landscape shrubs, garden hedging, climbers, conifers, groundcovers, ferns, grasses, flaxes and strappy plants, perennials, and rhododendrons, camellias and hydrangeas. Specialist lines reflect the nursery's roots: forestry and shelter species, timber and firewood trees, and a dedicated fruit and nut selection that takes centre stage in winter, the season for planting, pruning and preparing for the year ahead. There's even a truffle range of inoculated trees for growers chasing the gourmet fungus, alongside accessories, glasshouses and gift cards.
Eco-sourcing is part of the thinking, and the website doubles as a reference tool as much as a store: planting tips and tricks, fruit tree care, rootstock explainers, notes on Ellepot propagation, truffle growing and glasshouse guidance. Industry memberships — from IPPS and the NZ Tree Crops Association to the NZ Farm Forestry and NZ Truffle associations — sit alongside the nursery's own credentials.
Southern Woods' new, purpose-built plant centre is open seven days and carries what the nursery calls Christchurch's largest range of plants. It is a working nursery rather than a mere garden shop, and the calendar leans into that: recent happenings include a Matariki weekend of winter planting inspiration and expert advice, and fruit tree pruning workshops timed to the winter season.
Ordering is flexible. Thousands of plants are listed in the online store, searchable at any time, with delivery shipped New Zealand wide. With freight prices described by the nursery itself as 'a bit wild right now', free click-and-collect from the Christchurch nursery is the savvy option — order online, then pick up in person at no delivery cost.
Beyond the shelves, Southern Woods offers design and consultancy services, including site visits and landscape plans. Gardeners who already hold a plan or plant list can upload it to the website for a free quote. Trade and commercial customers — landscapers, developers, farmers and others planting at scale — have a dedicated wholesale supply channel.
The nursery is open weekdays from 8am to 5pm and weekends from 9am to 5pm, with the online store always on. Whether you arrive with a shelter belt to plant or a single balcony pot, the proposition is the same: healthy, hardy, Canterbury-grown plants and a team that has been getting them growing for generations.