Plants hardening off in the Motukarara
Nursery
Motukarara Conservation Nursery and resource centre has established itself as a 'centre of excellence' for restoration in Canterbury. It grows Canterbury plants exclusively, with an emphasis on genetic purity. The nursery propagates over 120,000 plants each year, most of which are pre-sold for restoration projects.
Where is it?
Motukarara Conservation Nursery is located within the Waihora Domain at Motukarara, signposted from the Christchurch-Akaroa Highway (SH 75), 30 kilometres from the centre of Christchurch.
Opening hours
The nursery is open Monday to Friday 8am - 4pm.
It is also open on Saturdays from 10am to 3pm during the key planting seasons of Autumn (May-June) and Spring (September - October.)
Advocacy & education
The nursery aims to increase understanding of genetic purity, ecological restoration and protection. The nursery has produced a number of resources and publications, you can view these on the nursery publications page.
The display gardens in front of the nursery is open 24 hours and is planted with representative plantings of local plant associations such as wetlands, coastal areas, Banks Peninsula, a collection of threatened plants and plants of cultural significance.
Propagation
The nursery grows Canterbury plants exclusively. Seed is collected from native plants natural to different ecological areas. The seed harvest (from January to the end of June) is done in relation to restoration projects, threatened plant programmes and sales demand. Two hundred different species are collected from some 20 ecological sites. Seeds are sown until September and propagated until the end of December. From January to April the seedlings are conditioned for the autumn or spring planting. Most of the production is on a yearly cycle, but some will take two to three years. Most of the one hundred and twenty thousand plants produced are grown in small pots or RX pots.
Motukarara Conservation Nursery
RD2
Christchurch
Phone +64 3 329 7846
Fax +64 3 329 7041
motukarara@doc.govt.nz
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