Fernview Nurseries

Fernview Nurseries, online tubestock nursery for all of Australia

Fernview Nurseries is an Australian nursery specialising in mail-order sales of plants grown on its own premises. The company has over 25 years of experience shipping plants by mail order and presents itself as a tubestock nursery: all its plants are sold in 2-inch (50 mm) pots, with the exception of agapanthus, which are sold bare-rooted, lifted directly from the ground and wrapped in newspaper.

According to its own presentation, the plants the customer receives have been propagated and grown at the nursery, and the packaging system specifically designed for shipping aims to ensure the order arrives in the best possible condition. The company states it is accredited to ship to every region of Australia, including Tasmania and Western Australia.

Variety catalogue and selection criteria

The catalogue is organised by plant type and growing characteristics. Among the variety categories are agapanthus, bird-attracting plants, climbers, culinary, strap-leaf, ground covers, hedges, natives, scented and shrubs, as well as pack lots and gift vouchers.

Searching by characteristics allows filtering for bird-attracting, culinary, drought-tolerant, flowering, frost-tolerant, full-sun, ground cover, hedge or screen, native, part-shade, shade, shrub and bare-rooted plants.

According to the company, varieties are selected for their popularity, hardiness and versatility in the garden, with the aim of serving everything from a formal English box hedge to scattered cottage-garden plantings or recreating a native bushland setting.

Examples from the catalogue

Among the plants featured on the site are varieties such as Ajuga Feathered Friends 'Cordial Canary', Pratia pedunculata alba, Ajuga reptans Choc Chip, Eremophila glabra prostrate, Brachycome multifida alba, Myoporum parvifolium fine leaf, Westringia fruticosa alba, Liriope evergreen giant, Viburnum odoratissimum, Mesembryanthemum crystallinum pink, Senecio serpens, Agapanthus orientalis blue and white, Buxus microphylla japonica, Buxus microphylla Faulkner, Lavandula intermedia Grosso, Photinia robusta, Pittosporum Silver Sheen, Gardenia Florida, Coleonema pulchellum pink and Lavandula Hidcote.

The catalogue also includes 25-unit pack lots of varieties such as Myoporum parvifolium fine leaf and broad leaf, rosemary Blue Lagoon, Rosemary officinalis, Rosemary Rosea, Rosemary officinalis prostrate, Rosemary 'Tuscan Blue', Westringia Wynabbie Gem, Westringia Jervis Gem and Westringia fruticosa alba. Prices shown at the time of analysis were around AUD 3.40 per unit in many cases, with seasonal discounts, and 25-unit pack lots were around AUD 82.50, including GST.

Shipping and logistics

Orders are dispatched on Mondays and, according to the company, usually arrive later the same week depending on the destination state. In Western Australia they may arrive early the following week. The company warns that in the run-up to Christmas, delivery times may be longer due to Australia Post's increased workload.

Shipping cost varies by location and is calculated by Australia Post when the address is entered during checkout, although the site provides an estimated guide. The company ships plants by mail all year round.

Plant preparation and planting advice

Fernview Nurseries assures that its plants are sent with a well-established root system, so they can be planted directly in the garden on arrival. If the customer cannot plant them immediately, it recommends removing the polystyrene plugs, watering them and placing them in a protected area, away from direct sunlight.

On timing of purchase, the company notes that if the garden is ready for planting it is usually a good time to buy the plants, and advises against planting in the event of heavy frost or extreme heat.

Customer service and wholesale sales

The company has qualified staff to answer enquiries about the garden effect the customer is looking for. It also has a wholesale department to assist distributors who require support.