Pukerau Nursery practises an eco-sourcing policy wherever possible. Eco-sourcing refers to the propagation of native plants from naturally occurring wild populations and the planting of the resulting plants back into the same ecological area. Pukerau Nursery collects seed from throughout Southland and Otago, from coastal, intermediate, and inland climatic areas. Each seed batch collected is recorded so that the source of any plant at the nursery is tracked, this ensures plants supplied are the most appropriate for the planting area. Pukerau Nursery will collect propagation material and grow to meet specific individual needs and requirements when requested.
The key benefits for eco-sourcing:
- Plants have a high survival rate as are best suited to the local environmental conditions
- Preserving the natural vegetation in local areas
- Maintaining natural plant distribution and biodiversity
Pukerau Nursery has a special interest in threatened plants within Southland and Otago and has worked closely with DOC over the years to grow species needed for their restoration projects. Through eco-sourcing, the nursery has had great success in propagating a range of threatened species and introducing them into suitable habitats on farms and properties as part of riparian and restoration palantings.
