Rare Plants & Co Frequently Asked Questions

​​Where are you located?

​I’m based in Christchurch, New Zealand, and run Rare Plants & Co entirely from home and local growing spaces. While I don’t have a walk-in storefront, you can often find me at the Riccarton Sunday Market with a full range of plants, accessories, and gift options.

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Do you ship nationwide?

Yes! I ship to all of New Zealand, including rural addresses.

Plants are carefully packed using protective materials to keep them safe during transit, even in colder months.

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How long does shipping take?

Orders are usually shipped Monday–Wednesday to avoid plants sitting in courier depots over weekends.
Approximate delivery times:

• South Island: 1–2 business days

• North Island: 2–4 business days

• Rural: add an extra 1–2 days

If there are unexpected delays (weather, road closures, peak season), I’ll let you know.

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How do you pack the plants? Are they safe in transit?

Absolutely — packing is one of the most important parts of my job.
Each plant is:

• watered lightly beforehand (never soaked)

• secured so the soil won’t spill

• wrapped to protect leaves

• insulated when necessary

• boxed tightly to prevent movement

I only ship plants that are healthy and strong enough for travel. If I wouldn’t feel confident receiving it myself, I don’t send it.

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Do you offer refunds or replacements?

Yes- your plants should arrive healthy and as described.
If something arrives damaged, unhappy, or not what you expected, please contact me within 24 hours of delivery with photos and we can come to an agreement on how to proceed.

I’m a small NZ business, so fairness goes both ways, but I always do right by my customers.

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Do you accept returns on plants?

Due to the nature of live plants, I don’t accept traditional “change of mind” returns.
However, I’m always happy to help troubleshoot any plant care issues to make sure your new plant thrives.

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Can I pick up my order?

Yes, if you’re in Christchurch, local pickup can be arranged by message.

I also bring stock to the Riccarton Sunday Market, where you can browse in person and choose your plants by hand.

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Do you offer gift wrapping?

Yes! Especially around Christmas and special occasions.
Just leave a note at checkout and I’ll wrap your plant beautifully so it’s ready to give — no extra hassle on your end.

 

I’m new to rare plants… which one should I start with?

You’re in good hands! I love helping beginners choose plants that suit their home and lifestyle.
Tell me your light levels, experience, and what kind of “look” you love, and I’ll suggest options that are:

• easy to care for

• resilient to NZ indoor conditions

• great value for money

Not all rare plants are fussy, some truly are “beginner-proof”.

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Why are some rare plants more expensive?

Rare plants take longer to grow, and many of them must be propagated carefully in controlled conditions.
Some species are slow growers, some require specific humidity or warmth, and many are imported or bred over years.

I always keep prices fair and transparent — no hype pricing or inflated mark-ups.

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Do you grow the plants yourself?

Most of my plants are personally grown, acclimated, or cared for by me before sale.
Because I run the business alone, each plant gets direct attention, I prune, water, repot, and monitor everything myself.

This means your plant arrives acclimated to real NZ home conditions, not just commercial greenhouse life.

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How do I care for rare plants in NZ?

Check out my blog diving deep into this!

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Can you source a specific plant?

Yes! If you’re hunting for something special, send me a message.
I can sometimes source rare species through growers, imports, or private collections within NZ.

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Do you offer wholesale or bulk orders?

For businesses, events, or stylists, I can arrange bulk orders depending on availability.
Reach out and I’ll let you know what’s currently possible.​​

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Can I request a plant to be imported?

Of course! Our main objective is to help those that want to complete their wishlists do so in the most affordable, legal way possible. We have been granted permission to import by MPI through many lengthy and costly procedures, meaning we are eligible to import almost any plant you can think of! (Providing it is not a fruit or vegetable plant, we will let you know if it is possible. ) 

 

​Please keep in mind that even if we do decide to import the plant you have requested it will take approx 4 months before it is allowed out of the quarantine facility and you are not exclusively entitled to it unless otherwise stated. In most cases, the plant you may have requested may have been submitted by several other people and we cannot discriminate or prioritise one person over another. However, if a plant is in high demand, we will try our upmost to import multiple specimens or propagate from the ones we do get. 

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Products or services may have limited quantities and all sales are final as we are a small company and do not have the capacity to receive returns. We package our plants safely and securely however we cannot be held responsible for any damages to plants during the shipping process as that is conducted at the buyer's risk as with all online purchases.

 

If a non-plant product arrives damaged please contact us and we will arrange a replacement to be sent to you if we have the stock to do so, if not you will receive a full refund.  

We have made every effort to display as accurately as possible the colors and images of our products. We cannot guarantee that your computer monitor's display of any color will be accurate. All descriptions of products or product pricing are subject to change at any time without notice, at the sole discretion of us. We reserve the right to discontinue any product at any time.