Nurseryman Tim Edgecombe is IN the process of completing a total redevelopment of his retail business on Kapiro Rd. In fact the 10 acre Plant Zone Direct nursery has undergone various reshaping projects since its inception 15 years ago, initially growing and supplying product of "bread and butter lines" for other nurseries and businesses from Northland through Auckland to Hamilton and Bay of Plenty.
While this remains the main focus of the business, around five years ago he had
the opportunity to buy the entire stock of the well-respected Vireya collector and specialist John Kenyon of Hamilton.The purchase subsequently meant PZD became the stockists of NewZealand's largest Vireya range.
Vireya Rhodedendrons remain their specialty and there is a display and identification
garden on site.Tim is particularly keen on developing the highly scented varieties which compete with the heady scented likes of gardenia and jasmine.Although Tim has no formal horticultural background, from school he worked under the keen eye of Kerikeri's respected plants man Roger Smith, as have many Northland nurserymen he points out.He extended his knowledge working part time with a local landscaper. Then, three years ago and while delivering plant orders fortnightly into Auckland and Hamilton, he and his wife decided to open part of the nursery as a retail outlet.
They now have a wide range of garden products, plants, flowering shrubs, fruit trees,
tropical, semi-tropical indoor and outdoor plants many of which they have propagated
themselves or grown on from tubes bought from other nurseries.Tim is always on the
lookout for new trends and newstock, often sourcing special plants from nurseries while
on delivery trips round the country. There are some newappearances to watch out
for, like the intriguing "potato tom", tomacios, and Belerive primulas.There are several new grevilia varieties, a pretty "pink splash" rose, many brightly coloured Australian ("Merinda", "Mesmereyes" and "Pageant") and NZ ("Cygmus" "Phoenix" and "Centaurus") varieties of Leptospermums andawonderful new twist stemmed camelia called "Curly Lady".Tim is also keen to promote a new variety of non invasiveThai ginger like "Gallengall" and "Gachii".
If there's a current trend Tim says it's going back to colour and away from the more formal architectural statement plantings.Roses and 'colour' are selling well while the large fruit tree market iswaning. Feijoa and citrus remain popular.
