The recently established Botanic Gardens Nursery (BGN) is a subset of Ooray Orchards P/L. BGN currently offers a small but promising variety of mostly Australian tropical and subtropical species specifically catering for botanical collections but also for landscaping and bushfood plantings. The nursery is a new endeavour, decided upon by the constant requests for native species rarely available in the nursery trade. BGN is developing its growing facility at Burringbar in the wet subtropics of far northern-eastern NSW (just over 100km south of Brisbane) where water is plentiful and the winters mild. Operating since November 1999, Ooray Orchards P/L has concentrated on growing native Australian fruit trees with particular emphasis on assessing varied genotypes of Davidsonia species. Ooray Orchards P/L and the associated Burringbar Botanical Gardens are the concept of Kristopher Kupsch, an avid botanical enthusiast who has been studying Australian native plants for twenty years.

Kristopher has been fortunate enough to associate with many persons in the field of Botany and Horticulture, thus has accumulated many unique plants. The majority of species grown by BGN have been trialled in the ground for over ten years within the subtropical climate of north-eastern NSW. This allows for good judgement of species requirements especially those generally considered to demand tropical conditions. Since embracing this interest, Kristopher has planted over 5 acres of rainforest arboreta, containing near-on 1500 species of Australian plants. Kristopher’s continued passion for plants has seen him cultivate endangered species and thus broaden the knowledge base for those assisting in preserving such species within the wild. He also has a growing interest in non-Australian species such as exotic, Platycerium and Pandanus.

Kristopher has 20 years experience in plant propagation, landscape restoration, flora surveys and is tertiary trained in Horticulture and Botany with particular focus on botanical sciences. He has been the leader of the Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants (ASGAP) - Rainforest Study Group for a number of years and regularly consults with horticulturists on aspects of Australian plant culture. Kristopher has for the previous two and half years been employed as a Botanist and Environmental consultant based on the Atherton Tablelands in North Queensland however has recently moved back to NSW to pursue his heartfelt venture of developing Australia’s largest collection of (non-invasive) Australian rainforest plants. As of mid-July 2008 he and the family will be based on the family farm in the Tweed Valley where he hopes to cultivate many of his garden species for offer to other enthusiasts, landscapers and botanic gardens.

Unlike some plant providers BGN strives to develop a responsible practice of avoiding species that rank a high score on a ‘Risk Assessment Rating’ so as to help reduce the possibility of introducing new weeds. This rating is based on biological character traits of each species grown. Once developed individual species risk assessments can be forwarded on request. BGN is aware of the risks posed by bridging natural ecological barriers and introducing species to new areas. Reflecting this attitude, BGN openly consults with clients concerning the sale of those species which score a moderate or high risk and doesn’t grow species which are known to be weeds.

Here at BGN, nursery hygiene is of the upmost importance. BGN constantly strives to better its hygiene practices by using soil-less media and by utilising shelved growing facilities. In the future BGN eventually aims to possess Nursery Industry Accreditation Scheme Australia (NIASA) accreditation.

BGN liaises closely with the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency and adheres to specifications within the Queensland Nature Conservation Act (1992) and associated Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation (2006).


BGN is closely associated with Trees for Earth P/L in which BGN offers their expertise as the New South Wales distributor of products and services. Trees for Earth P/L have expanded to the Sunshine Coast, Tweed Coast and Canberra region where they design and implement timber plantations and various tree planting projects. They specialise in a range of unique tree growing products from biologically rich soil improvers and photosythetically active tree guards.

Closer to home BGN is collaborating efforts with Incana Nursery P/L so as to broaden the availability of species and thus offer a greater range to landscape gardeners. Incana Nursery P/L invest their time in growing a wide range of ornamental foliage and flowering plants with most attention towards species in the family’s Heliconiaceae (Heliconias), Zingiberaceae and Costaceae (Gingers), Begoniaceae (Begonias- non-invasive species and cultivars only) and Taccaceae (Bat Plants). Also available are various Palms and rare trees and a number of other understorey plants in the Marantaceae family (Calatheas etc.)