Odd Spot Plants
Odd Spot Plants is a family-owned production nursery run by Neil and Lisa Paterson in Goomboorian, South East Queensland.
We propagate and grow grafted flowering gums, premium trees, distinctive indoor foliage and other specialist plants for wholesale nurseries and retail garden centres.
Our nursery has always been drawn to plants that are a little different; and often a little more difficult to produce. We work with seed, cuttings and grafting rather than relying on tissue-cultured plant material, giving us greater control over how our plants are propagated and grown.
Plants That Require More Than the Usual Approach
Some plants are straightforward to produce. Others require patience, technical skill and plenty of trial and error – these are often the plants we find most interesting.
We specialise in rare, unusual and hard-to-propagate plants that larger production nurseries may not have the time or inclination to grow. This includes grafted flowering gums (Summer Series), grafted ornamental trees, collector foliage and nursery-bred plant lines.
Our focus is not on producing large numbers. It is on producing consistent, well-grown plants that perform for the nurseries and customers who receive them.
Grafted Flowering Gums and Premium Trees
Grafting is now an important part of our nursery production.
We grow our rootstocks from seed and graft our trees in-house, including the Summer Series of flowering gums and selected ornamental tree lines like White Jacaranda and Variegated Jacaranda. With more lines in development including Grevillea.
Careful rootstock production, accurate grafting and close attention throughout the growing process allow us to produce consistent stock for wholesale nurseries and retail garden centres.
Contract Propagation and Growing
We also work with other nurseries and plant businesses to produce plants on their behalf.
Our contract nursery services include:
- Seedling production
- Propagation from cuttings
- Grafting
- Production of specialist or technically difficult plant lines
We are particularly well suited to plants that need closer attention, skilled propagation or a more hands-on production process.
We prefer to build practical, long-term working relationships with our customers and take the time to understand how the finished plants need to perform within their business.
Plant Breeding at Odd Spot Plants
We don’t just grow plants. We create them.
Plant breeding and selection are an important part of the future of Odd Spot Plants. Neil is constantly experimenting with new crosses, propagation methods and potential plant lines.
This work includes ornamental trees, flowering gums and distinctive indoor foliage. Promising plants are grown, observed and selected over time before being considered for commercial production.
One of our nursery-bred foliage plants (Monstera ‘Aussie Dream’) has been sent overseas for international propagation, and we have several other new plants progressing through our breeding and selection program. Some of our plants include Monstera ‘Uno’; the very popular Philodendron ‘Fat Boy 2.0’ and Aeschynanthus ‘Super Curly’.
Plant breeding is slow work, but it is one of the parts of the nursery we find most rewarding.
Neil and Lisa Paterson
Odd Spot Plants is run by Neil and Lisa Paterson.
Neil is happiest when ‘playing’ with plants; breeding and propagating new varieties his great passion. With a degree in horticulture and around 30 years of practical industry experience, he oversees the technical growing, plant health, grafting and breeding work within the nursery. It is not unusual to find him still working with plants long after everyone else has gone home.
Lisa keeps the nursery moving, working across production planning, customers, marketing, finance and day-to-day operations. With qualifications and experience in agriculture, accounting and business, she brings together the growing and commercial sides of the nursery – while continuing her own education in all things green.
Together, we share a genuine enthusiasm for growing interesting plants and turning new varieties into reliable commercial lines. That same care extends to how we run the nursery, with off-grid power and a strong preference for biological controls, natural methods and minimal chemical use wherever practical.
Meet Our Nursery Team
Odd Spot Plants is supported by a small team who bring different interests, personalities and skills to the nursery.
Claudia
Creative and thoroughly plant-crazy, Claudia mainly works with our indoor foliage plants, propagating, potting and tending to them as they move through production. She also has her own plant shop in Gympie, so plants are very much part of both her working life and her life outside the nursery.
Elina
Calm, thoughtful and precise, Elina is our grafting pro—or “master grafter,” as we sometimes call her. She has a particular interest in Anthuriums and is equally fascinated by the snakes, spiders and other wildlife that occasionally share the nursery with us.
Ashleigh
Ashleigh is the newest member of our nursery team. Enthusiastic, bubbly and always willing to help, she is quickly developing her grafting skills and has settled naturally into nursery production. She is a genuine team player and a valued addition to Odd Spot Plants.
Grown Here, From the Beginning
We propagate and grow our own plants here at the nursery. This gives us control over plant health, quality and consistency from the earliest stages of production.
We use careful hygiene and plant-health protocols throughout the nursery. For biosecurity reasons, Odd Spot Plants is not generally open to the public, but wholesale customers and industry contacts are welcome to get in touch to discuss plant supply, contract growing or future production requirements.
Let’s Grow Something Interesting
Whether you are looking for grafted flowering gums, premium trees, unusual foliage or a nursery partner to produce a specialist plant line, we would be pleased to hear from you.
Contact Odd Spot Plants to discuss wholesale supply, contract propagation, grafting or grow-on production.
