Australian Outback Plants

What Australian Outback Plants does

Australian Outback Plants is a wholesale and retail nursery specializing in drought-tolerant, cold-hardy Australian native plants, operating a 240-acre plantation with 80 greenhouses in the Tonopah/Harquahala Valley of Arizona. Founded in 1981 by Paul Chambers, the company holds what it describes as the world's most extensive eucalyptus plantation and produces more than 100,000 plants and trees across 200+ species, including Eucalyptus, Eremophila, Acacia, and Callistemon varieties, several of which are proprietary trademarks such as the 'Cousin It' Acacia cognata and the 'Black Coral Pea' Kennedia.

The company serves four distinct revenue streams. At retail, it supplies 120+ Lowe's stores across the southwestern U.S. and, since March 2021, Home Depot; it also runs an annual Open House Plant Sale and direct-to-consumer nursery sales from the Arizona site. At trade level, it performs contract growing for landscape professionals. In the institutional market, it operates what is reportedly the largest U.S. supplier of koala browse feed, shipping approximately 3,000 lbs per month to 40+ zoos (a business line begun with San Diego Zoo in 1996). The underlying technology is conventional horticulture — propagation, greenhouse cultivation, and irrigation — supplemented by water-security infrastructure (a new well was installed in 2017 amid a regional water-cost crisis).

Revenue mechanics are anchored in big-box wholesale pricing for commodity and branded native varieties, supplemented by retail margin on nursery sales and stable volume contracts with zoos. Reported revenue was approximately $1M as of 2017 with roughly 12 staff; current headcount and revenue figures are not publicly disclosed, and the business remains privately held by the founder. The competitive position rests on 40+ years of propagation expertise, a multi-channel U.S. distribution footprint, and a niche monopoly-like role in U.S. koala browse supply.

Name

Australian Outback Plants

Legal name

Australian Outback Plants

Website

https://australianoutbackplants.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Australian Outback Plants is an Arizona-based wholesale and retail nursery founded in 1981 that grows 200+ species of drought-tolerant Australian native plants on 240 acres, supplying Lowe's, Home Depot, landscapers, and 40+ U.S. zoos with koala browse feed.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wholesale Plant Nursery

NAICS

Nursery and Tree Production (111421)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Nursery Production (Woody Ornamentals: Trees, Shrubs, Roses) (AFAGAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Native Species & Restoration Plant Nurseries (AFAMADAF), Forest Nurseries, Seed Orchards & Genetic Improvement (AFAMAAAD)

Keywords

• Drought tolerant plants
• Australian native nursery
• Eucalyptus browse plantation
• Koala browse feed
• Wholesale plant nursery

Headquarters

HQ city

Tonopah

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Plant Sales: Supplies wholesale plants to major retailers including 120 Lowe's stores and Home Depot locations. Provides drought tolerant Australian native plants to home gardeners, landscapers, and city planners.
2. Zoo Animal Nutrition (Koala Browse): Supplies nutritional browse (Eucalyptus and Acacia leaves) to zoos for koalas and other animals. Ships approximately 3000 lbs of browse per month to zoos nationwide. Harvests and ships twice weekly for freshness.
3. Contract Growing: Contract growing services for residential and commercial projects
4. Retail Direct Sales: Direct plant sales during Open House events at the plantation, including discounted prices for on-site purchases

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Australian Outback Plants operates a 240-acre Australian native plant nursery in Arizona that grows and sells over 100,000 drought-tolerant, cold-hardy Australian native plants and trees (including Eucalyptus, Eremophila, Acacia, Callistemon, Melaleuca, Lomandra, and Kangaroo Paw varieties) via wholesale to retailers such as Lowe's and Home Depot, contract growing for landscape projects, on-site Open House sales, and recurring fresh Eucalyptus and Acacia browse supply to zoos across the United States.

Product overview

Australian Outback Plants operates as a native plant nursery and garden center, offering the world's most extensive Eucalyptus browse plantation with over 100,000 plants and trees. The core product is the diverse collection of drought-tolerant, cold-hardy Australian native plants including Eucalyptus, Eremophila, Acacia, Callistemon, Melaleuca, Lomandra, and Kangaroo Paw varieties. The company serves retail outlets (Home Depot), smaller retail businesses, contract growing for residential and commercial projects, and trade/landscaping professionals. A key differentiator is the animal nutrition division - the largest supplier of koala browse and feed to zoos across America. Products are also sold at Home Depot and Lowe's stores in Phoenix, Tucson, and California.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Australian Native Plant Collection A curated catalog of over 200 species and 100,000+ Australian native plants and trees (Eucalyptus, Eremophila, Acacia, Callistemon, Melaleuca, Lomandra, Kangaroo Paw and more) sold drought-tolerant, frost-hardy, and heat-resistant for desert and drought climates.
• Koala Browse and Animal Nutrition Supply Recurring fresh Eucalyptus and Acacia browse supply for koalas and other zoo animals, harvested twice weekly and shipped overnight to approximately 40+ U.S. zoos including San Diego, Denver, Columbus, San Francisco, Cleveland Metroparks, and Palm Beach.
• Wholesale Plant Nursery Service Wholesale ordering via online form or downloadable Excel spreadsheet for retailers, trade customers, and landscaping professionals seeking bulk Australian native plants.
• Contract Growing Service Custom propagation and growing of specified Australian native plants to order for residential and commercial landscaping projects, serving trade and landscaping professionals.
• Open House Retail Plant Sales On-site direct retail plant sales at the plantation during Open House events, with Australian cultural activities and Australian Koala Foundation fundraising.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ships 3000 lbs of browse per month to zoos
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• San Diego ZoocoreOthersMajor zoo customer; started relationship in 1996 when Australian Tourism Commission asked Paul Chambers to appear at an expo for their new koala exhibit.
• Denver ZoomajorOthersZoo customer for koala browse feed supply
• Columbus ZoomajorOthersZoo customer for koala browse feed supply
• ABQ BioParkmajorOthersZoo customer for animal nutrition supply
• Palm Beach ZoomajorOthersZoo customer for animal nutrition supply
• Long Island AquariummajorOthersSupplies stick insects and other exotic animals
• Wildlife World ZoomajorOthersZoo customer for animal nutrition supply
• San Francisco ZoomajorOthersZoo customer for koala browse feed supply
• Cleveland Metroparks ZoomajorOthersZoo customer for koala browse feed supply
• Huntington GardensminorOthersFilming location for Channel 9 Australia news story; demonstration site for Australian native plants
• Desert Green FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated in Desert Green XXI educational event in Las Vegas; program focused on desert greening and xeriscaping
• Eddie Knox Racing / Problem ChildminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-time sponsor of NHRA Top Fuel Hydro racing team 'Problem Child'; Paul Chambers attends events as sponsor representative
• AZ Hawks (Arizona United States-Australian Footy Team)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for USAFL Nationals 2025; provides Aussie plants and trees for event, trophy stage, and sales
• Harry Butler (TV Personality)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSourced first native seeds from Harry Butler in Perth in 1981 when he was a TV personality

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Monrovia Nursery Company: One of the largest wholesale growers of ornamental plants in the US, selling branded, proprietary cultivars through independent garden centers and big-box retailers. Highly comparable to Australian Outback's wholesale nursery model with branded proprietary plant lines.
• Bailey Nurseries: Large US wholesale nursery producing a broad range of trees and shrubs for retail and landscape customers across multiple regions. Comparable as a large-scale woody ornamental producer with similar B2B/retail mix.
• San Marcos Growers: California wholesale nursery focused on drought-tolerant, Mediterranean and Australian/South African plants for landscape professionals. Directly comparable on plant category mix including Australian species.
• Native Sons Wholesale Nursery: California wholesale native plant nursery producing trees, shrubs and grasses for landscape professionals. Comparable native-plant production and trade/landscape channel.
• Star Roses and Plants: Wholesale nursery that develops and licenses proprietary branded plant varieties (e.g., Knock Out roses) for sale through national retailers. Comparable on the proprietary plant trademark and wholesale nursery business model.
• Mountain States Wholesale Nursery: Arizona-based wholesale nursery specializing in desert-adapted and low-water-use plants for Southwestern landscapes. Highly comparable drought-tolerant plant focus and Arizona production base.
• Proven Winners: Cooperative of plant breeders producing branded, patented ornamental varieties distributed through big-box retailers and garden centers nationwide. Directly comparable branded-plant strategy and retail distribution model.
• El Nativo Growers: Southern California wholesale nursery specializing in California native and Mediterranean-climate plants. Comparable native/drought-tolerant specialty plant focus and wholesale-to-landscape-pro channel.

Broad incumbents

• Armstrong Garden Centers: Established California-based retail garden center chain selling plants and landscaping supplies. Comparable as a Southwest US plant retailer, though Armstrong is retail-only and broader in plant variety.

Emerging players

• High Country Gardens: Mail-order and online retailer specializing in drought-tolerant and water-wise perennials and plants for Western US climates. Comparable on drought-tolerant plant positioning, though operating via direct-to-consumer rather than wholesale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/australianoutbackplants
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/australian-outback-plants

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Australian Outback Plants