Buying Rare Plants in WA, Tasmania & NT: The Collector’s Guide to Quarantine States
The Collector’s Dilemma
If you live in Western Australia, Tasmania or the Northern Territory, you know the frustration all too well. You’re scrolling through Instagram and spot a stunning variegated Philodendron gloriosum. You find a rare Anthurium crystallinum on a Facebook plant group. You discover a collector selling rooted Hoya cuttings on eBay. You’re ready to buy—but then you see those dreaded words:
“Sorry, no shipping to WA, TAS or NT.”
Australia’s quarantine states have strict biosecurity laws that require special treatment, documentation and compliance for incoming plants. Most nurseries, online sellers and private collectors simply can’t—or won’t—deal with the paperwork, inspection requirements and treatment protocols. So they exclude your state entirely from their shipping options.
That means you miss out on rare Philodendrons, Anthuriums, Hoyas, Monsteras, and other collectible plants that other Australian collectors can buy with a single click.
Until now.
The Solution: Our Plant Concierge Service
Paradise Distributors has been helping quarantine state collectors access rare plants since 1993. Our plant concierge service acts as your Queensland-based receiving point—we handle all the quarantine compliance so you can buy from any seller in Australia.
Buy From Anyone
Purchase rare plants from any Australian nursery, collector, online marketplace or plant group—no restrictions
We Receive It
Have your plants sent to our Queensland facility at 9 Paradise Place, Nambour QLD 4560
We Handle Quarantine
Treatment, inspection, certification and all required documentation—completely taken care of
Express to Your Door
Air express delivery to your home in WA, Tasmania or the NT—legally compliant and trackable
What Collectors Are Buying
Our plant concierge service is popular with serious collectors hunting down rare and unusual species. Here are the most requested categories:
Philodendrons
Variegated varieties, rare species—P. gloriosum, P. melanochrysum, P. spiritus sancti, P. verrucosum, P. mamei. The holy grails of aroid collecting.
Anthuriums
Velvet-leaf species including A. crystallinum, A. clarinervium, A. warocqueanum, A. regale, A. magnificum—the showstoppers of any collection.
Hoyas
Rare and unusual varieties—H. carnosa compacta, H. kerrii, H. linearis, splash varieties, H. obovata, H. pachyclada. Trailing beauties with collector appeal.
Monstera
M. adansonii, M. obliqua (the real deal, not adansonii mislabelled), Thai Constellation, M. standleyana albo—iconic plants with serious wow factor.
Orchids
Rare species, flasked seedlings, unusual hybrids—Paphiopedilums, Cattleyas, Australian natives, miniature species perfect for collectors.
Cacti & Succulents
Imported varieties, rare species, Lithops, Haworthia, variegated succulents, grafted cacti—plants that are hard to find locally.
Alocasia
A. azlanii, A. dragon scale, A. silver dragon, A. frydek variegated—metallic, jewel-toned foliage that stops people in their tracks.
Other Collectibles
Begonias, Calatheas, variegated plants, tissue culture rarities—anything you can find from Australian sellers, we can forward to you.
State-by-State Guide for Collectors
Each quarantine state has unique biosecurity requirements. Here’s what collectors need to know:
🌾 Western Australia Collectors
WA has the strictest quarantine rules in Australia. All incoming plants must be treated and certified. Some species are completely prohibited—you cannot bring in Victorian plants with roots attached, and Myrtaceae species (eucalypts, callistemons, melaleucas) are banned entirely.
Pro tip: Always check the WA Department of Primary Industries Online system (WAOL) before purchasing a plant. We can help verify if a species is allowed, but it’s fastest to check the botanical name yourself first.
🍃 Tasmania Collectors
Island biosecurity is serious business. Tasmania prohibits Myrtaceae species and has strict rules around root-attached plants from certain states. Some plants must arrive bare-rooted (roots washed clean of all soil and growing media).
Pro tip: If you’re buying a potted plant, we can arrange bare-rooting and treatment before dispatch. Factor in a few extra days for this process.
🌵 Northern Territory Collectors
Fruit fly is the main concern. All incoming plants require treatment and certification. Monstera deliciosa has additional restrictions due to its fruiting habit. NT also requires a street address for delivery—PO Boxes are not accepted for quarantine consignments.
Pro tip: Make sure you provide a physical street address, not a post office box, when placing your order with us.
How It Works: Your Step-by-Step Guide
Find Your Dream Plant
Browse Instagram sellers, Facebook plant groups, eBay, Gumtree, private collectors—anywhere in Australia. Found something you love? Great. Now you’re ready to buy.
Purchase and Ship to Our Facility
When checking out, provide the seller with this shipping address:
[Your Name] C/- Bob
9 Paradise Place
Nambour QLD 4560
The seller ships to Queensland (which they’re happy to do—no quarantine barriers for them).
Text Us Your Details
Send a text to 0408 687 109 with “Plant Order” plus your name. Let us know what’s coming and where to send it. We’ll confirm receipt and give you a timeline.
We Treat, Inspect and Certify
Your plants arrive at our facility. We apply the required quarantine treatments (usually a chemical drench), inspect for pests and diseases, and arrange all certification and documentation for your state.
Express Delivery to Your Door
We pack your plants securely and send them via air express. You receive them at home—legally compliant, fully certified, and ready to join your collection.
Pricing: What It Costs
Our plant concierge service is charged per plant plus freight and documentation. Here’s a quick reference:
- Standard plant (up to 200mm pot): $17.00 per plant
- Medium plant (200-300mm pot): $30.00 per plant
- Freight box (small/medium plants): $42.00 per box
- Freight box (large plants): $67.00 per box
- Documentation fee: $20.00 per consignment
Example: If you buy 5 small rare plants from different sellers, we consolidate them into one shipment. Total cost: 5 × $17 (treatment) + $42 (freight) + $20 (documentation) = $147.00. That’s under $30 per plant to access species you simply can’t get locally.
Most collectors spend $80–120 for a box of 5–10 plants including all fees. We dispatch to quarantine states every three weeks, so you can combine multiple purchases into one shipment to maximise value.
💡 Pro Tips for Collectors
- Combine orders: Buy from multiple sellers over 2–3 weeks, then have everything dispatched together. Save on freight and documentation fees.
- Shop our catalogue too: We stock rare plants ourselves at rareplants.net.au/shop. Combine your concierge orders with direct purchases from us—same dispatch, one freight charge.
- Check compliance first: Text us the botanical name before you buy. We’ll confirm if it’s allowed in your state. Don’t purchase first and ask later.
- Use botanical names: Common names vary wildly. “Swiss cheese plant” could be Monstera deliciosa (extra NT restrictions) or M. adansonii (usually fine). Always provide the Latin name.
- Plan around dispatch cycles: We send to WA, TAS and NT every three weeks. If you miss a cycle, your plants will be cared for in our nursery until the next dispatch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely. Private sellers, plant swaps, Facebook groups, Instagram collectors—anyone in Australia. Just give them our Queensland address and we’ll handle the rest.
Same process. When checking out on eBay, enter our Nambour address as the delivery address. Text us with your eBay username and what you’ve bought. We’ll watch for it.
Yes. If you’re relocating to a quarantine state or sending plants as gifts, we can treat and certify plants you already own. Just send them to our facility with a covering letter explaining what you need.
Yes. We care for your plants in our nursery facility while waiting for the next dispatch cycle (every 3 weeks). They’re watered, monitored and kept healthy until they’re packed for shipping.
We’ll contact you as soon as we identify the issue—ideally before the seller even ships. If a prohibited plant arrives at our facility, we’ll discuss options: refund from the seller, redirect to a friend in another state, or (as a last resort) disposal. We never ship non-compliant plants.
You’ll receive a text or email with tracking details as soon as your parcel leaves our facility. Air express typically takes 2–4 business days to quarantine states.
No. Our service covers Australian domestic sellers only. International imports require federal quarantine clearance (BICON permits, AQIS inspection) which is a completely different process.
We pack carefully and use express air freight to minimise transit time. If a plant arrives damaged, contact us immediately with photos. We’ll work with you and the courier to resolve the issue.
Couriers will attempt delivery to your address. If you’re not home, they’ll leave a card for redelivery or depot pickup. Make sure you provide a reliable delivery address (not a PO Box for NT residents).
Text us anytime on 0408 687 109 and we’ll give you a status update. We’re a small operation—Bob knows exactly where every plant is.
Start Building Your Collection
You don’t have to settle for whatever’s available locally. With our plant concierge service, you can access the same rare Philodendrons, Anthuriums, Hoyas and collectibles that collectors in other states take for granted.
Ready to buy rare plants without borders?
Get Started Today
Text “Plant Order” + your name to 0408 687 109
Or submit the form below and we’ll be in touch within 24 hours.
Phone: 0408 687 109
Email: bob@rareplants.net.au
Browse Our Rare Plants Catalogue
While you’re planning your next purchase, explore our own collection of rare and unusual plants. Everything in our online catalogue can be shipped to quarantine states—no concierge service needed, just direct dispatch from us to you.
Related Guides
- Plant Quarantine Western Australia: Complete WA Shipping Guide
- Plant Quarantine Tasmania: Complete TAS Shipping Guide
- Plant Quarantine Northern Territory: Complete NT Shipping Guide
- Plant Health Certificate Australia: The Complete Guide
Paradise Distributors | 9 Paradise Place, Nambour QLD 4560