Rosebud Farm – The Name
Rosebud Farm the property was purchased by its current owners in 1971 and named in 1973. The name of the farm does not relate to its business activities, indeed there are no roses grown here, but was inspired by Orson Welles ’ 1941 cinematic classic, ‘ Citizen Kane ’.
About Rosebud Farm
Rosebud Farm is a wholesale nursery for other wholesale nurseries.
Its primary business activities are to be seed importers and suppliers of exotic, native and commercial palm and cycad seeds; secondary activities include the production and supply of an extensive and diverse array of seedlings and landscape plants.
Rosebud Farm is based on a 160 acre property five minutes west of Kuranda, on the Cairns Highlands.
It was established in 1971 by six Australians and three Americans and was founded on the principles of sustainable, organic practices underpinned by a desire to introduce new plant species to Australia.
Production and operation in the 1970‘s focused on fruit and vegetables, this diversified into exotic fruits in the late 70s and early 80s and then native and exotic palm species in the late 80s and early 90s. Today, Rosebud Farm is primarily a seed merchant, but the property also produces and supplies a diverse array of seedlings and landscape plants.
Rosebud Farm has five employees, three of which have worked on the farm for a combined period of more than 50 years.
Rosebud Farm sells its seeds, seedlings and landscape plants locally, domestically and internationally. For more information in regards to transportation and freight, please contact us
The healthiest plants available!
Whilst the produce of Rosebud Farm has changed over the decades, the production methods have remained faithful to the original principles on which the farm was founded. Whilst acknowledging that operating a completely organic nursery is next to impossible, we know that Rosebud Farm is as close as you can get!
All of Rosebud Farm‘s germination and fertilization techniques and procedures have been developed and implemented with a specific focus on plant nutrition.
Rich Trapnell, owner and operator of Rosebud Farm, takes plant care very seriously. So much so that he spent over four years researching plant nutrition in a bid to develop a new, unique plant care system which would combat disease in a natural way; this has resulted in Rosebud Farm being able to supply the hardiest and healthiest seedlings and plants, with a minimal use of chemical sprays and fertilizers.
Rosebud Farm utilizes its own unique fertilizer blend, which is exclusive to the property and has been developed to complement the specific soil types and environmental conditions of the Cairns Highlands. By modifying the fertilizer‘s established ratios of nitrogen, phosphorous and potash, and using complementary trace elements, Rosebud Farm produces hardier and healthier plants with more natural growth and leaf appearance.
At Rosebud Farm, the aim is to prevent the problem rather than treat it and this is managed through a balanced fertilizer regime.
Constantly expanding operation and introducing new species
One of Rosebud Farm‘s business aims is to introduce new plants into Australia, and this is something the operators have been doing since they founded the farm in the 1970‘s.
Boasting over three decades experience of sourcing and importing exotic fruit and palm seeds from all over the world, Rosebud Farm has an enviable network of international contacts. If they don‘t already stock what you are looking for, then they can get it!
The farm‘s current business activities occupy approximately five acres of the 160 acre property, so there is plenty of space for diversification.
The most recent diversification for Rosebud Farm has been the introduction of a unique range of drought resistant species. Rich Trapnell has sourced seeds and plants from a number of different countries and is now propagating them; these plants will be available for sale from July 2005.
Rosebud Farm is constantly expanding its operations and products and is happy to introduce new seeds / species to meet market demand. To discuss your requirements, please please contact us.
