Passion for plants sees business celebrate 90 years

Published date09 August 2022
Publication titleEnsign, The
BUSINESS has bloomed for the Hughes family for the past nine decades

Three generations — internationally recognised for their green fingers — have produced plants from the same spot in a quiet Tapanui street, albeit over an expanding footprint.

Their tagline ‘‘a passion for plants since 1932’’ is a phrase which is used regularly in conversations, an apt summation of those involved both past and present.

While proud of their history, reflecting on the past is something that general manager — and third-generation plantsman — Chris Hughes does not focus on.

For it was by changing that he attributed the family’s longevity in the nursery industry.

‘‘Every year is different , you must change, you can’t stay the same.

‘‘You’re ... only as good as the last thing you did, you can’t just rely on history. To be honest, I’m not a big looking-back person, I’d rather look forward,’’ he said this week.

Blue Mountain Nurseries celebrates its 90th anniversary this month; it was founded in 1932 by Chris’ grandfather Stanley (Stan) Hughes who emigrated to New Zealand in 1924 after attending agricultural college in England.

Tired of living under canvas at Beaumont during the Depression years, he decided to start a nursery. Like any business, he needed cashflow and he started producing vegetables for local consumption.

That provided a quicker income than waiting for trees to grow, but his first love was ornamental plants, including bulbs, perennials, alpines and trees and shrubs.

He built up the business with the support of his wife Elizabeth, and their three children — John, Denis and Judith — all helped during their teenage years and beyond.

A keen collector and plantsman, Stan was known throughout New Zealand for the rare and unusual, as well as his skill as a plant breeder.

He was a member of many national and international horticultural societies as well as a fellow and a life member of the Royal Horticultural Society Great Britain. He bred and introduced many plants, many of which are still available today.

Cut flowers were first produced at the nursery in the 1930s and sold to auction markets and florists. Floral work was an important part of the business; a local funeral could require up to 60 wreaths and sprays.

The nursery became a larger family business with John and wife Irma, and Denis and wife Margaret each developing their own interests and expanding the business from 1966.

The nursery was split into two business units; John developed the bulbs, cut flowers and...

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