What is Tubestock?
The smart, affordable way Australian gardeners are planting whole gardens — not just filling gaps. Learn why nurseries, landscapers, and home gardeners choose tubestock over expensive potted plants.
Young Plants, Serious Results
Tubestock (also called "tube stock" or "forestry tubes") are young plants grown in small, narrow tubes — typically 50mm x 50mm (about the size of your thumb). They're propagated from cuttings or seed, established with a healthy root system, and sold ready to plant directly into your garden.
Think of tubestock as the baby stage of a plant's life. They're small — usually 10–20cm tall — but they're anything but fragile. These young plants are vigorous, actively growing, and their roots haven't yet started circling a pot. That means when you plant them, they establish directly into your soil and take off fast.
At Garden Variety, every plant we sell is propagated by us on the NSW Central Coast and shipped as tubestock — fresh, healthy, and ready to grow.
What Does Tubestock Look Like?
Every image below is a real tubestock plant from Garden Variety — propagated, grown and photographed at our Central Coast nursery. This is exactly what arrives at your door.
The Numbers Speak for Themselves
Tubestock isn't just cheaper — it actually outperforms larger potted plants in the ground.
Tubestock vs Potted Plants
Most people assume bigger = better. But when it comes to plants, science tells a different story. Younger plants adapt faster to new soil, develop stronger root systems, and suffer far less transplant shock.
| Feature | Tubestock 🌱 | Potted Plants 🪴 |
|---|---|---|
| Price per plant | From $3.95 | $15–$45+ |
| Root establishment | Fast — roots grow into native soil | Slower — roots often pot-bound |
| Transplant shock | Minimal | Common |
| Ideal for mass planting | ✓ Affordable at scale | ✗ Cost-prohibitive |
| Size after 12–18 months | Catches up | Head start but slows |
| Long-term root health | Stronger — no circling | Risk of root-bound issues |
Who Plants Tubestock?
From first-home gardeners to council revegetation projects — tubestock is the format professionals have used for decades. Now it's available direct to your door.
Home Gardeners
Plant your whole garden — hedges, borders, ground cover, feature plants — for a fraction of the cost of potted plants. Perfect for new builds or garden makeovers.
Mass Planting Projects
Need 50+ plants for a hedge or screen? Tubestock makes planting en-masse actually affordable — from just $3.95 per plant.
Wildlife & Native Gardens
Creating a wildlife habitat or native revegetation project? Tubestock lets you plant diverse species in quantity without breaking the budget.
New Builds & Renovations
Just moved in to bare dirt? Tubestock is how you go from empty lot to established garden without spending thousands at the garden centre.
Water-Wise Gardeners
Building a xeriscape or drought-tolerant garden? Young tubestock roots establish deep into soil, developing better drought resilience than transplanted potted plants.
Landscapers & Designers
Professional landscapers use tubestock for large-scale plantings — it's the industry standard for revegetation, screening, and commercial garden installations.
Planting Tubestock Step by Step
It takes 5 minutes per plant. Here's the process for success every time.
Soak the Roots
Before planting, soak your tubestock in a bucket of water (or diluted seaweed solution) for 15–30 minutes. This hydrates the root ball and reduces transplant stress.
Dig the Hole
Dig a hole twice the width of the tube and the same depth. Rough up the sides so roots can penetrate into the surrounding soil easily.
Position the Plant
Gently tap the plant out of its tube. Place it in the hole so the soil level matches the top of the root ball. Don't plant too deep.
Backfill & Firm
Fill around the plant with the original soil mixed with a little compost if available. Firm gently — don't compact. Create a small water well around the base.
Water In Thoroughly
Give a deep watering immediately after planting. Continue watering regularly for the first 6–8 weeks while roots establish — this is the critical period.
Mulch & Protect
Apply 50–75mm of organic mulch around (not touching) the stem. This retains moisture, suppresses weeds, and keeps roots cool during establishment.
Want the full detailed guide with seasonal tips and troubleshooting?
📖 Complete Planting GuideHow We Pack & Ship Tubestock
We're a small propagation nursery on the NSW Central Coast. Every plant is grown by us — no middlemen, no mass imports. Here's how we get them safely to your door:
✅ Each plant is sealed in a recyclable bag to protect roots and foliage
✅ Orders received by Thursday are dispatched Monday/Tuesday
✅ Shipped via Australia Post Express with tracking
✅ Delivered within 2–5 business days across NSW, VIC, QLD & ACT
✅ Arrives before the weekend so you can plant straight away
What Can You Buy as Tubestock?
Over 200 species — from hedging classics to tropical statement plants. Every category below is in stock and ships as tubestock from our nursery.
Tubestock Ready to Ship
Healthy, vigorous plants grown from cuttings — sealed, packed and delivered express to your door.
Tubestock Questions
Tubestock are grown in 50mm × 50mm tubes and are typically 10–20cm tall depending on the species. They're small but vigorous — actively growing with a healthy established root system ready to take off once planted in your garden.
Yes. Within 12–18 months, well-maintained tubestock typically matches or surpasses plants that were installed as larger pots. This is because tubestock roots establish directly into your native soil without the transplant shock and root-circling issues common in larger pot-bound plants. Many professional revegetation projects exclusively use tubestock for exactly this reason.
Autumn and spring are ideal — mild temperatures and natural rainfall help roots establish. However, tubestock can be planted year-round in most Australian climates as long as you water consistently during the first 6–8 weeks. Avoid planting during extreme heat waves. Check our complete planting guide for seasonal tips.
As a general rule, plant hedging tubestock at 3–4 plants per linear metre (roughly 25–35cm apart). For a dense, fast screen, go with 4 per metre. For a more relaxed hedge, 3 per metre is fine. For a 10-metre hedge, you'd need 30–40 plants — which at $3.95–$5.95 each is a fraction of the cost of potted hedge plants. Browse our hedging range.
Absolutely. Tubestock can be potted up into larger containers and grown on your balcony, patio, or courtyard. Start with a pot that's 150–200mm wide and pot up as the plant grows. Use quality potting mix and ensure good drainage. Our container gardening guide covers everything you need to know.
We ship via Australia Post Express to NSW, VIC, QLD, and ACT. Orders received by Thursday are dispatched the following Monday/Tuesday to ensure your plants arrive fresh before the weekend. Most deliveries arrive within 2–5 business days after lodgement.
We propagate everything ourselves, so some species take longer than others. If a plant is on backorder, it's usually already being propagated and is halfway or nearly ready to pot up. We'll send it as soon as it's ready. You can text or email Danika on 0488 062 502 or danika@gardenvariety.com.au to ask about timing.
When your plants arrive, open the box immediately and remove the bags. Give them a good drink of water and place them in a sheltered, semi-shaded spot for 1–2 days to acclimatise. Then plant them out following our step-by-step planting guide. Ideally, plant within a few days of receiving them.
Good soil preparation makes a huge difference. If you have clay soil, consider adding gypsum to break up compaction. For all soils, mixing in compost and applying slow-release fertiliser at planting time gives tubestock the best start. Read our organic fertiliser guide if you prefer natural methods.
Guides to Help You Grow
Free expert guides from 40+ years of nursery experience — everything from planting techniques to garden design.
What Style of Garden Will You Create?
Tubestock makes every style affordable. Explore our curated garden style guides — each one links to matching plants you can shop today.
Change the Way You Garden
Browse 200+ tubestock plants, all propagated by us on the NSW Central Coast. From $3.95 per plant — delivered express to your door.
Got questions? We're here to help.
📱 Text Danika: 0488 062 502 | ✉️ Email: danika@gardenvariety.com.au