Tucked away in a quiet little corner of Somerville, Victoria Haars Nursery has blossomed from humble beginnings into one of Australia’s leading wholesale plant producers. And once you visit their property and see their horticultural smarts, sustainable water use, progressive business culture, and technology in action it’s not hard to see why.
Their story started in 1981, when founder Eric Haar began growing and selling fuchsias from his backyard in Boronia. Today, the family-run business continues to flourish with Eric’s sons Brendan, Matthew and Jordan now involved in successfully servicing major retailers, landscapers, and commercial clients across the country.
Behind the rows of vibrant greenery, Haars Growing Manager Jordan Haar said they employ a large and talented team of horticulturalists and nursery staff who help the business bloom.
“People are such a huge part of what we do,” he said.
“We’ve got an incredible team, and because so many have been with us long-term, we can mentor them and grow together — through all the ups and downs.”
The nursery’s commitment to people extends beyond its gates. Haar’s Nursery holds Fair Farms accreditation, a third-party certification that recognises ethical and fair employment practices in Australian horticulture.
Jordan said this accreditation means a lot to them and reflects their values.
“It shows our customers and our team that we’re above board and doing the right thing by everyone.”
Water and innovation are also essential and underpin the business’s current and future competitive advantage and success.
Haars hold a 40 megalitre water licence with Southern Rural Water, drawing water from McCurdy’s Drain into their on-farm dams and then carefully managing every drop through a highly efficient recycling system.
Jordan said both their production sites are fully automated and they can collect and recycle every little bit of water that comes from the property via rain or their irrigation and watering processes.
“We use ebb and flow irrigation systems where we can collect all the water used and pipe it directly back into our storage dams,” he said.
“We’ve also installed agricultural drain systems on our properties that allow excess liquid used during watering to be captured and funnelled back to our storage dams,” he said.
All water captured on the property is filtered and cleaned allowing Haars to minimise waste and ensure the plants receive year-round clean, consistent hydration.
Technology gets Sci-fi in the cutting shed as we soon discover when we meet ‘Bob’, the sticking robot.
A sticking robot is an automated machine used to insert unrooted cuttings into pots that will then develop into baby plants. Traditionally done by hand, robots can plant between 2,000-7,000 cuttings per hour compared to a human’s average of 800.
Jordan said this kind of technology allows them to improve consistency, quality and makes the job easier for their team.
“The better our systems, the better our plants and the more value our team can add with the higher value tasks that require human experience and skills,” he said.
Even the growing media — the soil-like mix in each pot — has been refined over time to hold more moisture, reducing irrigation frequency. Add in automated transplanting machines, advanced sprinkler systems and energy-efficient pumps, and the result is a nursery that’s far more sustainable and resource-savvy than it was even a decade ago.
For the Haars, sustainability is a smart business philosophy because Jordan said they are in it for the long term.
“If we want future generations to take on this business then we have to look after our water, our soil, and our environment,” he said.
“We use sustainably sourced materials wherever possible, from growing media made of pine bark and coconut husk to pots made from 98 percent recycled plastic,” he said.
Haars have also installed solar panels on some of their greenhouse roofs and use a biomass boiler powered by sustainably sourced wood waste to heat their greenhouses.
Haar’s Nursery isn’t just a business — it’s a family story rooted in care, curiosity, and a love of plants and Jordan said we have been an important part of it.
“We've learnt a lot of things from Southern Rural Water, and it's been a really good partnership for us for the last 10 to 15 years and we see that continuing for the next 10 to 15 years,” he said.
The feeling is mutual and only one question remains: what should we plant in our garden?
Jordan doesn’t hesitate. “Kalanchoe,” he said. “It’s a flowering succulent that’s beautiful and easy to care for.”
His advice for aspiring green thumbs is refreshingly simple: “Check the roots and the soil because that’s going to tell you one half about the plant and the other half is to remember that less water is often more.”