Cactus and orchid nurseries of Kalimpong
Horticulture has been part of Kalimpong's economy for generations. Nurseries on the town's slopes raise orchids, amaryllis, gladioli and many other bulbs, and send them across India and abroad. The cactus nurseries are the best known. The plants are not native, but the dry winters and mild summers suit them, and some collections run to hundreds of species.
Pine View Nursery, the most visited cactus nursery, keeps its plants in glasshouses on a hill above town and charges a small entry fee. Other family nurseries around Rishi Road and Durpin sell orchids and bulbs. Spring, from March to May, is when the most plants are in flower.
If you want to buy, ask the nursery to pack plants for travel and check rules for carrying them home, especially by air.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
Which is the best-known nursery in Kalimpong?
Pine View Nursery is the best-known cactus nursery and the one most sightseeing tours include. It has glasshouses full of cacti and succulents and charges a small entry fee. For orchids and bulbs, ask your driver to stop at one of the family nurseries on the way to Durpin or Deolo.
Can I carry plants home from Kalimpong?
Small plants and bulbs travel well if packed properly; nurseries are used to packing for visitors. On domestic flights, plants in hand luggage are usually fine but check your airline. Taking plants abroad needs phytosanitary certificates and is usually not practical for travellers. Bulbs are easier than potted plants.
When do Kalimpong's orchids flower?
Different orchids flower at different times, but spring, from March to May, is the main season, with many species in bloom in nurseries and in the forest around the town. Some winter-flowering orchids bloom from December to February. Cacti flower mostly in spring and early summer.
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