Arnold Teese established Yamina Rare Plants in 1954 and registered the company in 1958. Yamina was the name of the house he bought in Monbulk, and is probably a Middle Eastern word meaning, " going in the right direction". The Nursery, which began as a hobby in the backyard, has developed for more than 50 years into a major supplier of plants, particularly noted for its large collection of rare, beautiful and difficult to obtain plants.

Arnold began growing plants when he was eight years old. When he was 12, he imported his first seed from the U.S.A (Giant Delphiniums, Dahlais and Polyanthus). He came to Melbourne from Warragul when he was 24 to take up a lecturing position at Burnley Horticultural Collage. Following this, he was employed at Metropolitan & Commonwealth Golf Links where he introduced Australian natives plantings, including Eucalyptus and Acacia.

In 1954, Arnold moved to Monbulk with his family to manage a bulb farm. He latter worked as Head Propagator for a large Rhododendron nursery for 18 years. In 1974, he returned to the business he had started as a much loved hobby, and Yamina Rare Plants grew into a full time venture initially growing perennials and later potted plants.

He made friends with many well known Horticulturists from around the world during several overseas trips.

DON TEESE

People such as Harold Hillier in England, Kochira Wada in Japan, J.D. Vertrees in U.S.A and Wang Dajun at Shanghai Botanic gardens were a constant source of information and plant Knowledge. His sons, Don and Peter, have since taken over the management of the Nursery. Don Teese grew up with the nursery in his backyard. After leaving school in 1969, he started work at Yamina. He has had several overseas trips and a stint working in U.S.A in 1974. He is a collector of rare plants like his father.

Peter Teese joined the business in 1979. He has travelled widely throughout Asia Europe and the U.S.A and has worked for a large Nursery in New Zealand.

PETER TEESE

Yamina Rare Plants now consist of two main properties. Peter manages the wholesale nursery at David Hill Road, which includes propagating, growing on lines, tubes and rooted cuttings. Don manages the wholesale and retail nursery at Moores Road, where a large collection of rare plants are available, mostly in 15 - 25cm pots.

Yamina Rare Plants has expanded to cater to the plant needs of customers from all over Australia. It employs a core of 8-10 people and produces over half a million cuttings annually, as well as grafts and seedlings.