Kalimpong has been India's most important hill-station nursery centre for over a century. The town's mild climate and fertile hillside soils suit an enormous range of plants that struggle in the heat of the plains, and the nursery trade developed during the British period when hill-station residents wanted gardens that recalled England. Today the nurseries are an industry, shipping cut flowers and potted plants across India.
Several nurseries are open to visitors and worth an hour of exploration. Udai Sherpa's nursery and Sashi Nursery (on the road towards Deolo) are among the better-known visitor-friendly establishments. The collections include orchids (many Himalayan species, some quite rare), cacti, succulents, bromeliads, gladioli, dahlias, and alpine flowers. The best time to visit is October–November for dahlias and gladioli, or March–May for orchids and rhododendrons. You can also buy plants and seeds to take home.