Brazilian Layne Carvalho bought one at the Friends of Dunedin Botanic Garden annual May plant sale on Saturday, because it was "a little reminder of home".
She came to New Zealand to study and perfect her English.
And as so often happens, while she was here in Dunedin she bumped into a man.
"I met my partner here, so I found a job as a tech recruiter in Dunedin and I’ve been living here for one year."
She said she loved living in Dunedin because it was "pretty similar" to her home city of Garanhuns, in eastern Brazil.
"It’s a bit colder than my city, but there are about 70,000 people there."
Miss Carvalho said as soon as she and her partner entered the plant sale at the garden propagation facility in Lovelock Ave, she spotted the rubber plants.
"They are a little reminder of home for me.
"They grow everywhere. We have a couple of rubber trees in our back yard in Garanhuns, and lots of succulents and hanging plants.
"This rubber tree will make me feel more at home here in Dunedin."
She was among hundreds who attended the annual sale, which raises funds for scholarships which will allow garden staff and apprentices to attend conferences and educational opportunities.
The funds also go towards special projects in the botanic garden, like the recently completed new playground, the platform at the duck pond and the installation of a wheelchair-friendly picnic table.
Miss Carvalho said now that she had a partner and a new rubber plant, her homesickness had abated and she planned to stay in Dunedin for the long term.
"He’s a keeper — and so is the plant."
