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Featured Companies
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Held June 15-18, 2010
Cuttings to the Chase
by Jaap N. Kras and Ron van der Ploeg
The 2010 Flower Trials, held from June 15 to 18 were a big hit. The greenhouses and showrooms of 31 partcipating companies were packed with 5,500 industry professionals in the search of innovative marketing programs and the absolute newest in cut flowers, pot- and bedding plants. The number of visitors was up by 40% compared to 2009. This year the Flower Trials event crossed the Dutch border and had a presence in a third region, in Rheinland-Westfalen, Germany. FloraCulture International visited the shows in the Westland and Aalsmeer region.
Brandkamp
Jollies is Brandkamp’s renowned brand for successful Fuchsia breeding. Jollies Fuchsia have a compact growth habit and early flowers in really fantastic colours. In the Jollies series of fuschias, which are named after French cities, the compact shape and rich flowering of ‘Nantes’, ‘Menton’’, ‘Bayonne’ and ‘Rennes’ are said to be perfect while tests in Italy have proven the heat tolerance of the heavily budded ‘Tarbes’.
It was interesting to see that following the current success of mixed combinations Brandkamp’s Michael Laimmer showed a very nice mix of Fuchsia Jollies ‘Nantes’ and Jollies ‘Lyon’ (pictured) in one single pot. “Surely the growth habit, size of flowers and colours must match perfectly when producing these combi’s”, points out Laimmer, adding that these combi’s offer the consumer lots of value for money.
In the past Brandkamp merely acted as a dealer for renowned breeders such as Benary, Kientzler, Suntory, Westhoff and Deliflor, but is currently also focusing on its own breeding lines. With an increased number of breeders using their license as a weapon in the market it is important to create more independence with Brandkamp’s own varieties like the vegetative Marisco Petunias which is available in big or small flowers, patio types, hanging varieties, bicoloured and much more. Marisco Petunia ‘Recife Purple Picotee’ is this year’s novelty and features deep pink flowers with a stable white edge. The new ‘Recife’Lilac Core’ is beautifully veined.
Grünewald
Grünewald’s sales representative Rob Boers can look back on a very successful trial, attracting a record number of visitors who were able to see that during the last year the German breeder has been further extending and improving its assortment. Boers explains that the 75-year old company has annual sales of 120 million unrooted and rooted cuttings (bedding plants, perennials, herbs and ornamental grasses) all over the world. “Rooting stations and half finished plant production are located in both Germany and the Netherlands with a greenhouse area covering 6.5 ha. The production of mother plants is manly concentrated in Kenya and Portugal.
 The Grünewald group is particularly strong in branding with more than 70 protected trademarks that help the grower stand out in the crowd.
One good example of strong branding is the Honeybees series of Argyranthemum frutescens where ‘Improved Butterfly’ was displayed as newcomer with a more compact growth habit and improved uniformity. This range of Argyranthemum is suitable for the bigger15 to 17 cm pots.
Summer Melody (pictured) is the brand that guarantees real compact and early flowering Fuchsias in bright colours. Summer Melody Fuchsia just keeps on producing flowers even under hot and sunny spots. No wonder then that the different cultivars are given everyday Spanish men’s names like Antonio, Pedro and Alejandro.
An absolute showstopper was Heliotropium arborescens ‘Helios Blue’ masses of foamy purple flowers rise above the dark green, glossy foliage. ‘Helios Blue’ is compact and particularly resistant to colder crop temperatures up to 8°C degrees while the more mainstream heat-loving Heliotropium is produced at temperatures around 11 to 15 degrees. Potted in February the grower can harvest the first plants in week 14 or 15. This cultivar requires no PGRs.
In Petunia raised from cuttings Grünewald put its small flowered Sweet Pleasure series in the limelight. Boers pointed to the four new colours: ‘Raspberry Black Vein’, ‘Sugar Beets’, ‘Lime’ and ‘Blue Vein’. Sweet Pleasure Petunias are quick to grow and need no pinching and offer the consumer an abundance of flowers all summer long.
Benary
“A new star is born”. With this message Benary welcomes the brand new Begonia multiflora series New Star, currently only available in red, white, yellow and rose. Benary’s representative David Wales pointed out that this new inter-specific Begonia hybrid has smaller and a reduced number of leaves while producing many more blossoms. Its growth is compact and round which is ideal for the high-density production of 10 cm pots or for production in packs.
 High seedling vigor and uniform plug development and a high germination rate of up to 90% are the characteristics of Benary’s dark leaved Begonia semperflorens F1 Nightlife series. ‘Nightlife Blush’ with an attractive white/yellow heart and pink rim has been added to the already existing range of five colours.
Benary’s Sprint series of Begonia semperflorens F1 is the greenleafed counterpart of Nightlife and fills the pack faster than any other early flowering Begonia. Its short crop time yields more profitability and its compact growth habit remains in the pack and in the pot even in southern Europe. ‘Sprint Appleblossom’ in light pink is the 9th addition in this series and has the same unsurpassed garden performance as its fellow members.
The crème de la crème of Begonias can be found in Benary’s Mocca and Illumination series. In the latter the new designer Begonia ‘Golden Picotee’ (pictured) features fully double flowers in different shades of orange. The hanging baskets with ‘Golden Picotee’ caught the eyes of many Flowertrial visitors. The Illumination series light up any shady spot in the garden and is known for always selling out in individual flower shops.
Typical Benary crops are Begonia, Viola and Rudbeckia but according to Mr Wales the company is proud of having a wide range of Celosia plumosa genetics too.
The Smart Look series is medium sized with the pink/orange ‘Smart Look Romantica’ as a unique addition to the series. The film-coated seed makes sowing easier and precise for the grower. Obviously more compact Celosia plumosa for small pots and packs can be found in the Glorious series with ‘Glorious Pink’ as cutting edge novelty.
No cut flower grower could walk away from the Benary show without remembering the Queen of the Garden, a brand new series of cut Zinnia elegans offering a well-branched upright growth habit and outstanding vase life. The soft pink and lime colours which can also be found in Hydrangea are particularly nice.
Armada
After having seen hundreds of Petunias, Impatiens and Calibrachoas, the Armada show offered something refreshing for the eye with extremely large flowered Hibiscus on display. The Kingsize series  comprises three colours Bright Orange, Dark Orange, Lemon and Yellow while the series include no less than 12 varieties. Armada’s own Hibiscus breeding program is focused on well-branching varieties with large blooms. Hans Padmos, head of Armada Young Plants explains that each pinching is followed by at least 4 to 5 side shoots.
Cultivar names such as ‘Fringand’, ‘Frondeuse’, ‘Frivole’, ‘Francette’ and ‘Frappante’ make clear that Armada’s Hibiscus breeder is of French origin and that is an extra asset since southern Europe represents a huge Hibiscus market. The double flowered ‘Frimeur’ in light red attracted the attention of many visitors.
Armada’s pot aster series Summer Surprise has been thoroughly tested and has now surpassed its experimental phase. The current series has been retooled and improved with fresher colours and a more bushy shape. Padmos says that large commercial production of Summer Surprise is now underway with the 15,000m2 JSV nurseries in Maasdijk producing these pot asters in five colours in a 12 cm pot.
Armada purchased all its pot mums from Dekker, including the Pico series which is now supported with its own website, www.mypico.nl. Pico mums are said to be one of the best mini pot mums with a very compact shape and thus ideal for high-density production.
Takii
The Japanese seed company Takii presented the famous Monza Begonia semperflorens series from seed with two new varieties: the ‘Monza Coral F1’and the ‘Monza Rose F1’. According to product manager Henri Veurink the Monza Begonia has been thoroughly tested and is now ready for its  big entrance on the market with an increasing number of growers who have been seduced by Monza’s biggest assets: the large flower diameter and a one week shorter crop time, 9 to 10 weeks from sowing. Furthermore Monza Begonias are available with either green or bronze foliage and deliver an excellent garden performance and offer the extra benefit of heat tolerance.
A new Crimson colour has been added to Takii’s rust tolerant Spring Celebrities Alcea (pictured) known for its attractive double blooms that can last from May to October. Spring Celebrities hollyhocks stay very compact, 80 cm high including pot and are therefore ideal to fill three layers on a Danish trolley.
Traditionally the Flower Trials are peppered with good food and nice drinks and Takkii’s case spiced up with a collection of ornamental peppers.
Capsicum annuum ‘Maya Salsa’ is a well branching mini Capsicum that stays very compact and is therefore suitable for high density production. ‘Salsa’ develops many 2½ x 1 cm fruits and is available in 5 colours: deep orange, orange, red, yellow and yellow/red.
From 264-plug tray the young plants are potted in 6 cm pots 6 weeks after sowing, placing 200 pots per m².
Florensis
Dark-hued flowers and foliage continue to be a hot trend in the gardening world. Last year Florensis introduced its own Sedum ‘Black Beauty’ and following its huge success the Dutch breeder and plug producer unveiled black beauties in Petunia and Dahlia.
 Ball FloraPlant has granted Florensis the exclusive rights to sell the world’s first truly black series of Mystical Petunias. Petunia ‘Black Velvet’ is solid black while its mysterious brother ‘Phantom’ features a black colour with distinctive yellow star pattern. Mystical Petunias have an upright growth habit, are versatile as well as fashionable in combinations for all price points.
According to Florensis product manager Wim Mieremet Mystical Petunias are ideal for pairing with white, silver or golden-coloured plants for vivid color contrasts. They will probably be the quickest sellers and will attract a wide range of consumers with different tastes.
Bred by Dahlia breeders Verwer from Lisse, the Dahlia Happy Days (pictured) series is a fantastic dark element for patio pots. The purple foliage really pops against its cream-coloured, pink, red or rose flowers.
Mieremet also pointed to the vegetative Petunia Blanket series which has been extended with no less than five new colours: double pink, double white, rose, white and zinfandel. The Petunia Blanket was originally bred by Green Fuse Botanicals and is extremely well branching. It features small flowers but easily gains record lengths. Some customers have discovered that with 1 or 2 cuttings they are able to produce baskets with high volume and value.
Hem Genetics
Dwarf bush type sweet peas were also on display at Hem Genetics’s stand. Lathyrus ‘Villa Scarlet’ is an exciting new bush-type sweet pea with vivid scarlet red, sweet scenting blooms. ‘Villa Scarlet’ is a 2010 Fleuroselect Gold Medal winner.
The display filled with Limbo F1 Petunia grandiflora series (pictured), which is said to be the one and only non-stretching grandiflora Petunia on the market, was an absolute showstopper.
Much smaller are Hem’s Mambo Petunias, a natural dwarf Petunia series which will be extended with the colours burgundy, rose veined and peach. The natural compact habit is an asset for the grower as growth regulators are not required anymore. Like Limbo, Mambo is a non-stretching Petunia with superb shelf life throughout the supply chain.
Twinny Violet is one of the fist four colours of a series that will be further extended in the short term. Twinny is the first double flowered dwarf snapdragon series on the market and is ideal for growing in packs and pots.
 Danziger/Imperial Plants
Anat Moshes showed me around enthusiastically. The immense investments in breeding work pay out in a wide assortment of cut flowers, bedding plants and perennials. Beside the varieties Danziger has invested in concepts such as the Mixis concept, supported with effective marketing tools and Point-of-Purchase materials.
Danziger also offers its more professional customers the opportunity of making their own preferred combination of products. The Bacopa-Gulliver - Scopia double big flowers in all kind of colours and Torenia series are impressive but also the many varieties of Petunia, Impatiens ( the double Musica Impatiens) and the new Calibrachoa ‘Noa Mega Raspberry’ add to the wide assortment.
 Bartels
The company continues to suprise with new plants and varieties. Bartels well-known crops are Asters, Helleborus, Hypericum, Delphiniium, Plox, Rudbeckia and Solidago. Bartels shows a whole new line of Phlox subulata: the Early Spring Collection and the Early start Collection (Phlox paniculata). The Physalis alkekengi ‘Halloween King’ and ‘Halloween Queen’ are new introductions at the 2010 Flower Trials. They are naturally compact plants, no pesticides are needed and they have strong long resting colours. “We deliver propagating material that needed a cold winter period for the morphology of the plants. Mother plants are made virus free through in vitro multiplication. We deliver the cuttings rooted and unrooted to the growers”, says Goos Bartels.
 HilverdaKooij
With Intincancha pot Alstroemerias, Florini pot snapdragons and Sunflor pot carnations, Hilverda Kooij presents a complete year round flowering pot plant collection which can be grown indoor and outdoor. HilverdaKooij introduced the bright red ‘Ducati’ this year, a winter hard pot carnation for gardens but also for indoor use. “’Ducati’ belongs tot the Sunflor line”, Jeroen de Kuijer explains. This line comprises extremely strong scenting carnations in vivid colours.”
Kieft-Pro-Seeds
Kieft-Pro-Seeds was taken over by Ball four years ago and is now participating in the Flower Trials for the first time under the Kieft-Pro-Seeds label (PanamSeeds/Ball). Mr Olij introduced the perennial assortment of Darwin Plants with strong exports to the USA. Darwin adds a very interesting line of Heuchera’s to the garden and bedding plant assortment. The plants are sold as rooted stock to the growers. New in vitro cultures protocols will lead to cuttings and plugs. The specific dark and yellow colours of the leaves are a welcome strengthening of the flowering plants assortment for balcony and garden.
 PanAmericanSeed
PanAm shows the assortment introduced at the European Pack Trials earlier this year. Pansies, Zinnias, Begonias, and the famous Wave Petunia were on display. “Where at first we showed them to our customers at the Pack Trials”, Gill Gerken explains, “we now show them to the customers of customers. A wide assortment of perennials, grasses, pot plants, annuals and biennials and flower plants is showcased.”
Moerheim
“Our Suntory collection with the Surfinia Petunia, the Sundaville Dipladenia, the Senetti pericalis, the Million Bells Calibrachoa (pictured) and the Friolina Viola is very successful and we had a wonderful spring season according to Mr Theo Ruys. “We’ll continue along this road and show some highlights for the spring 2011 season. The introduction of the Princettia our new Poinsettia, also shown here, is an enormous acquisition for growers and consumers.”
Selecta
At Selecta’s show in FloraHolland’s floating greenhouse visitors spoke most about the new double Osteospermum FlowerPower series (pictured), currently only available in pink, purple and white. “Next year when our mother stock production is extended, more colours will be available”, promises  product manager Andreas Rinnergschwentner, adding that the double FlowerPower varieties mark a real big step in Osteo breeding. “We have received lots of positive reactions from both growers and buyers. For the grower these double Osteos can be easily combined with all other varieties of the FlowerPower series, requiring no special treatment. Compared to the more mainstream Osteo varieties, the price for cuttings of double species is definitely higher but this can easily be earned back with an expected 40% higher price in the market. Their showy aspect will make them quick sellers.”
In Pelargonium the German breeding company put its ‘Moonlight’ (dark foliage and striking colours) in the limelight. Sales in Pelargonium are worth millions of euros with Sunrise and Sunrise XL including typical eye-catching end consumer products with giant flowers and striking dark foliage.
In its Bacopa Falls series, Selecta has added the new ‘Summer White Falls’ which flowers tirelessly throughout the summer even when the nights get colder.
Sakata
Sakata is one of the few companies that understands perfectly well that the Flower Trials is not only about glamour and glitter but that the professional greenhouse grower also is interested in true side by side production based variety comparisons and technical trials. It was particularly interesting to see the technical trial with Profusion Zinnia (pictured) to evaluate the effects of day length and pinching on the production quality of this Sakata bestseller and former Fleuroselect Gold Medal winner. At the Zwaagdijk horticultural research centre Zinnia ‘Profusion Yellow’ and ‘Profusion Double Cherry’ were sown 19 March and planted in 12 cm pots on 7 April. It was obvious to see that pinching leads to shorter plants and more side shoots (up to 50%) while shorter days ensure compacter plants, earlier flowering (up to 3 weeks) and more top flowering.
This is an interesting outcome especially for those growers who are considering growing Profusion Zinnia in a hanging basket like some growers in France already do.
A range of French grown hanging baskets with Profusion Double were showcased at the Sakata show and according to product manager Wim van der Knaap these hanging baskets are also known as Multicolor, an innovative concept which is the result of cooperation between the research, development and innovation departments of the French seed company Plan Ornemental and Sakata Europe. Multicolour comprises biodegradable pre-sown seed mats with the seeds of different coloured flowers, using optimum density. Currently there are four different references for Multicolor: celosia (dwarf or tall), Coleus and Zinnia.
A much smaller market than Zinnia awaits Calceolaria ‘Golden Bunch’ which produces masses of small-sized golden yellow flowers which raise above the compact plant with small leaves. ‘Golden Bunch’ is very uniform which eases production and is ideal for 8 to 10 cm pots.
Also Portulaca ‘Sunseeker’ is well-balanced and compact, where Sakata’s breeding program focused on early flowering and prolific blooming under low light conditions.
In the meantime Sakata’s Sunpatiens series continues to grow in popularity. There are currently three types of Sunpatiens: vigourous for landscape purposes and mass plantings, compact for beds, containers and hanging baskets and spreading. In the latter category Corona is the first green leafed spreading Sunpatiens. This Impatiens is not only eye-catching for the consumer but is also an asset for the grower who can root the seedlings in two weeks. Van der Knaap also points out that the bedding plant industry is experiencing some serious problems with downy mildew. At present it appears that Impatiens downy mildew only infects varieties of Impatiens walleriana, the common bedding varieties most gardeners are familiar with. According to Van der Knaap the good news is that Impatiens New Guinea are not prone to attack.
 Combinations
The experimental phase of the pollen free pot Helianthus ‘Sunsation’ is now finished. Backed by an intensive marketing campaign including a special website www.whatasunsation.com ‘Sunsation’ is now ready to create a sensation in the market with expected sales of around 10 million young plants in mainly the Netherlands and Germany.
Pollen free means that the plants have a longer shelf life throughout the supply chain and the hearts of the flowers remain unspoiled. Pot Helianthus ‘Sunsation’ (pictured) is mostly produced in a 12 and 13 cm pot but with a balanced EC level, watering, nutrition and PGR the Sunsation can be grown in a 9 cm pot. Peak sales are expected in week 28 when big quantities will be available.
Having experienced some problems with the seed production in Africa, devoured by a plague of grasshoppers, Combinations has now decided to produce the seeds for its pot Helianthus in its own greenhouse premises in Maasdijk.
Raised from cuttings Presto is Combinations own Petunia which is available in four colours. Presto Petunias are early flowering and feature a compact growth habit.
Thomson & Morgan
“Thomson & Morgan has an awful lot of activities”, explains Nigel Judd, the company’s head of wholesale. We are the leading mail order  seed and young plant company in the UK but we also supply seeds and young plants to professional growers and bulk seeds to brokers and packet companies throughout Europe and worldwide. Thomson & Morgan is specialized in the less mainstream varieties. If you are looking for the first FI Laurentia resistant to fading even in strong light then the company’s Laurentia ‘Avant Garde Violet’ is absolutely worth trying.
The news for the moment is that the UK specialist breeders have been awarded the Best New Plant Variety for its Buddleya ‘Buzz’ (pictured). Already a runaway success with T&M customers, Buddleya ‘Buzz’is the first Buddleya that has been specifically bred to be a dwarf variety. Ideal for growing in patio pots and containers, Buddleya ‘Buzz’ is quite unlike traditional Buddleyas, that have a reputation for growing too tall and becoming unruly.
‘Buzz’ produces huge sprays of pretty deep purple flowers that are known for attracting butterflies. The compact plants will be smothered in flowers all summer long and will grow to just one metre high.
Other new varieties for 2010 include Lathyrus odoratus ‘Pot Perfume’. With a neat compact habit this sweet pea is ideal for pots and containers. It grows to a final height of only 20 cm.
Floranova/Vegetalis
Vegetable & flower combinations were the focus at 2010 Flowertrials for Floranova/Vegetalis. The focus for Floranova & Vegetalis at this year’s European Flowertrials were containers mixed with flowers & compact patio vegetables. The concept was a big hit this April at the Californian pack trials and has been enhanced this year with the introduction of a number of unique vegetable varieties particularly suited for small patio gardens.
The highlights of this year’s new introductions include Tomato ‘Megabite’ which is a medium beefsteak tomato with a truly unique determinate plant habit. Up to 20 fruits can be held on the plant at any one time and the 45cm plant height makes it easier to grow for people with small gardens or patios.
Basil ‘Floral Spires’ (pictured) is a 2-colour series of highly floriferous Thai scented basil. Both colours (white & lavender) have a very strong, basal branching habit resulting in great garden performance.
FloriPro Services
The road signs with FloriPro Services on the scenic Noordlierweg still look somewhat awkward. “That’s fully understandable”, says marketing manager Niels Steenvoorden. For years we have been operating under the name Syngenta Flowers which now serves the global wholesale business. FloriPro Services is Syngenta’s distribution organization serving commercial growers in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The company focuses its activities on providing high quality young plants and also sells seeds and unrooted cuttings. As well as the name change our policy has also changed significantly. In the past Syngenta Flowers only sold seeds to its own young plant division but it has now opted for a more open market approach by selling its seeds to other young plant producers as well.”
 Addressing the commercial bedding plant grower in Europe, the Flower Trials was a 100% FloriPro Services event with a prominent spot reserved for Dianthus Diabunda (pictured) as the 2009 Fleuroselect Industry Award winner. “Winning the award is not only a question of honour it has helped speed up the market entrance of this series which is currently available in two attractive bi colours and four solid colours. The biggest asset for the grower is that Diabunda is almost day-length neutral and needs far less PGRs than regular Dianthus x chinensis. For the plug producer, the germination level of both raw seeds and pelleted seeds at above 90% is a definite plus’, explains Steenvoorden.
The name comes from Dianthus (Dia) with abundant flowers (bunda). The new Dianthus can be cultivated for early spring, summer and even autumn sales, which makes it unique in the Dianthus family.
Spotting a clear trend for smaller flowered Petunias, FloriPro Services welcomed most of its newcomers in its vegetative Mini Sanguna Petunia series. Sanguna Min Light Pink, Mini Red, Mini Rose Dark Throat and Mini White have been added as new colours and are extremely floriferous, right across the plant. Its compact shape offers a clear logistic plus.
Looking for sales all year long, Syngenta has actively bred perennials to improve the benefits (novelty value of varieties, impulse sales all year round) and taken away the complications (vernalisation, extensive crop time) with the goal of making perennials easy and attractive for every bedding plant grower. The new concept Calender Colours regroups a selection of visual attractive colourful plants at the point of sale and focuses on impulse sales. By choosing the retail period, Calender Colours specifies to the grower when to start up production. In addition Calender Colours is supported by eye-catching promotional materials such as trolley posters, pots, labels and a website.
Beekenkamp
Plug producer Beekenkamp and the chrysanthemum breeder Deliflor are both divisions of the Beekenkamp Group, which held its trials at the premises in Maasdijk.
 On the marketing side, product manager Alexander van der Kaaij explained the ins and outs of the new partnership with the gardening and lifestyle magazine Home and Garden published by Sanoma Media Group. It is a monthly glossy and it's packed with practical hints, expert design tips, garden photography and plant novelties. Well aware of the fact that reaching the consumer with own brands is an expensive and daunting task, Beekenkamp and 17 Dutch growers decided to join forces with Home and Garden magazine paying a fee for using the brand on labels, sleeves, barcodes, tags and labels . In exchange, the participating growers receive editorial attention in both the magazine and on the multilingual website www.homeandplants.net.
“Home and Garden plants wants itself to be the brand for the high end florist and garden centre”, says Van der Kaaij. “It’s all about transmitting enthusiasm about new plants, about communicating our genetics and trustworthiness. If I buy a hamburger at McDonalds anywhere in the world I know exactly what value I’ll be getting for my money. The goal of Home and Garden plants is just the same.”
With the summer yet to arrive Beekenkamp is already focusing on Christmas plant sales by introducing its bell-shaped F1 Cyclamen Miniwella available in pink purple (pictured), white and as a mixture and suitable for production in 9-11 cm pots. The Maxiwella line specifically bred for production in 12-13 cm pots features mid to large flowering plants with a uniform growth habit.
Also bell-shaped as its name already evokes is the seed Campanula pulla ‘Blue Drops’. In the Beekenkamp trials visitors could clearly see the difference between more or less PGR use.
In vegetative Campanula Beekenkamp highlighted its own Campanula portenslagiana ‘Lotte’ and ‘Twinkle’ featuring striking dark blue flowers. Both ‘Lotte’ and ‘Twinkle’ have a spherical and compact habit and are suitable as both indoor and garden plants.
Ornithogalum is widely known as a cut flower from Israel, but Beekenkamp is presenting this species as an indoor plant in close cooperation with Zuidgeest and Vreugdenhil nurseries. Van der Kaaij emphasizes the fact that the tubers are virus free. The only drawback of these ornamental crops are the brown leaf tips.
Bruno Nebelung/Kiepenkerl
Sales manager Colin Robinson explains that Bruno Nebelung is the name of the German breeding company that specializes in bedding plants, grasses, perennials and ornamental vegetables which are sold under the Kiepenkerl trademark. Bruno Nebelung has its own breeding lines but also represents products from Europe’s most important seed companies. Just recently the company has retooled its Petunia assortment and now offers Surfinia as trailing types and its own vegetative Pegasus series for the more compact table type Petunia.
 For high density growing there is Fuchsita in which new colours have been added. Two trials in southern Germany have proved that the Fuchsita is rather heat tolerant.
Nebelungs Begonia Beluga (pictured) raised from cuttings produces a multitude of apricot-coloured, small flowers, is very well-branched and has a compact habit and stunning dark foliage.
The vegetative Lubega Dahlia is also bred by Nebelung and is an early and rich-blooming pot Dahlia series of the Multiflora type. Lubega features uniform growth and flowering characteristics and a compact and well-branched habit. These mini Dahlias are available in a wide range of colour with attractive bicolour flowers.
In Verbena x peruviana Nebelung showed ‘Samira’, raised from cuttings and a new, all-purpose variety for cultivation in pots and hanging baskets. It has large flowers in attractive, bright colours and is very well-branched, with an overhanging habit and a flat-topped spherical plant structure. The mildew tolerance and rich-blooming up to the frost are also worth remarking on.
Verbena Vectura, also from cuttings, stands for a top series that blooms very early.
All colours have a uniform, flat-topped spherical habit with radiant flowers that cover the entire plant Verbena Vectura is a very healthy plant with dark green, finely feathered foliage.
Fides
The Fides Flower Festival was crowded right from the start. On the first day Fides welcomed no less than 100 visitors more than on the same day last year. The theme evolves every year. "This year’s theme of 'Tailor Made’ is in line with our approach," says Harry Kloppenburg, president of Fides. "Fides jointly operates with clients to provide them with a custom made assortment that tailors to their needs and improves their returns. This year we are showing our products in a customized presentation that will surprise and inspire."
 “Fides’s innovative assortment is meant to help the supply chain stand out of the crowd”, says Carolien van der Goes. “One good example is pot chrysanthemum ‘Splash Meadow’ which was elected Plant of the Month in February. If you were to put this pot mum in a mix it would go unnoticed whereas presenting it in its own trendy sleeve this fresh coloured mum with white and green heart really makes a difference. ‘Splash Meadow’ has a long shelf life of 6 to 8 weeks.”
So far one grower in the Netherlands has been granted the exclusive right to produce around 2 million Splash Meadows per year for two years. “This mum appeals to a younger consumer. That’s why we have banned the name mum and we are now selling it purely as ‘Splash Meadow’. The plant is quite challenging when it comes to a well-branched rounded shape but the extra time and energy the grower has to put into this crop is compensated by a higher price.
In Dahlia Fides has three series: Longlife is compact with small flowers and suitable for production in packs and 10 cm pots. Then there is the Dahlinova with the mildew resistant newcomer ‘Florida’ which raised the interest of US growers where mildew is an important issue.
The third Dahlia series is named Hypnotica and was first introduced three years ago. Hypnotica stands for large flowers and a well-branched habit. Hypnotica is ideal for patio pots or as a border plant. Hypnotica ‘Lavender’ attracted much attention.
Fides’s Calibrachoa series Lindura is new, evocative and it has a long shelf life. So far it is available in 6 colours. It is daylength neutral whereas normally Calibrachoa needs lots of light in spring to bloom.
Finally, hidden behind a curtain we discovered a real nice red Impatiens with delicate white stripes (pictured). Just as if the painter has spilled some paint on the bloom. We will hear a lot more about this Impatiens in the near future.
Florist
Florist introduced the Garvinea line last year, a wide assortment of perennial Gerberas. “As for the future, we distinguish three main product lines”, explains Robin Bartels. “The Flori Line pot gerbera, the Garvinia perennial Gerbera and the Landscape Gerbera.” The Landscape Gerberas (pictured) are raised from tissue culture material and highly suitable for terrace and garden. They are now available in 13 colourful varieties.. With regards to the Garvinea we can say that the market has picked it up quickly and we are satisfied with the results both last year and this year. At these trials we are introducing four new varieties.
"We introduced the Garvineas in the USA this spring trials and also the market there is picking up very well”, says Robin adding that his company also introduced the Feel Good Gerbera concept for the retail florist including point of sales material and a presentation of mixed varieties on a trolley.”
 Royal Van Zanten
Royal van Zanten’s Harold van Gennip drew my attention to the recently introduced pot Alstroemeria ‘Eliane’, a beautiful strong and compact flowering Alstroemeria. In pot Chrysanthemums, Royal Van Zanten showcased a traditional strong assortment with high expectations for ‘Mount Listou’ which features a beautiful original white yellow colour. The growers also liked the green ‘Mount Eden’ and the yellow ‘Mount Carmel’. Fast growing plants with reaction times of approximately 7 weeks offer the growers highly profitable cultures. Van Zanten delivers the cutting rooted or unrooted depending on the customer’s wishes.
Koppe
Koppe celebrates its 100th anniversary. Koppe is synonymous with Begonia. In the new location in Aalsmeer Koppe showed its famous and wide assortment of Begonia. The leaf Begonia collection under the name Belief is spectacular. And the basic Betulia collection gives a wide assortment of exclusive Koppe varieties. Then Koppe introduces the ‘Rebecca’, a yellow double flowered variety. The company can really be proud of the new facility in Aalsmeer expressing great faith in the future.
Agriom
A very interesting newcomer to this year’s Flower trials is Agriom. Agriom is a company that supports breeders and all propagators and growers who want to go into breeding by offering professional breeding programs. Agriom’s engineers offer all the help necessary for efficient breeding programs and even do the breeding themselves at their own premises, either alone or in cooperation.
 A close resemblance is Wagagai in Uganda. For a number of years Wagagai and Agriom have cooperated in the breeding of roses and a few years ago the first new roses were introduced to the market. Agriom is active in the Netherlands with a number of crops including Chrysanthemum, Campanula, sunflower, Veronica, Begonia, Spathiphyllum and Impatiens.
André Smaal of Agriom says, “We are paying special attention to the Kalanchoe, Hibiscus, Hydrangea (pictured), Begonia and pot roses. We are members of the Hydrangea Breeders Association (HBA). Currently Hydrangea market is crowded with growers that switch from rose growing to Hydrangea for example, and it then appears that Hydrangea growing is not easy a shake out will follow. We are working on programs and varieties where the Hydrangea grower will grow Hydrangea as Chrysanthemums. This means shorter reaction times, more cultures per year and instead of cutting the Hydrangea they will plant and harvest the Hydrangea by pulling the plant out of the soil. Also a nice and totally new assortment for pot Hydrangea has been developed. When asked about the interesting crops for the future, Smaal says, “We cannot predict the future, but we are working on Helleborus, pot roses, and a wide assortment of Kalanchoë.”
Held in three locations - two in Holland and one in Germany, these trials, held during Week 24 each spring (hence their other name, the Week 24 trials) show off bedding and pot plants from more than 30 companies.
AALSMEER REGION
Agriom
Achterweg 58a
NL – 1424 PR De Kwakel
Bartels Stek
Rietwijkeroordweg 15
NL - 1432 JG Aalsmeer
Tel: +31 (0)297-382100
Danziger - Imperial Plants
Rijshornstraat 201
NL - 1435 HH Rijsenhout
Tel: +31 (0)10-5218454
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Florist de Kwakel
Dwarsweg 15
NL - 1424 PL De Kwakel
Tel: +31 (0)297-328229
Hilverda Kooij
Mijnsherenweg 15
NL - 1424 CA De Kwakel
Kieft Pro-Seeds
Veenenburgerlaan 108
2182 DC Hillegom
Tel: +31-252-535006
Koppe
Rietwijkeroordweg 40
NL - 1432 JE Aalsmeer
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Moerheim New Plant
Weteringweg 3a
NL - 2155 MW Leimuiderbrug
Tel: +31 (0)172-506700
PanAmerican Seed
Veenenburgerlaan 108
NL - 2182 DC Hillegom
(at Darwin Plants)
Royal Van Zanten
Rijshornstraat 201
NL - 1435 HH Rijsenhout
Tel: +31 (0)71-4063100 |
WESTLAND REGION
Armada
Noordlierweg 18 b
NL - 2678 LV De Lier
Tel: +31 (0)174-520713
www.armadayoungplants.nl
Beekenkamp
Korte Kruisweg 163
NL - 2676 BS Maasdijk
Tel: +31 (0)174-514540
www.beekenkamp.nl
Benary
Tuin 3
P. van der Plas
Oranjesluisweg 13
NL - 2676 NA Maasdijk
Tel: +49 171-5686405
www.benary.de
Brand kamp
Kwekerij Peter van der Plas
Oranjesluisweg 13
NL - 2676 NA Maasdijk
Tel: +49 (0)228-330875
www.brandkamp.de
Combinations
Bagijneland 1 - Tuin 4
NL - 2691 NC‘s-Gravenzande
Tel: +31 (0)174-412432
www.combinationsbv.com
Fides
Oudecampsweg 35c
NL - 2678 NN De Lier
Tel: +31 (0)174-530100
www.fides.nl |
Floranova
(at Combinations)
Bagijneland 1
NL - 2691 NC's-Gravenzande
Tel: +31 (0)174-412432
www.floranova.com
Florensis
Langeweg 79
NL - 3342 LD Hendrik Ido Ambacht
Tel: +31 (0)78-6233200
www.florensis.nl
GGG
Groeneweg 161a
NL - 2691 MN‘s-Gravenzande
Tel: +31(0)174-517711
www.ggg-gruenewald.com
Hem Genetics
(at Combinations)
Bagijneland 1
NL - 2691 NC's-Gravenzande
Tel: +31 (0)174-412432
Kiepenkerl Plant Breeding
Oranjesluisweg 26-30 (van der Plas)
NL-2676 NA Maasdijk
Tel: + 33 687 918 357
www.kiepenkerl.com
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Sakata
(at the Demo Kwekerij)
Demo Kwekerij
Zwethlaan 52
NL - 2675 LB Honselersdijk
www.sakata-eu.com
Selecta
(at the floating greenhouse demo at FloraHolland)
NL - 2670 AE Naaldwijk
Tel: +31 (0)174-521411
www.selectaworld.com
Syngenta Flowers
Noordlierweg 14
NL - 2678 LV De Lier
Tel: +31 (0)174-534199
www.syngenta-flowers.com
Takii Seed
(at Combinations)
Bagijneland 1
NL - 2691 NC’s-Gravenzande
Tel: +31 (0)174-413667
www.takii.nl
Thompson & Morgan
(at Combinations)
Bagijneland 1
NL - 2691 NC’s-Gravenzande
Tel: +31 (0)174-413667
www.thompson-morgan.com |
GERMANY REGION
Geranien Endisch
Gartenbau Bongartz GmbH
Blausteinstraße 22-24
D-41352 Korschenbroich
Tel: +49 (0)2166 1239090
www.geranien-endisch.de
Kientzler Jungpflanzen
Binger Strasse
D - 55457 Gensingen
www.kientzler.eu |
Elsner pac Jungpflanzen
Westhoff Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH
Fresenhorst 24
46354 Südlohn, Duitsland
Tel: +49-02862-2641
www.pac-elsner.com |
Westhoff
Fresenhorst 24
D - 46354 Südlohn
Tel: +49 2862 2641
www.westflowers.de |
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