"Well-being and Mental Health has become a major Issue of Focus"
Phil Evans is the founder and driving force behind the gardening platform Planteria. He has accompanied the green industry internationally for almost four decades. Reason enough for us to ask him about his view of the current situation.
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Dear Phil, can you say a few sentences about how you found your way into horticulture yourself?
Phil Evans: Back in 1984...(!) I was introduced to an Interior Landscape magazine and joined this title as Ad. Manager. I quickly realised (even then) that there was a new 'green' market emerging both in Interiorscape and External Landscape Design. My route to 'Planteria' took many turns but in 2004, I launched Planteria magazine, having managed several nursery clients as their PR agency. The launch for a plant orientated news magazine was well received and this was the time when I became fully embraced in the Horticultural sector!
You have a good overview of International Horticulture, especially in Europe. What developments in horticulture stand out to you at this time?
Phil Evans: I think the surge in demand for plants and a greener environment, both at home and in the City is the overwhelming development right now. The industry was growing rapidly before Covid-19 but this acted as a giant stimulus for the trade. Well-being and mental health has become a major issue of focus in the past two years and this has also contributed to these high levels of demand for plants, flowers and also garden trees. The issue for the grower/nursery trade is to match the challenge of supply/demand. This shows no sign of abating, despite the acute rise in energy prices.
You have a special eye for plant novelties. Can you identify any trends in the recent launches - plant groups that are attracting a lot of interest?
Phil Evans: The subject of novelties is always a matter of opinion! Yes, we are seeing a continuation of new plant novelties which has never faltered in my time. One example of current trends is confirmed by Genesis Plant Marketing in the U.K. From January to April, they have handled over 230 different sample plant movements in Annuals, Shrubs and Perennials. This is unprecedented in any previous 4 month period. This reflects the ongoing demand for new varieties, which 'breeds' confidence for the future.
You are a Brit who moved from a big island to a small one and have been living in Cyprus for a few years now. What can you say about horticulture on this island?
Phil Evans: The climate here obviously lends itself to some beautiful plant displays, in the Cities of Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos, all close to the southern coastline. Despite the low rainfall, the landscape maintenance project here is very good. You can see the result of their programme along all the motorways where the Bougainvillea always look vibrant and healthy!
In terms of growers here, they are based mainly on the south west coast around Paphos. They tend to supply only the local market and are not geared up for export. Indeed, my local plant centre imports many plants and small trees from Holland!
Which country do you currently consider particularly interesting with its developments in horticulture - and why?
Phil Evans: I think we have to consider the wider world to include growers and suppliers from India, South Africa and Turkey, maybe? These countries are all propagating plants and flowers to market in Europe. As Europe wrestles with current supply chain issues, it seems these countries are now focusing on niche flower and plant sectors, for example, in Northern Europe. Here, the acute rise in energy costs is causing some problems with the quality of home grown flowers in this region where cost savings on temperature control may be having an adverse effect on the plant's shelf life. It's a subject to monitor closely, for sure.
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What Phil Evans tells about himself
My own experience in this sector has almost reached 38 years! I have been fortunate to work in such a rewarding market, in the sense of how plants create their own calming atmosphere. The launch of Planteria as a hard copy journal paved the way for www.planteria.eu to become a fresh online news platform for the European plant sector. Now in its 9th year, our weekly newsletters have also provided an added bonus for our clients and continues to generate record levels of response.
