Azaleas, chrysanthemums and lots of research
Belgian horticulturists showed their plant specialties at the IPM trade fair in Essen, Germany, at three joint stands of the Flanders Agricultural Marketing Bureau (VLAM). The Belgian horticulture cultivates an area of almost 6,200 ha. The most important sector is nurseries with 5,553 ha. Potted chrysanthemums are cultivated outdoors on 239 ha. The area under glass is estimated at 498 ha. The leader there is azaleas with 129 ha. Nearly 85 percent of European azaleas come from East Flanders.
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The azalea 'Christine Cherry Blossum` of the Hortinno brand from Hortibreed, Lochristi/B (www.hortinno.de), offers a very long flowering period of eight to ten weeks. The attractive dark green, glossy, small foliage lacks the unsightly brown glumes known for azaleas, which are therefore no longer a nuisance under the plants. Another great added value of these plants is their air-purifying effect. Two to three plants placed on 20 to 30 m² of living space should eliminate formaldehyde occurring in the living space within just 30 minutes. To ensure this, these azaleas evaporate a lot of water, as shown by a glass cover with condensation. Azaleas sold in Europe through Floramor offer another advantage. Due to cold house production, their carbon footprint is comparatively low. Sustainability is an important issue for Hortibreed in general. Instead of concrete surfaces, wildflowers are planted around the greenhouses as insect food. 200 kg of honey could be produced there by bees last year. The company aims to be climate-neutral by 2035.
Exports and research
In 2021, Belgian producers exported horticultural products worth EUR 703 million. The most important export hits are nursery products, azaleas and other indoor plants, as well as bedding plants, potted chrysanthemums and tuberous begonias. Annually, 25 million tuberous begonias are produced in Flanders, representing 55 percent of world production.In 2021, there were just over 300 ornamental plant production companies in Belgium. In 2021, 42% of Belgian ornamental plant exports went to France (€294 million), 37% to the Netherlands (€261 million), and 4% to Germany (€25 million). Belgians can hardly give a forecast about the ornamental market, the situation is similar to that in Germany. A crisis mood is not present, the garden and landscaping companies are booked up for a long time. What is also lacking in our neighboring country is good personnel. Research is important. The Belgian gardeners receive good support from the research institute ILVO on sustainability issues. In a cooperation of the four Flemish research centers Ghent University, Ghent University of Applied Sciences, the Institute for Agricultural, Fisheries and Food Research (ILVO) and the Experimental Center for Ornamental Crops (PCS), the province of East Flanders has initiated the "Technopool Ornamental Crops", which transfers know-how and research results to companies.
A pink princess and six colibris
The open bloom of Helleborus 'Diana` from Microflor, named after the British Princess Diana, is special. The plants bloom pink from November until March, April and constantly push new flowers. Microflor sells the young plants of this beautiful cultivar from BVBA, propagated from its own in vitro culture in Lochristi. Belgian primrose breeder Rudy Raes showed the primrose series P. polyantha 'Colibri', developed after 17 years of breeding, in six colors, a new sustainable genetics for the consumer with beautiful ornamental value. Due to their ten to 15 different flower stages, the plants bloom attractively for a very long time, set up outdoors from the beginning of January to the end of March. The primroses can be planted out in the garden for the following season and should have already survived down to - 13°C. An important feature of these primroses for the gardener are the comparatively short flower stalks, which allow more tiers on a CC container, minimizing transportation costs. At least 15 years of breeding work has gone into Rudy Raes' new Primula accaulis with rose flowers from seed production. The vigorously growing F1 hybrids with dark green foliage for indoor use are for sale December through January. Special features were also shown by Deroose Plants, which acquired Exotic Plants. Stronger than comparable varieties, the inflorescence of Vrisea 'Ida` is pink colored. Attractive is the combination with the dark, healthy foliage leaves. Produced from in vitro culture with a sophisticated propagation protocol come Alocasia 'Zebrina variegated`, explained sales manager Peter De Ridder.
