Grower’s Pride: NewGen® Buxus

Boxwood has faced significant pressure in recent years. Pests such as boxwood leafminer have damaged confidence in the crop, both at nursery level and in the end market. At the same time, demand for evergreen, formable structure plants has not disappeared. NewGen® Boxwood responds directly to this tension by introducing genetically selected cultivars developed for improved tolerance to boxwood blight and strong resistance to leafminer.
Within the program, two cultivars stand out: NewGen® Independence (‘SB108’) and NewGen® Freedom (‘SB300’).

Successful spring edition of Florall with international interest and awards for innovations

On 3 March, the spring edition of Florall took place at Waregem Expo. During this trade fair, sixty producers and ten supply and export companies presented their assortment for the upcoming season. Visitors could enjoy a wide range of houseplants, garden plants, terrace plants, and fruit trees. Despite the nice weather – which usually sparks busyness in the garden centres – the fair attracted considerable interest from both national and international visitors. 

Grower’s Pride: Cornus alba ‘Nightfall’

With Cornus alba ‘Nightfall’, Boomkwekerij Verpaalen introduces a distinctly dark-leaved selection that adds new depth to the traditional Cornus alba segment. Whereas most Cornus alba cultivars are valued mainly for their winter twigs, 'Nightfall' adds intense purple-black foliage (featuring a greyish-velvety haze on the underside) during the growing season. This dual ornamental value creates year-round appeal and offers clear commercial potential for growers looking to strengthen and differentiate their shrub assortment.

Dutch urban tree tenders are becoming more demanding

Urban tree tenders in the Netherlands are becoming more demanding and performance-oriented. While size and price remain relevant, municipalities increasingly focus on long-term performance under urban stress conditions. For nursery growers supplying the Dutch market, this means that demonstrable quality and documentation are gaining importance.

Grower’s Pride: Carpinus betulus

Carpinus betulus – commonly known as European hornbeam – has been a stable cornerstone of the European forest and hedge plant assortment for decades. While trends shift and new cultivars enter the market, this species continues to prove its value through reliability, adaptability and strong growth. For Roelands Boomkwekerijen, Carpinus betulus is not a side product, but a structural element within the core assortment.

Grower’s Pride: Parrotia persica

Parrotia persica, commonly known as Persian ironwood, is steadily establishing itself as a core species within climate-resilient assortments. At Vormboomkwekerij Ruud van den Berk, this tree is purposefully cultivated in several high-quality shaped forms. The combination of technical reliability, strong ornamental value and broad applicability – as a multi-stemmed tree, standard screen form and low screen form – makes Parrotia a strategic species within the nursery’s assortment.

Germany accelerates transition to peat-reduced and peat-free substrates in the tree nursery industry

The German tree nursery industry is accelerating the transition to peat-reduced and peat-free substrates. Across several federal states, demonstration projects are supporting nurseries in testing alternative growing media as part of Germany’s strategy to significantly reduce peat use in professional horticulture by 2030.

Grower’s Pride: Prunus laurocerasus ‘Otto Luyken’

Prunus laurocerasus ‘Otto Luyken’ has long been a cornerstone within the evergreen assortment. This compact cherry laurel combines a low, spreading habit with a striking spring bloom. For growers, it represents a dependable product with consistent demand in both landscaping projects and retail markets.