Success is no coincidence. Not even in tree nurseries.

For years, tree nursery cultivation revolved around one central question: how do we develop better plants? Stronger genetics, richer flowering, improved disease resistance and more ornamental value. Every new cultivar had to outperform the previous one. That pursuit still forms the foundation of Living Creations. Even after fifteen years, Alex Schoemaker considers himself first and foremost a breeder.

Kees Burgmans: ‘Extreme weather requires a different way of doing business’

Snow in spring, a dry spell, followed by tropical heat. The past season once again demanded a great deal from tree nurseries. Yet Kees Burgmans of Kwekerij Burgmans in Haaren looks back on the first half of the year with satisfaction. The market remained surprisingly stable. According to him, the biggest challenge does not lie on the sales side, but in how entrepreneurs prepare their businesses for an increasingly unpredictable climate. He sees GrootGroenPlus as the perfect moment to look ahead together.

Joost Sterke: ‘The biggest challenge? Not the market, but the people’

The market for trees and hedge plants remains healthy. Joost Sterke has no doubt about that. According to him, the real challenges for the coming years lie elsewhere: in securing enough skilled workers, further mechanisation, and adapting to stricter requirements regarding water management and crop protection. He sees GrootGroenPlus as the event where the industry both reflects on the past season and looks ahead to the next.

Italian horticulture strengthens ties with the United Kingdom

The Italian ornamental horticulture sector confirms the strategic importance of the UK market with an export value of €43 million in 2025 (+1.3% compared to 2024). During the London edition of Green Agorà, organised by Greenitaly (Fiere di Parma), the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) and the Italian Embassy, key figures from the sector came together to discuss growth, sustainability and the impact of climate change.

HTA launches autumn campaign: Make your garden a success, both this year and the next

Whilst the summer heat is still in the air, the horticultural sector is already looking ahead to autumn and even Christmas. But this period isn’t about winding down; it’s about seizing opportunities. The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) is therefore launching the next phase of its ‘Your Garden Year’ campaign under the banner ‘Making the most of now and next year’.

Flower and plant market shows resilience in a challenging second quarter of 2026

Amid a period of economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and fluctuating consumer confidence, the floriculture sector is holding its own. In Q2 2026, Royal FloraHolland traded 4.8% fewer flowers and plants than last year, whilst turnover fell by 2.7%. The limited decline in turnover compared to the drop in volume shows that pricing remained stable in many product groups.

Update on the Crop Protection Covenant (Convenant Gewasbescherming)

Last week, the administrative consultation on the Crop Protection Covenant took place. Feedback from the members' webinar held on 2 July was incorporated into the process leading up to the covenant.

The Evolution Garden at the Natural History Museum in London

Anyone who loves dinosaurs is bound to be thrilled by the Natural History Museum in London. The venerable, almost cathedral-like building houses a wealth of fossils as well as dinosaur skeletons. The museum demonstrated its innovative spirit by commissioning two new gardens: the Nature Discovery Garden and the Evolution Garden.