As diverse as the landscapes of the country with the white cross on a red background, its nurseries stand out for their ability to adapt to the needs of landscapers, local authorities, and amateur gardeners, from the south of the country to the mountains of Graubünden. All production is destined for the domestic market, except for the Meylan et Cie nursery, a regular exhibitor at Groot Groen Plus, which exports its conifer grafts and specialities to Europe.

As diverse as the landscapes of the country with the white cross on a red background, its nurseries stand out for their ability to adapt to the needs of landscapers, local authorities, and amateur gardeners, from the south of the country to the mountains of Graubünden. All production is destined for the domestic market, except for the Meylan et Cie nursery, a regular exhibitor at Groot Groen Plus, which exports its conifer grafts and specialities to Europe.

A large proportion of nursery products are imported to meet the needs of the Swiss market. Although most nurseries are generalist companies with a wide range of products, various specialities are also grown, such as young ornamental plants, trained fruit trees, rose bushes and young forestry plants, each adapted to a particular climate.

Diverse climates 

Switzerland's surface area is only 41,291 km2.Yet, for a small country, it has immense geographical extremes. For example, the southernmost canton of Switzerland, Ticino, is protected by the Alps. This canton has a mild climate, and nurseries like the Eisenhut company produce camellias and citrus, overlooking Lake Maggiore. In comparison, there are Alpine growers, such as the Schutz nursery in Filisur, located at an altitude of over 1000 metres, who produce hardy plants for the gardens of villas in ski resorts.

Political and economic situation 

Although Switzerland is not a member of the European Union (EU), it regulates its economic and scientific exchanges with Europe through a series of bilateral agreements. These agreements cover various areas such as trade, research, and the mobility of people. For example, the 1972 Free Trade Agreement facilitates trade in industrial goods, while Bilateral Agreements I and II, signed in 1999 and 2004 respectively, extend this cooperation to sectors such as agriculture, transport, and scientific research. Switzerland also makes financial contributions to European research programmes such as Horizon 2020.

The JardinSuisse organisation 

With around 5,000 companies and a gross added value of over CHF 4.6 billion, the green sector is an economic factor in Switzerland that should not be underestimated. It employs more than 25,000 people. The players in all the horticultural sectors come together in an interprofessional association called JardinSuisse. This has 2,000 members, including 118 nurseries and perennial nurseries, a few of which are certified organic. The mission of JardinSuisse is to represent the interests of the horticultural sector vis-à-vis the Confederation, the 26 cantons and third parties. In addition to its political role, the association offers its members advisory services, marketing support and "Swiss Plants" certification, for example. Members can also take advantage of the association's own pension fund and insurance facilities. Managing horticultural vocational training is one of the association's main tasks. It is also strongly committed to environmentally friendly production, with support programmes to reduce CO2 emissions and a target of heating without fossil fuels by 2040. Most producers have already reduced and often abandoned the use of peat in their substrates.

JardinSuisse international 

The JardinSuisse association provides information on the main topics in the green industry, through the trade magazine g'plus, which is published in German and French, and handles public relations. Swiss growers, and nurserymen in particular, are represented by delegates who are members of JardinSuisse in various European and international groups. They take part in the surveys of the European Nurserystock Association ENA and are members of the International Hardy Plant Union ISU.

Swiss nurseries in a few figures  

Currently, the largest nursery in Switzerland cultivates just under 100 ha and employs around 100 people. Then there are ten or so nurseries covering 25 to 45 hectares, followed by another ten or so covering 12 to 25 hectares, making up the top 25 of the largest nurseries in Switzerland. Most of them are gradually increasing their container areas, reducing open ground, and growing large containers in Air-Pots. Every year, statistics provide structural data on Swiss nurseries. In terms of the number of operations, the 2021 survey showed a total of 340 companies, all categories combined, including 211 specialist nurseries, which together managed 858 hectares with a total of 1,970 employees (full-time equivalents FTEs). That year, the gross added value of nursery production was estimated at €200 million. In 2015, the total number of nurseries was still 377, with a total surface area of 945 ha cultivated by 2,400 employees for almost the same added value. In 2021, 78 new apprentices will begin their training as nurserymen and women.

Price index 

The Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO) regularly tracks the prices of horticultural and nursery products. The figures available for horticultural production from March 2023 to March 2024 show that the prices paid to growers for cut flowers rose by 1.6%, and those for pot plants, balcony plants and bedding plants by 2%. Since March 2021, prices for cut flowers and pot, balcony and bedding plants have risen sharply by 8.3% and 8.2% respectively. During this period, ornamental plant growers have been able to pass on the cost pressure of inflation to consumers. In comparison, producer prices for the economy (including petroleum products) have risen by 6.2% since 2001, and consumer prices by 6.4%. Import prices, on the other hand, have fallen thanks to the strong franc.

Summary 

Although prosperous, statistics on Swiss production show an erosion in the number of nurseries and the surface area occupied by the sector. Added value, on the other hand, remains stable in a market that is currently trending upwards at the start of the year. As elsewhere, managing the impact of rising energy costs and, despite an effective vocational training system, recruiting skilled labour are among the two main challenges facing nurseries in Switzerland.

Text and photos: ©Jean-Luc Pasquier