In Scandinavian countries, the cultivation of trees, shrubs, conifers, perennials, and rose bushes play a crucial role in maintaining natural landscapes and biodiversity. The region is known for its unique balance between cold winters and mild summers, which made native plant species adjust to challenging circumstances. Thanks to age-old traditions in forestry and agriculture, growers continue to experiment with new cultivation methods.

The impact of climate change

Nevertheless, climate change presents a growing threat. Extreme weather conditions, such as unexpected frost and heavy rainfall, cause stress to the flora. Furthermore, the risk of invasive species increases, which negatively affects the health and biodiversity of native plants. At the same time, warmer temperatures offer opportunities to introduce new, adapted species. Scientific projects and nature conservation initiatives play an essential role in monitoring and supporting cultivation. Innovative techniques such as controlled irrigation systems, reduced pesticide regimes, and the development of climate-resilient varieties are being employed to mitigate the negative effects of a changing climate. Through collaborations between governments, knowledge institutions, and the agricultural industry, a dynamic adaptation process is emerging. This enables the Scandinavian cultivation industry to preserve and even enrich its rich green heritage despite the increasing challenges posed by climate change.

Scandinavia as a market

Scandinavian countries form an extremely important market for tree nursery products. These countries also invest heavily in sustainable urban planning, recreational landscapes, and ecologically responsible management. They set high standards for the quality, sustainability, and climate resilience of the plants they receive, as they often face extreme weather conditions. This forces exporters to offer only high-quality, climate-resilient varieties that can withstand long, cold winters and fluctuating summers. Companies like Heideveld BV have specialised in exporting to these markets. Thanks to close cooperation with selected growers, they can guarantee a wide range of products perfectly suited to the needs of garden centres, landscapers, and wholesalers in Scandinavia. In addition to a stable market, the Scandinavian countries promote innovation in product development and ecologically responsible cultivation methods. This continuous demand for advanced solutions ensures a steady flow of investment in research and development within the tree nursery industry. In short, the Scandinavian market functions as a strategic engine for the export of tree nursery products, with its critical market needs driving the industry to continuously improve and adapt to both ecological and economic developments.

Sweden

Sweden is not a large country when it comes to the nursery stock industry. The import value in 2023 was around 50 million euros, while the export value was about 6 million euros. “The industry is small in Sweden with few players. Many have disappeared. But we are an important industry that has a significant impact on people’s daily lives and, for example, on the ability to improve the climate in cities. Climate and environmental issues interest many young people; perhaps we can reach them through that avenue,” says Peter Welin. He is the chairman of the horticulture division of the Agricultural Federation, focusing on nursery products, and also runs one of Sweden’s largest plant nurseries, Essunga Plantskola. Sweden is a long and narrow country, almost 1600 kilometres long. Today, the country is divided into 7-8 plant zones, from 1 in the south to 7 in the far north. The variation in temperature and climate is considerable, but with global climate change, it is a challenge to predict what we can expect. This is also a much-discussed topic within the tree nursery industry. Peter Welin: “We don’t know whether the differences in the country will become larger or smaller, but we also don’t know what the climate in countries that produce plant material for us will look like, and whether plants grown there will be usable here. We will need to reconsider plant choices for the climate, and there are currently many research projects on this topic.” To integrate the climate and sustainability goals, Welin believes the tree nursery industry must work better with landscape architects, planners, and project managers. “It is a prerequisite to make this go as well as possible. When developing plant material, foresight is needed.”

The Danish garden plant industry is small, but high-quality 

The garden plant industry in Denmark is a niche within the broader efficient and sustainable agricultural industry. Unfortunately, the exact figures on the production value of garden plants are limited. The agricultural industry accounts for about 22% of Denmark’s goods exports (including livestock, dairy, and grain). Within this industry, ornamental plants and horticultural products play a modest but steadily growing role, partly due to the increasing demand for sustainable and locally produced plants. 

According to official figures, the export of garden plants amounts to 2.2 billion DKK. Garden plants are mainly exported to neighbouring countries such as Germany and Sweden, while imports mostly come from the Netherlands, which is a major supplier of young plants and seeds. Denmark positions itself as a leader in sustainable horticulture, with a strong focus on organic, climate-resistant plants. Through innovation, collaboration, and circular production methods, the country is addressing climate change and international competition. Danish growers invest in robust plant species, water conservation, and renewable energy. Denmark is also the world’s largest exporter of Christmas trees, with over 10 million units per year. Despite its small size, Denmark has big green ambitions.

Tree, shrub, and perennial cultivation in Norway 

The Norwegian cultivation of trees, shrubs, and perennials is modest in size - with an estimated 40 tree nurseries - but is steadily developing. The export is limited due to strict EU regulations, as Norway is considered a ‘third country,’ while imports primarily come from the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany. “Not much is exported from Norway, it’s mostly imported from the EU,” says Maria Fall from the Norwegian Horticultural Association. Opportunities lie in the growing demand for native plants with locally propagated material. However, this is complex: “The market wants the material to come from specific regions, but ‘specific’ is often anything but specific,” says Fall. The industry is also faced with challenges such as climate change and the increasing ban on non-native species. Still, there is also pride: plant health in Norway is considered among the best in the world. “We are happy with a strict phytosanitary regime,” emphasizes Fall. Growers work with environmentally friendly methods, limit invasive species, and follow strict import regulations to prevent diseases and pests. An important step towards sustainability is the establishment of Plantinor SA, a cooperative where growers make agreements on production and distribution. “We are convinced that this is the way forward,” says Fall. “Export is good for the economy, but when it comes to sustainability, the goal must be to sell the majority of what you produce in your own country.” The Norwegian tree and plant industry combines quality, collaboration, and environmental awareness and sees this as the key to sustainable growth for the future.

Challenges in Finland

In Finland, about 60 nurseries are active with a total area of 271 hectares. Most nurseries produce several plant groups, such as fruit plants, shrubs, and trees. The estimated production value is around 40 million euros, providing approximately 500 man-years of employment. According to Hanna Tajakka, director of the Finnish Growers’ Organisation Taimistoviljelijät, the situation is relatively stable, “but the industry has faced challenges in recent years, such as a decline in housing construction and fewer infrastructure projects, although signs of recovery are now visible.” The industry is mainly made up of small family businesses. Company successions remain difficult: “At best, 1-2 new companies are founded each year,” says Tajakka. At the same time, there is a growing shortage of young workers. The growers’ association is trying to engage young people with informational projects and school visits: “We want to encourage students to consider a career in nursery production.” An emerging trend is the increasing demand for native plants, particularly from the public sector. This shift is aligned with themes such as biodiversity, nature-based solutions, and the prevention of invasive species. “Public opinion is shifting towards more natural gardening practices, which has led hobby gardeners to take a greater interest in native plants,” says Tajakka. However, the transition is challenging, partly due to the lack of suitable seeds and the establishment of sufficient production capacity. Another bottleneck is the classification of some cultivated plants as invasive species. “Tree nurseries often receive this information too late, which means plants already in production cannot be sold anymore. This results in the loss of investments and additional removal costs,” warns Tajakka. The industry is therefore looking for better cooperation with authorities for a more predictable and workable phase-out process. The Finnish tree nursery industry is thus at a crossroads of stability and renewal, with sustainability, native species, and labour rejuvenation being central themes for the future.

The basis for good cultivation is a healthy soil and healthy starting material at Liwardi Quick Hedging 

Liwardi Quick Hedging from Nispen finds its customers as far as Scandinavia. What attracts its customers to the company? The KwekerBode spoke with Wouter Veraart. “The basis for good cultivation is healthy soil and healthy starting material. Most of our plant material is propagated and grown in-house. The plant material is then planted in the ground for 2 to 4 years. During this period, the plants are regularly pruned and undercut.” By applying soil measurements, we can fertilise location-specifically. This maintains the organic content and soil life. Cultivation tasks such as undercutting, fertilising, and weeding are performed by GPS-controlled machines that have been developed in consultation with the machinery builder for Liwardi. This makes environmentally friendly and efficient working under good working conditions possible. Liwardi plants can be potted in containers of 5 to 30 litres. These containers are 100% recyclable and carbon-free. The potting soil used is specially formulated for the company. It contains starter phosphate for rapid root formation and sufficient nutrients to keep the plants in good shape for the first 5-6 months. Most plants are supplied with a root ball. This can be done in various ways: by hand in jute or acrylic, while the larger plants (from 200 cm) can also be supplied in cardboard boxes. Delivering in these cardboard boxes has several advantages: less personnel is required for digging up, which leads to shorter delivery times. Plants can be planted with the box as it is fully biodegradable - even the adhesive used is starch-based and completely biodegradable. The box breaks down within 10 days in the ground and leaves no waste or remnants. The span is even slightly larger than with round/manual nets, resulting in even better regrowth. The box is equipped with convenient handles for easier handling during planting. The flat bottom of the box ensures the plants stand straight in the planting trench. When it comes to trade with Scandinavia, Wouter Veraart does not see much change. “If I look at the customers who place year-round orders, I don’t really see any growth or decline. The assortment that goes there is quite narrow due to winter hardiness.”

De Bloemenkampen specialises in large pot sizes 

Founder Arnold van den Berg had a green thumb as a child. He grew various plants in his father’s backyard. In 1991, together with his nephew, he founded the tree nursery De Bloemenkampen, named after the nature reserve where the tree nursery was established. De Bloemenkampen initially supplied to the Dutch market, but after 2000, when Van den Berg continued on his own, the company also started focusing on exports. Specialising in conifers in large pots (from 5 litres) was the next step. With this specialisation, De Bloemenkampen meets customer needs. After all, not everyone has the patience to grow the plants themselves. Moving to a larger location in Nunspeet in 2013 meant a complete transition from field cultivation to pot cultivation. De Bloemenkampen focuses mainly on quality; the ambition is not to become the largest nursery in Europe but the best. This is evident from the use of good and modern materials and a tidy workplace. Additionally, the company focuses on sustainability; by inspiring and retaining their employees for the profession, but also, for example, through MPS certification. De Bloemenkampen wants to work as sustainable as possible, says Herco van den Berg. “We are constantly adjusting to this in several respects: environment, personnel, laws and regulations, machines, etc. We offer a high-quality and broad assortment, also for the Scandinavian market. In these countries, it can naturally be very cold, so mostly hardy varieties are sent there. In fact, we send everything from small C5 to large solitaires to these countries. There continues to be an increasing demand for conifers & shrubs in these countries. At the moment, the flatworm is a big issue they are very focused on, and this is already causing some problems for various companies.”