Het Wilgenbroek presents new Helleborus cultivar

If it depends on the Van Paemel family of the Helleborus nursery 'Het Wilgenbroek', we are guaranteed a white Christmas this year, snow or no snow. This is mainly due to their white Helleborus cultivar, which is already in bloom well before Christmas. In fact, according to the 'Flora Holland' auction, an important barometer in the sector, it is the strongest growing plant in recent years in terms of sales. A trendy plant, moreover, as the age of buyers is mainly situated between 19 and 29 years.

Selection and variety breeding

Thanks to extensive selection, research and variety breeding, Helleborus Nursery succeeded in developing this new cultivar that flowers earlier and longer than the classic Helleborus species that are mainly spring bloomers. With this they further expand their unique ViV collection of new cultivars, in cooperation with Microflor in Lochristi.

New, bright 'star' on table

This early and white-flowering Helleborus can be kept in bloom for at least three weeks, as a house or patio plant. Afterwards it can be planted out in the garden, so it is not a lost investment. With this, this new cultivar is well on its way to ousting the classic poinsettia from first place as a table decoration. The white color already brightens up the dark days. Good news for florists is that it can also be used as a cut flower. Garden centers and florists were already warned: this year-end, the demand for the white Christmas Helleborus will probably be very high. And it is consumers who are driving the market.

Long-term work

Helleborus is a native perennial that usually blooms early in spring. Because of this, Helleborus is very resistant and hardy. The plant has an enormous number of varieties and cultivars. At Helleborus nursery 'Het Wilgenbroek' they have been working for fifteen years on the Helleborus variety breeding. Pollination is done by hand, and through selection and research they succeed in developing new varieties with clock-like regularity. This is often done in cooperation with other specialized companies, government agencies and research centers, which also breed plants in vitro.

Successful partnership

For example, their long-term cooperation with Microflor from Lochristi led to the creation of the ViV collection. The result of these breeding activities is a Helleborus plant that excels with new colors, larger flowers, longer shelf life and longer flowering times.

Since 2015, the arrival of the second generation at the breeder from Oostkamp has provided additional dynamics within the company. 'Het Wilgenbroek' supplies a clientele of nurseries and garden centers worldwide with young plants for further breeding, as well as flowering specimens for direct sales to private individuals.