the magic of chaenomelis

Inleiding blog - De magie van chaenomelis

On a stormy January day, we take a look at Sjouke Dijkstra, a master in growing chaenomeles and a proud supplier for Greenflor. At his nursery in Nieuwveen, about 5000 m² is filled with chaenomeles branches, their bright green buds braving the winter cold. Some of these impressive branches even reach a height of 3.5 meters!

chaenomeles and the dutch winter

These chaenomeles shrubs are already 25 years old, and I’m convinced they’ll last much longer," Sjouke says passionately. The Dutch climate constantly tests his skills. The massive branches are supported by sturdy stakes to prevent them from toppling over. "You’re completely dependent on the elements. But being able to grow such a beautiful, blooming branch with so little energy in the middle of winter—I think that’s amazing," he adds enthusiastically.

from battleground to warm embrace

Day in and day out, Sjouke is busy maintaining his extensive nursery, where not only chaenomeles but also corylopsis, rhododendron, magnolia, sorbus, and viburnum flourish. During the cold winter months, he hand-cuts the ripe chaenomeles branches, dressed in his clogs, precisely when the green buds begin to swell. The work in the field is no easy task and comes with its challenges. "The life of a grower is a love-hate relationship," Sjouke explains, "sometimes a thorn ends up in your finger or a branch in your eye, but the quest for the most beautiful branches keeps me going."

from field to auction

After pruning, the branches are moved to a warm barn where they can fully bloom. Here, they are carefully selected and cut to length, a task lovingly performed by Sjouke’s wife, Cynthia. The craftsmanship is evident, ensuring that only the most beautiful branches make it to the auction. These chaenomeles, bursting with stunning pink and white blossoms, find their way to banks, department stores, hotel lobbies, and more.

exclusive blossom branches full of love

When asked what makes his chaenomeles special, Sjouke beams with pride. "It’s a very unique product for this time of year. A long-lasting blossom branch full of beautiful, colorful flowers. It almost sells itself!" Chaenomeles is an exclusive and labor-intensive blossom, requiring a lot of manual work. And that work is done with double gloves and safety glasses a custom product where local growers like Sjouke really put their heart into each branch.

about Greenflor

Greenflor est le précurseur et l'importateur par excellence de fleurs uniques et de décorations naturelles. Notre équipe passionnée sélectionne en permanence les produits les plus exceptionnels pour les fleuristes, les grossistes et les jardineries. À chaque saison, de l'hiver à l'été, nous proposons une gamme soigneusement composée de fleurs, de plantes et d'articles de décoration. Avec ses fleurs fraîches et séchées, Greenflor vous permet d'enrichir votre assortiment tout au long de l'année avec des produits de saison.