On the occasion of Floraliën Ghent 2026, leading international horticultural journalists were invited by VLAM, Flanders’ Agricultural Marketing Board to discover the Flanders ornamental horticulture sector through a press tour combining visits to the exhibition and to selected nurseries in the Ghent area. Floraliën Ghent, the international plant and flower festival held every four years, transforms the city into a showcase of floral creativity and green innovation with the theme of “connection”. For ten days, the iconic Floraliënhal, Kuipke and Plantentuin in Ghent’s Citadelpark provide the setting for spectacular floral installations created by leading florists, growers, landscape architects and artists.

During the technical press tour of selected Belgian nurseries, participants had the opportunity to analyse the structure and performance of Flanders’s ornamental horticulture sector, with particular attention to nursery stock production. According to the 2026 Ornamental Horticulture Barometer, total nursery stock area in Belgium remained stable at approximately 5,400 hectares in 2025, confirming the sector’s high degree of specialization and production continuity. Flemish growers continue to dominate the national market, representing over 96% of the Belgian production value for ornamental plants. Export performance also highlights the sector’s competitiveness: Belgian nursery stock exports increased significantly, reaching nearly €235 million in 2025, driven mainly by demand from France, the Netherlands and Germany. The nurseries visited during the tour demonstrated advanced cultivation systems, strong varietal diversification and increasing investments in sustainable production techniques, logistics efficiency and phytosanitary quality standards, all of which contribute to Belgium’s strategic role within the European ornamental horticulture supply chain.

Deroose Plants is one of the world’s leading companies in the field of in vitro propagation and young plant production, specialising in ornamental plants as well as plantation, fruit and vegetable crops. Founded in Belgium in 1981 by Reginald Deroose, the company has developed into an internationally active group with production and research facilities in Belgium, the United States and China, employing around 800 people worldwide. Together with its subsidiary Exotic Plants, Deroose Plants produces a wide range of tropical and ornamental species, including bromeliads, orchids, Ficus, Spathiphyllum and Aloe, while also working with crops such as bananas, blueberries, potatoes and cocoa trees. Innovation and research remain at the core of the company’s strategy, with continuous investments in advanced propagation techniques, sustainable production systems and the development of new plant concepts. Deroose Plants also places strong emphasis on sustainability, focusing on responsible energy use.

Sylva Nurseries is a leading family-owned company with more than 250 years of experience passed down through seven generations of the Van Hulle family. Founded in 1936 and based in Lievegem, in the heart of one of Europe’s most important cultivation regions, Sylva combines tradition, innovation and sustainability, producing around 25 million plants annually on 120 hectares and exporting to 40 countries across three continents. The company offers a wide range of forest, hedging and landscaping plants, ensuring top quality through specialized expertise, modern logistics infrastructure and strong international experience. Today, Sylva is led by Bram and Tim Van Hulle, who combine traditional nursery know-how with innovations from sectors such as IT, construction and pharmaceuticals. Tim Van Hulle is also President of the ENA, European Nurserystock Association (2024–2027) and on April 21, 2026, he presented the “More Plants, More Life” manifesto at the European Parliament in Brussels, highlighting the strategic role of nurseries in Europe’s green transition and the need for a regulatory framework that supports the sector.

Floréac is a family-owned company specialised in potted plants for the B2B market, serving a wide range of European retail channels including garden centres, DIY stores and food retailers. With dedicated sales teams organised by country, the company combines deep retail expertise with a strong network of selected growers across Europe, from Denmark to Sicily, ensuring quality, continuity and a market-oriented assortment ranging from classic houseplants to seasonal concepts. Floréac focuses on long-term partnerships throughout the value chain and supports customers with tailored assortment strategies, delivery planning, market analysis and marketing solutions. Guided by Managing Director An Vander Aa, the company employs 130 people, operates on an 11,000 m² site and is active in key European markets such as Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Led by the fourth generation of the De Croock family, this family-owned company is recognised as one of Europe’s specialists in the production of Belgian azaleas and rhododendrons. With decades of horticultural expertise combined with modern cultivation techniques, the company offers an exceptionally broad azalea assortment, ranging from extra-early to late varieties and from compact mini plants to larger specimens up to 50 cm high. De Croock supplies both green azaleas with well-developed buds and flowering plants tailored to customer requirements, ensuring consistently high quality and flexibility. Managed by brothers Alex, Marnix and Guy De Croock, the company operates across three production sites with 30,000 m² under glass and 30,000 m² of open-field cultivation, serving customers throughout Europe and selected international markets.

De Mol – Verlee is a Belgian family-owned nursery specialised in the year-round cultivation of Hedera helix (ivy) and a selected range of tropical and subtropical ornamental plants. Founded in 1991 in Lochristi, the company is now led by Frank De Mol, Els Verlee and the second generation represented by Nette De Mol. On 11,000 m² of greenhouse production, De Mol – Verlee cultivates up to two million plants annually, combining advanced greenhouse technology, continuous innovation and strict quality control to ensure high product quality and reliable supply. Alongside its extensive Hedera assortment, the company offers species such as Ceropegia, Senecio, Rhipsalis and Davallia. Sustainability is a core value, reflected in its VMS guidelines and MPS certification, responsible water management and increasing focus on biological cultivation methods. Through its “Breathe Nature” brand, launched in 2015, De Mol – Verlee promotes easy-care indoor and hanging plants that contribute to healthier living and working environments. Today, around 95% of production is exported, mainly within Europe and to the United Kingdom.

Calle Plant is a family-run nursery with more than five generations of craftsmanship and over 125 years of experience in ornamental plants and fruit trees, located in the East Flemish nursery region. Founded in 1895 by Petrus Calle, the company has evolved from traditional fruit tree cultivation into a modern, multi-site operation managed today by Thomas Calle, representing the fifth generation. With around 60 hectares of production, Calle Plant offers a wide assortment including ornamental shrubs, conifers and an extensive range of fruit trees: most notably around 80 apple varieties and over 20 hazelnut cultivars, alongside more than 100 rhododendron varieties. The vast majority of production is grown in-house, ensuring quality control and varietal authenticity, while selected plants are sourced from regional partners. Serving private customers, garden centres, landscape professionals and export markets across Europe, the company combines deep horticultural expertise with continuous innovation, including digitalisation projects such as an integrated ERP system and a webshop for direct sales. Sustainability is a core principle, reflected in reduced chemical use, responsible water management and a strong focus on biodiversity. Today, Calle Plant stands as a modern yet tradition-rooted nursery, steadily developing its role as a reliable and innovative player in the European green sector.

More info about Flanders Plants: https://www.flandersplants.com/