Lex van der Zwet, from nursery A.J.J. van der Zwet, cultivates different types of seasonal flowers. Trying out small quantities, special types and new things: that is what makes Lex happy! He begins to shine when he talks about his summer flower Monarda, a still unknown summer bloomer that he grows in as many as 10 different varieties. This winter our attention was caught by the Helleborus 'Penny's Pink'; a pale pink large-flowered Helleborus with a thick sturdy stem. A strong strain with a better vase life.

Small species
Forty years ago, Lex started growing Tulips. When a product becomes too 'big' in the market, cultivation is no longer profitable for Lex. With 1 hectare of land, he can not compete with the large nurseries. But he really does not want that at all. Lex enjoys the exclusive, small varieties and tries to bring new varieties to the market by means of in-house breeding.

Cut-Helleborus
Helleborus, also called hellebore, Christmas rose or winter rose, is a plant that is mainly known among gardeners. A few weeks ago we highlighted the cut Helleborus 'Winter Fashion' in a news article. The Helleborus is less known among consumers as a cut flower. The cut variety is very versatile and, like the plants, it is available in very beautiful colors and varieties. Cut-Helleborus is still an exclusive product and is mainly used in the higher segment. For us an extra reason to bring this special product to the attention.

The Helleborus is a real winter flower. When all gardens are bare and drab, the Helleborus shines in every garden. This is also true for 'Penny's Pink', originally a real garden plant. The special thing about 'Penny's Pink' is that this variety is also very suitable as a cut flower. With her thick high stems and upright flowers she is a real addition to the cut flower range.

The variety is not a Niger or Oriëntalis species, but is called a Hybrid. This is a cross between different species. It remains a mystery what this species is exactly. It is difficult to figure out.

Pioneering
Growing Helleborus is and will continue to be a pioneering business. Lex was one of the first growers who started growing the crop. It is a product that has been on the market for only five years as a cut flower and only five years in the breeding process. The cut Helleborus is still in the early stages of its growing process. Different conditions during cultivation can have an effect on the flower. Think of humidity, temperature, fertilizer, water and so on. Lex is happy to handle all challenges and discoveries. Especially because he thinks it’s a wonderful product.

Vase life
It remains a challenge for Helleborus growers to grow a good product with a long vase life. Sometimes the flowers last over a week, but the next time it could be only a few days. No breeder knows exactly how to control this. Because the Helleborus originally occurs in cold areas, putting the flower in warm living areas because of which the water evaporates faster than the flower can absorb it. For that reason, the flower is often limp. The later in the season, the warmer it is outside, the more sustainable the product becomes. The tip is to cut the flowers at an angle again and keep them in Quick Dip for 3 seconds. This is a special formula that promotes food intake.

Lex is a perfectionist when it comes to his cultivation and he only wants to sell products that have a good vase life. He is now in the process of making a selection of the best varieties with a good vase life, including 'Penny's Pink', and removes the other varieties from his assortment.