Fresh Choices BY KATIE VINCENT


ALSTRO, REIMAGINED > For decades, alstroemeria has been prized as a workhorse. Now, a handful of specialty varieties are proving the fl ower can be a design standout, too. While traditional alstroemeria remains a staple of everyday bouquets,


these new introductions pair the fl ower’s renowned vase life and year- round availability with unexpected forms, textures and colors that invite designers to see the crop in an entirely new light. Among the newest introductions is Astronova, developed through a


collaboration between Royal Van Zanten and The Queen’s Flowers. With bold colors, lush stems and dynamic form, it can serve as either a striking focal fl ower or an expressive component in a mixed bouquet. Royal Van Zanten’s Charmelia off ers another twist, producing as many


as 20 upward-facing, pollen-free blooms per stem with a vase life exceeding three weeks. Its abundance of fl owers and year-round availability make it equally at home in wedding work and everyday designs. The Fashionista series, developed by H.M. Tesselaar and HilverdaFlorist,


transforms the familiar spray into a large, multilayered bloom. Pieter Strooper, assortment manager at HilverdaFlorist, describes it as “combining the fi ve fl owers of a traditional alstroemeria into a single double fl ower.” Florinca, bred by Könst Alstroemeria, features delicate sprays that


open fully before shipping, while its pollen-free blooms allow additional fl owers on each stem to continue opening without fl ower drop. Könst’s Spider alstroemeria features elongated, narrow petals that


provide a modern, airy texture that is completely diff erent from classic, rounded varieties. Green Planet, another Könst introduction, replaces colorful petals


with a sculptural crown of fresh green foliage, off ering designers texture and movement instead of blooms. Creating specialty alstroemeria begins with looking beyond color,


says Jelle Posthumus, director of Könst Alstroemeria. “Our specialty breeding program focuses on creating products that truly stand out and inspire fl oral designers,” he says. That philosophy drives the search for new fl ower forms, textures and


plant characteristics that add value throughout the fl oral chain. Ideas come from listening to fl orists, wholesalers, retailers and consumers, then refi ning those insights through years of crossing, selection and testing. Beyond appearance, breeders also evaluate vase life, stem quality, productivity, transportability and reliable year-round performance, creating fl owers that deliver from the grower to the fl orist to the consumer.


18 FLORAL MANAGEMENT | September/October 2026 | WWW.SAFNOW.ORG


‘GREEN CROWN’ FLORINCA Esmeralda Farms


‘JOY RIDE’ FLORINCA HilverdaFlorist B.V.


‘MERAK’ ASTRONOVA Golden Flowers


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