a year in review: glee 2019 Worthy of gold


In a GCUexclusive, Paul Jackson, sales and brand manager at MNP Flowers, explains why its Granvia Gold – Xerochrysum, was a worthy winner of the Best New Product Award at this year’s GLEE 2019 Where will this be retailing?


We have plenty of stock planned for its launch and it will be available in large key centres including Dobbies and Homebase, via mail order and other outlets that are committing right now.


What’s the background behind Granvia? The story of Granvia begins in Australia, where a newborn adventures walks along the way. After spending a day deep in the Australian woods, he decides to return and to look for a path that leads him back home. While he’s walking, enjoying the sun, the earth, the wild, he see’s a bright yellow colour shining in the green. It attracts his attention straight away. Curiously he walks to the spot where he saw the yellow light shining. There it was, Granvia, a plant shining so bright that it could light up every cloudy day. The adventurer felt instant admiration.


Tell us a little more about Granvia Gold – Xerochrysum Granvia has huge bright yellow flowers with a yellow centre, making it unique from other Bracteantha, flowering from April right into the frosts in the winter. I have plants still looking good now. The bees and butterflies absolutely love it; the huge orange centre is full of sweet pollen. The Xerochrysum (Bractheantha) is an Australian plant. Originally they grow in a dry and hot landscape. This means the plant prefers dry and sunny places, although it also handles cold climates very well. The super strong garden performance of Granvia Gold is remarkable. Granvia can bring adventure to your garden for a long time.


Does the flower stand up to the rigours of the diverse UK weather patterns? The flowers stands up to the UK weather and it closes tight when it rains and also at night. It’s quite an amazing thing, where they open as daylight starts. The flowers can be cut and used as dried or potpourri and are crispy to touch –


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you just have to touch them as they are so tactile – children love them too. The ultra-strong garden performance of Granvia is remarkable. It’s good-resistant to all kinds of weather, from the dry and hot landscapes of Australia, to the much colder climate of Sweden.


What other brands do you have in your portfolio? MNP flowers (the Netherlands) introduces new plants and varieties from the Japanese breeder Suntory Flowers, among others, onto the European ornamental horticultural market. MNP flowers have several selection specialists, who all have in-depth knowledge of the European horticultural market. Together they select plants and varieties that suit this market. They are tested extensively at several locations. Next to that, MNP flowers carries out market research for every variety, which is very important for ‘positioning’ the product. They think about ‘product naming’ and branding (logo, labels, pots, leaflets and website). Growers pay a licence fee for every Suntory Flowers Europe plant.


As bedding plants they need a good amount


of light to be able to flower; increased light levels and longer days stimulate the flowering.


What are the characteristics of the flower? As bedding plants they need a good amount of light to be able to flower; increased light levels and longer days stimulate the flowering. To get a nice full flowering pot with a flowering centre it seems a must, to use a second pinch and in a style to cut the plant back deeply around the pot edges.


Any tips for retailers when advising potential customers?


They are great in pots, containers and planted in the garden, but make sure they are in a large pot, as they grow fast so they love a drink. They are such easy plants to grow for the consumer and grow into stunning looking plants very quickly. Trimming off dead flowers always helps to keep the plant looking at its best, but it’s not a necessity.


What is the plant size?


Average plant size in a pot is 35cm by 30cm approximately.


GCU December/January 2020


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