With locations in the floral capital, the Netherlands, and the sun-drenched plains of Ethiopia, grower Klaver Flowers has mastered the art of growing premium flowers and continues to showcase their horticultural knack in a concept that bridges continents. This family-owned floral enterprise combines decades of flower-growing expertise with bold entrepreneurial ventures from Europe to Africa, presenting a characteristic ideal of a year-round supply chain that redefines reliability in the floral industry.
From their state-of-the-art facility in Heerhugowaard, in the Netherlands, to their extensive farm in Hawassa, Ethiopia, Klaver Flowers cultivates a whole diverse range of premium flowers, which guarantees a consistent and high-quality supply for retailers, wholesalers, and florists worldwide in a model that has all the markings of an adamant pursuit of floral perfection. Without a doubt, there is a lot more you’d love to know about this grower, so here you go.
A Dual-Country Foundation for Floral Innovation
Klaver Flowers operates through two strategic hubs: a 14-hectare continuous greenhouse in Heerhugowaard and the Wondo Tika Farm located in Hawassa, roughly 260 km south of the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. The soul of the grower’s operations lies in their Dutch lily nursery, which is indisputably the largest continuous greenhouse in the Netherlands.
Here, leveraging annual bulb-testing cycles to refine their varieties, the grower cultivates a wide selection of lilies, specializing in Orientals, which are known for their strong, beautifully large blooms in shades of white and pink. In this case, premium brands like Lilium Calvados, Lilium Toba, Lilium Valdosta, and Lilium White Passion exemplify their lily-cultivation finesse.
Gert-Jan Klaver, the CEO of Klaver Flowers, notes that the grower maintains good contact with the breeders and, from years of experience, knows the ideal conditions, allowing them to force, grow, and cultivate these varieties very efficiently. The specific process of planting, harvesting, and bundling, he indicates, is ingrained in every employee of the company, which explains quite a lot about the high quality of their floral offerings.
Gert-Jan:
“We test new varieties four times a year. The Orientals, for instance, come in white, pink, and some tend towards red. But every time we ask ourselves: Is there a better one? Testing takes about three years; we want to make sure every phase goes well. How does the foliage grow? How does the flower hold up during transport? Only then can we guarantee quality.”
Even more, the grower, according to Lydia Klaver, who is the CFO, presently has bulbs in the ground in New Zealand, which allows them to deliver a consistently high-quality product year-round. Their multi-location model enables climate-smart production: Dutch bulbs supplemented by New Zealand-grown counterparts maintain lily supplies through winter, while their Ethiopian fields provide summer flowers 365 days annually.
For the summer flowers, their Hawassa farm has always showcased horticultural ingenuity and ambition. Wondo Tika Farm is Africa's largest Gypsophila producer and the country’s leading Limonium supplier. The farm also supplies Craspedia and Moluccella. The latter was introduced in early 2025, with plans for stabilized year-round output by July. Additionally, there are seasonal small batches of floral offerings, including Delphinium and Veronica from their trial garden, which Klaver Flowers intends to fully incorporate into their assortment.
An Assorted Flower Portfolio: From Classic Lilies to Many More Varieties
At the Heerhugowaard facility, 30 lily varieties flourish under glass. Apart from the premium varieties, there are also commonly available varieties. The focus on the Orientals—both single and double-flowered—according to the grower, reflects their decades of expertise and innovation, including in bulb-forcing. This is one of the many reasons they are a successful producer of choice flowers.
Gert-Jan notes:
“I monitor how the bulbs develop, whether the schedule is adhered to, and what the exact conditions are. It involves a lot of traveling, but this keeps the lines short and the control sharp. Weekly, the necessary bulbs are transported to North Holland to bloom into beautiful lilies. With the help of a machine (when ready to harvest), we can bundle 1,000 stems per hour. The machine sorts based on stem length and thickness, bud length, and bud counts, among other factors. This allows us to tailor our delivery to the various preferences of our customers.”
For their Ethiopian operations, there is remarkable floral diversity. From the delicate Gypsophila Zinzi Discovery to the bold Gypsophila Xlence®, alongside Limonium varieties like the Limonium Diamond Selection series—available all year round in ten varieties which come in stunning shades of pink, purple, white, and yellow—, Limonium China Lemon, Limonium Dark Blue, Limonium Lilac, Limonium Oshi Pink, Limonium Piuma Sky, and Limonium Skylight, the assortment is vast. There are also Craspedia that come as large uniform golden balls on sturdy stems, and of course, the Moluccella; the feathery green bracts, which are gaining popularity in modern arrangements.
Plus, the experimental trial garden in Hawassa acts as an innovation lab, currently nurturing Delphinium and Veronica prototypes in an R&D program that focuses on guaranteeing a continuous assortment expansion while maintaining strict quality thresholds.
Sustainability as a Growth Strategy
Klaver Flowers' story is one that typifies growth and adaptation, driven by a passion for innovation and, of course, an obligation to maintain sustainability. Sustainability, after all, is a key aspect of today’s floriculture. The grower’s certifications demonstrate their nursery’s commitment to not only quality and innovativeness but also sustainable flower-cultivation practices.
Lydia:
“We have been certified according to the Global GAP standards for years. Essentially, Klaver Flowers has obtained Global G.A.P. certification in Ethiopia for the first time this year, while in the Netherlands, The certification has been in place for a longer period. MPS ABC certification has been in place since the farm was established here in Ethioipa and even longer in the Netherlands. Plus, our flowers are always recognizable by the golden sleeve with our logo, which guarantees quality.”
Moreover, Gert-Jan adds that every development on their farms fundamentally contributes to a more climate-neutral company, which is, after all, one of the envisioned goals of Klaver Flowers.
A Customer-Centric Philosophy That Banks on Partnership Built on Trust and Reliability
Klaver Flowers smartly serves their customers with the finest flowers by thinking, daring, and doing its best. The grower provides top-quality flowers for a contemporary floral display. With the finest genetics cultivated under optimal conditions, one can, therefore, rely on a reliable and first-rate supply all year round.
Plus, each delivery is customized to the customer’s specific needs, as the farm teams maintain high standards for production methods and procedures. The sales teams, for their part, ensure a seamless alignment of expectations and reality for the customers, a philosophy that one can count on. Plus, their personalized approach, unfailing supply, and consistent quality build and maintain strong partnerships built on mutual trust and respect with their clients.
Lydia:
“For example, we supply to Marks & Spencer in Great Britain. They expect a consistent, high-quality product. We, for that reason, strive for daily improvement, benefiting our customers with hands-on experience. Our employees also take responsibility and understand their role in the process. Every stem is bundled according to agreed specifications, guaranteeing consistent delivery. Plus, each branch is individually inspected and is suitable for use in bouquets.”
Even more, the grower offers customizations like bespoke grammage for Gypsophila filler, perfect bud maturity staging for event planners, and exclusive access to trial garden specimens, while the distinctive gold-branded sleeves remain the quality marker of the packaging that identifies them. Essentially, in all the operations, Klaver Flowers prioritizes their clientele, who include floral designers. And as the grower puts it: “Our product range makes a difference in the market through consistency in quality, year-round uniform supply, and service. So, you can trust Klaver Flowers for reliable top quality and stay ahead in the market.”
Photos by Klaver Flowers (@klaverflowers).
