Walking into this year's Trade Fair Aalsmeer, I didn’t need long to spot the Anthura booth. It had that soft summer vibe that immediately pulls you in. Warm tones, gentle colors, a bit of nostalgia in the air. Right there, they introduced their new Vintura® series – a line of Phalaenopsis varieties built around the feeling of old coastal summers in Southern Europe.
I caught up with Marthe Oltheten from Anthura to hear more about this fresh launch, what inspired it, and how it fits into the bigger picture of their work.
What's the Idea Behind Phalaenopsis Vintura?
What immediately pleased me is that the concept of Vintura has been well thought out.
Marthe didn’t hesitate when I asked her about the idea behind this new series:
"Vintura is really inspired by that old, nostalgic, vintage feeling along the South European coast,' she said. 'Think of Vespas cruising the boulevard, those endless summer evenings, and Polaroid moments. You see that back in the colors of the Vintura varieties – soft watercolor shades and warm tones in both large and small flower types."
What also struck me is that this series isn’t about one unified shape or strict uniformity. It’s about atmosphere.
Marthe explained:
"It’s not about flowers matching perfectly in size or length. It’s the overall color mood they create together. The shades blend into each other like a watercolor. Pink, pastel, creamy yellow, even a coppery speckled one – all with that soft, vintage character you also see in interior trends right now."
Orchids That Move With Trends
I know that breeding takes time, so reacting to trends can be tricky. I asked Marthe how they manage that.
"With Vintura, we didn’t start from one genetic line but from the feeling and color. That opens things up. You can respond faster to what is happening in the market. The series stands as a whole based on experience, not only genetics. It keeps the concept flexible and current."
Right now, this Phalaenopsis Vintura series consists of five varieties, but the collection will grow in the coming period. From what I saw, there’s plenty of room for this line to expand naturally.
The Current Selection of Phalaenopsis Vintura
Currently, the series consists of these five orchids: Phalaenopsis Vintura® Vittoria, Vintura® Treviso, Vintura® Padova, Vintura® Positano, and Vintura® Rome. Each variety bears the name of a characteristic Italian city, thus reflecting the Southern European vintage feel that Vintura evokes. The pastel shades subtly vary from warm pink and soft yellow to a grayish lilac, creating a harmonious whole. The varieties not only complement each other perfectly as a series but also stand out individually in any interior.
From Young Plant to Florist
As a flower and plant adept, of course, I wanted to know how florists and consumers can get their hands on Vintura. Marthe told me:
"We supply young plants to our growers. They are the ones that grow them into the Phalaenopsis you see in shops. Through our growers, Vintura will find its way into retail and to florists."
For florists who like to work with color themes or enjoy building displays around a certain mood, this series feels like a nice tool. It’s not about one star variety but the whole look.
Vintura's Global Debut
The Vintura series isn’t meant just for Europe. Marthe said to me:
"China is an important market. Those soft colors fit well with today’s taste and their trends. And interest is growing worldwide."
From what I’ve seen, Vintura fits a broader movement in the industry – breeders working more with emotion, experience, and storytelling. Plants that are not only visually appealing but also bring up a memory or a feeling. Vintura brings summer, nostalgia, and a bit of that timeless coastline charm into the world of Phalaenopsis. A gentle vintage touch is captured in a plant.
Thirty Years of Passion at Anthura
Anthura has been in the breeding game for decades, and it shows in how they shape their collections. The company started with cut Anthuriums. Around thirty years ago, Phalaenopsis joined the range after the takeover of the German breeder Arndt. It wasn’t even planned at first, but it turned out to be a golden move. So this year, Anthura celebrates thirty years of Phalaenopsis.
