I recently visited the greenhouses of Royal Van Zanten to check their Statice varieties. This flower, botanically known as Linomium Sinuatum, is a widely applicable flower that deserves our attention.
Today, this breeder boasts 23 commercial varieties in its assortment. And they are happy to share some insights and explain what makes this flower unique and interesting for florists like you.
Hints of Summer With Statice
Statice is way more than the flower you might have seen before in a dried bouquet. They are available in abundant colors giving hints of summer to floral arrangements in every season. Statice has long, branched stems that end in a series of tiny flowers. Their structure makes them perfect for lush field bouquets or wildflower arrangements: just a single stem immediately adds a sea of flowers. From pale yellow to lilac, from snow-white to peach; Statice’s color palette has become very varied. It invites you to create lovely combinations in line with the latest floral trends.
The best part: breeder Royal Van Zanten has them all! I walked into a greenhouse filled with colorful Statice, where they have been developing these flowers for over twenty years already. No need to say they have become real specialists in getting strong flowers with an enduring shelf and vase life. And yes... if they look like finished, you can always dry them for a second life, because these flowers will keep their color. Isn't that a versatile flower!?
Originating in the Wild
Known for being such a tough flower and can thrive even under stressful conditions, Statice grows and thrives in the wild. Where the freshwater turns salty. It is not for nothing that the crop belongs to the Plumbaginaceae family and is commonly known as wavy sea lavender. Originally, Limonium Sinensis does not shy away from rough weather conditions, brackish water, and sandy soil. A tough as a plant and a star as a cut flower.
Royal Van Zanten notes that:
“When viewed up close, the flowers almost look like paper, but make no mistake, the Statice is tough. The shelf life is fine, with the greatest of ease they are shining in the vase for three weeks!"
The Sustainable Choice
It's not only for reasons of re-use that Statice are sustainable flowers. These flowers are tough cookies. Statice flowers have impressive vase longevity and can stay fresh for weeks. This reduces the frequency of replacements and the demand for constantly fresh flowers, leading to less waste.
Growers know that this flower's cultivation is also environmentally friendly, and adapted to multiple soil types and climate zones. It doesn't need a lot of water to grow. This is a big plus in regions where water conservation is crucial. Less need for fertilizers and pesticides means a smaller environmental footprint. And grown in various climates make it possible for florists to source them locally. This reduces the carbon footprint associated with transporting flowers long distances.
So, if you're looking to create eco-friendly floral arrangements, Statice is definitely a flower to consider and a top pick for sustainability-conscious florists.
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Not Just Blue
Many people who know the Statice flower believe that they only come in blue. Not a bad thought, because blue flowers are rare in general, so being blue would only add to its uniqueness and popularity. However, Royal Van Zanten is an inventor, so there is always the urge to come up with new and surprising varieties of existing flowers. And there have been quite some introductions over the years.
The selection of desirable Statice seedlings and development into a commercial success is a demanding process. External traits of any variety take precedence, beauty alone won’t cut it! For a successful selection and development of new varieties.
Royal Van Zanten asserts that:
"New varieties have to meet a whole laundry list of requirements. To make it from selected seedling to commercial success is quite a challenge. For example, the length of the stems is crucial. Very long stems are of no use to us; The plant should be constant and therefore maintain the same length and weight during cultivation. In addition, the degree of susceptibility to botrytis, the growth rate, and the flower production are important."
Trendy New Statice Varieties
Statice's palette invites you to create lovely color combinations in line with the soft and dreamy floral trends. Try mixing Statice in various soft pastel shades, for example. This is perfectly in line with the 'Gentle Paradox' flower trend, which is characterized by a soft, dreamy atmosphere.
Statice Apricot Sun Birds® is a trendy peach-colored flower with a sublime spike length, the latest addition to Royal Van Zanten's assortment. Besides its long vase life, the flowers are vibrant and have a fresh look.
Or what about Statice Glowy Sun Birds®? These pale pink flowers are a fantastic choice for wedding bouquets, centerpieces, or even as standalone pieces in a vase.
Like all other statice varieties, Apricot Sun Birds® and Glowy Sun Birds® are also perfect for dried bouquets and arrangements.
And who knows what's next? Royal Zan Zanten emphasizes breeding a full range of colors, with orange-red tones being the next target they are working on currently.
My visit to the breeder was a great learning experience on the breeding, selection, and commercialization of the Statice.
See you next time!
Peter van Delft
