Established in the UK as recently as 1978, Floranova expanded its breeding operations with the addition of a site in Costa Rica in 1995. Five Plant Breeders are split between the two sites, all developing their own specialist crops. The Costa Rican site is invaluable to the breeding program: with a climate suitable for year round bedding plant production the progression of a variety is greatly increased. Species that could only be grown through one generation a year in the UK can be put through multiple seed to seed cycles in Costa Rica. This significantly decreases the time taken to release a variety onto the market as crossing and selection is conducted year round. Throughout the breeding process lines are subject to vigorous selection, which is carried out at testing stations around the world, ensuring that only products of the highest quality are released onto the market.

Our policy at Floranova is to use traditional breeding techniques to produce superior varieties, with particular emphasis on the production of innovative products for niche markets. To achieve our breeding goals various strategies are adopted, such as the production of F1 hybrids. F1 hybrids are superior quality plants produced by crossing two previously selected parent lines. The offspring of such a cross have what is known as ‘hybrid vigour’ or more plainly speaking, an enhanced performance over the parental material. This is a costly operation suitable for high quality plant production as the two plants have to be manually crossed. A more cost effective alternative is F2 plant production, which is generated by the self fertilisation of F1 plants; a significantly less labour intensive process. Such breeding is bound by natural barriers – crosses that could not potentially occur in the wild are unachievable.

Floranova has established a reputation for producing innovative products for the flower seed industry. Original new varieties in Salvia, Perlargonium, Nicotiana, Viola, Mimulus and many other species keep Floranova out in front for genuinely new products. Nicotiana is now accepted as a bedding plant following it adaptation by Floranova. The introduction of Mimulus as a bedding plant has been hugely successful and Floranova remain the industry leader in this product. Floranova has diversified in recent years and now focus on a number of vegetatively propagated ornamentals, including Petunias and Begonias. All America Selection and Fleuroselect Gold Medals number among the many hounours received by Floranova products. All America Selection and Fleuroselect Awards are given from within the industry to endorse quality products.

DOUBLE WINNERS
Nicotiana Avalon Bright Pink
Petunia Prism Sunshine
Salvia Farinacea Strata

AAS WINNERS:
Nicotiana Perfume Deep Purple

FLEUROSELECT GOLD MEDAL WINNERS:
Lavatera Novella
Salvia farinacea Victoria Blue
Viola Velour Blue
Salvia Farinacea Strata
Pelargonium Infiniti Scarlet

FLEUROSELECT NOVELTY AND QUALITY MARK WINNERS:
Begonia Doublonia Red
Begonia Doublonia Rose
Aster Milady Lilac
Nicotiana Domino Salmon Pink
Nicotiana Tinkerbell
Pelargonium Horizon Coral Spice
Pelargonium Horizon Raspberry Ripple
Pelargonium Landscaper Coral Spice
Pelargonium Landscaper Moulin Rouge
Pelargonium Landscaper Venus
Petunia Frillytunia Rose
Petunia Prism Light Burgundy Vein
Petunia Horizon Lavender Sunrise
Petunia Horizon Strawberry Sundae
Phlox Buttons Blue Shades
Phlox Buttons Carmine
Phlox Buttons Cherry with White Eye
Salvia farinacea Cirrus
Salvia splendens Sahara
Salvia splendens Maestro
Viola Velour Purple