News » 21.05.2026 - Belgian floriculture in the spotlight during Floraliën Ghent
The Floraliën flower and plant show, held in Ghent, Belgium, once again demonstrated its role as a showcase for the country's ornamental horticulture industry. Signs throughout and around the Citadel Park guided visitors to the event, with large quantities of azaleas at the entrance serving as a fitting symbol, the Ghent azalea is closely associated with the city's horticultural heritage. Local shops in the surrounding streets joined in by displaying azaleas at their doorways. The event, however, covers ornamental horticulture in the broadest sense, from garden plants and tropical houseplants to vandas, roses, and heliconias.
View our photo report of Floraliën here (link in Dutch)
The route through the Floraliën exhibition hall covers approximately 1.5 kilometres and takes visitors through a wide range of sections. These include artistic floral design displays, with contributions from several Dutch suppliers, among them World of Sprayroses, Oasis, My Peony Society, and Roobos.
Flemish growers and creative exhibitors are prominently featured throughout, and an entire hall is dedicated to the Ghent azalea. Visitors can follow the full route through a photo report published separately (link in Dutch). Highlights include orchids by Labeau, Pelargonium by Pelargonium for Europe, and the newly introduced Azalea 'Koningin Mathilde', bred by Lochristi-based breeder Drieghe. The variety was presented at the extensive AVBS stand, which brought together a broad cross-section of the Flemish ornamental sector.
John Bijl of Cedar House Ferns/Vitro Plus in conversation with Max Valstar, Deputy Ambassador of the Netherlands in Belgium.
Another notable feature of the show was the Cedar House Ferns stand. This new brand from Vitro Plus was launched during Floraliën and attracted considerable visitor interest, with many stopping to photograph the ferns, which were also available for purchase at the shop at the end of the route. Vitro Plus noted that collaboration between Dutch and Belgian ornamental growers remains limited, and expressed the hope that the Floraliën launch would help strengthen those ties. A more detailed report on the Cedar House Ferns launch will follow.
Next edition in 2030
"You could feel it every day at the venue," said chairwoman Joke Schauvliege. "People did not come just to look at flowers and plants. They came to experience a sense of wonder, to spend time with their families, and to reconnect with nature and beauty. The fact that so many young families discovered Floraliën is perhaps the most meaningful signal of this edition."
The event closed on 10 May after attracting a total of approximately 75,000 visitors. The next edition is scheduled for 2030.
A large charity plant sale also took place in the Floraliën hall on 12 May, with proceeds going to a good cause.
Source: www.floraldaily.com
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