The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) members consist of thousands of growers of flowers and ornamental plants around the world who are together united by one essential goal – promoting the place of plants in people’s lives.
AIPH is responsible for approving the world’s most exceptional horticultural expos creating long lasting green legacies in cities across the globe.
AIPH Blooming Economies & Cities to Inspire The World 2.0. Up-to-date statistics from recent Expos hosted in Asia and Europe.
Learn moreAIPH hosts several conferences, webinars and events such as the International Grower of the Year award throughout the year. Read about these along with the latest news about the association’s activities.
The AIPH International Grower of the Year Awards celebrate the best of the best in ornamental horticulture
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The report contains insights on production and consumption of the floriculture industry in Thailand, imports and exports, and business opportunities
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Warm spring weather put Florall attendees in an upbeat mood as growers, retailers and suppliers gathered on the show floor in Waregem.
Spring sunshine and unseasonably mild temperatures boosted people’s spirits at this year’s spring edition of Florall, held on Wednesday, 3 March 2026. The contrast was striking. Outside, the winter landscape remained largely bare and dormant, broken only by the first hedgerow blossom of blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), erupting into clouds of tiny white flowers. Inside the 3,700 m² Waregem Expo hall, spring was already well underway.
The one-day event, now in its 32nd year, featured over 60 stands displaying a wide range of products including shrubs, climbers, trees, patio plants, annuals, herbaceous perennials, cacti, herbs, bonsai, vegetables, young plants and houseplants. While a handful of exhibitors are categorised in the horticultural supplies, technology, and packaging segments, Florall remains foremost a plant-focused trade show with Laurus nobilis and Azalea traditionally occupying pride of place.
Top-quality Leucojum aestivum ‘Bridesmaid’ on display at Florall, a graceful spring-flowering bulb known for its nodding white bells.
The fine weather boosted the attendees’ mood and energy, driving considerable interest from growers, wholesalers, and garden retailers. At the same time, sunny conditions meant busy garden centres, preventing some industry players from attending as they stayed behind to keep Danish trolleys and shelves stocked for the spring rush.
Waregem, situated halfway between Ghent and Kortrijk, is best known for the Waregem Koerse horse-racing event held every year in August. Few associate the city with flowers and plants. That is, until the beginning of March and the end of August, when the Florall plant show returns for its spring and autumn editions.
Back in 2017, organiser AVBS – the Belgian Association of Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Industries – moved the event from Ghent Expo to Expo Waregem. This mid-sized venue is large enough to create impact yet compact enough to encourage engagement. It offers a comprehensive layout, free on-site parking, and something one cannot miss when in Belgium: free fries.
All these aspects contribute to a relaxed, friendly atmosphere where attendees can mingle and connect.
Erik Boterdaele of Boterdaele BVBA, an evergreen shrub specialist known for its Hebe varieties. Appointed AVBS chairman in 2023, he is a strong advocate for reducing the use of chemical crop protection and encouraging young people into horticulture.
Florall is widely considered the showcase of Flemish flowers and plants, a leading B2B event promoting a sector that, together with the region’s landscaping industry, directly employs 15,900 people in Flanders. While highly weather-sensitive, the sector is generally considered stable in terms of production value, area and trade.
Yet, in today’s rapidly changing market, adaptability is essential. On the Florall show floor, discussions between industry professionals centred on compliance with evolving crop protection regulations, the need to reduce labour costs through automation, the region’s often costly and sometimes inefficient logistics, climate change, and wider geopolitical tensions affecting global markets.
The self-governing Flanders Region includes the provinces of Antwerp, East Flanders, Limburg, Flemish Brabant, and West Flanders. Ornamental horticulture geographically concentrates in East Flanders, with Wetteren and Lochristi serving as centres of nursery stock and flowering pot plant production, particularly azalea. In the province of Antwerp, nursery stock and potted plant growers are more scattered.
Laura De Nolf presents Exochorda × macrantha ‘Lotus Moon’, one of the First Editions® novelties showcased by plant nursery Willy De Nolf at Florall. The nursery also won the Visitors’ Vote with Viburnum plicatum ‘PIIVIB II’ (First Editions® Opening Day PBR).
Flanders’ most recent statistics report indicates that around 5,800 hectares are dedicated to ornamental horticulture. For perspective, the total agricultural area of Flanders is 619,600 hectares, meaning less than one per cent of this region is used to grow ornamentals.
The greenhouse area used for ornamental horticulture is 500 hectares, although most ornamental plants and nursery stock are grown outdoors, either field-grown or container-grown. An increasing proportion of hardy nursery stock is grown in containers, allowing growers to bring trees to market more quickly compared with traditional balled-and-burlapped trees. Containerised production also results in lighter, easier-to-harvest, pack, and dispatch plants.
Silke Sercu of Hortinno models the Bloom’Z Bouquet at Florall, a creative pot-and-vase concept featuring upright azalea branches with pink and white blooms.
There are approximately 664 specialist nurseries in Flanders. In total, 927 agricultural and horticultural businesses are involved in ornamental plant production.
The value of ornamental production is €580 million (2021). Nursery stock accounts for this figure (64 per cent), followed by cut flower growers and ornamental plants (36 per cent).
The AVBS report also highlights how Flanders benefits from a favourable climate, good soils, and a strategic position within the Western European consumer market. Its ornamental sector exports €660 million annually, with France, the Netherlands and the UK among the most important destinations.
From July 2024 to June 2025, Belgian households spent around €351 million on flowers, plants and other horticultural products, representing an average annual spend per person of €30.
The impact of innovation on consumer behaviour is significant. With this in mind, Florall’s novelty competition is one of the show’s highlights.
In a first for the event, the professional panel of judges walked the show floor to identify the best displays, recognising three companies with the Best in Show Booth Award.
Agapanthus grower Tim Wyckstandt from Aalst celebrates winning Silver in the Florall Best in Show Booth Award.
Winning the overall ‘Best in Show’ booth award was Decadt-Verhelst, run by husband-and-wife team Dries and Corine from Staden, a small town located West of Roeselare. The couple operate a 6.5-hectare greenhouse business growing vegetable starter plants and half-finished herbs for wholesalers and garden centres. To attract attention, the company used a product turntable in its booth. The jury praised the interactive design and clear product segmentation, which drew visitors in from across the aisle. Silver and bronze were awarded to Agapanthus BV and plant nursery Maes-Reyns.
Phillyrea angustifolia ‘Grand Prix’, winner of the Florall Gold Trophy for best new variety, is recognised for its compact evergreen habit and elegant foliage.
Florall is also a celebration of plant innovation. The jury assessed nine new cultivars against criteria including plant quality, environmental performance, visual appeal, overall presentation, and distinctiveness.
The Florall Gold Trophy was awarded to Phillyrea angustifolia ‘Grand Prix’, submitted by Zundert-based tree nursery Huijbregts. This compact evergreen shrub grows to around 2m tall, with narrow, dark green leaves up to 6cm long, a dense growth habit, and small clusters of fragrant off-white flowers in the leaf axils in late spring and early summer. It is well-suited to adding structure and greenery to garden beds, borders, and hedges.
Agapanthus africanus ‘Lady Lauren’, winner of the Florall Silver Variety Award, is recognised for its prolific pure-white blooms from late June to October.
Silver went to Agapanthus africanus’ Lady Lauren’, submitted by Aalter-based Agapanthus BV. This variety stands out for its prolific, pure-white blooms, which appear from late June to October.
The Florall Bronze Trophy was awarded to Syringa ‘Smnsdtp’ (Proven Winners® Baby Kim PBR), submitted by plant nursery Willy De Nolf from Waregem. Baby Kim® is a lilac that rarely grows taller than 60cm, making it an ideal plant for small gardens and patio containers. It flowers abundantly from mid to late spring with deliciously fragrant dark purple flowers that fade to light purple.
Syringa* ‘Smnsdtp’ (Proven Winners® Baby Kim®), winner of the Florall Bronze Trophy, a compact lilac suited to small gardens and patio containers.
‘Treewrap’, submitted by Design Star/Crea Green, won Best in Show in the New Marketing Concept category. Made from partially recycled and 100 per cent recyclable RPP, Treewrap takes inspiration from the familiar tie-wrap and is designed to suit a range of various trunk sizes.
Treewrap, a recyclable trunk protection system inspired by the familiar tie-wrap, won Best in Show in Florall’s New Marketing Concept category.
The autumn edition of Florall will take place on 25 August 2026. For more information, visit www.florall.be.
