AVBS, the Belgian Ornamental Horticulture and Green Federation and a member of AIPH, brought together growers, suppliers and international trade visitors at the spring edition of the Florall trade fair on 3 March 2026 in Waregem, Belgium.
The event featured 60 growers alongside 10 suppliers and export companies presenting their spring assortments, including houseplants, garden and patio plants, fruit trees and ornamental shrubs. Despite favourable weather drawing consumers to garden centres, the exhibition still attracted considerable interest from Belgian and international horticultural professionals.
First launched in 2007 and organised by AVBS, Florall is held twice annually and aims to promote Flanders’ ornamental horticulture sector while supporting seasonal sales. The fair attracts breeders, growers, wholesalers, technical suppliers, service providers and garden retailers from across Belgium and abroad.
New recognition for stand presentation
For the first time, Florall introduced an award recognising the Best Stand at the fair. The initiative was inspired by the Als ik jou was (“If I were you”) project, which encourages ornamental plant growers to better understand the needs of their customers and improve how they present and communicate their products.
The project focuses on helping growers place themselves in the position of their buyers, such as wholesalers, retailers and landscapers, so they can tailor product information and presentation more effectively and build stronger commercial relationships across the horticultural supply chain.
The inaugural Best Stand award was presented to Decadt-Verhelst of Staden. The jury highlighted the stand’s interactive presentation, including a rotating product display and clear segmentation of the plant range. Second and third place were awarded to Agapanthus bv and Maes-Reyns Kwekerij, respectively.
New plant varieties and concepts
Alongside the stand award, a professional jury evaluated nine new plant cultivars and one marketing concept. Entries were assessed on climate resilience, distinctive character, added value within existing assortments and overall visual impact.
The Gold Award for new varieties went to Phillyrea angustifolia ‘Grand Prix’, submitted by Boomkwekerij Huijbregts through the Dutch trade fair GrootGroenPlus. The evergreen Mediterranean shrub combines dense branching with drought tolerance, making it suitable for contemporary hedge planting.
Silver was awarded to Agapanthus africanus ‘Lady Lauren’, notable for its abundant flowering stems and distinctive pure white blooms within the evergreen agapanthus range.
Bronze went to Syringa ‘Smnsdtp’ (Proven Winners® Baby Kim (PBR)), a compact lilac variety with strong branching and foliage less susceptible to powdery mildew.
In the concept category, the jury awarded Gold to Treewrap, developed by Crea – Designstar. The label integrates a fastening strap with a large plant label, allowing it to adapt to varying trunk thicknesses while reducing the risk of stem constriction. The product contains 30% recycled material and is fully recyclable.
The Public Award went to Viburnum plicatum ‘PIIVIB II’ (First Editions® Opening Day (PBR)), recognised for its compact growth habit, distinctive horizontal branching and ornamental value across multiple seasons.
The next edition of Florall is scheduled for 25 August 2026.
Across the AIPH community, member associations such as AVBS continue to support innovation, knowledge exchange and professional standards within ornamental horticulture, strengthening the sector both nationally and internationally.
