What does your daily life involve?
I provide operational support for Chrysanthemum growers. In addition I work as a Chrysanthemum ambassador on behalf of Dutch breeders and growers.

What does being a Chrysanthemum ambassador involve?
We are trying to promote Chrysanthemums in every shape and colour to florists and florist training schemes through the media of trade fairs and workshops. There are still too many people out there who think that Chrysanthemums are boring funeral flowers.

If you had to choose between a rose, a tulip and a Chrysanthemum, which would you go for?
A rose will always be the ultimate flower of love and a tulip the ultimate spring flower. Apart from that I would always choose Chrysanthemums. There is already so much variety and it continues to grow. Most of the Chrysanthemums we have now did not exist five years ago.

What is your favourite Chrysanthemum?
That depends on my mood and on the season. I am always charmed by the disbudded ‘Anastasia’, the striped ‘Artist’, the velvet red ‘Tigerrag’ and the small-flowered ‘Madiba’. ‘Black Eye’, a white Chrysanthemum with a black heart is another of my favourites.

Have you any tips you would like to share with florists?
Take a look at the huge Chrysanthemum assortment and surprise your customers. Always give customers a sachet of cut flower food. This keeps the water in the vase fresh.

If you were a Chrysanthemum, with whom would you like to share a vase?
Princess Maxima. Because of her “difficult” past, her amazing and innovative presence and – almost – regal stature. Just like a Chrysanthemum.


Amazing and innovative
Chrysanthemums are grown in every conceivable shade and colour and the number of types continues to increase. For example the small flowered santinis are on their way up. In fact there is a spray Chrysanthemum even smaller than the santini: the madiba. Thanks to year round cultivation there has also been an increase in the assortment of large flowered, disbudded Chrysanthemums. An international campaign has been launched to raise awareness of the extensive range. If you would like to know more, please visit www.justchrys.com.

Fireworks (from top to bottom) Circle on circle of Chrysanthemum ‘Anastasia Green’ (24966), Lonchocarpus (3322), Chrysanthemum ‘Feeling Green’ (19248), Hypericum Magical Green (19750) and Chrysanthemum ‘Anastasia Sunny’ (20433).	Autumn feeling (from top to bottom) Physalis alkekengi ‘Jumbo’ (22419) with Flexigrass (1995), Hydrangea macrophylla Magical Opal Classic (22179), Chrysanthemum ‘Resomee Dark’ (18915) and Mona Lisa Pink (16525), Diplocyclos (26565) on a nest of Humulus lubulus twigs (20449).
Artist Pink Improved (24709) This spray Chrysanthemum could almost have been painted by Rembrandt.	Madiba Tanga Pink (27142) One of the smallest, most colourful Chrysanthemums ever.
Madiba Lindi Cream (26723) Cream variety of Lindi White, the first of the Madibas.	Oxana (25841) Snow white disbudded Chrysanthemum with a fresh green heart.
Safari (27683) Single flowered spray Chrysanthemum in warm shades of bronze.	Dance (26630) Festive spray Chrysanthemum with spoon like petals.
Roma (25070) Excellent bouquet flower with small yellow and red shining suns.	Zebra (26840) Unique santini with white edged petals.