Lisianthus weren't yet being grown commercially in 1968 when Piet Seyts founded his company, growing a mixed variety of flowers: chrysanthemums, tulips and freesias. But by 1998, with Piet's son Rob having since joined the business and 80% of RSP Seyts' flowers now Lisianthus, they decided to switch exclusively to Lisianthus. "Increasingly the trend among Dutch growers was to specialize in one type of flower," Rob (37) says. "We decided to specialize in Lisianthus, because we believed it was a flower of the future. It was a relatively new flower and the quality was very good. I believed then and still believe now that by specializing in this flower, my future will be good, too." 

Wedding flower
"People buy the Lisianthus because it's a very special flower - beautiful, unique and bright. And that's why Lisianthus is especially popular as a wedding flower," Rob says. "It's a special flower for a very special day." Lisianthus first appeared on the market in 1984 and is still relatively unknown. Rob: "Even today visitors enter our greenhouses and say, 'Wow, that's a beautiful flower! What is it?" RSP Seyts was the second grower in the Netherlands to begin cultivating Lisianthus, and they are now the Netherlands' oldest Lisianthus grower. The first record of Lisianthus dates back to 1850. Rob: "There are two versions of its origin. Some say the flower originates in the USA, others say Japan." Lisianthus grow wild in both countries.

Bigger flower
Seyts Flowers grows two types of Lisianthus: the double-headed Mariachi and single-head Piccolo. "Most of our Mariachi's are bought by the US market," Rob says. "Americans like a bigger flower." The English are the main buyers of Piccolos, which are smaller but strong and easier to transport. RSP Seyts grows approximately 1.3 million Lisianthus per year, the majority of them Mariachi, but, Rob says, he will soon start growing more Piccolos than Mariachis. Why? "A simple matter of supply and demand," he says. "My competitors are starting to grow more Mariachis, so I'll go the other way." 

One-man show
RSP Seyts is virtually a one-man show. "I have one employee," Rob says, "although I do hire temporary workers for planting." Rob buys and plants young, 12-week-old  Lisianthus plants, cultivating them for 12 to 15 weeks. When the plant flowers, the entire plant is dug from the ground and the stems cut. The flowers are then sent to the Aalsmeer Flower Auction for sale and shipment abroad. RSP Seyts brings to auction approximately 40,000 Lisianthus per week. Rob: "The best quality flowers go to the US, where customers usually buy a single stem of the Lisianthus, compared to Holland, where they're bought in bunches for mixed bouquets."         

Ideal combination
As a relative newcomer on the flower market, the Lisianthus is still very much a work in progress. "There are always new and strange and interesting colors and shapes being introduced," Robs says. "Always something different." His Mariachis and Piccolos are available in a variety of colors, from white, blue, pink and yellow, to the more exotic green, lavender, apricot and misty blue. And fittingly for a flower of the future, Rob says the best is yet to come: "The ideal combination is that which doesn't exist yet: a small, strong, double-headed Lisianthus, something between a Piccolo and Mariachi. But such a variety is now being developed. We're waiting for it and expect it in a year or two."