\u201cAt D\u00fcmmen Orange, we\u2019re excited to see more people\u2014especially florists and consumers\u2014showing genuine interest in learning about the journey behind each flower,\u201d says marketing lead Alejandra Fernandez<\/strong>. \u201cThe story of how a variety is bred, selected and brought to market is full of science, creativity and passion, and we\u2019re proud to be advocates for sharing that knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a>Seed Generation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Breeding begins with an idea. A grower envisions an as-of-yet unavailable style, color or combination of characteristics, and approaches a breeder like D\u00fcmmen Orange. Often the breeder\u2019s team attends an event and discusses florists\u2019 desires for a variety that doesn\u2019t exist, and sometimes the breeder team decides they want to pursue their own variety. Regardless of where the idea originates, the creativity and desire of industry professionals generates a spark that ignites scientific discovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emily Leggatt<\/strong>, PhD, is a rose breeder for D\u00fcmmen Orange at the company\u2019s home base in the Netherlands. When she and her team receive a request from a grower, they immediately get to work by first considering the biology of the seeds and the process of seed generation. \u201cIt takes a year to 16 months to get from seed to growing plants from that point onwards,\u201d she says. \u201cIt takes five to seven years after that to achieve a commercial variety and be able to give that customer back their variety.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Seed generation begins with a simple process of cross-pollination between two flower varieties. The petals are removed from each flower to expose the reproductive parts, and then the pollen from one flower is transferred to the stigma of the other. This exchange allows the genetic material of both plants to combine, eventually producing seeds. This process typically takes place in the spring, with seeds developing by fall, followed by months of growth monitoring, testing and analysis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a>World-Class Technology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n At the foundation of the business, D\u00fcmmen Orange\u2019s Intrinsa Plant Power was developed in 2015 to support efficient breeding through phenotyping, predictive breeding and greenhouse validation, helping to identify traits linked to disease and virus resistance. This technology is vital for developing seeds with enhanced resistance; it identifies and selects strong genetic traits and carefully upgrades the DNA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re always on the lookout for new strains of diseases to make sure that we\u2019re on the forefront,\u201d says Leggatt. \u201cAnd if we\u2019re not ahead, we\u2019re at least on par with the grower so that we have a solution for them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only does Intrinsa technology provide a solid barrier against disease, but it helps plants grow resistant to various types of stress. This encompassing resistance is a catalyst for sustainability on grower farms, where pest control and other chemical applications are no longer required for hardy plant growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re implementing genetic tools that 10 to 20 years ago may not have existed,\u201d Leggatt adds. \u201cSo, we\u2019re really at the forefront of implementing new technology.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2020, D\u00fcmmen Orange announced the first product tested with its Intrinsa breeding program: Ditto\u2014a series of garden mums bred for white-rust resistance. By 2022, more than 80 percent of all garden mums offered by the company were rust resistant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThrough our Intrinsa breeding program, we\u2019re developing varieties that are more resistant to the most common crop diseases, allowing growers to reduce their use of chemicals and contribute to a more eco-friendly floral industry,\u201d Fernandez notes. \u201cOur goal is to create flowers that are not only beautiful and high performing, but also responsibly bred for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The benefits this technology offers growers go beyond cost savings, sustainability and producing hardier, high-performing crops that meet consumer expectations. The rising cost of flower production reflects the value of Intrinsa\u2019s innovation, which enhances product quality\u2014a key concern for consumers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a>Selection Analysis<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When the seed has been created, the first phase of selection takes hold. Seeds are planted and analyzed as they grow in D\u00fcmmen Orange\u2019s glass-covered greenhouse in the Netherlands, the largest breeding laboratory in the world for ornamental crops. Seeds are also propagated on more than 260 hectares across Africa, South and Central America and Asia, where they\u2019re tested in various climates and conditions prior to production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first blooms are measured for stem length, prickle count, petal count and color, and all data is collected for further testing. Any adjustments at this phase will be made and then further analyzed for desired successes before moving onto the next phase. The second phase of testing new breeds includes phase life analysis. Here, Leggatt and her team will evaluate scent and other important client-desired characteristics, if applicable. Further data is collected and analyzed, and as the process continues the number of available stems dwindles to only the strongest and most desirable ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/floristsreview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/JEL_0234.jpg?resize=667%2C1000&ssl=1\")
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