The Tesselaar Story

Anthony Tesselaar hints at the philosophy behind Anthony Tesselaar International, "Brilliant by Nature".

“Having grown up literally in the industry, I can see the value of de-mystifying the act of gardening for those who don’t happen to have the knowledge. Everyone should be able to enjoy the satisfaction and rewards that come from a garden.” We search for mother nature's brilliant plants - that are so easy to grow.

Happily, this personal philosophy has been rewarded with success – and everyone is benefiting. But first, a little history...

This is a section taken from the Tesselaar International website, with Anthony's views on de-mystifying gardening, so that everyone can enjoy it. To read more and find out the history behind Anthony Tesselaar International go to http://www.www.begoniabonfire.com/about/story/

It's all about sustainability

Plant marketing company Tesselaar Plants is leading the way in environmentally-friendly plant production. ‘We’ve been operating with a sustainable approach for the 15 years we’ve been in business,’ says founder Anthony Tesselaar. ‘In fact, the basic premise behind what we do – easy to grow, easy care plants – is itself a contribution to a greener world. The plants we promote are selected for their high-quality performance but they must also be able to thrive with less water and minimal chemicals.’

Tesselaar plants all have a low to no demand for pesticides and fungicides, and the company is heavily involved in research and development designed to identify plant varieties which have improved tolerances, or cleaner methods of propagation and growing.

The company is also exploring clever and sustainable methods of grey water treatment, and other water saving products.

Tesselaars Winter to-do List

What to do now:

Make the most of this time of year by getting planting when roots are quick to establish and there are no high temperatures to stress your plants

Lightly trim your hedges, or plant a new one. This is a bit of a science, so get hold of a book for reference

If you want to be knee-deep in bulbs by spring, you’ve still just got time to plant them before the frosts.

Have a general tidy up and give things a light trim, so the stark view over the winter will at least be orderly.

www.tesselaar.com

Moving Plants around your garden Early Winter

Winter is the time to get your garden in order. The air is cooler so you can get stuck in without getting too hot and bothered, and if you’re moving plants around, then the combination of cool conditions and damp weather helps them to re-establish.

Take a good look around at what you have been growing already and work out what would look better. Think of it as living flower arranging.

Anthony Tesselaar, President of Tesselaar Plants, suggests you try to plant in multiples: ‘Odd numbers are good, at least three. Avoid lines, thinking instead of staggered arrangements. Keep taller things at the back and the shorter to the front.’


If you have had a dry autumn, make sure the plant you’re going to move has been watered the night before – you want it to be able to cope with a bit of a shock but you don’t want to be working in mud. The next day, dig a hole deep enough for the plant to end up at the same level as previously. When you dig up the plant, take up as much soil in a root ball as possible. Don’t hack at major roots and resist the urge to wrench it out. Pop it into the new hole, back-fill with soil or potting mix, and water well. Over the next week or so, keep an eye on the plant and water it if necessary.

www.tesselaar.com

Remembering Garry Burges

We were sorry to hear that Garry Burges, Plant research leader, Plant and Food Research NZ, died earlier this year. The leader of the begonia breeding program passed away in June after a short illness.

Garry was a highly valued and respected friend, colleague and mentor to many. His gentle humour, courage, humility and humanity will be missed by many.

It was in ornamental crop research that Garry was probably most prominent. He quickly learned that the best looking plant might not be an instant industry success and there are many steps between the breeder and the consumer. Garry worked on several research programmes delivering novel technologies and new ornamental plants with fashionable forms and colours.

These plants included Leptospermums, and others such as Begonia ‘Bonfire’ and Limonium ‘Chorus magenta’ which won awards at international garden shows. Garry was proud of the begonia breeding program from which new varieties will continue to be released for years to come.

(Begonia Bonfire)

Phillip townshend of Tesselaar said ‘Garry has contributed to the resurgence in popularity of Begonia with gardeners through his work with NZ Plant & Food on the development of the Bonfire Begonia series. The dedication that Garry put into the breeding behind this highly successful Bonfire and new found popularity of Begonia as a genus with gardeners is because of Bonfires unique characteristics and versatility e.g. its ability to perform in full sun. The renewed interest in Begonia will hopefully be a fitting tribute to Garry’s contribution to the Bonfire breeding programme’.

You can find out more about Garry at http://www.ipps.org.nz/news/burge.htm

www.tesselaar.com

Glee Winners

Tesselaar International wanted to celebrate the achievements at Glee 2009 with you, the biggest garden trade exhibition in the UK.

More than 250 entries were received for the 2009 Glee New Products Awards. In the nursery innovations category, Wyevale Nurseries was shortlisted for its Cortadetra Peate Plumes, along with John Woods Nurseries’ Hydrangea Twist n Shout and Diervilla Cool Splash. John Woods Nurseries won the award for its Coprosma Pacific Sunset, and judges Mike Burks, from Castle Gardens and David Curtis, editor of The Landscaper said: ‘The Coprosma offers really extraordinary colours. It’s also an evergreen so it offers two points of interest in the same plant. This is a must for all gardens and container planting.’

The Coprosma also impressed the judges of the Best of British Innovation category, Neil Gow, Director of GIMA and television gardener David Domoney, who added: ‘A British grown plant with unique and interesting foliage that is hardy and colourful all year round.’

In the home and gift innovation category, Taylors Bulbs was shortlisted for its Windowsill Herb Pot, and the winner of the Green Innovation award was The Master Herbalist: Seedbed Roll.

Link to the glee website to find out more about the event http://www.gleebirmingham.com/

Or to the shortlisted, Wyevale Nurseries for best new product http://www.wyevalenurseries.co.uk/

www.tesselaar.com

Adapting to climate change and extreme weather conditions

EXTREME WEATHER MEANS EXTREME CHALLENGES FOR BRITISH GARDENERS - TESSELAAR INTERNATIONAL’S TOP TIPS FOR GLORIOUS GARDENS

Warmer temperatures, wetter winters, drier summers and fewer frosts and cold snaps. Climate changes are already turning British gardening into an extreme sport rather than a predictable stroll through the seasons.

While we may want to think of more exotic species in the garden, they won’t appreciate our soggy downpours and those fruits and flowers that need a cold spell to flower won’t enjoy warmer temperatures - just two of the British garden dilemmas.

No-one can predict the future with certainty, however spring already comes two-three weeks earlier than 30-50 years ago and autumn a week later*. Change is here to stay and the uncertainty is the speed it will happen. Most gardeners will enjoy rising to the challenge and indeed, ‘adapt or go to seed’ is the message from us here at Tesselaar.

Tesselaar International’s mission is to find plants which are unusual, have a long flowering period and are easy to grow anywhere and by anyone. It has brought new and exotic plants from around the world to the UK for nearly 20 years and its top tips and superb plant collection will help anyone to have a great garden now and in the future.

Adapt or go to seed Tesselaar International tips

Soil matters. Improve yours with organic matter for a texture and nutrients that most plants will thrive in and to maximise drainage.

The three M’s. Mulch, mulch and mulch. Everyone understands the need to save water. Mulching retains the moisture that’s there, keeps roots cool and controls weeds. Tesselaar’s striking Canna Tropicanna® loves moist soil and brings drama and colour to the garden.

Waste not want not. Get a water butt. Use water sparingly and effectively. Water plants at the roots, when it’s cool and not too windy. Find drought tolerant plants such as Tesselaar International’s Festival Grass for striking and glossy structure or the Bluestorm™ Agapanthus for a drought resistant, easy care, prolific bloomer.

Create gardens with ponds and water features to benefit wildlife. The Canna Tropicanna® will thrive in the moist pond margins or in the pond itself.

Plan for success. Choose easy grow and easy care plants that bring style and structure to the garden. Tesselaar International’s Bluestorm™ Agapanthus is exotic and dramatic and offers splendid summer colour.

All the Tesselaar International plants are designed for success. For plants that can live in a variety of conditions and thrive on minimal care and attention go to http://www.tesselaar.com

www.tesselaar.com

A cascading fountain of colour, movement and fragrance - without any effort

Perfect in borders and grand landscapes and a fabulous contrast in rock or pebble gardens, the fantastic, new, ground cover Cordyline, ‘Festival Grass’, has beautiful, cascading deep burgundy foliage and flowers in late Spring with large, multi-branched panicles bearing hundreds of delicate, eye-catching, fragrant, pale lilac flowers.

Festival Grass comes to the UK from Tesselaar International (Tesselaar), the worldwide horticultural experts sourcing stunning, unusual yet easy-care plants. It is amazingly vibrant, low-maintenance and stunning whether it is on its own in a large patio pot or as part of a patio pot garden. It even performs well as an indoor plant in any well-lit situation and can be brought outside on the patio or deck in the summer.


So easy to grow!

The stunning Festival Grass is easy to grow and perfect for low-maintenance gardening. It can be planted in pretty much any free draining soil, pot or planter, without the need for messy or expensive fertilisers. It can thrive in full or partial sun and will even survive light to moderate frost. It is usually not susceptible to disease or pests, so requires practically no tending. When mature, Festival Grass spreads to 120cm and never grows more than 100cm in height – so it offers predictably stunning results without taking over the garden or creating lots of work to tend it.

Festival Grass is a Cordyline species, which are indigenous to Australia, New Zealand and the western Pacific Region. They are small trees or palm-like evergreen shrubs and are often referred to as the Cabbage Tree. This hybrid is unique as it does not grow into a tree.

www.tesselaar.com

Begonia BONFIRE Chocolate Orange

Plant retailers wanting to offer gardeners an eye-catching flowering plant that can cope with the alternating downpours and heatwaves of recent British summers can now order the new Begonia BONFIRE Choc Orange™.

The new release comes from Tesselaar International (Tesselaar), the worldwide horticultural management and marketing company renowned for the successful sourcing and branding of high quality plants.

The bright orangey red flowers of Begonia BONFIRE Choc Orange™ cover up to half the plant and are a stunning contrast for the dark chocolate/plum foliage with red serrated edges.

The easy-care begonia has a rounded, bushy habit, growing up to 60 cm wide and 60 cm high in the garden. It also looks sensational in patio pots and planters, and adds drama to larger hanging baskets.

The new variety comes into bloom in late spring and will continue to shower gardeners with masses of bright orangey-red flowers through the summer until the first frosts of late autumn.

BONFIRE Choc Orange™ is extremely low maintenance, can be grown in full sun or partial shade, and is not afraid of summer rains or drier summer conditions. It is drought-tolerant and heat hardy, and is generally resistant to pests.


Specifications:
· Flower size- 50mm diameter
· Spacing - 50cm apart
· Temperature – performs best at 22°C during the day and 18°C at night
· Pests - generally not damaged by pests
· Special care - will benefit from digging and dividing every three years
· Pruning - branches naturally, will benefit from pinching to induce side branches and more compact spreading growth
· Soil - performs bests in a well drained friable soil or good quality potting mix
· Water - keep moist but not wet through the growing season. Tolerates periods of dryness.

The new variety is a perfect complement for the original Begonia ‘Bonfire’, which has bright orange-pink flowers against the same rich chocolate foliage, and the same trailing growth habit.

The recommended retail price ranges between £4.00 and £6.00 for smaller sized plants. Larger products such as hanging baskets will retail at a higher value depending on product size.

www.tesselaar.com