Craftsmanship behind the freesia: from greenhouse to bouquet

In a new episode of the Decorum web series “Grower for a Day”, Klaus Wagener visits nursery De Heufkens, where grower Erik offers an exclusive look into the intensive process behind the cultivation and harvesting of freesias. What at first glance appears to be an elegant and refined flower turns out in practice to be the result of meticulous manual work, craftsmanship and perfect timing.

De Heufkens is a true family business with a rich history dating back to the 1950s, where the third generation is now working daily on growing high-quality freesias. The nursery is known for its focus on quality, uniformity and reliability, with flowers that find their way to florists all over the world. In addition, the company combines traditional craftsmanship with sustainable techniques, such as energy-efficient LED lighting and biological crop protection.

“What stands out here is the exceptional precision and dedication that every freesia requires,” says Klaus Wagener. “When you see how carefully the stems are selected and harvested, you truly understand what craftsmanship in floriculture means. This is the standard from which top quality originates.”

Harvesting freesias accounts for no less than 90% of the total working time at the nursery and is done entirely by hand. Erik demonstrates how crucial the right cutting moment is: if harvested too early, the colour is lacking; too late means the flower is already too developed for transport to the customer. Timing is everything.

In addition, the distinction between the main stem and the side stems is clearly explained. Only the first cut, the strongest stem with the most weight and the most beautiful flower, meets the high quality standards of Decorum. This not only highlights the strict selection, but also the dedication to top quality.

The episode also shows how physically demanding and precise the harvesting process is. Maneuvering with a knife between densely growing stems, without damaging surrounding flowers, requires a steady hand, patience and years of experience.

This special behind-the-scenes look shows how much craftsmanship and dedication are needed for every freesia that reaches the florist.

Missed previous episodes of the Grower for a Day series? You can find them on the Decorum YouTube channel.