Harrie himself prefers to let his work do the talking, which is easy enough as his plants reflect his character well.
"I want to be different from other people and do different things", says Harrie, and he has indeed acheived that with his Astilbe introductions. Chosen after years of thorough observation and selection, Harrie’s Astilbes aren’t afraid to stand out from the crowd with their bold colours and very floriferous habits.
Harrie in amongst many of his successful introductions
Harrie Verduin’s story began and continues in the Dutch town of Heemskerk. In this area traditionally known for growing strawberries and vegetables, Harrie’s father was one of the first to expand into growing cutflowers, annuals and perennials.
In the manner of so many growers, Harrie followed in his father’s footsteps by growing perennials such as Astilbe, Solidago, Aconitum and Astrantia for their cutflowers, which were traded at the world-famous Aalsmeer auction.
Eventually he became specialized with just 2 crops, Alchemilla and Astilbe, which he chose for the fact that with some careful planning he could manipulate them to produce flowers outside of their natural blooming period, which would earn him a higher price at the trade auction.
Harrie with a trolley of 'Drum and Bass' potted plants, ready to be sold at the auction.
The next chapter of the Harrie Verduin Astilbe story came with the realization that potted flowering plants are also a very saleable item, especially as Astilbe cut flowers don’t have a particularly long vase-life. He steered his business away from cutflowers and into producing the potted flowering plants which are his primary concern today.
It was around 1990 that Harrie first took an interest in breeding his own varieties. His main-stay Astilbe at that time was the japonica hybrid ‘Europa’. Although it was an ideal plant for his business, being easy to grow and manipulate different flowering times, its colour left a lot to be desired as far as Harrie was concerned. He was in search of a purer, more consistent shade than the pinkish off-white flowers it produces. At the same time he also had a bee in his bonnet about the red cultivars being too dark and gloomy.
'Europa', a variety Harrie still grows, but the lack of purity in its colour inspired him to see if he could do better.
Harrie was itching to be able to offer something different. The stage was set for him to get to work!
In 2006 Harrie is a happy man. After years of hard graft growing plants and learning what works, he is enjoying the opportunity to take on new challenges.
Harrie's trophy cabinet is loaded with prizes his Astilbes have won at trade shows.
"I want to try new things. Sometimes this leads to disaster, but that is the challenge. Having been my own boss for 25 years it is now a different world trading with my own varieties. I get to meet different people. I have to think harder about how to promote my plants. For me, this has all come together at just the right time. It's a new sport, a new challenge!"
Harrie naturally finds it rewarding that other people can enjoy something he created, and he hopes his legacy will continue long after he's gone, "Your own cultivars can outlive you. You leave something behind in the world."
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