CA (ON): Colonial Florists grows 400+ varieties under glass

Colonial Florists is a second generation greenhouse operation with over 45 years experience in the propagation business. Their main focus right now is on vegetative annuals including geraniums, New Guinea Impatiens, Calibrachoa, Petunia, Verbena, Bacopa, Osteospermum and most other popular Companion Plants. They are always adding new varieties and new product lines in an effort to give their customers a one stop shopping experience.

In the beginning, the grower's focus was solely on Zonal and Ivy geranium propagation. Now they have a list of over 400 varieties, covering all of the popular types of vegetative annuals. Their main source of plant genetics come from several breeders including Dummen, Westhoff, Fides, Danziger and PAC.

For the spring, Colonial themselves finish 95% of the varieties. This allows them to see the variety performance first hand and determine if the variety should be offered the following year. Also, they are able to communicate with their customers on an even level because they're finished producers much like them. The varieties that customers are trying to finish are the same ones that the growers are working with.

Colonial has 8 acres of glass covered greenhouses dedicated to propagation. They have in house stock for about 80% of the varieties on offer. This allows them to produce a rooted plug that has always been grown under the same light levels. There is no shock to the cutting, as is the case when cuttings come offshore. "If you are looking for unrooted cuttings, then we can pick and ship the cuttings in the same day. The cuttings should arrive at your door the next day. No import permits, brokerage charges, excessive freight charges and trips to the airport."

For more information:
Colonial Florists
58 Broadway, St Catharines, ON L2M 1M4, Canada
Phone: (905) 934-3196
Fax: (905) 646-7100
Email: [email protected]
www.colonialfloristsltd.com