"Science, innovation and creativity are three words that sum up the experiences of visitors during Dianthus Week 2025. The new carnation varieties that have been introduced to the world this week are the result of dedicated and responsible work that has positioned Colombian hybridization at the top of an international boom, exporting from Colombia to the world for several years now" states Augusto Solano, CEO of Asocolflores, when talking about Dianthus Week 2025 that is taking place from March 10-14.
Nearly 35 years ago, Colombia began a local hybridization process of carnation varieties. In the last decades, thanks to continuous innovation, the country's varieties have offered an impressive diversity of shades and colors, along with the best conditions for transportation and a remarkable vase life (VL).
The development of a new carnation variety takes between 5 and 8 years of work and is divided in two phases. Sexual Phase, which consists of the crossing of two parent plants to obtain daughter plants with shared genetic characteristics; and Asexual Phase, which is the vegetative multiplication of the daughter plant through the collection and planting of cuttings (a fragment of the plant that is introduced into the soil so that it can take root and reproduce itself).
Rodolfo La Rota, one of the pioneers of carnation hybridization in Colombia: "We knew that the combination of science and floriculture was a fundamental task, as well as an option of infinite development, not only for our sector but for the country and its agriculture. Carnations have shown that Colombia can also be the core of research and scientific progress for the world".
One of the most relevant aspects of Dianthus Week is that it reveals to the world how Colombia has established itself as a strategic hub for carnation hybridization, thanks to its ideal climate, fertile soils, qualified labor, modern infrastructure, and access to international markets.
According to Celiar Noreña, another pioneer of national carnation hybridization, "Colombia has made two major contributions in this field. First, the development of extremely precocious flower varieties (that take short time to flower), which translates into greater productivity for flower growers around the world. Second, the generation of a unique color palette and a vast diversity of shades that are exclusive to our land, which has contributed to the revival of this flower in all other countries".
Dianthus Week 2025
For Paula Andrea Morales, head of Cut Flower Breeding of one of the organizing companies, "the scientific progress, in the presence of sustainability in full, is a fundamental goal of hybridization in Colombia, A clear example is the research permanently undertaken to create varieties that are more resistant to flower diseases (less uptake of pesticides) and to limiting factors such as water and temperature, characteristics that are present in the new varieties that are being introduced during Dianthus Week 2025".
Daniela Botero, Director of Strategy and Innovation of another organizing company, stated that "we promote the use of high-level data management and statistical tools. This is a priority in the selection processes of parent plants, and in considering the specific needs of our different clients around the world. In other words, we apply technology and data processing for more accurate decision-making."
Thanks to an innovative spirit, a specialized use of technology, a considerable investment of resources, and a highly specialized team, the carnation hybridization companies of Colombia are able to offer their varieties to producers and buyers in Korea, the United States, Japan, and the Netherlands, amongst others.
"In this way, "Dianthus Week 2025", apart from presenting the new species developed in Colombia and being an important gathering place for all the actors involved in the carnation production chain, is the perfect scenario for an exchange of needs and expectations that will continue to allow Dianthus to grow and conquer new markets."
The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), based in Switzerland, protects the intellectual property rights of new varieties in the ornamental horticulture sector, as in the case of carnations. In Colombia, ICA (the Colombian Agricultural Institute) is the UPOV endorsing body, and it is the governmental entity in charge of the legal registration process that hybridizers must follow. This registration guarantees the ownership of the variety to growers and its marketing possibilities, and it includes a royalty that is an important source of income for the continuous investment on research and development of new varieties.
Of the 10,500 hectares planted with flowers for export in Colombia, carnations occupy 14%. The main market for Colombian carnations is the United States with a 41% share in volume, followed by Japan and Holland with a share of 13% and 12% each.
The organizing companies of the "Dianthus Week 2025" are:
• Ball (USA)
• Breier Cross (Israel)
• Danziger(Israel)
• Dummen Orange (Netherlands)
• Hilverda Florist (Netherlands)
• Propagar Plantas (Colombia)
• Santamaria (Italy)
• Sb Talee (Colombia)
• Selecta (Germany)
For more information:
Dianthus Land Colombia
dianthusland.com
Flowers of Colombia
flowersofcolombia.co
Asocolflores
asocolflores.org