As we stepped into the greenhouse at Kings Art Flowers, we were overwhelmed by a sense of exclusivity and admiration. René and Sylvia Koning are the proud growers of Scadoxus, also known as the 'powder brush' in Dutch. Scadoxus is an extremely exclusive flower, not widely known to everyone. René and Sylvia took us on a journey of discovery through their greenhouse.

Kings Art Flowers
Kings Art Flowers has a rich history dating back to 1954 when René's father began with fruit cultivation, later transitioning to vegetables, and eventually growing Freesias. Twenty years ago, René saw an opportunity to take over the cultivation of Scadoxus from a grower who wanted to stop. It was love at first sight. This beautiful flower, so exclusive and unique, was exactly what René wanted to cultivate.

Scadoxus
Scadoxus originates from Southeast Africa, where it grows in the wild. René and Sylvia cultivate various types of Scadoxus, including ‘Blitz’, ‘Torch’, ‘King of Orange’, and ‘Flame’. The Scadoxus growing season runs from January to June.

The cultivation of Scadoxus is extremely complicated. From propagating bulbs to harvesting flowers, each step requires time and expertise. The process begins with propagating bulbs from scales, which takes five years before the first flowers can be harvested. Each bulb produces only one flower per season, with an average of 20% loss, making cultivation a costly affair. The entire cultivation process is done by hand; harvesting, sorting, as well as preparing the flowers for sale.
The leaf remains on the plant for as long as possible because the bulb draws energy from it to grow. About three months before the new bloom, the leaf is removed so that all energy goes to the flower. After four seasons, the bulbs are harvested, the roots removed, and the soil steamed. The bulbs are then cooked and prepared to be replanted.