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Welcome to the website of VOF De Keizerskroon (The Fritillary). VOF De Keizerskroon concerns the cultivation, the forcing and the improvement of fritillaries. In 1978 the associates started the cultivation of the fritillaries (Fritillaria imperialis L.) in the Frisian town of Midlum. Back then, the cultivation started off as a hobby, but has been expanded during the years with the cultivation and forcing of bulbs in the spring. VOF De Keizerskroon rents the land and uses the storage facilities of one of the firm’s associates; partnership de Jong-Velsma.

With this site we would like to inform you about our occupations.

	Improvement The company’s main activity is the improvement of fritillaries, which we started in 1978. This resulted in the introduction of our first new fritillary in 2004: Garland Star®. Garland Star® is an orange-red cultivated variety which excels mainly in its firmness and the large amount of flowers compared to the small size of the bulb. For the cultivator it is of great interest that the bulbs grow well and that Garland Star® can be easily reproduced. Nowadays, this new cultivated variety is already being cultivated by a dozen growers. For Garland Star® the variety rights have been requested.
	Cultivation Approximately 1.2 acres (0.5 ha) of bulbs of a number of different cultivated varieties and the closely related botanical Fritillaria species are being cultivated every year. The bulbs we cultivate are sold through bulb trading companies and used for the cultivation of cut flowers in greenhouses. The bulbs of the botanic Fritillaria species are sold through the wholesale trade.
	Forcing We started with the cut flower production of fritillaries in 1995. In early spring plants are cultivated in the greenhouse from bulbs of our own cultivation, which are sold as cut flowers. From late January onwards the flowers are being supplied to the auction. Nowadays, VOF De Keizerskroon is the only company that delivers fritillaries this early in the year.

Important: VOF de Keizerskroon sells his bulbs to the wholesale business only; unfortunately we cannot supply to members of the general public.