Darwin Perennials, a division of Ball Horticultural Co., has purchased a perennial unrooted cutting production facility, Green Leaf Plants Colombia or Flores del Amanecer (FDA), from Aris Horticulture.
FDA is located in Bogota, Colombia, and is a supplier of unrooted cutting and tissue-culture propagated perennials and cutflower varieties. Ball said this acquisition will strengthen Darwin Perennials’ supply chain into the North American market.
Effective Aug. 1, Aris Horticulture will cease its distribution activity, Aris Horticultural Services (AHS) in Barberton, Ohio, to focus on its Green Leaf Plants perennial young plant supply program in Lancaster, Pa. AHS orders for delivery on or after Aug. 1 will be serviced by Ball Seed Co.
Green Leaf Plants’ young plant sales will continue through multiple distributors, including the Blooms of Bressingham and Darwin Perennials programs and other perennial varieties on the market. In addition, Aris will continue to operate its Keepsake Plants premium finished program of azaleas, tropical hibiscus and other premium potted plants.
“This strategic move was done to leverage the strengths of the two companies: Aris is a young plant propagation-based company, and Darwin’s strength is in its genetics,” said Bill Rasbach, CEO of Aris Horticulture. “In a market that needs to be as efficient as possible, this was a perfect way for us to work together to make the best use of our strengths for the betterment of the market as a whole.”
