Naktuinbouw motherplant garden: The reference garden for perennial plants in the Netherlands

The association of perennial growers of the Netherlands (VvV) started the initiative for a motherplant garden in 1998. The trueness to type of cultivars was of paramount importance to the group. Before the inception of the garden there were no independent groups in the Netherlands concerned with perennial plant identity. The Naktuinbouw motherplant garden located in Roelofarendsveen (The Netherlands) was established to provide an independent reference collection of perennial plant material. The objectives of the project were fourfold. The first was to bring together a reference collection, consisting of 3,000 cultivars and botanical species, at one location, and to ensure that they were correctly named. The list was based on perennials traded regularly in the Netherlands. The second objective was to use the motherplant garden as a reference to answer questions about the identity of perennials. The third objective was to use the garden as a basis for the propagation of cultivars of known identity. The fourth objective was to establish a long-term repository of correctly named perennial plant material in one location. The initial phase of the project was projected to take five years. During this period it was estimated that 3,000 cultivars would be planted their identity confirmed. After five years the core collection of perennials will be investigated and reviewed. Naktuinbouw would like to continue the motherplant garden as a reference collection for perennials after the initial period. All cultivars will be described and published in PlantScope (www.plantscope.nl). PlantScope is an Internet database for horticultural plants and fruits traded in or via the Netherlands. The list of identified cultivars is shown and updated regularly at the website of the Naktuinbouw (www.naktuinbouw.nl).