K.P. deGeus, in Search of a Black Iris

K.P. de Geus is always on the lookout for exciting new iris varieties.

Like many Dutch growers, K.P. de Geus' family has been in the business of flowers for many years. However, K.P.'s father wasn't a grower, but rather a broker at one of the large bulb auctions. K.P. began his life in the bulb growing business at the tender age of 7, by working with a neighbor who grew bulbs. At 14 he was growing his own bulbs, having starting with just a few thousand. To gain the necessary knowledge, he pursued a degree in horticulture and marketing and then worked in Canada for several years in the bulb-forcing business.

In Holland, growing bulbs is usually a family business, in part because good land for growing bulbs is so expensive that it is almost impossible to get started if you don't already own land. K.P. didn't let that stop him. Though he started without even an acre of land, he is today one of the largest growers in the Dutch bulb industry.

K.P. and his wife grow more than 100 acres of bulbs on their farm, which is nestled in the village of Sint Maarten in the northern bulb growing region of Holland. Annually they produce a staggering 3 million daffodils, 15 million tulips, and 20 million irises.

K.P.'s bulb varieties are found throughout the pages of the Dutch Gardens catalog. Selections include the Eye of the Tiger Iris and the Peach Melba Tulip.

Like many top Dutch growers, K.P loves the breeding work—particularly breeding bulbs with tolerance to fusarium disease. However, he also delights in the growing and marketing of his bulbs. He takes particular interest in soil building and creating the perfect storage environment to deliver top-quality bulbs. He now has sophisticated, climate-controlled warehouses that are specially designed for storing and forcing bulbs.

Late winter and spring are favorite times of the year because K.P. finally gets to see the fruits of his labors. The work of bulb breeding, like any other type of farming and gardening, is fraught with false hopes and unexpected results. A few years ago, while wandering through the 10,000 iris seedlings in his test plot, he found one flower with a black bud. K.P. was overjoyed as he thought he'd discovered the first true black iris flower! Unfortunately, when the flower opened, the color turned out to be dark purple. However, the bloom's lower petals were a rich mahogany, and a bright yellow throat gave the impression of a tiger's eye. He named it Eye of the Tiger and it has been a top-seller ever since.

K.P. also likes breeding irises for the cut-flower industry. His Discovery Iris features dark blue flowers that are ideal for forcing. It also grows well in warm areas. K.P. sells millions of this iris all over the world each year. K.P.'s dedication, commitment and enthusiasm for growing top-quality bulbs has earned him many rewards—and a prominent place in the Dutch Gardens catalog.