Gerrit Preyde, Daffodil Enthusiast

Gerrit Preyde in a field of Monza Daffodils

"Daffodils are the real harbingers of spring," says Gerrit Preyde. "They tell you that winter is truly over." Gerrit is both a breeder and grower of daffodils. He's been working in the bulb industry since the tender age of 9, when he began cleaning tulip bulbs after the harvest on his grandfather's farm. By age 15, he was working in the bulb fields with his father. The two of them ran the business together until 1992 when his father retired. Now Gerrit, his wife and daughter are in charge.

Gerrit grows 30 acres of daffodils, dahlias and eucomis (pineapple lilies) in Holland's Northern bulb district. As a breeder, his main emphasis is on daffodils. "I like breeding daffodils because there is such a variety to work with. There is an enormous diversity of colors and bloom times that ranges from very early to very late spring," he says.

Two of Gerrit's most popular introductions are Mint Julep and High Society daffodils, but Monza Daffodil is one of Gerrit's proudest achievements. It won the Garden Merit Award from the Royal Horticultural Society. This alluring daffodil has double, yellow-and-orange blooms with an intense fragrance.

In 2002, Gerrit joined nine other daffodil breeders to form the Daffodil 10 Company. The goal is to breed new and better daffodils for the market using the breeding stock of one of Holland's best daffodil breeders, Karel van der Veek.

Gerrit also has an interest in breeding other types of bulbs as well. With dahlias, he has been crossing different patio and border dahlia varieties looking for selections with vivid colors and a long bloom time.

Eucomis, which is also called the pineapple lily, is not well known in the U.S. but is a favorite of Gerrit's. He has been working with this specialty bulb to create varieties that have variegated foliage. He hopes to have several new varieties ready for market in about five years.

Gerrit loves his work. He always looks forward to walking the fields in spring, assessing the performance of the new varieties he's been breeding. He enjoys being his own boss, and working with his family, as well as collaborating with other Dutch breeders in bringing the best and highest quality bulbs to flower lovers throughout the world.