PFE will celebrate its seventh birthday next Friday, 12th February. In that time, the business has developed from small beginnings to become the best independent plant breeders’ agent operating in Europe, looking after a huge range of plants from patio and balcony plants, through perennials, to a growing range of shrubs. More breeders are trusting us with their plants all the time and growers now come to PFE as a source of exciting new varieties to enliven their product range and differentiate them from the competition.

PFE has also gained much experience in prosecuting applications for European Plant Variety Rights on behalf of breeders, exemplified by three grants of EU PVR issued this month. Solidago DANSOLITLEM (Little Lemon) bred by Gabriel Danziger of Israel and Ajuga BINPARCOL (Party Colours) and BINSUGPLU (Sugar Plum), both bred by Mike Tristram of Binsted Nursery, UK, have all been granted PVR. The last two cases were both complex applications involving variegated plants that display intricate patterns of leaf colouring that required extended submissions of information to and dialogue with the Community Plant Variety Office - a process which leaves PFE well equipped to handle future applications for variegated plants, an area that can be difficult for the inexperienced.

Graham will be at IPM from Wednesday to Friday inclusive. Contact us now if you would like to meet there.

Plants For Europe has reached agreement with ProVaR (Protected Varieties Limited) so that ProVaR may offer selected varieties from the PFE portfolio to growers in the UK and Ireland.

Plants For Europe is very pleased to have joined ProVaR. Graham Spencer, company director, said: “PFE has joined ProVaR so that selected non-exclusive varieties from the PFE portfolio can be licensed by growers through the ProVaR organisation. It allows us to reach many smaller and medium sized growers effectively and will give greater access to these varieties – which will certainly increase royalty revenue for the breeders.”

From 2010-11, growers will be able to obtain licenses for ten varieties from PFE through ProVaR, including varieties of Cytisus, Lysimachia, Phlox, Phygelius, Prunella and Pulmonaria. These are all first class plants that are deserving of a wider audience.

Charles Carr of ProVaR said: “It is exciting to see the ProVaR portfolio growing each year and we are pleased to welcome another well known member of the new plant community into the organisation.”

Please note that only selected varieties will be offered through ProVaR. All other varieties will be licensed exclusively by PFE in the UK and Ireland.

There are several reasons why you might want a procedural representative to act on your behalf to file applications for Community Plant Variety Rights. The most common of these is the requirement of the CPVO for applications to be filed by a person or business that is domiciled within the 27 member states of the European Union. Alternatively, you may simply wish to engage an experienced practitioner so that you don’t have the hassle!

Plants For Europe Limited offers a complete procedural representative service for breeders and their agents or lawyers. We have considerable experience of successfully filing applications for Community PVR including some quite challenging applications for plants with variegated foliage. We can assist not only with the application, including submission of forms and supporting documentation, but also with arranging safe and timely delivery of plants for DUS examination and ensuring that appropriate CPVO fees are paid on time.

If you would like to know more, including details of our (very reasonable!) fees for this service, then please contact us.

Workers of Royal Mail (the British postal service) will commence industrial action on Thursday 22 October, initially for 48 hours. If you wish to contact us, we recommend using email, phone or Skype. For our contact details, click here.

UPDATE: further strikes are planned for 72 hours from Thursday 29 October.

UPDATE: new strikes announced for 6 and 9 November. - NOW CALLED OFF (hurrah!)

Graham will be at the Four Oaks Show in Cheshire on Tuesday 8th and Wednesday 9th September. Email now if you would like to arrange a meeting there.