We have been busy – we have a whole list of new EU Plant Variety Rights granted in the last few weeks:

• Hebe TULLYRASPB – Raspberry Ripple
• Hebe TULLYSTRAW – Strawberries and Cream
• Lavandula stoechas WITH LOVE
• Nemesia FLEURPDBLU – Provencal Dusky Blue
• Nemesia FLEURPDPNK – Provencal Dusky Pink
• Nemesia FLEURRAS – Raspberries and Cream
• Nemesia CONFETTI FROSTED PINK – also known as Jubilee
• Prunella BINSUMDAZ – Summer Daze
• Zantedeschia aethiopica SNOW WHITE

That’s a 100% record – we filed nine applications and all nine were granted, including one variegated plant (which are always more tricky).

If we can help you with your application for EU Plant Variety Rights, contact us today. We offer two services – either full representation service, acting as your agent for trials, licensing, policing, marketing and more or we can simply act as your procedural representative for PVR filing only. Ask us for details.

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.

Plants For Europe has recently filed two new EU PVR applications on behalf of breeders. These are

• Geranium pratense Laura – CPVO file number 20071771
• Lavandula stoechas With Love – CPVO file number 20071772

Many of you will be familiar with Lavandula With Love – it has just been launched in the UK by Farplants and in the Netherlands by Kwekerij van Heesbeen. Van Heesbeen have entered it into the new plant competition at next week’s Plantarium event. With Love is a fantastic variety, certainly the best pink-flowered type that is currently available, offering compact and bushy plants that are free-flowering and repeat-flowering.

Geranium pratense Laura may be new to you. It is an excellent new fully-double, pure white flowered form of the Meadow Cranesbill bred by Geranium enthusiast Christine Morley. Young plants are now available – contact us if you are interested in testing or growing this variety.

All five of the Phygelius varieties bred by Malcolm Spencer and represented by Plants For Europe have been granted EU Plant Variety Rights, effective 18 June. For details on these varieties, follow these links:

• Phygelius Croftway Coral Princess
• Phygelius Croftway Purple Prince
• Phygelius Croftway Red Emperor
• Phygelius Croftway Snow Queen
• Phygelius Croftway Yellow Sovereign

PFE is pleased to announced that we have been appointed as the breeder’s agent by Flip Schram for an exciting new Zantedeschia variety, Zantedeschia aethiopica Snow White.

This is a compact selection from the well-known variety Crowborough, growing to only 60cm high including the flower spathe. The pure white spathes are full-sized, in spite of the compact nature of the plant.

PFE has recently filed the EU PVR application on the breeder’s behalf, CPVO file number 20070529. The application date is 28 February 2007. Under EU law, a pending application for PVR affords the same protection to the breeder as if it had been granted. Therefore, we wish to remind growers that propagation and sale without a licence is prohibited.

Growers in the EU who are interested in testing this variety should contact us. In North America, Snow White is represented by our friends at PlantHaven Inc.

The application for European Union Plant Variety Rights for Nemesia Berries and Cream has been filed, using the name Nemesia FLEURBAC.

The application file number is 20070038.

Growers interested in growing this variety in Europe should contact our friends at PLA who manage all licensing in Europe.