Bulbs, not blooms, where the money is

Millions of tulips will be left to rot in fields as the country’s largest producer of the flower keeps its focus on what makes its profits – the bulbs.

Triflor grows about 35 varieties of tulip each year south of Edendale, in Southland.

It is not the tulip flowers that get exported to international markets though – they will be cut off the plants and left to rot in the rows, starting this week.

Triflor is New Zealand’s largest tulip bulb producer, exporting about 55 million to 60 million bulbs a year during a good season.

‘‘We cut just below the flower head so we don’t damage the leaves, and then lift the bulbs,’’ general manager Rudi Verplancke said

People often asked why the company did not sell the blooms.

‘‘I say to them: ‘When was the last time you got a bunch of tulips from your husband?’’’

Growing bulbs in the southern hemisphere allowed the company’s biggest market, North America, to have tulips all year around.

‘‘The orange ones we grow for Halloween, and then there’s Thanksgiving, which is orange or red ones, and then there is Christmas, which is white or red ones.’’

Verplancke said the company owned 120 hectares of land, but leased land off neighbouring dairy farmers to swap when it needed to rotate where it grew the plants.

The company employed about 15 full-time staff, but numbers swelled to about 120 at the height of the season.

Triflor’s tulip fields turned on a spectacular show for the company’s open day on Monday, which helped raise funds for the Edendale Presbyterian Church and Lions Club.

Organising committee member Jean Kirby said people queued for about an hour for a minibus tour of the tulip fields.