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Award-winning Plant Growers Australia nursery in the pink

Investing in innovation is a growing idea for Plant Growers Australia, a wholesale nursery based in Melbourne that employs 50 people to distribute more than 1.5 million plants every year to the garden and landscape industry.

Standing tall among the plant varieties developed by the nursery's breeding program is The Princess Lavender, which won for PGA this year's Australian Business Award for product innovation.

"Innovation is a core ingredient in maintaining and growing PGA's market position," says director Steve Eggleton.

"Our business is based around the introduction of quality new plants with great garden performance and bringing these to the consumer with great marketing and information to build trust and confidence in the product.

"Development of new and potentially protectable plant varieties not only ensures PGA has novelty to offer our customer base but also plays a role in keeping our industry fresh, interesting and developing."



Along with the horticultural experience brought by fellow director Howard Bentley, Eggleton's knowledge base makes a significant contribution to the breeding programs that have made the 4.8ha nursery a byword for innovative concepts in plant management and water recycling. Established in 1971, the nursery produces more than 300 varieties of plants.

"Of all the potential plants we produce, 95 per cent are discarded due to our trialing regime, which encompasses plant performance both from a grower's point of view and landscape success," Eggleton says. The Princess Lavender's success at the awards has resulted in a sellout season for the crop this year, opening up fresh export opportunities for PGA.

"We have been breeding lavenders for 15 years with the goal of developing this vivid pink colour. It takes flower colour and plant performance to a new level for lavenders of this type."

BY: Padma Iyer for theaustralian.com.au
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