Breeder Profile: Marco van Noort

The son of a Dutch flower bulb and perennial grower, Marco van Noort is a "born nurseryman."  Under the influence of his father and notable nurserymen such as Ernst Pagels, he has discovered the incredible diversity of the plant kingdom and developed an interest in hybridizing "perfect and strong" plants with beautiful color and new forms. 

Through the years, Marco has dabbled in hybridizing with a number of genera including Helleborus, Cimicifuga, Leucanthemum, Geranium, and Echinacea amongst others.  Walters Gardens, Inc. currently offers a few of his introductions, including Cimicifuga 'Chocoholic' PP24821, Echinacea 'Delicious Candy' PPAF, Echinacea 'Sensation Pink' PP26593, and Rodgersia p. 'Chocolate Wings'. Past offerings from Marco have included Astrantia 'Moulin Rouge' PP16549, Echinacea 'Irresistible' PP20756, Geraniums 'Jolly Bee' PP12148, 'Pink Penny' PP17656, 'Starman', and 'Sweet Heidy' PP19533. Cimicifuga 'Chocoholic' and Geranium 'Sweet Heidy' were both named for his wife, Heidy, who is a self-proclaimed chocolate lover.

One of the keys to being a good hybridizer, according to Marco, is being able to throw away the plants that are not unique enough to make them stand out amongst existing varieties.  Like all hybridizers, most of his crosses end up as compost and precious few make it all the way to introduction.  You can be sure that, when you have a plant hybridized by Marco, it has been thoroughly tested and has passed the test to be worthy of introduction.  Look for many more interesting new introductions from him in the future.