Flower Bulbs Identity, Plant Health and Trade Evidence

Editorial evidence reviewedReviewed 2026-09-16Release 2026-09-19-batch-230

Market value

$1.2B

Producing countries tracked

4

Grading systems

1

Active supply risks

3

Trade corridors

3

Latest reviewed evidence

The figures below are dated Statistics Netherlands cultivation-area observations and Eurostat trade values for specifically described bulb categories. They describe sector scale and trade context, not a universal bulb grade, current lot availability, phytosanitary clearance, a physical offer or a live delivered flower-bulb price.

Netherlands flower-bulb cultivated area

27.36

thousand hectares; sum of published crop categories · calendar year 2024

Netherlands tulip cultivated area

14.74

thousand hectares · calendar year 2024

Netherlands lily cultivated area

5.87

thousand hectares · calendar year 2024

EU exports of orchid, hyacinth, narcissus and tulip bulbs in growth or flower

98.9

million EUR · calendar year 2024

EU imports of orchid, hyacinth, narcissus and tulip bulbs in growth or flower

4.7

million EUR · calendar year 2024

EU exports of other bulbs, tubers, tuberous roots, corms, crowns and rhizomes in growth or flower

30.1

million EUR · calendar year 2024

Bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes and finished flowers are separate products

Customs and regulatory categories distinguish dormant bulbs and related propagation organs from material already in growth or flower. Botanical organs such as true bulbs, corms, tubers, tuberous roots, crowns and rhizomes also require their actual identity. Cut flowers, potted plants and seed are different products. Atlas retains genus, species, cultivar, organ type, dormant or growing state and intended use before comparing cultivation, trade, quality, price or route evidence.

Cultivated area and trade value answer different questions

Statistics Netherlands reports 2024 Dutch cultivated area by crop: 14.74 thousand hectares of tulips, 5.87 thousand of lilies, 1.51 thousand of daffodils, 1.22 thousand of hyacinths, 0.70 thousand of gladioli, 0.38 thousand of dahlias and 2.94 thousand of other bulbs and tubers. Eurostat separately reports 2024 values for selected EU bulb exports and imports. Area does not establish harvested count or grade, and customs value does not establish a current unit price or a comparable physical lot.

Plant health, variety identity and treatment travel with the lot

EU ornamental-propagating-material rules require satisfactory identity and purity and flower-bulb material derived from growing crops checked as substantially free from relevant harmful organisms and disease symptoms. USDA APHIS directs importers to destination requirements by specific commodity and country of origin and identifies plants for planting and propagation as regulated material. Atlas therefore keeps origin, production site, crop inspection, phytosanitary certificate, permit, treatment, soil status, pest freedom, lot and destination requirements attached rather than treating clearance as generic.

A sector statistic is not a delivered flower-bulb price

Cultivated area, customs value and regulatory requirements do not determine live availability or delivered cost. A physical estimate still requires a defined botanical product, dormant or growing state, cultivar, size and grade, current permitted lot observations, crop and lifting season, origin, treatment, plant-health evidence, count and package, currency, Incoterm, destination, delivery window, freight, storage and information vintage. Atlas withholds a physical estimate when those observations or usage rights are missing.

Questions procurement teams ask

Are dormant bulbs and bulbs in growth or flower the same trade product?

No. Their customs descriptions, handling, seasonality, storage, plant-health exposure and valuation can differ. The growth state must remain attached to every observation.

Does flower bulbs include corms, tubers and rhizomes?

The market label is often broad, but the physical organ must be stated. True bulbs, corms, tubers, tuberous roots, crowns and rhizomes are not automatically interchangeable.

Does the 27.36-thousand-hectare figure represent bulbs available for sale?

No. It is the sum of Statistics Netherlands' published 2024 cultivated-area categories. It does not establish harvested count, saleable yield, cultivar, size, grade, inventory or current availability.

Which fields make physical flower-bulb offers comparable?

Genus, species, cultivar and variety, planting or consumer use, bulb or other organ, dormant or growing state, grade and size basis, crop and lifting season, origin and production site, treatment, storage, freedom from soil, pest and disease inspection, phytosanitary certificate and permit status, package, count and net weight, lot, quantity, currency, Incoterm, destination, delivery window and evidence date.