The Flemish bay tree, an ornamental plant with a very long tradition in Flanders, has since 6 May had European ‘protected geographic indication’ status.
There are currently still eleven ornamental plant growers in Flanders who concentrate on the cultivation of the bay tree. In fact for ten of them it is their only product. With its high quality standards and marked winter hardiness, the Flemish bay is renowned at home and abroad. Which makes it no surprise that no less than 90% of production is destined for export.
Thanks to this recognition, the designation ‘Flemish bay’ is now protected, both in Belgium and abroad. Only products from the delineated geographical production area that meet all the requirements in the product file are allowed to use the protected designation. After the Ghent azalea (2010) and the Hungarian rose (2012), the Flemish bay is the third non-edible product to receive European recognition. At the same time it’s a boost for those who submitted the application from the Flemish Bay Association, which is this year celebrating its 20th anniversary.
The Flemish bay, one of the leading Flemish ornamental plant products
The Flemish bay is a perfectly pruned bay tree with a flawless stem and fine green leaves; it must be at least 5 years old and grown in a pot. These plants are cultivated in the districts of Bruges, Ghent, Eeklo, Roeselare and Tielt. By using the successive cutting method, the progeny are always identical. This means the morphological variation in each single batch is minimal and the best mother plants can be used for further development. In addition to this special reproduction method, the pruning of the trees is also essential to the cultivation of the Flemish bay. Repeated pruning results in a symmetrical shape. The most common shapes are pyramids, spheres and pillars.
The eleven growers who have received this recognition market 105,000 bay trees every year. 90% of them are exported, especially to Russia, the United Kingdom and, more recently, to the oil-producing countries. Since the plant is grown in the quite cool climate of Flanders, it is much more winter hardy than its southern counterparts. This is precisely what makes the Flemish bay popular in colder countries.
At least five centuries of tradition
The earliest mentions of Flemish bay cultivation date from the 16th century. Rembert Dodoens’ Cruydeboeck (herbal) made mention of the distinctly hardy bay as early as 1554. The bay from the area around Bruges was also mentioned for its winter hardiness in Mathiass De Lobel’s 1581 Kruydtboeck, which also discussed the cutting method in detail. In the 19th century the Laurus nobilis was exceptionally popular and the first family-run bay-growing businesses appeared. As from the 1950 exports also increased.
The Flemish bay in the leading role, from palace to World Cup
The Flemish bay is extremely decorative and is in fact the most popular item in plant hire. It is often used as an ornamental plant at exhibitions, festivities, wedding parties and trade fairs in Belgium and abroad. Here are some examples:
– 900 Flemish bay trees played a glorious match at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
– You could lose yourself in the maze of Flemish bays designed for Tommy Hilfiger in Amsterdam.
– Lots of weddings are brightened even more by Flemish bays. For example that of Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy at Château d’Yquem and Lakshmi Mittal at Vaux-le-Vicomte. And of course the Flemish bay shone out at the weddings of Princes Filip and Laurent of Belgium.
– The Flemish bay looks very stylish and so deserves inclusion at in various palaces and other prestigious places. For example, as well as the royal palaces of Denmark and Belgium, the Flemish bay stands proudly at the Cartier outlet in St Petersburg, Christies auction house in Paris and the singer Madonna’s private house in England.
– The Flemish bay is also the perfect decoration for trade fairs and other events. For instance, the roof terrace of the Belgian stand at the 2012 Floriade world horticultural exhibition in the Netherlands was decorated with Flemish bays. In 2010, at the request of Bruges city council, Daniel Ost, the best-known Belgian flower artist, designed a garden of Flemish bay on the Market Square, which 80,000 visitors were able to enjoy.
– In preparation for the submission of the European application, the Grand’Place in Brussels was enlivened with Flemish bay trees in 2013.
The list of products in Flanders with a European regional label is expanding!
The Flemish bay is the eighth product in Flanders to receive European protected geographical indication status. The others are the Brussels soil-grown Belgian endive (or chicory), the Flemish Brabant table grape, the Geraardsbergen mattentaart (curd and almond tart), Poperinge’s hopshoots, the Ghent azalea, the Vlaaike (spicy cake) from Lier, and Potjesvlees (cold meats in aspic) from the Westhoek. The geuze and cherry beers (and also their matured versions) and ‘Faro’ bear the EU’s ‘guaranteed traditional speciality’ label. In addition, the designation of 5 wines and 8 spirits has European protection: Heuvelland wine, Hageland wine, Haspengouw wine, Flemish sparkling wine, Flemish local wine, jenever, grain jenever, young jenever, matured jenever, Hasselt jenever, Balegem jenever, O’de Flander East Flanders grain jenever, and fruit jenever.
Several Flemish groups of producers are currently preparing applications for their products. Flanders can be justifiably proud of the numerous traditional quality products produced within its borders.
You will find information about the Flemish bay at www.flemishbaytree.be.
Source: VLAM, Flanders' Agricultural Marketing Board