SpecialFlowerBulbs

What SpecialFlowerBulbs does

SpecialFlowerBulbs (legally registered as specialflowerbulbsonline) is a Dutch direct-to-consumer e-commerce retailer specializing in rare, unusual, and specialty flower bulbs, tubers, corms, and plants. The company is headquartered in Velserbroek, Netherlands (KvK: 98583581, VAT: NL005341611B35), operates with 1–10 employees, and was founded in 1963. Its target customers are home gardeners and garden enthusiasts in the Netherlands and other EU countries who seek varieties not carried by mainstream garden centers.

The commercial offering is organized into three seasonal categories — Voorjaarsbloeiers (Spring Bloomers, including tulips, daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, and alliums), Zomerbloeiers (Summer Bloomers, including dahlias, gladioli, agapanthus, lilies, and begonias), and Herfstbloeiers (Autumn Bloomers, including colchicum, autumn-flowering crocuses, sternbergia, and cyclamen) — totaling 100+ varieties selected for their specialty or unusual character. The storefront is built on WordPress/WooCommerce, products are priced per unit or per small bundle (typically €3.95–€7.95), and customer acquisition leans on organic SEO, an email newsletter, and direct word-of-mouth.

The business model is straightforward one-time online retail sales with shipping via PostNL domestically (free above €90, €7.95–€8.95 below) and a flat €25 fee for European international orders. There is no B2B channel, no marketplace presence, no app, no external funding, no partnerships, no management team information, and no disclosed revenue. Distribution is exclusively the company's own webshop, and marketing is content-driven and relationship-driven via phone, email, and newsletter.

Name

SpecialFlowerBulbs

Legal name

specialflowerbulbsonline

Website

https://specialflowerbulbs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SpecialFlowerBulbs is a Dutch direct-to-consumer e-commerce retailer (specialflowerbulbsonline) that sells rare and specialty flower bulbs, tubers, and plants to home gardeners across the Netherlands and other EU countries via its WordPress/WooCommerce webshop and PostNL delivery.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Garden Retail

NAICS

Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers (444240)

SIC

Retail-Building Materials, Hardware, Garden Supply (5200)

akta.pro primary industry

Landscape Plant & Nursery Stock Wholesalers (Grower-Wholesalers) (AFAGAHAM)

Keywords

• Specialty flower bulbs
• Garden plants retail
• Ornamental bulbs
• Rare plant varieties
• Online garden center

Headquarters

HQ city

Hillegom

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Online product sales: Revenue is generated through direct online sales of flower bulbs, tubers, corms, and plants to consumers and garden enthusiasts. Customers purchase products through the e-commerce website, with orders fulfilled via PostNL delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

SpecialFlowerBulbs is a Dutch online retailer that curates and sells specialty and rare flower bulbs, tubers, corms, and plants directly to home gardeners via its own webshop. The catalog spans three seasonal categories — Voorjaarsbloeiers (Spring Bloomers), Zomerbloeiers (Summer Bloomers), and Herfstbloeiers (Autumn Bloomers) — covering varieties such as botanical tulips, dahlias, gladioli, cyclamen, ranunculus, alliums, and Selaginella lepidophylla. Orders are shipped domestically and across the EU via PostNL, accompanied by cultivation guides for each product.

Product overview

SpecialFlowerBulbs is a Dutch e-commerce platform specializing in special and unique flower bulbs and tubers for garden enthusiasts. The company offers a curated selection organized into three main seasonal categories: Voorjaarsbloeiers (Spring Bloomers) including tulips, daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, alliums, and ranunculus; Zomerbloeiers (Summer Bloomers) featuring dahlias, gladioli, agapanthus, lilies, begonias, and exotic varieties like Curcuma and Gloriosa; and Herfstbloeiers (Autumn Bloomers) with colchicum, autumn-flowering crocuses, sternbergia, and cyclamen. Individual products include specific varieties such as Cyclamen (Cilicium, Coum, Hederifolium), Gladiolus (Banana Ice, Blue Isle), Ranunculus Asiaticus Mixed, and Selaginella Iepidophylla. The company focuses on special bulbs not commonly found in garden centers, emphasizing top-quality, carefully selected bulbs and tubers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cyclamen Cilicium An autumn-flowering cyclamen from southern Turkey with pink to white-pink flowers and heart-shaped silver-green foliage; winter-hardy to approximately -10°C. Sold to home gardeners in packs of 5 units at €7.95.
• Cyclamen coum A winter-flowering cyclamen with rose to purple flowers and marbled ornamental foliage, blooming January to March; suited to half-shade or rock gardens. Sold in packs of 3 units at €4.75.
• Cyclamen hederifolium An evergreen autumn-flowering Alpine Violet with silver-marked heart-shaped leaves and pink flowers blooming September through November. Sold in packs of 3 units at €7.50.
• Gladiolus Banana Ice A summer-flowering gladiolus with light yellow to cream-white flowers on high, sturdy stems suitable for borders and cutting gardens; blooms July to October. Sold in packs of 10 units at €4.99.
• Gladiolus Blue Isle An exclusive gladiolus variety with blue-purple hues ranging from soft lavender-blue to deep violet on slender flower spikes; blooms July to October. Sold in packs of 10 units at €4.99.
• Ranunculus Asiaticus Mixed A mixed pack of Asian ranunculus with rose-like flower forms in soft pastels to bright warm colors; ideal for borders, pots, and flower beds. Sold in packs of 10 units at €5.95 or 25 units at €14.99.
• Selaginella lepidophylla (False Rose of Jericho) A specialty houseplant — the False Rose of Jericho — known for its ability to dry out completely and revive when watered; positioned as a low-maintenance conversation-starter plant. Sold per unit at €3.95.
• Voorjaarsbloeiers (Spring Bloomers) Collection A collection of spring-flowering bulbs planted in autumn (September–November) that require a cold winter period to bloom; includes Tulips, Narcissen (Daffodils), Crocus, Hyacinten, Blauwe Druifjes (Blue Grape Hyacinths), Alliums, and other varieties. Targeted at home gardeners planning for spring displays.
• Zomerbloeiers (Summer Bloomers) Collection A collection of spring-planted bulbs for summer enjoyment, available from late March through mid-May; includes Dahlias, Gladioli, Agapanthus, Anemonen, Alstroemeria, Convallaria (Lily of the Valley), Lilies, Dicentra (Bleeding Heart), Begonias, Phlox, Pleione, Habenaria, and Astilbe. Targeted at home gardeners planning summer borders and pots.
• Herfstbloeiers (Autumn Bloomers) Collection A collection of autumn-flowering bulbs planted in summer, available from mid-June through August; includes Colchicum, Autumn-flowering Crocuses, Sternbergia Lutea, and Cyclamen, which often return year after year with minimal foliage. Targeted at home gardeners extending seasonal color into autumn.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Gardening Express: UK online garden plants and bulbs retailer operating a large DTC e-commerce catalog of plants, bulbs, and garden supplies. Direct peer: online-only garden retail, comparable product categories, European customer base overlap.
• K. van Bourgondien: Dutch-heritage flower bulb company selling wholesale and retail online to US and international hobby gardeners. Direct peer: same bulb product category, similar DTC online ordering model, comparable specialty and mainstream variety mix.
• Peter Nyssen: Long-established Dutch flower bulb retailer shipping across the UK and EU from its own e-commerce site. Direct peer: online bulb specialist, comparable seasonal assortment (spring/summer/autumn bloomers), UK/EU customer overlap.
• Farmer Gracy: Online bulb specialist headquartered in the Netherlands selling premium and unusual flower bulb varieties directly to European consumers. Direct peer: very similar niche assortment, Dutch-based DTC e-commerce, overlapping EU customer base.
• Bakker.com: Dutch online retailer of flower bulbs, plants, and gardening products serving consumers across Europe. Direct peer: same DTC e-commerce model, same product category (bulbs and plants), same Dutch origin, overlapping target customer (home gardeners).
• Brent & Becky's Bulbs: Family-run specialty bulb grower-retailer with deep catalog of unusual and heirloom varieties sold DTC through its own website. Direct peer: specialist/niche positioning, family-operated model, content-rich catalog with cultivation guidance.
• Brecks: Long-standing North American online bulb and perennial retailer offering spring- and summer-flowering varieties DTC. Direct peer: same core category (bulbs), online-only ordering, hobby-gardener target, comparable seasonal merchandising.
• Fluwel: Dutch specialist in flower bulbs with strong focus on tulip, daffodil, and other specialty varieties sold DTC online. Direct peer: similar specialty/niche bulb assortment, Dutch origin, hobby-gardener target audience.

Broad incumbents

• Thompson & Morgan: Large, established UK/EU seed and plant retailer with a long-running e-commerce site selling bulbs alongside seeds, bedding plants, and garden equipment. Comparable on bulb DTC online sales, broader in assortment and significantly larger in scale.

Emerging players

• Sarah Raven: UK-based premium gardening brand selling bulbs, plants, seeds, and garden-related products DTC online to design-conscious hobby gardeners. Comparable on DTC garden retail, premium/specialty positioning, and content-driven brand; differs in broader product mix beyond bulbs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SpecialFlowerBulbs