FLORA LINNEA – How it all started!
Two multinational pharmaceutical companies merged; a desire to do something different and creative; a lifelong passion for the plant kingdom and interior design; an open air museum with one of the best rose gardens in Sweden looking for a partner – these are the rhymes and reasons on which Flora Linnea was founded. On the 8th April 2000, Flora Linnea opened its doors for the first time and welcomed guests into a newly renovated rectory from the 1700s and part of Fredriksdals museums and gardens in Helsingborg in the south of Sweden.
A very rosy welcome!
Roses, roses, roses
We have more than 700 different kinds of roses in our collection. Our specialty is Swedish-grown English Roses from David Austin. In addition we have a large collection of old roses, rare and unusual roses; wild and species roses. If you are looking for a special rose for a special occasion or need help in selecting a rose for your garden's microclimate? – please don't hestiate to ask - we will do out utmost to help out! Come and visit! Our roses are grouped colour-wise and in alphabetical order for easy search and selection.
Flora Linnea has a well developed mailorder department and we send roses across to all the Nordic countries and beyond.
The picture shows "Crown Princess Margareta" (Austin 1999) our most popular rose (Order here >>)
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Perennials and other plants, unusual and beautiful!
We have a large collection of old fashioned perennials, kitchen herbs, bulbs, shrubs, clematis, alpines and ornamental grasses. Helsingborg has a good soil for growing plants and we work with the best perennial growers in the area who offer first class plants, often unusually large in size. Like our roses, our perennials are sorted by colour, size and in alphabetical order!
The picture shows "Africas Blue Lilly"
(Agapanthus praecox "Blue triumphkator"). You will find many of these decorating the grounds around Fredriksdal
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Urns, pots, terracotta from Toscana, stoneware from Öland, ceramics from Sweden,.....
You will find we have a wide range of pots and urns for your garden at Flora Linnea.
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Spring and Autumn bulbs
Our wide selection of bulbs come from Holland – a veritable mecca for bulbs and flowers! We have built-up an excellent rapport with our Dutch contacts who have a good eye for our Scandinavian customers and a large selection of hardy bulbs for our Nordic climate!
The picture shows the historical tulip "Zoomerschon" (1620s).
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Swedish furniture from the Gustavian Age
Flora Linnea sells a unique collection of authentic replicas of 18th century furniture. Swedish furniture from the Gustavian Age is known for its functionality and simple pleasing lines, produced from solid woods like birch, alder and pine. Thanks to a donation to the Swedish Nationalmuseum this cultural treasure has been preserved in these authentic replicas of furniture from Swedish castles, manors and salons of famous spas of the period. The furniture is produced by highly skilled craftsmen employing the techniques and methods of the time. Come in, sit on one of our comfortable armchairs, pull out a book from our library and dream back to the 18th century!
The picture shows "Medevi Brunn" (from an original by Alexander Thunberg 1770). Original at Medevi Brunn
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Garden and Interior Design Books
Flora Linnea has its own "library" which, with its own entrance, has a special "far from the madding crowd" feel about it. Many of our customers spend time browsing our unusual collection of reference books while enjoying the peace and atmosphere afforded by the pleasing interiors of the 18th century rectory.
We have a large selection of literature in Swedish, Danish and English.
The picture shows the Swedish edition of Tony Lord's rose book (original title Designing with Roses also at Flora Linnea)
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Interiors, textiles, glasware and ceramics
Flora Linnea has a large selection of Scandinavian designware from well-known handcraft experts. We have a n extensive range of textiles in modern and 18th century motifs: pillows, curtain material, furniture covers and eiderdowns.
Handmade glasware and ceramics from Sweden and Denmark make wonderful presents to take home with you!
The picture shows the entrance to Flora Linnea
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Handmade Glycerin Soap
Have you tried Flora Linneas rose soap? We make it from fresh rose petals picked from our own roses growing locally in Helsingborg. Our soap is made by a unique cold saponification process that provides a high content of the wonderfully moisturising properties of glycerin. We cut up our soap in blocks of 50g and 100g and package on-site in beautiful handmade paper. We have a large selection of soap: lavender, mint, rose petal, cinnammon (a favourite with the ladies!) geranium, apple blossom and lemongrass (a favourite with the men!). We must warn you, however, our soap is addictive! Once you have tried it you will not want to go back to ordinary soap again!
The picture shows our lavender soap.
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Art Exhibitions
Flora Linnea has a keen interest in art and design and we host regular exhibitions throughout the year. We hang paintings and photographic exhibitions at Flora Linnea which is housed in a 18th century rectory at Fredriksdal museum and gardens.
Our artists come from England, Sweden, Denmark and Estonia and are all present at the opening day of the exhibition. Most paintings and watercoulours are for sale as well as specially printed exhibition posters and postcards.
A recent exhibition in cooperation with Exhibit A in England featured 45 Brittish Floral painters. The exhibition entitled "The Best of British Floral Painting" displayed the works of many of Britain's best-known flower painters, many of whom are award winners with Royal Horticultural Society, Royal Society of Miniature Painters and Britsh Watercolour Society
The picture shows Nancy Wood's watercolour "Poppy" (From the exhibition of British Floral Painters in 2001)
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Flora Linnea's activities and educational tours
Flora Linnea organise a number of activities throughout the year. Our programme has a floral, botanical or furniture theme. We offer lectures throughout the year on roses, 18th century furniture and interior design. Also, in cooperation with our host, Fredriksdal museum and gardens, we offer guided tours in the rose garden during the summer and practical demonstrations in rose-pruning and budding in the early Spring and Autumn respectively.
The picture shows one of Flora Linneas Fragrant Rose Walks in the Rose Garden at Fredriksdal museum and gardens.
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