In a plant nursery near Thessaloniki, a Greek family is preparing to distribute nearly 150,000 poinsettias ahead of Christmas, with the majority going to foreign markets.
The family’s poinsettia business, which began as a small operation in the 1990s, has grown into a competitive global exporter. Today, over 70% of their products are exported, with 30% staying within northern Greece.
Poinsettias, known as ‘alexandrino’ in Greek, are a popular Christmas symbol worldwide. This year, the bulk of their plants are heading to Romania, with many other Balkan countries choosing their poinsettias due to the nursery’s early production.
“The climate and our facilities favor the rapid development of the plants,” says the owner, Giorgos Albanidis. He adds that while Greeks typically prefer the traditional red poinsettia, Europeans tend to favor pink, speckled and even white varieties. The growing process starts in July and involves a lot of hard work, particularly during the summer, to ensure the plants are ready for distribution by Christmas.
The business was started in the 1990s by brothers Anestis and Kostas Albanidis, who began with a small nursery in Anchialos, outside Thessaloniki. After a strong wind destroyed their first crop of chrysanthemums, the brothers persevered. Over the years, the nursery expanded and is now run by the founders’ children.
