History & Legacy

Graff Kristensen A/S was founded in 1931 in Hasle near Aarhus by Aage and Inger Graff Kristensen.Production at that time was a wide range of horticultural products sold to the local market in Aarhus. In 1946 came the first small specialization and focus on cut Carnations. Later on the pot plant Calceolaria emerged, which also marked the early beginning of Graff'®s breeding history, due to Aage Graff development of the Calceolaria Mona-branch in seeds and plants alike.


  In the early 1960s, Erik and Doris Graff Kristensen (Second Generation), took over the company.

Erik & Doris

The production was specialized into Euphorbia Fulgens and Chrysanthemum cut flowers. In the 1970s Graff® Kristensen started the relocation from the old business address in Hasle to the current in Sabro with the purchase of 15 ha and 4000 m2 nursery. This transformation brought Graff'®s products further out, and the market was enlarged to all of Denmark.

In 1985, all activities were collected at the current address in Sabro west of Aarhus. This was also the year when the first son of Erik and Doris, Poul Graff, joined the management as CEO and partner. With him the production was specialized into Hibiscus and the market expanded to EU. In 1991 the youngest of their sons, Gert Graff, joined the family business as CEO and partner as well.

In 1999 came the first subsidiary company within the corporation as Graff Kraftvarme ApS which produces clean energy as heat and electricity. In 2007 the second subsidiary company, Graff Breeding® A/S, was founded as an independent breeding company. The main targets are breeding, research and development of Hibiscus and other flowers from the Malvacea family and the market for the new genetics are world wide. This lead to the creation of the 2010 Trademark HibisQs® as an innovative part of the future for Hibiscus and our partners.

For more information about Graff-breeding pleas visit www.Graff-Breeding.com

Today Gert and Poul Graff (Third Generation) are managing Graff® Kristensen A/S together with a highly skilled and motivated management team. Main products are still Hibiscus and seasonal crops have been a part of the production.

The nursery is still in a green oasis close to the beautiful natural Borum marsh and forest. A location close to nature with a production in harmony with nature.