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Outback Plants Acquires Must Have Perennials from Aris Horticulture

Purchase strengthens breeder representation in perennial plants for Outback Plants.

WEST CHICAGO, IL – Outback Plants, a division of Ball Horticultural Company focused on breeder representation and tissue culture supply, is pleased to announce the purchase of the breeder agency business Must Have Perennials (MHP) from Aris Horticulture Inc. MHP is a leading agency representing independent breeders in sourcing and commercializing their varieties. This acquisition will strengthen the Outback Plants network of breeders, with particular emphasis on vegetative and tissue culture-raised perennials.

“Joining forces with Outback Plants and Ball means we can help serve more breeders and have more channels to get their varieties into growers’ and consumers’ hands around the world,” says Justin Wisniewski, General Manager of Must Have Perennials. “There continues to be many opportunities for Must Have Perennials to find the best breeders and enable their success.”

“This strategic move allows Aris to focus on its perennial young plant business at Green Leaf Plants and its tropical Hibiscus, Azalea, and other potted plant business at Keepsake Plants,” says Scott Schaefer, CEO of Aris Horticulture. “We are proud of what Must Have Perennials has accomplished as part of Aris, and are excited about continuing to produce many of its industry-leading varieties.”

“We are excited with this addition to our breeder agency activities,” says Mark Lunghusen, General Manager for Outback Plants. “Bringing the breeder network and varieties of Must Have Perennials into Ball and Outback Plants gives us the best opportunity to find the right plant and the right channel for the right grower in the right market.”

This acquisition does not have impact on the Must Have Perennials portfolio, nor the team members managing the business. For more information about research, breeding, production and distribution of ornamental crops from Ball Horticultural Company, please visit our corporate website www.ballhort.com.

About Aris
Aris Horticulture Inc. (formerly Yoder Brothers Inc.) is a young plant propagation company with over 90 years of flower research and breeding behind it. It offers a wide range of perennials, herbs, ornamental grasses, tropicals, mums, annuals and florist potted plants through its Green Leaf Plants® and Keepsake Plants®. Visit arishort.com to learn more.

About Outback Plants
Outback Plants, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ball Horticultural Company, is an established horticultural consulting company trusted worldwide to oversee and facilitate successful plant-breeding selections from multiple outside breeding firms. Based near Melbourne CBD in Australia, Outback Plants works with local and international clients, and provides research, management, and market information through expert knowledge in ornamental and production horticulture.

About Ball Horticultural Company
Ball Horticultural Company is an internationally renowned breeder, producer and wholesale distributor of ornamental plants. A family-owned business since it was founded in 1905, Ball has introduced many innovative and award-winning varieties to the world of horticulture. The company has worldwide production, sales and marketing through its many subsidiaries on six continents. For further information, visit ballhort.com.