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Flore des Serres et des Jardins de L'Europe

Louis van Houtte and Charles Lemaire, editors
Ghent, Belgium (1845-1883)

Gorgeous original 140+-year-old multi-stone color lithographs with some handcoloring

Fold-out "double" plates measure approximately 9.5 x 13 inches (approx. 24 x 33 cm)
Single plates measure approximately 6.5 x 9.5 inches (approx. 16.5 x 24 cm)

Louis Benoit van Houtte, Belgian horticulturist, was born at Ypres on June 29, 1810, and died at Ghent May 9, 1876. He was associated with the Jardin Botanique de Brussels from 1836 to 1838. In 1839, after an expedition to Brazil, he went to Ghent where he founded the Ecole d'Horticulture and the horticultural journal Flore des serres et des Jardins de l'Europe. Flore des serres was an extensive work with over 2000 colored plates. It contained 23 volumes published from 1845 to 1883, some coming out after his death.

He also established a nursery there with managing partner the nurseryman Adolf Papeleu. Van Houtte's knowledge of botany, his commercial aptitude and language skills made the Establishment Van Houtte very successful. About 1845 he began sending out plant collectors to bring back orchids and other exotic plants from South and Central America. His company propagated many plants for European greenhouses. The first Victoria to be cultivated on the Continent grew there in a specially built greenhouse and the first confirmed water lily hybrid, N. Ortgiesiano-rubra, was created there by Eduard Ortgies. By 1870 Van Houtte owned the most flourishing nursery in Belgium, with an area of 14 hectares and 50 greenhouses. After he died in 1876 his son continued the business.


Louis Benoit van Houtte


Please click on a thumbnail to see the entire plate.
(The digital watermark is to deter image theft and does not appear on the actual print.)

BELOW ARE THE SINGLE PAGE PRINTS FROM Flore des Serres et des Jardins de L'Europe
FOR DOUBLE PAGE PRINTS, PLEASE CLICK HERE

Paradisia Liliastrum

Paradisia Liliastrum

$124.95

Deutzia Crenata

Deutzia Crenata

$124.95



Camellia Vergine di Collebeato

$124.95

Myrtus Bullata

Myrtus Bullata


$124.95

Shutereia Bicolor

Shutereia Bicolor

$124.95

Berberis aurabuacensis

Berberis aurabuacensis

$124.95

Impatiens Repens

Impatiens Repens

$124.95

Hexacentris Mysorensis

Hexacentris Mysorensis Lutea

$124.95

Tropaeolum Smithii

Tropaeolum Smithii

$124.95

Forsythia Suspensa

Forsythia Suspensa

$124.95

Begonia Xanthina

Begonia Xanthina

$124.95

Vestia Lycioides

Vestia Lycioides

$124.95

Aesculus Indica

Aesculus Indica


$124.95

Oxalis Corniculata

Oxalis Corniculata

$124.95

Gilia Lutea

Gilia Lutea

$124.95



Maximowiczia Chinensis

$124.95

Kniphofia Aloides

Kniphofia Aloides

Physalis Alkekengi

Physalis Alkekengi

$124.95

Astroloma Splendens

Astroloma Splendens

$124.95

Philesia Buxifolia

Philesia Buxifolia

$124.95

Embothrium Coccineum

Embothrium Coccineum

$124.95

Soutellaria Villosa

Soutellaria Villosa

$124.95

Clianthus Magnificus

Clianthus Puniceus Magnificus


Gesneria Lobulata

Gesneria Lobulata

$124.95

Bouvardia Criana

Bouvardia Criana

$124.95

Stylidium Recurvum

Stylidium Recurvum

$124.95

Genetyllis Tulipfera

Genetyllis Tulipfera

$124.95

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"Double-page lithographs"
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Antique Botanical Prints home