CRUYDT-HOECK

In 2023 Cruydt-Hoeck received the sustainability passport with an A rating from NL Greenlabel at the Climate Expo.

In early 2025 they were named Greenfluencer(s) of 2024. They show that activism and building a sustainable commercial organisation can go hand in hand. Congratulations to Jasper and Jojanneke. True ‘Guardians of Climate’.

CRUYDT-HOECK is a unique seed company specialising in native wild plant seeds and wildflower meadow mixes. Would you like to create a wildflower meadow in your garden or local area? Then CRUYDT-HOECK is the place to go for tailored advice and the seeds you need. By sowing native wild plants, your wildflower meadow will not only be a feast for the eyes, but will also contribute to biodiversity and improve the living conditions for butterflies, bees and birds. As well as native seeds, there is also a range of botanical garden seeds for the adventurous gardener. Normally available to order only via the website, but especially for you, CRUYDT-HOECK is bringing a selection of seeds to Hex.

In 2016, CRUYDT-HOECK took over the ‘de Heliant’ Wild Plant Nursery, which had long been a mainstay in the north of the Netherlands. This means they can now also offer a splendid collection of native plants for sale.

They support the recurring theme of ‘bees’ in Hex wholeheartedly and with great enthusiasm. Biodiversity is also a core value at this nursery.

Interesting bee forage plants,which are great butterfly, bee and bumblebee magnets and also lovely garden plants, they recommend below:

Betony – Stachys officinalis  (for butterflies, bees and bumblebees)
Greater Knapweed greater knapweed
Wild marjoram – Origanum vulgare
Knotted Figwort Scrophularia officinalis (rather boring garden plant, but always covered in bees and bumblebees)
Wild basil – Clinopodium vulgare (mason bees, leafcutter bee)
Wild Catmint – catnip moths
Common bird's-foot trefoil common bird's-foot trefoil  (e.g. Common Blue)
Scabious Field scabious (very good insect plant, always covered in them, including the Scabious bee)
Autumn hawkbit Leontodon autumnalis

Some insects/bees/bumblebees/butterflies are specialists and therefore need one or a few specific plants for food and reproduction. These are the host plants for these species. If none of these plants is present, the animal cannot survive. However, the most common butterflies are ‘generalists’ and can survive with a (much) greater number of plants for their food and reproduction. A few examples of typical host plants are:

Harebell Campanula rotundifolia Bellflower resin bee
Meadow thistle – Meadow thistle Painted lady
Honesty – Perennial honesty Orange tip
Heather – Calluna vulgaris (Celastrina argiolus and Ematurga atomaria)
Hollyhock mallow – Malva alcea Painted lady
Knotted Figwort Scrophularia officinalis  (Figwort moth, Cucullia scrophulariae)
Black medick Medicago lupulina (Common blue)
Purple loosestrife – purple loosestrife (Holly blue)