pac - passion and competence

Breeding - laboratory - production.

We are a Saxon company with partners all over the world.

The breeding department works on various ornamental plants. Strong, uniform and persistent varieties, which are just as convincing in the production plant as in the sales  and finally over a long period of time with the customer, are our goal.

In the diagnostic laboratory pac® Biotec we test our own material and also cultures on customer order for diseases. Furthermore, we test irrigation water samples for pathogen contamination and run nutrient analyses of substrate and soil samples. In the tissue culture laboratory, plants are treated, kept in depots and propagated in vitro as required.

We supply healthy cuttings worldwide from our mother plant locations in Kenya and Portugal.

In the production nursery in Thiendorf with a total of 6.5 hectares of high glass area, young plants and semi-finished products grow as the starting material for your success.

Founded in 1889 by Wilhelm Elsner I

 The family in front of the first house, around 1908, and a look at the greenhouses, 1920

 

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On 1st October 1889 Wilhelm Elsner I., who was born 1860 in Poland, and his wife Therese, who came from Czech Republic, founded the „Kunst- und Handelsgärtnerei Wilhelm Elsner“. The company was outside of the town Dresden and all roses, cut flowers and vegetables that were grown on the field and in cold frames were pulled 7 km on a hand cart, later pulled by a dog, to the market. Soon bedding plants came into production, and the cemetary nearby was an important client of it. 1881 the dwelling and first greenhouses were built and soon goods could be delivered by a horse-drawn carriage.

The second generation lays the foundation for young plant production and breeding

Die Familie im Gewächshaus.  

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Wilhelm Elsner II, who was born in 1889, joined the company 1918 after years of wandering and military service. He started the production of young plants and published the first catalogue in 1925. During this time Wilhelm Elsner II startet breeding ornamentals. In 1926 the large shelter was built in which plants and flowers were sortet. Together with the old dwelling that has been altered many times this shelter forms still the entrance area of our nursery. While greenhouses were enlarged anually the transport had to keep pace. Against the conviction of the elder, who did not want to give up the horse in any case, Wilhelm II bought a truck.

Wilhelm Elsner III works on the diagnosis and treatment of plant diseases and intensifies breeding

Three generations of Elsner in one picture and the fourth generation in the greenhouse.

Drei Generationen Wilhelm Elsner.  Früh übt sich

The mother plant location in Bulgaria and loading of young plants for a Finnish customer.

Mutterpflanzen in Bulgarien  Export nach Finnland

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After war Wilhelm Elsner III, born 1921, joined the company and worked with his father and grandfather. His special interest in scientific basics of clean plant material led to a first laboratory in 1965. He developed diagnostic systems and therapies of plant diseases, what changed horticulture considerably. Besides he intensified breeding, the new varieties allowed better results in production and garden. Also issues of work organization were of great importance and led to - at that time - exceptional solutions such as rolling tables and the mechanized propagation greenhouse.
 

Out of the capitals of three main crops for the company at this time Pelargonium – Anthurium – Chrysanthemum, Wolfgang Beier, a Dresden artist, developed the brand pac® which was registered as an international trademark in 1965.

The good developement of the company despite the difficult situation in East Germany led to first licence contracts and south production in Bulgaria.

After the nationalization in the GDR

The entire company and the breeding was incorporated into the state-owned enterprises.

A helicopter is transplanting a greenhouse.

 

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Nationalization of productions plants, agriculture, trading and service sector in East germany went on in several steps. In 1971 Wilhelm Elsner III was forced to accept state participation in order to allow further working in a country that controlled economy very strong, one year later the company was completly nationalised and became part of VEG Saatzucht Zierpflanzen PAC. Wilhelm Elsner III was allowed to work in the company for a few years, first as director, later as scientific officer.

Many colleagues and employees accompanied these years as well as all previous ones and developed the company with dedication.

The turning point and the new beginning in May 1991

Wilhelm Elsner III shows breeding results of the later series pac® Fireworks.

Wilhelm Elsner III mit Prüfnummern der späteren Serie pac Fireworks

Martina Feindura at the topping-out ceremony of the cabin greenhouse.

Martina Feindura beim Richtfest des Kabinengewaechshauses

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In the course of the political change demanded Wilhelm Elsner III. the company back. With the reprivatisation in May 1991, the 4th generation entered into the management. Since then, the company operates under Elsner pac young plants GbR. The 1990s were characterized by further specialization and intensification in the breeding of pelargonium, the maintenance of health and the expansion of the elite Pelargonium department. The company was enlarged and technically modernized with the installation of assimilation light, the installation of energy shields, CO2 fertilization, etc. At almost 80, Wilhelm Elsner III handed over the company to the 4th generation in 1999, Martina Feindura is still the managing director.

A second location enables modern production methods

Earthwork began in the winter of 2001, and on July 9, 2002, the topping-out ceremony was celebrated.

Bau TH 1Bau TH 2

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The nursery of Elsner pac young plants GbR in Dresden with their smaller greenhouses is well suited due to well separated areas for breeding work, laboratory work and stock plants. The structure for the resource-saving production of young plants in good quality was less favorable. In 2002, a Venloblock was built by Elsner pac Jungpflanzen Thiendorf GbR at the new Thiendorf location, close to the A13 motorway. With extensions in 2008 and 2013, as well as the acquisition of a neighboring greenhouse, there are now 4 hectares of modern production space available for production. The Elsner pac Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH  ensures that our customers have one contact person and that the products of both nurseries reach their destination quickly and safely.

Bringing together all parts of the company at the Thiendorf site

Extensive planning and construction work lead to the concentration of all German departments of the company at the Thiendorf site in 2020. The departure from the Dresden site made it possible to provide all departments with suitable space in new buildings.

PAC today

We are a Saxon company with partners all over the world.



The breeding department works on various ornamental plants. Strong, consistent and enduring varieties, which are just as convincing in the production plant as in the sales greenhouse and finally for a long time with the customer, are our goal.



In the diagnostic laboratory pac® Biotec we test our own material and also cultures on behalf of customers for diseases. In the tissue culture laboratory, plants are treated, kept in the depot and, if necessary, propagated in vitro.


Healthy cuttings are delivered from our mother plant locations in Kenya and Portugal.

In the production nursery in Thiendorf with a total of 6.5 hectares of greenhouses, stock plants, young plants and semi-finished goods grow as starting material for your success.