A horticultural heritage dedicated to quality and innovation
Since its creation in 1952 by Pierre and Odile Barrault, the family business has grown from a small 5,000 m² nursery to a 32-hectare operation in the heart of Anjou. Initially specializing in bulbs, cut flowers and roses, it has evolved to focus today on perennials, aromatics and green plants. With over 2,000 varieties, Maison Barrault produces around 11 million plants a year, combining tradition and modernity.
Run since 2014 by the third generation of the family, the company places quality, diversity and innovation at the heart of its priorities. In particular, it produces over 60,000 10.5 cm pots, 15,000 14 cm pots and 6,000 hanging baskets every year. This standardized range illustrates a controlled cost strategy, while promoting French production through its "Maison Barrault" and "Horticulteur par passion" brands, recognized for their environmental commitments.
Firmly rooted in its region, Maison Barrault employs nearly 100 people and generates annual sales of 10 to 12 million euros. Despite the Covid-19 crisis, which forced the company to destroy some of its plants in 2020, it has managed to bounce back by focusing on a niche positioning, prioritizing sustainable, high-quality products made in France, without seeking unbridled growth, but by reinforcing its know-how and innovations, notably in logistics and environmental certifications.
🌿 Unique know-how for exceptional plants
At Maison Barrault, every plant is the product of a rigorous production process, where passion and technique are combined with precision. The propagation of varieties is based on respectful methods: division and cuttings from mother plants carefully cultivated on site, respecting natural cycles. To complete this production, exceptional seedlings are selected from reliable partners in France and abroad.
Sowing also plays an essential role: each seed is kept in optimal conditions of temperature and humidity, sown in specially prepared potting soil, and some species benefit from cold stratification to guarantee optimal germination. The result is robust, original, perfectly adapted plants, ready to flourish in the homes of professionals and enthusiasts alike.
📅 Planned production, combining technology and human know-how
Production is meticulously organized according to commercial needs, weather conditions and the specific vegetative cycles of each plant. Maison Barrault's planning ensures consistent quality and optimum availability.
Semi-automated transplanting combines five cutting-edge robots with manual expertise, for gentle transfer of young plants to their final containers. The final containers are varied (cups, pots of different sizes) and adapted to the specific needs of each plant. After repotting, the plants are placed in a greenhouse or outdoors for gradual hardening.
Last but not least, each plant benefits from precise monitoring and full traceability thanks to dedicated software, guaranteeing optimal development, whether it takes a few weeks or several months. In this way, Maison Barrault combines horticultural tradition, technological innovation and passion to offer healthy, robust plants that are perfectly adapted to the expectations of its customers.