Developed by Dutch bulb purveyor, JUB Holland, the new Flower Designer App enabled the Grounds & Gardens team at the University of Leeds to virtually plan and preview how the campus would look in full bloom. The new app, applicable to campuses, parks and urban landscapes provides a smart, visual approach to precision planting.
Every spring, the campus at the University of Leeds is planted with thousands of bulbs, providing a vibrant display. In 2024, based on the visuals produced by the app, the university invited students and staff to vote for their favourite bulb mix for prominent sites on the Western Campus.
“It’s about giving people a voice in how their shared space looks and feels,The campus is for everyone, and with the Flower Designer App, we’ve been able to offer a real sense of ownership. Staff and students could see the mixes, imagine the space in spring, and help shape it together. That’s a big shift from how things are usually done,” explained Sean Craven, External Spaces Manager at the University of Leeds.
Beyond aesthetics and enhanced community engagement, the use of a smart tool such as the Flower Designer app allows for more accurate planning of a spring display (investment) but can also aid the university’s ecological and landscape strategies such as boosting biodiversity, by using pollinator-friendly mixtures.
According to JUB, the app is intuitive and easy to use and requires only the uploading of a photo of the desired area, defining the space and choosing one of their bulb mixes. The app will then generate a preview of the desired display allowing for more careful planning of spring planting.
“At JUB, we’ve always been about more than just bulbs—we’re about creating lasting, meaningful landscapes. The Flower Designer App helps us bring that vision to life in a very real way. Whether we are working with a council, a university, or a park manager, the app allows them to ‘see’ the spring before a single bulb goes in the ground. That is incredibly powerful—and it makes decision-making easier, faster, and more inclusive. This tool is especially useful for mechanical planting projects, where precise planning and timing are key,” added Job van Eeden, Sales Manager UK, JUB Holland.
