Greta Ljung grows flowers that refuse to be controlled
Between a Stockholm balcony and a garden 300 kilometres away, Greta Ljung grows pelargoniums, sweet peas and heritage plants — with weather, distance and the occasional vole setting the rules.
Greta Ljung, Stockholm / Fagersanna, Sweden · Words by Flower Club International · 22 September 2026
Instagram: @gretaspelargonerWorking between Stockholm and Fagersanna, Sweden, Greta Ljung grows pelargoniums, sweet peas and other plants.
What are you growing?
I'm growing a little bit of everything but focus on pelargoniums and sweet peas.
I divide my time between Stockholm and a small village in south-central Sweden called Fagersanna.
How did growing begin for you?
My Grandmother had an allotment and I spent a lot of time with her there. Every time I've had access to a bit of land or a balcony I've grown something.
How does distance affect your garden?
In Stockholm, I’m limited to my balcony and what I can grow indoors. My garden in Fagersanna is about 300 km away, and I spend most of my time in Stockholm. This means that the varieties I grow there need to be tough and able to cope with long periods of limited care.
Which plants interest you most?
Anything with a history and a story to tell. I'm deeply interested in heritage plants. They also tend to respond better to distance growing.
What does a typical growing day involve?
Mostly praying to the weather gods for just the right amount of rain and sunshine.
What do flower lovers underestimate?
That the flowers can't be controlled. What worked last season might fail the next. Personally I like this because it can really challenge your creativity.
What practical lesson have you learned?
A vole can easily eat the bulbs of 600 tulips. Netting under the bulbs as well as over (for the deer) is a must.
What do locally grown flowers offer?
That they are connected to the nature and the season. They can also cary a story from the area where they are grown.
“What worked last season might fail the next.”