Platanus X hispanica 'Tremonia' - Maple-leaved Sycamore 'Tremonia'

The two started with a small market garden, initially concentrating on growing and selling vegetables in the post-war years because food was urgently needed. However, already in the 1950s, there were more and more orders for private gardens or communal grounds design. As the "Gaissmaier Brothers", Josef's sons - Friedhold, Josef Jr. and Martin - successfully shaped the company together for decades. In the past 75 years, the family business has developed into one of the leading gardening and landscaping companies in the region.

Today, the company management is in the hands of the 2nd and 3rd generation. The competencies and areas of responsibility are clearly assigned: Matthias Gaissmaier took over technical administration from his father, Friedhold, in 2018. Josef Gaissmaier Jr. and his daughter Laura take care of the commercial side. Martin Gaissmaier is supported by his nephew Maximilian in the construction and training management. "Our working atmosphere is appropriately family-like," says Matthias Gaissmaier, with whom we spoke on behalf of the company. "We are pleased that our multi-generational model works so well - that is not a matter of course," explains the 37-year-old landscape architect and summarises the secret of success of the traditional Gaissmaier company as follows: "If you are on fire for the thing and want to do it well, then the spark jumps over!" And this applies to the entire company with its approximately 100 staff, who are managed and trained here with a convincing mixture of experience and passion. In 2019 and 2021, the Gaissmaier company was awarded the Bavarian State Award of Honour for its commitment to training and promoting young talent. "We treat all company employees with appreciation because we know - our success is a joint effort," says Matthias Gaissmaier.

The company has been living the values of environmental awareness for decades, in addition to performance quality and appreciation. In this context, Matthias Gaissmaier emphasises that even the second generation has consciously worked and managed sustainably. Today, all roof surfaces are greened, rainwater for irrigation is collected in cisterns, and the company produces its own electricity.

Gaissmaier GartenLandschaft's sponsorship of a maple-leaved plane tree (Platanus x hispanica "Tremonia") in the arboretum is not only related to this sustainability claim. The connections between the University of Applied Sciences and the company are complex. The founding couple laid the initially mentioned foundation stone of a close relationship. The horticultural company contributed to part of the outdoor facilities on campus. Friedhold Gaissmaier was chair of the Association of Weihenstephan Engineers for many years. Matthias Gaissmaier is now on the scientific advisory board of the Weihenstephan Gardens. Finally, the proximity to the arboretum will prospectively invite the management and the staff to inspiring garden forays.

www.gaissmaier-gartenlandschaft.de

Distribution: Rombergpark botanical garden in Dortmund, Germany.

Size: 15 to 20 metres high and 2 to 3 metres wide

Leaves: deciduous, alternate, maple-like, 3 to 5-lobed, 12 to 25 cm wide, greenish-yellowish autumn colours

Flower: yellowish-green heads in pendulous inflorescences

Fruits: spherical, usually in twos, long-lasting