Testing Native, Herbaceous and Woody Perennials as Cut Flowers and Foliage for the Floral Design Marketplace

Commodities

• Additional Plants: native plants

Practices

• Crop Production: conservation tillage, crop improvement and selection, drought tolerance, intercropping, no-till, pollinator habitat
• Education and Training: farmer to farmer, on-farm/ranch research, workshop
• Natural Resources/Environment: biodiversity, habitat enhancement
• Production Systems: permaculture
• Sustainable Communities: sustainability measures

The industries of flower farming and floristry rely heavily on international sourcing for both plants and cut flower stems. Many traditional wholesale flowers are non-native, invasive plants that may have escaped cultivation in some regions and threaten biodiversity. Across the country, climate change is impacting farms and farmers, including variable productivity, soil and water resources and farmer health. This proposal builds on the demand for locally grown flowers by diversifying beyond traditional cut flower varieties with native species to introduce unique and sustainable market offerings for both farmers and florists.

This project will trial approximately 25 native, herbaceous and woody perennial plants in the field for their value in the floral market as cut flowers and foliage. Criteria for selection of native species will be selected based on the USDA definition of native and occurs in a wide range of the Western U.S. The plants in the trial will be assessed on their productivity as well as their marketability when provided to florists. Trial plants will be assessed on the ability to perform in the field. Results will be shared with flower farmers to promote the plants that performed well, provide tips to integrate them into their farm plan to maximize habitat. The project will also test vase life viability and survey florists about their design value and seasonality. 

Incorporating perennials into gardening and farming practices can promote a more sustainable and resilient environment. Perennials can reduce soil disturbance and benefit soil health, increase biodiversity, sequester carbon, as well as boost farmer wellbeing due to the lower maintenance requirement. This project has the potential to encourage farmers and florists to incorporate native and low-water perennials into their crop plans and flower arrangements.

Research objectives: 
1) select a series of Western native herbaceous and woody perennial plants that have the potential for use as cut flower stems
2) establish the plants at Wild Heart Farm 
3) evaluate their use in markets and by florists

Educational objectives: 
1) demonstrate native plant growing methodology and outcomes with farmers and agricultural professionals 
2) demonstrate strategies to incorporate native plants into farms and gardens as alternative crops and habitat for pollinators to a wide variety of audiences
3) educate traditional florists and farmers/florists about native plant seasonal availability, and how to design with the stems in various stages