Jun 13, 2017

Cut Flower Comeback By Jasmina Dolce

Over the past several weeks, I’ve been highlighting some of the trends we spotted across the coast during the 2017 California Spring Trials. From color patterns to marketing techniques to new consumer uses, it was easy to note some overall trends and themes.

Today, I’d like to revisit an old trend that seemed to take a hiatus from the consumer market: cut flowers. For a while there, it looked like cut flowers were becoming forgotten or a typically last-minute thought for consumers. People are becoming more sustainable and therefore less wasteful, so in their minds, cut flowers may have seemed gratuitious due to their short life.

But judging by all the gorgeous cut flower displays seen throughout the Spring Trials, it’s evident more and more breeders are focusing on cut flower potential. Gardeners can now take their plants from their outdoor spaces and bring them indoors to decorate their homes’ interiors. This new trend gives gardeners’ and home owners’ plants a dual purpose!

If you’re thinking of adding plants with cut flower appeal to your arsenal, check out some of these new varieties that made their debut this year.

Sunflower ‘Sunfinity’
Syngenta Flowers

One of the most talked about introductions this year, ‘Sunfinity’ offers nonstop blooming through the season with up to eight flowers at first flush. it is supported by a consumer website as well as branded tags and pots.

Celosia ‘Century Pink’
Sakata

This new celosia presents large, abundant plumes on stronger, longer stems. It is easy to grow and maintain, and it loves the heat.

Dianthus ‘Rockin’ Red’
Kieft Seed

‘Rockin’ Red’ is a perfect plant for borders. With its vivid, scented blooms and durable performance, consumers will love bring this plant indoors.

Calendula ‘Crown Orange’
Thompson & Morgan

This Fleuroselect novelty winner boasts fully double, crested blooms. It is quick to flower, easy to grow and versatile — perfect for beds, borders and containers.

Dahlia ‘XXL Tulum’
Dümmen Orange

Dümmen Orange continues to expand its XXL line of dahlias, which features extra-large bicolored flowers that are perfect for cutting. The new ‘XXL Tabasco’ is pictured.

Alstroemeria Summer Paradise
HilverdaKooij

Summer Paradise is a great landscape plant that will produce masses of flowers from May through December. It will easily tolerate having stems picked to make a pretty vase presentation.

Have you noticed an increase in demand for cut flowers? If so, which varieties are your top sellers? Shoot me an email at jdolce@greatamericanpublish.com and let me know. I’d love to hear from you.

— Jasmina