Floriculture Profile
By Malinda Geisler, content specialist, AgMRC, Iowa State University, malindag@iastate.edu.
Profile updated December 2009.
Overview
Based on farm cash receipts, greenhouse and nursery crops are the fourth largest crop group. Leading floriculture states in value are California, Florida, Michigan, Texas and New York. Floriculture includes crops such as cut flowers, cut cultivated greens, potted flowering plants and potted foliage plants, as well as bedding and garden plants.
Floriculture sales from 15 major states was estimated at $4.2 billion in 2008. USDA now surveys the top 15 states, down from 36 states in 2005. The 15 states--California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Washington--accounted for 75 percent of cash receipts received by U.S. greenhouse and nursery growers in 2008.
Supply
Top states with the most acreage under greenhouse cover include California, Florida, Michigan, New York, Ohio and Texas. Glass is the traditional greenhouse cover. Other products used include fiberglass and plastic film. Greenhouses are still expensive to build and maintain. States with the most acres of open ground include California, Florida, Michigan and New Jersey.
Demand
Floriculture item sales at all retail outlets was $35.6 billion in 2008, according to the Society of American Florists. Consumer trends indicate 46 percent of U.S. consumers purchasing outdoor bedding and garden plants, 34 percent buying fresh flowers and 20 percent of consumers buying flowering/green houseplants.
The 1998 Census of Horticultural Specialties breaks down where the U.S. horticultural crop is marketed. Re-wholesalers account for 25.3 percent; retail garden centers and nurseries, 17.9; landscape contractors, 13.9; other mass marketers, 13.4; direct sales, 13.0; supermarkets and groceries, 7.6; retail florists, 2.5; and other avenues at 6.4 percent. The next Census is expected in late 2010.
Sector Profiles
Cut Flowers
Fresh cut flower production, based on USDA's survey of the top 15 states, shows a continued shift from the highly imported flowers to those with less competition. The wholesale value of domestically grown cut flowers was $403 million in 2008.
Potted Flowering and Foliage Plants
Flowering plants in pots totaled $698 million in 2008. Of that, poinsettias accounted for $154 million in 2008. Sales of orchids totaled $137 million. Sales of potted foliage plants were $630 million.
Bedding and Garden Plants
Bedding and garden plant sales were $1.8 billion in 2008. Of that, perennial plants accounted for $526 million.
Exports
The United States is a net importer of floricultural products. Exports are roughly one fourth of the value of imports.
Imports
Cut flower imports in 2008 were $803 million. Nursery stock and bulbs accounted for $667 million in 2008. In 2007, the most recent year of data, imported cut roses were valued at $340 million and accounted for about 40 percent of the total cut flower imports.
Roses lead U.S. cut flower imports, mainly from Colombia and followed by Ecuador. Because of restrictions on the shipment of plants with soil attached to their roots from other countries, Canada is the biggest importer of live plants and trees. Orchid plants are supplied by Taiwan, the Netherlands and Thailand. Flower bulbs, such as tulips and lilies, are supplied by the Netherlands.
Sources
Floriculture Crops, National Ag Statistical Service, USDA.
Global Agricultural Trade System, Foreign Ag Service , USDA.
