Cut Flowers & Foliage
1. Industry & Products
Cut flowers and foliage make up a major world industry and a significant and growing industry in Australia.
Worldwide interest in Australian native species has been stimulated by our Western Australian wild flowers in particular. Current exports are worth $5.2 million per annum and until last year were growing at 30% per annum.
Coupled with modern handling and storage technology and air freight facilities the Australian export flower industry appears to offer excellent opportunities for flowers and foliage both fresh and dried. Agriculture Victoria has targeted cut flowers as a development opportunity and with the industry aims to double exports by the year 2001.
The Victorian Mallee has long been seen as an area with significant potential for the development and marketing of its own native species. The possibilities are not confined to local native species, and there are many plants to be considered where seasonality or other competitive advantage, may result from climate or other factors.
Flowers and foliage are mainly marketed fresh, but there is also market demand for dried product. Flowers and foliage from trees and shrubs would seem to have the main potential in the Mallee. Production of annuals or some perennial flowers like roses and statice (which grows wild in the area) may have a niche in an intensive situation. Statice is very drought resistant, but supplementary water is needed to ensure good stem length.
Some foliage plants to consider include:
- Eucalyptus orbifolia - Round Leaf Mallee
- Eucalyptus gardneri - Blue Mallet
- Eucalyptus crucis - Silver Mallee
- Eucalyptus kausena - Blue Mallee
- Eucalyptus pluricaulis - Purple leafed Mallett
- Eucalyptus tetragona - White Marlock
- Mariena Sedifloa - Blue Bush
Flowering trees or shrubs include:
- Acacia podalyriiolia - Mt Morgan Wattle
- Acacia baileyana - Cootamundra Wattle (purple tipped)
- Hakea francisiana - Grass leafed Hakea
- Ptilotus obovatus - Silver Mulla Mulla
- Banksia species
- Erimophilus species - Emu Bush
2. Physical Requirements
The main potential is seen as foliage and flowers of shrubs and trees which are grown in an orchard rather than a garden type situation. However intensive production should not be ruled out but will require full irrigation
Increasingly in the industry protective structures are used to improve quality and simple shade houses or multispan poly houses provide suitable environments.
Plants must be matched with soil type. Mallee soils are invariably alkaline, and the alkalinity, the amount and type of lime, texture and depth of top soil can all vary considerably over very short distances. Soil salinity is another variable to be considered and the extent and levels are generally tending to increase.
Many native species will grow on low rainfall, and selection should generally be made from plants suited to 350 mm annually or less. Supplementary water will be necessary in the establishment phase, and at critical stages will assist by ensuring maximum productivity and quality.
Frost and heat are other climatic considerations.
Production requires a small tractor and slasher for weed control. A small sprayer for pest and disease control may need to be considered, depending on the species grown.
Water containers and a shaded vehicle will be needed for cooling harvested material. A small cool store is necessary for fresh foliage, while dried foliage will require drying shed space. A packing and handling shed will also be required.
3. Production Process
The emphasis in the production process must be on obtaining good strong growth of disease free foliage or flowers. Stem length is very important.
The field management program will vary with each species, but perennial crops are managed along orchard lines. Shrubs or trees are spaced 3 - 5 metres between rows and 3 - 4 metres within the row. Slashing is the most common form of weed control.
All native shrubs will benefit from regular pruning to keep them bushy and maintain vigorous flowering wood. Growing tips are pinched out to promote branching and to get good shape.
Mature plants are pruned each year while flowering or immediately after to prevent seeding and encouraging new growth.
The pruner should avoid pruning old wood, but where necessary cut back to an existing branch.
Dead or diseased wood is removed and any poorly placed or weak growth is cut out.
Eucalypts cut for foliage can be pollarded, and the foliage harvested every second year, when the bushes are cut right back.
Protection from pests such as rabbits and hares, and the possible need for wind breaks is to be considered. Whether for fresh marketing or drying, harvesting is done in the cool and the plants transferred to the cool room or drying room as appropriate.
It is essential that you obtain and follow the latest harvesting and handling procedures for each cultivar. The requirements in terms of stem length bunch size and colour are very specific as are the techniques of post harvest, handling, storage and packaging to maximise shelf life. The Victorian Department of Natural Resources through the Institute of Horticultural Development at Knoxfield and others have considerable expertise in these areas.
4. Financial Aspects
Costs and returns can vary considerably, but dried and fresh flowers and foliage are generally quoted at $2 - 3 per bunch on farm.
Basic equipment needed include:
- A small packing house $10,000
- Small cool store $8,000
- Dehydration equipment $4,000
- Drying Frames $2,000
- Picking buckets $500
- Tables etc $1,000
Necessary field equipment includes:
- A small tractor $5,000
- Spray Vat and Boom $3,000
- Cultivation equipment $2,000
There is also the considerable cost of a supplementary drip irrigation system.
The area needed to employ two people is about 4 hectares. A similar area under full irrigation would employ up to 10 extras on a casual basis.
5. Marketing
As with any product, the end market and the marketing chain must be thoroughly researched before making plantings.
Experience in the Mallee has suggested strong demand for good product of both fresh and dried foliage and native flowers. However relatively new products need to develop markets as production is expanded.
Exporters and wholesalers and the wholesale flower markets in capital cities are appropriate starting points. A large proportion of current production is sold direct to florists.
Fresh foliage and flowers will be packed as required by the market place and usually presented in plastic sleeves in fibre board flower boxes.
The ability to access refrigerated transport is essential.
6. Organisations and Contacts
Bungunyah Valley Farms
Box 29 KORALEIGH NSW 2735
Margaret Kelly
Millewa Sunset Blooms
CULLULLERAINE VIC 3496
Murray Mallee 2000 Inc
Box 1284 SWAN HILL VIC 3585
Yarra Valley Dried Flowers
Worlleys Road HODDLES CREEK VIC 3139
Institute for Horticultural Development
Private Bag 15
SOUTH EASTERN MAIL CENTRE VIC 3176
7. References
Post Harvest Handling of Cut Flowers.
Faragher J.D. & Johnson, F. (1986)
Workshop Notes - Horticultural Research Institute
Knoxfield Private Bag 15
SOUTH EASTERN MAIL CENTRE VIC 3152
Economic Native Trees and Shrubs for South Australia
Bonney, Neville (1997)
Greening Australia State Tree Centre
Brookway Drive CAMPBELLTOWN 5074
Growing Wild Flowers For Profit Agriculture Victoria
Cass, A. et.al. (1995)
DNRE 8 Nicholson Street
EAST MELBOURNE VIC 3002
Erimophilus for the Gardener
Society for Growing Australian Plants. (S.A.) (1995)
The Banksia Book
George, Alex S.
Getting Started in Cut Flower Growing
Maddock, E (1988) Agdex.
Department Of Agriculture NSW
This publication may be of assistance to you but WARMPlan the State of Victoria and its officers do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is highly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.
