Have you ever wondered about the floral industry and how it operates? Placing an online order for flower delivery might have you thinking about how florists get their flowers. Especially when they’re operating from the centre of a busy city.
From New York to Cape Town to Melbourne, flower delivery services are always on the go. When deciding on a flower delivery Prahran based florists may surprise you with the selection of flowers you can pick from. Who would have thought you could get red roses out of season in the middle of Melbourne?
Read on to discover some of the most fascinating facts about the floral industry.
1. Where Are Most Cut Flowers Grown?
Have you ever wondered where exactly the red roses are grown when you order them next for delivery? With the U.S. and EU being the biggest buyers of cut flowers, growers around the world are supplying them.
With up to 80% of the blooms arriving in Britain from the Netherlands, you may be surprised to hear where else flowers are being grown and exported. The following countries are some of the biggest growers and exporters for cut flowers:
- Ecuador (bet you didn’t see that one coming!)
- Colombia
- Kenya
- Ethiopia
The cost of growing flowers in greenhouses in northern countries became extremely high due to increasing power costs. So, buyers turned to countries where flowers could be grown year-round with little energy input. Kenya supplies over one third of the roses sold in the European Union. Colombia’s cut flower exports together with live trees and plants was estimated to be worth $1.4 billion in 2019.
2. What is the Estimated Value of the Floral Industry?
The global trade of the floral industry is being estimated at over $100 billion per year. One can only begin to imagine how many flowers are being flown around the world! In Australia alone, IBISWorld estimates the floral industry to be worth $826 million. And online florist stores have grown by 5.1% between 2015 and 2020 in the country.
3. Some Stats from the U.S. Floral Industry
To give you an indication of how a floral industry in a country performs, let’s take the United States as an example. IBIS World reports the following figures for this country:
- The market value is estimated to be up to $5 billion per year.
- There are an estimated 31 663 floral businesses in the country
- Over 65 000 employees are employed in the floral industry.
4. Cut Flowers Are Popular for Mothers’ Day Gifts
An estimated $25 billion is spent on Mothers’ Day gifts in America. Over 67% of the shoppers are buying flowers as their first choice of gifts for moms. This means a lot of money is flowing through the floral industry over this time.
Do you know what are considered to be the most popular flower choices? Roses and carnations, it appears to be!
5. Flower Trends for 2020
While roses are still one of the most popular flowers ordered at florists, some other flowers are becoming more fashionable too. These include:
- Peonies
- Ranunculus
- Dahlias
- Hydrangeas
- Tillandsia
Most of these flowers are being used to create a romantic ambience at weddings. And they’re also popular for formal black-tie events.
6. What Are Some of the Most Expensive Flowers?
Some of the most expensive flowers will set you back a penny or two! The Lily of the Valley is one of the most beautiful and favoured flowers for weddings. But it’ll cost you anything between $15 to $50 per bundle. The reason it’s so expensive is its short life span.
The Lisianthus is another expensive flower costing about $35 per bundle. It also has a short lifespan and isn’t easy to grow. It’s grown in the warmer regions of southern U.S. and northern parts of South America.
7. Some Quick Facts About Floriculture
Here are some quick facts about the floriculture industry:
- The floriculture industry first began in the United Kingdom in the 1900s. Flowers were grown in large quantities on many estates throughout the country. It has grown since, expanding worldwide.
- The floral industry is made up of the growers, wholesalers and retailers.
- One of the biggest flower markets in the world today is found in Aalsmeer, Netherlands.
- On average, a bride will spend up to $2 100 on flowers for her wedding day.
- The Dutch floral industry employs 150 000 people.
- Supermarket chains are the biggest competitors for florists.
Final Thoughts
There is something very special about flowers. Gifts of flowers will lift many a weary soul. And every gardener will tell you flowers bring them so much joy.
This quote says it all when you think of flowers – “If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly our whole life would change.” – Buddha