Native Cut Flower Project

Evaluation of Missouri Native Plants for Cut Flower Production is a project that is conducted in cooperation with the Missouri Grow Native! Program.

Cut flower production is a profitable business for growers in Missouri.  Missouri cut flower producers successfully market cuts to wholesale, retail and direct markets by supplying non-mainstream product.  It has been observed that the native Missouri plant Callicarpa americana, Beautyberry, is superior to the Beautyberry shipped in from outside the U. S. to wholesale markets in Saint Louis.  From this the question was raised, do Missouri native plants have potential in the cut flower market and will they be potentially profitable for Missouri cut flower producers?  Will native plants be competitive on their own merits with present product?  Will branding with the Grow Native! Logo (flower sleeves, cut flower care tag) increase the value of native cuts?  This project is the first step taken to answer these questions.

For more information, contact Marilyn Odneal, MarilynOdneal@missouristate.edu 417-547-7513

 State Fruit Experiment Station