The Blooming Flower Industry: Every Rose Has Its Thornes

At the SAF Orlando 2022 convention, Kate Penn, the Society of American Florists (SAF) CEO, presented the State of the Industry address. She emphasized the recent positive growth in the floral industry during her keynote speech. Penn reported that the average sales of retail flower shops are approximately $679,000 and are projected to increase by 5% in 2023 and 2% over the coming years. Spending on floral products rose 21.5% from 2020 to 2021, totaling $46.6 billion.

In addition, the sales of U.S.-grown floriculture crops rose 16% from 2019 to 2021, reaching $6 billion for the first time. Imports of cut flowers to the U.S. also saw a growth of 28% in dollar volume and 15% in product volume, totaling $1.19 billion. In addition, the industry has collaborated on marketing campaigns to encourage more flower consumption, one example being the “Flowers. Self Care Made Easy” initiative by CalFlowers.

The cut flower segment is expected to dominate due to the growing demand for cut flowers for various events such as weddings, parties, and funerals. The potted plant segment is also expected to grow significantly during the forecast period.

The most common flowers in the industry are roses, lilies, chrysanthemums, and carnations. Roses are the most popular and widely grown flowers, known for their beautiful colors, fragrance, and long vase life. Lilies are also highly sought after for their elegant and fragrant blooms. Chrysanthemums are known for their long-lasting flowers and various colors. At the same time, carnations are famous for their bright colors and long vase life.

In addition, to cut flowers, the most common types of plants grown in floriculture include succulents, herbs, and foliage plants. Succulents are known for low maintenance and capacity to adapt to various environments. Herbs such as basil, mint, and rosemary are widely used in cooking and have medicinal properties. Foliage plants are used for indoor decoration and are known for their air-purifying properties.

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Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash