Floral industry

Although these plants are from diverse native habitats and taxa, years of selection have found those that can be produced economically and are adaptable to the human environment.

Additionally, the floral industry includes plant breeders and companies that sell seed, bulbs, and cuttings, and companies that sell greenhouses, pots of all kinds, potting soil, labels and marketing supplies, fertilizer, pesticides and machines for plant production activities.

Garden centers, supermarkets and hardware stores add the retail segment to the floral industry.

The developed world, Japan, Western Europe and North America, were both major producers and consumers.

In 2021, the world wide cut flower market is estimated at US$10.8 Billion, wholesale value, based on trade statistics from 114 countries.

[9] The Tulip was a wild flower growing in Central Asia when it was first cultivated by the Turks as early as 1000 AD.

Mania in Turkey struck in the 16th century, at the time of the Ottoman Empire, when the Sultan demanded cultivation of particular blooms for his pleasure.

The Netherlands remains the center of production for the European floral market, as well as a major international supplier to other continents.

Billions of cut flowers are shipped to the Netherlands every year to be sold at auction followed by immediate transport to buyers around the world.

Other players in this global industry are Mexico, Israel, South Africa, Australia, Thailand and Malaysia.

New Zealand, due to its position in the Southern Hemisphere, is a common source for seasonal flowers that are typically unavailable in Europe and the United States.

In North America, Mexico dedicated the third biggest land area in the world in 2019 (22,700 hectares ~ 56,092 acres, and growing) to the production of ornamental flowers.

This would allow Mexico to address some of the main causes of its illegal narcotic production and possibly reduce the rampant violence of the Mexican drug war.

As time has passed, it is common to see these plants in various types of container gardens, on public plazas or patios and porches around the world.

In the past, it was common for these plants to be grown from seed and sold at a small size in 5 cm (2 inch), approximately, pots or packs.

In the U.S., bedding plants are the top selling group of flowers with nearly 40% of total sales, nearly US$ 2.5 Billion, wholesale value, in 2022.

This group of flowering plants[7][8] add beauty and tradition to holidays - poinsettias at Christmas, Easter lilies, potted roses for Mothers' Day, etc.

Pots of orchids, mums, Reiger begonias, roses, African violets, gerberas, and kalanchoes are available most of the year, poinsettias and Christmas cactus are available in November and December, cyclamen are available all winter and spring, hydrangea, rhododendron, and spring flowering bulbs - tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, etc.

Producers of cuttings and tissue culture explants can ship their product anywhere in the world because potting soil quarantines are not involved.

[14] The retail segment is composed of people who make all or a portion of their salary selling flowers and plants.

Flowers and plants are also sold at local farmers' markets, roadside stands, sidewalk shops, etc.

Cut flowers, seeds, supplies and plants are also sold by mail order companies direct to consumers.

Cut flowers come to the distribution centers from anywhere in the world and potted plants will come from regional greenhouses and nurseries.