So, what makes a native plant suitable as a commercial cut flower?
• The blooms must be decorative and potentially be available in a range of colours and shapes. • The stems need to be strong and in proportion to the bloom in terms of length and diameter. • The flower must have a suitable vase life after harvest to give the end customer value for money. A vase life of 7 days or more is preferred. It may be possible to extend vase life by using preservative solutions or other postharvest techniques. The postharvest characteristics of many native species are still poorly defined. Flowering stems that have a tendency to drop flower parts, or have petals that shrivel quickly, are not suitable for floristry, nor are plants with prickly foliage or offensive odours. • A species must be suited to cultivation; that is, it should be easy to propagate in large numbers and show vigorous growth in both nurseries and commercial plantations. This is necessary so that a large volume of the same product can be offered to the market. • A suitable species will have a lo
