The growing of specialized flowers for local distribution and arrangement has become a popular agricultural trend. These operations focus on cultivating a diverse array of blooms that prioritize unique colors, textures, and varieties not commonly found in the mass-market floral supply chain. This specialty farming approach allows growers to supply florists, designers, and consumers with fresh, seasonal products. The business model centers on maximizing the aesthetic quality and vase life of the harvested plant material.
The Common Names for Flower Farms
The most commonly used term in the local flower movement is the “Cut Flower Farm.” This phrase specifically refers to an agricultural business dedicated to growing flowers and foliage intended to be harvested and sold as fresh, whole stems for bouquets and arrangements. The entire process, from seed starting to post-harvest conditioning, is geared toward producing a product with optimal appearance and longevity in a vase.
A broader, more academic term for the entire industry is “Floriculture.” This discipline is a branch of horticulture that includes the cultivation of flowering and ornamental plants for the floral industry and for gardens generally. Floriculture encompasses not only cut flowers but also potted plants, bedding plants, and cultivated greens, making it a comprehensive category for ornamental crop production.
Another related designation is the “Flower Market Garden,” which emphasizes the scale and sales venue of the operation. A market garden is characterized by the intensive, small-scale production of high-value crops, including flowers, often on a few acres or less. These farms typically sell their diverse yields directly to consumers at venues like farm stands or local farmers’ markets.
Different Types of Specialized Flower Operations
Specialized flower operations are often defined by their unique sales and distribution methods. One increasingly popular model is the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share, which functions as a bouquet subscription. Customers pay a lump sum before the growing season begins, providing the farmer with necessary capital for seeds and supplies. In return, the member receives a weekly or bi-weekly bouquet over a predetermined season, agreeing to share in the inherent risks of farming, such as crop failure due to weather.
An alternative model that focuses on the visitor experience is the U-Pick or Pick-Your-Own (PYO) flower farm. These farms invite customers directly onto the property to harvest their own flowers. The farm layout is often structurally distinct from production-only fields, featuring wider rows and pathways to accommodate foot traffic and improve the picking experience. Customers typically purchase a container, such as a cup or bucket, and use provided snips to fill it with their choice of blooms.
Many growers also rely on direct-to-consumer sales through farm stands and pop-up markets. A farm stand provides a convenient roadside location for customers to purchase pre-made bouquets, sometimes operating on a self-serve, honor-system basis. Pop-up events involve setting up a temporary sales location at another business or a local gathering, which is an effective way to connect with a wider audience and move excess product.
Flower Farms Versus Nurseries
The fundamental distinction between a flower farm and a plant nursery lies in the intended final use of the crop. A flower farm grows herbaceous and woody plants specifically for their blooms, foliage, or seed heads to be cut and used in floral design. The focus of the farm’s labor is on cultivating the plant to its peak flowering stage and managing its post-harvest life in a vase.
A plant nursery, by contrast, is an establishment where young trees, shrubs, and ornamental plants are grown and sold to be transplanted elsewhere. The purpose of a nursery crop is not to be cut and consumed but to survive and thrive in a garden or landscape setting. Nurseries focus on root health, propagation, and selling living, often containerized, plants for long-term growth. While some flowers are grown at a nursery, their primary function is to be sold as whole plants rather than as harvested stems for immediate arrangement.