Thursday, 09 September 2010 16:17
Florida case study contains recommendations for educators
GAINESVILLE, FL—A new trend shows native wildflowers are becoming more popular with consumers. The wildflower seed industry has experienced gains in popularity over the past 30 to 40 years and is considered to be a maturing, highly competitive market. In Florida, for example, a 2005 survey estimated sales of native plants in the state totaled almost $316 million.
College students do not fit the traditional demographic profile of gardening and landscaping consumers, but today’s horticulture students are tomorrow’s decisionmakers—those who will determine how and if native wildflowers will be used in educational programs, gardening, landscaping, and revegetation projects. A research team from the University of Florida designed a web-based survey that investigated the awareness, perceptions, and interest in native wildflowers among Florida college students enrolled in plant-related disciplines, and discovered some corresponding recommendations for educators.
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Thursday, 09 September 2010 16:15
Research finds economic impact of laurel wilt disease could be “catastrophic”
HOMESTEAD, FL—Florida’s lucrative avocado industry could face a serious blow from a duo of deadly new invaders. Together, the invasive fungus called “laurel wilt disease” and the redbay ambrosia beetle, which carries laurel wilt, represent a significant economic threat to the industry. According to a report published in HortTechnology, direct losses from the invasion could range from $183 million to a remarkable high of $356 million. “The impact on the local economy would be catastrophic”, noted Dr. Edward A. Evans of the University of Florida’s Tropical Research and Education Center, one of the authors of the study.
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Thursday, 09 September 2010 16:05
Residents’ water conservation, plant choices may aid urban planners
LAS CRUCES, NM—While municipalities may mandate communitywide water conservation measures, individuals—particularly homeowners—can make significant contributions to water conservation in urban environments. Hoping to provide urban planners with more information about how residents’ landscape preferences affect municipal water supplies, a team from New Mexico State University surveyed homeowners in Santa Fe about their attitudes toward high desert plants. Rolston St. Hilaire, Dawn M. VanLeeuwen, and Patrick Torres reported on their study of residents’ preferences for urban landscapes and water conservation strategies in a recent issue of HortTechnology.
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Wednesday, 10 March 2010 15:37
Price drives buying decision, study shows
COLLEGE STATION, TX—Orchids are the fastest-growing group of potted flowering plants in the United States, outranked only by poinsettias in sales. The wholesale value of potted orchids in the U.S. has risen 80% in the last decade (to $126 million in 2007), but information concerning consumer preferences for orchids is still very limited. To help Hawaiian garden centers and orchid growers gain insights into consumer attitudes and preferences, researchers from Texas A&M University designed a study that analyzed consumer preferences affecting orchid purchases and the relative importance of different orchid “attributes”, including species, price, size, and color.
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HortTechnology
