Propagation and Production of Native Wildflower Species:
A Systems Approach

With the increasing awareness and popularity of native wildflowers, supply has not been able to meet demand for many species such as Trillium. Conversations with Virginia nursery and greenhouse growers who include perennials in their product mix indicate that the demand is there, but in order for mainstream operations to add these species to their inventory, propagation must be more rapid and predictable in terms of survivability and uniformity. Also, two to three years of “growing on” for other garden-worthy species such as Hepatica acutiloba is not acceptable in terms of production time; specifics of irrigation, fertilization, light, and temperature need to be defined for optimal growth in an economical time-span. Consumers have turned to mail-order and specialty nurseries as their major source of native wildflowers; most are seed-grown (non-uniform), dug from the field, and shipped bare root.  Wildflowers are also being dug from natural habitats for replanting or sale; most do not survive transplantation. Shortia galacifolia (Oconee Bells) is now on the endangered species list for several states.

In collaboration with Dr. Holly Scoggins (Virginia Tech Department of Horticulture), our goal is to make the propagation and production of these garden-worthy, but hard-to-grow wildflower species simpler and more economically feasible for commercial nursery and greenhouse growers. Propagation improvement via tissue culture and reduction of time required in vitro is the critical first phase of a multi-year effort. The second phase of the study will test and refine define cultural guidelines for growing the propagules from transplant to market size.  Once a propagation and production system is defined, all would be prime candidates for Virginia’s Beautiful Gardens ™ plant introduction and promotion program.

Our species of interest include members of the Order Ericales, the Order Liliales (Lily), and the Order Ranunculales.