Local flowers gaining popularity with growers

Local production is a major focus in the food and ornamental plant industries. Local cut flowers are of particular interest because of rising consumer demand and the ability to grow them in relatively small spaces. This summary highlights key findings from a 2025 University of Tennessee–led study that examined customer preferences for local cut flowers in the southeastern United States.

A total of 708 cut flower purchasers from the Southeast participated in the study. The participating states included Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, and Mississippi. Participants were asked about their overall perceptions of locally grown cut flowers and their past purchasing behaviors. They were also shown six images of cut flowers and asked to identify each flower by name from four options.

The flower images included cornflower, zinnia, lisianthus, yarrow, snapdragon, and dahlia. Over half of the participants (67%) reported purchasing locally grown cut flowers in 2024. Most purchases were made at grocery stores, independent florists, and farmers markets. Color was rated as the most important purchasing factor, with an average score of 4.4 out of 5, followed by price, availability, and fragrance. The main barriers to purchasing local cut flowers were price, selected by 48% of participants, and low availability, selected by 44%.