HORTICULTURE: Plant Production

Plant material is an important part of any landscape. But how exactly does it get into landscape contractors’ hands? “All plants, from annuals to ornamentals, follow the same basic route to market, but the types of growers vary along the way,” says Jeff Gibson, landscape business manager, Ball Horticultural Co., West Chicago, Ill.
 
An originator is a plant breeding and production company that distributes its products – seed or vegetative cuttings – through a broker. These brokers, or wholesale distributors, provide the seed or cuttings to a specialty grower.

For annuals, these specialty growers grow young plants from seed to make plugs, or produce liners (rooted cuttings) from cuttings. Those cuttings may come from licensed stock growers have at their locations or, more typically, the growers receive cuttings directly from production facilities around the world.
 
For woody ornamentals, growers are specialized production nurseries that are licensed to either take vegetative cuttings from stock plants on their own properties or to grow liners that are sold to wholesale growers who finish the plants.
 
The next step is a wholesale finish grower, who receives the plugs or rooted liners and grows them to fill the containers in which the plants will eventually be sold. At times, the specialty plug or liner grower may also be a finish grower.
 
From there, the plants are sold to retailers (such as garden or home centers), landscape distribution centers or directly to landscape professionals.

Being aware of this plant production cycle can be useful for contractors who want the freshest plant material in a timely fashion. Gibson suggests contractors start working with their suppliers six to nine months in advance to avoid receiving root-bound or overgrown material. “Working backward through a standard production cycle with their supplier will help contractors get the maximum performance out of the annuals they buy, as the plants will be fresh when received,” he says. “Contractors will also be more likely to get preferred varieties rather than just what the grower has available at that time.” LL