Because of its intense blue color and sturdy stems, perennial flax may be one of the next great successes for the cut flower industry. The industry relies on the introduction of new species and rare or unique flower colors to drive consumer interest and
increase flower sales. Perennial flax is a relative newcomer to the floral design market, with small, striking blue flowers and finely textured foliage making it an attractive filler for floral arrangements.
In a recently completed 2-year study, researchers at the University of Minnesota sought to determine the effect of floral preservatives on the vase longevity and other commercially relevant traits, such as greater postharvest bud opening, flower size
and improved color. A secondary objective of the study was to determine whether stem characteristics had any correlation to these postharvest traits. Such information could facilitate more efficient breeding of flax cultivars.
Experiment 1 of the study tested two commercial types of flax, ‘Sapphire’ and ‘Blue Flax’ at two different planting locations, one in Grand Rapids and the other in Morris, MN. A third site, also in Minnesota, was dropped due to problems with weed control.
At each site, plants were harvested in a single day, hand cut, and carefully wrapped and cooled for transport. Experimentation took place in the lab with two vase solutions- a control of distilled water and a commercially available FloraLife preservative
mixed according to directions.
Researchers focused on the effects of water treatment on the variables of vase life, the average number of flowers opened, percentage of initial buds, daily water loss, flower diameter, and flower loss-important considerations for commercial florists
and customer satisfaction.
The use of the FloraLife solution showed significant, positive effects in prolonging the vase life of both cultivars and resulted in more than double the increase in the number of blooms from existing buds.
In Experiment 2, various genotypes of 3 species of flax plants (L. austratriacum, L. lewisi, and L. perenne), also showed significant increase in vase life when treated with the floral preservative. Mixed results were observed
in other aspects of the experiment. Some genotypes showed marked increase in vase life, but had fewer flowers bloom during the length of the experiment. Additionally, researchers noted little significant difference in flower longevity among the various
genotypes.
Perennial flax has the potential to perform well as a filler in cut flower arrangements to add a vibrant, true blue color. Floral preservative, that is changed weekly, can be expected to increase vase life by 9 to 11 days, and increase the number of flowers
per stem. These are important considerations for both retail and wholesale florists who need to ensure that their products remain in peak condition at the time of sale, and for consumers who look for new and interesting flowers, as well as value for
their money.
The results highlight the importance of selecting for improved postharvest floral development (measured as number of flowers), in addition to vase life. Specific and genotypic differences observed in this study will enable selections for improved cut
flower performance that advance the goal of developing new cut flower flax varieties.
The full article is available in HortScience at .
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