Fresh Cut Bulb Flowers

In March and April, visitors to Southern California are lured to the Flower Fields in Carlsbad where over 50 acres of ranunculi grow, overlooking the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean. Mellano & Co. opens its fields to 20,000 visitors annually while these captivating flowers are at their peak.

With the ocean as a backdrop, the Flower Fields dramatizes one of the ingredients that makes California spring bulb flowers so special. It's the climate! Many of California's spring crops--iris, freesia and ranunculus--are grown outdoors near the coast where the influence of a gentle sea breeze and cloud cover assures moderate temperatures. In this environment, neither too warm nor too cool, plants can grow slowly, enjoying plenty of light. These conditions make for strong, healthy plants, which in turn produce higher quality flowers for consumers.

There are some noticeable visible differences as well. For example, iris stems typically reach 24 inches in length but 'Telestar', a popular yellow and blue iris, can get 30 inch stems in the outdoor climate. Head size, too, is larger, up to four inches in length. The ranunculus opens more slowly and stays open longer. Freesia, allowed to grow at its own pace in a cool, shaded environment, produces stronger, thicker stems.

The next few years should bring some delightful surprises in fresh cut spring bulb flowers from California. The ranunculus, with its papery petals and full heads reminiscent of the rose, are riding a wave of interest. California growers are seeking out new varieties with larger, fuller heads, more intense colors, and stronger stems. And a new purple variety is in the works, too, soon to be added to white, gold, yellow, pink, rose, red, salmon, orange and picotee ranunculi already on the market.

Fresh cut iris and freesia are available year round from California; ranunculus is available from November until April. Because of the volume available, spring is an ideal time to feature these flowers in a yellow-and-blue Fleur du Jour bouquets of blue and yellow iris with other yellow and blue flowers, such as delphinium and gerbera. Try 'Blue Elegance', a novelty iris in high demand for its lavender standards, light blue falls and dark blue veins.

Spring is a good time to breath in some terrific fragrances, too. Make yourself a Spring Scent-sation arrangement of freesia, narcissus and stock. A powerful feature of freesia, along with its fragrance, is its consecutive blooms. If spent buds are pinched off, a stem of high grade freesia will produce at least six consecutive blooms. Peach and cream freesia, available in limited quantities, are the latest introductions to the rainbow of freesia varieties.

Back to Design Ideas