DEVELOPMENT OF IXODIA ACHILLAEOIDES AS A CUT FLOWER CROP

A developmental program is being conducted in South Australia to support the commercialisation of a native flower crop which has previously been harvested from the wild for the dried flower trade. Ixodia achillaeoides ssp. alata is a perennial shrub in the Asteraceae which produces terminally flowering stems of white everlasting blooms of unique appearance and durability.
There is considerable variation in morphological and physiological characteristics within this subspecies which greatly influences floricultural potential.

Production of this crop is not proceeding rapidly to meet market demand because there are few named varieties with known characteristics available to assure consistency, uniformity and harvest efficiencies.
The objective of the current research program is the development of superior varieties of Ixodia achillaeoides with known flowering characteristics, cultivation performance and disease tolerance.

III International Symposium on New Floricultural Crops

Gail E. Barth

ixodia daisy, floriculture, dried flower crops, South Australian daisy, Australian native flower crops

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1998.454.20