Floral Designer Student’s Use and Perceptions of Blue-flowered Perennial Flax As a New Cut Flower Crop

Blue-flowered perennial flax (Linum austriacum, Linum lewisii, and Linum perenne) has potential use in the commercial cut flower (CF) market as a filler flower type in floral designs. Before its introduction and integration into the commercial CF market, determining the perceptions from firms and users in the horticultural distribution chain is imperative for successful launch of new cultivars. The purpose of this research was to conduct surveys of current and future floral designers to generate data on perceptions and use of perennial flax to guide market development. To test the acceptance of blue-flowered CF perennial flax with potential future floral designers, a total of 109 students enrolled in two floral design courses at the University of Minnesota (for-credit class, 3 credits) and the Koehler & Dramm Institute of Floristry (not-for-credit courses) over a 2-year period (2022 and 2023) designed with fresh or dried CF perennial flax. Floral designers answered a series of questions in floral designer surveys. Classes that are for-credit was a motivational incentive for student participation in the CF perennial flax surveys in this study. A majority of floral designers in each of the courses across semesters correctly identified the flax stems to be used as filler materials, although once they completed their designs, an increase in misclassification of stem types occurred. Most of the floral design students were willing to design with CF perennial flax again and bunched the CF perennial flax before use. Textural interest was uniformly the most positive aspect for fresh and dried CF perennial flax stems, although flower color is of considerable importance. The least positive aspects were durability, longevity, foliage, versatility, and flower drop. Future breeding and development of CF perennial flax will incorporate these recommendations for release of market cultivars.