CUT-FLOWER PRODUCTION IN

THE PHILIPPINES
by Teresita L. Rosario

7. CUT FLOWER PRODUCTION IN THE

PHILIPPINES - Teresita L. Rosario[7]
1. Introduction
The Philippine Ornamental Horticulture Industry has come a long way since the 70's when cut
flowers were considered its major component and the growers were hobbyists or plant
enthusiasts. In the mid 80's the industry became a huge income source and potential for a foreign
revenue earner. Interest in the commercialization of horticultural products grew to a point where
the government recognized its importance and contribution to the local economy. The number
and size of farms had continued to increase adopting modern technologies where appropriate and
in some cases foreign technology was sourced to boost production and quality. Promotion on the
use of Ornamental Horticulture products increased people's awareness of the benefits that can be
derived from the industry.
The floriculture industry in the Philippines is almost synonymous with the ornamental
horticulture industry; the former connotes flowers; the latter, includes flowers and other
ornamentals. The country offers the following horticultural products for both domestic and
external trade:

Cut flowers - fresh flowers and flower buds that have been cut from the plant suitable for
bouquets, wreaths, corsage and special flower arrangements.
Foliage and other plant parts - fresh leaves and branches of trees, shrubs, bushes and
other plants, grasses, mosses, lichens and the like suitable for ornamental purposes.
Dried ornamentals - dried, dyed, bleached plant materials such as grasses, statice,
eucalyptus.
Other ornamentals - trees, shrubs, bushes, roots, cuttings and slips used indoor or for
landscape purposes.

The phenomenal growth of the Ornamental Horticulture Industry in the last few years has led the
Department of Agriculture to include the cut flower in its Key Commercial Crop Development
Program (KCCDP) for 1996 - 2000. The Department of Trade and Industry adopted the
ornamental crops as its "Export Winner" and the Department of Science & Technology
recognized it in its Science & Technology for National Development (STAND 2000). Young as
it is, the industry has shown its vital role in the local economy, and slowly it is penetrating the
export market and emerging as a true global competitor.
2. Present Situation of Cut Flower Production
Cut flowers are grown throughout the Philippines but the industry was originally confined only
to a few, small growers. In the last few years, an increased awareness and recognition of high
return on investments, rapid population growth, higher standard of living, more hotels and
restaurants, influx of tourists has led to more demanding and choosy clients. An increased
demand triggered more production but despite the larger area devoted to cut flower, there is still
2

a short fall in the supply. The demand for the domestic market is so big that the country has no
option but to import some cut flowers, mainly chrysanthemum and orchids from other countries.
This is strongly evident during Valentine's Day (Feb. 14), All Saint's Day (Nov. 1), School
Graduation (March and April), May Flower Festivals and Yuletide Seasons (December). The
major commercially grown cut flower varieties in the Philippines and their area of cultivation are
shown in Tables 1 and 2.
In general, gladioli, aster, sampaguita, chrysanthemum and heliconias are grown in the open
field. Depending on the cultural and light requirements of the cut flowers grown, greenhouses
and net houses are usually constructed both in the highlands like Benguet and areas of low
elevations. Semi-terete vandas are grown in the open, usually mounted on driftwoods; strap leaf
vandas and dendrobiums on commercial basis are usually protected by 2 - 3 layers of fish nets
and raised in pots/baskets.
Anthurium production generally uses a more advanced technology - in greenhouse complete with
computerized fertigation facilities. In some areas, net houses provide the necessary light
requirements of the cut flowers.
Roses are grown either in the open or in greenhouses, the same is true with the gerbera.
Greenhouse structures protect the cut flowers from the intense heat of the sun and heavy rains.
Cultural and management practices are also easier to control inside and can be scheduled
regularly regardless of the weather outside.
The flowers of Jasminum sambac or sampaguita are usually used as leis or garlands usually with
religious connotations. The plants are grown near houses or along roadsides for easy access and
convenience on the part of the grower.
Flowering is controlled in chrysanthemum and aster production, usually in the form of
supplementary lights. Sometimes growth regulators are applied in chrysanthemums if they are
intended as potted flowering plants.
Cold storage to break the dormancy of corms and cormels of gladiolus is available. Post harvest
facilities for cut flowers are also available at the University of the Philippines, Los Banos. Big
growers have their own storage facilities.
3. Production of Planting Materials
Depending on the kind of cut flowers grown, planting materials are produced through cuttings,
bulbs, tubers, corms, tissue culture, embryo culture, etc. For orchids, community pots,
flasks/culture bottles, top cuts and overgrown seedlings are purchased either from abroad
(Malaysia, Thailand, Hawaii) or from local nurseries. From the initial purchase, the cut flower
grower can produce some of his planting materials for the farm.
Chrysanthemums are propagated mainly by cuttings, roses by budding, marcotting and cutting,
anthurium by division or production of suckers, gladiolus through corms and cormels, heliconias

by division. For big farms, the initial planting materials are imported, as in anthurium and
chrysanthemum.
Table 1. Major Producers of Cut Flowers in the Philippines
Cut Flower
Orchids
Anthurium
Roses
Chrysanthemum
Gladiolus
Heliconias
Gerbera
Carnation
Aster
Shasta Dasies
(Chrysanthemum
maximum)
Zantedeschia aethiopica

Luzon
Laguna, Batangas
Laguna, Benguet,
Cavite, Batangas
Benguet, Cavite,
Batangas, Tagaytay
Laguna, Benguet
Benguet, Laguna
Laguna
Laguna, Batangas
Benguet
Laguna
Benguet

Laguna, Batangas,
Benguet
Laguna, Pampangas

Jasminum sambac
(Sampaguita)
Lilium (Oriental & Asiatic) Laguna, Batangas,
Benguet
Statice (Limonium
Benguet
sinuatum)

Visayas
Mindanao
Cebu, Negros
Davao City, South
Occidental
Cotabato
Negros Occidental Davao City Cagayan de
Oro City, Bukidnon
Cebu, Iloilo,
Davao City
Negros Occidental
Cebu
Davao City
Cebu
Negros Occidental Zamboanga
Cebu
Davao City

Cebu

Davao City

Table 2. Varieties of Cut Flowers Commercially Grown in the Philippines

Roses
Red
Success
Mercedes
Golden
Times
Texas
White
Liberty

Mums
Regan
Series
Fuji Series
Taiwan
Yellow
Puto Puto

Orchid
Jaq-Hawaii Uniwai
Pearl
Jaquelyn Thomas
Singapore White
Sonia alba
Walter Oumae
White Fairy
Sonia

Anthurium Gladiolus Liliums

Heliconia
Nitta
Friendship Stargazer Parrot
Kaumana Spic &
Cordelia Parakeet
Sase
Chandler Span
Midori
Jacquinii
Bihai
Margaretha
Fantasia
Caribbean
Tropical
Yellow
Paradiso
Caribbean Red
4

Jacaranda
Raphaela
Athena

Tuang Pink
Waipahu Beauty
Burana Jade
Burana Fancy

Lambada
Merengue
Leigh
Mauricia

Kathy
Southern
Cross

Chark Kuan Pink

Chark Kuan Blue
Chark Kuan Orange
Chark Kuan Red
Saleha Alsagoff
Sumalee

Mist beds for rooting the cuttings and laboratories for embryo and tissue culture of orchids are
available. Government agencies like universities and state colleges, regional offices of the
Department of Agriculture and Department of Science and Technology usually offer services for
embryo culture of hybrids produced by the grower for a small fee. In this manner, the grower can
have his own planting materials. These agencies also sell their own produce to the public.
Several growers specially the orchid breeders have their own laboratories and offer their hybrids
for sale.
4. Marketing
The key players in the marketing of the cut flowers in the Philippines are the breeders/growers,
input suppliers, traders, cooperatives, transporters, brokers, exporters, importers, institutional
buyers and walk-in consumers.
New and improved varieties of cut flowers form the backbone of the industry. Breeders,
therefore, play an important role by developing the varieties and hybrids and help in the
production of planting materials for the commercial growers. Input suppliers include the
distributors and dealers of farm chemicals like fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators and the
like.
The traders can be individuals or groups of individuals who distribute cut flowers from the
producers to the demand site. The traders could be assembler-wholesalers, assemblerwholesalers-retailers, commission agents, wholesalers, florists, retailers or vendors.
Alternatively, members of cooperatives grow cut flowers and the organization itself may handle
the selling and distribution of its produce to buyers.
Transport of cut flowers is performed both by land and air e.g. planes, buses, vans, and jeepneys.
Processing of papers of imported cut flowers and other supplies are performed by the brokers.
Cut flowers are exported by corporations, organizations and individual entrepreneurs.
Institutional buyers include hotels, restaurants, banks, offices, hospitals and churches.

The quantity purchased by walk-in customers is minimal, depending on the occasion.

Employees, students and housewives are the most common walk-in customers.
There are no auction centres in the Philippines. There are only a few cooperatives that market
their produce. Attempts have been made by some people to channel their cut flowers through
their cooperatives but somehow, it is easier and more convenient to sell their produce
individually.
Export of cut flowers is on a limited scale, with gladiolus topping the kind of cut flower
exported. Almost all of it, which is about 46% of the total export, goes to Korea (Table 3). The
other cut flowers exported to Japan, Brunei, Hongkong and Italy include anthuriums, liliums, and
roses (Table 4). More than half of the exported cut flowers go to Japan.
A list of cut flowers imported in the Philippines is shown in Table 5. Chrysanthemums and
carnations constitute the bulk of imported flowers from Australia, Holland and Malaysia. Almost
half of the flowers are imported from Holland (Table 6).
Table 3. Cut Flowers Exported, 1996
Cut Flower
Country
% Share
Gladiolus Korea
46.10
Anthurium Brunei, Japan
43.49
Liliums
Japan
8.93
Roses
Hongkong, Japan
1.33
Orchids
Italy, Japan
0.41

Table 4. Export Markets of Philippines Cut Flowers for 1996

Country Cut Flower Quantity (Kg) % Share
Japan
Anthurium
9,358.62
53.48
Liliums
1,933.92
Roses
279.50
Orchid
6.00
46.19
Korea
Gladiolus
10,000.00
Brunei
Anthurium
55.62
0.25
Hongkong Roses
10.00
0.046
Italy
Orchids
3.00
0.013
Source: Bureau of Plant Industry Quarantine Division, Department of Agriculture.
Table 5. Philippines Cut Flower Importation (1996)
Cut Flower
Country Quantity (Kg) % of Total Importation
Chrysanthemum Australia
102
36.98
6

Carnation

Pompom
Roses

Amaranthus

Alstroemeria

Lilium

Gerbera

Anthurium

Tulip

Misty Blue

Holland
Malaysia
Singapore
Australia
Holland
Malaysia
New Zealand
Holland
Malaysia
Australia
Holland
Malaysia
New Zealand
Thailand
USA
Australia
Holland
New Zealand
Australia
Holland
New Zealand
Australia
Holland
Malaysia
New Zealand
Australia
Holland
Malaysia
New Zealand
Australia
Holland
Malaysia
New Zealand
Australia
Holland
New Zealand
USA
Australia

8,389
13,566
586
638
7,691
5,097
80
176
4,292
55
3,069
513
145
60
332
990
2,226
60
990
2.226
60
301
1,984
141
141
78
1,976
257
15
428
1,545
202
10
57
1,629
71
50
72

22.05

7.29
6.81

5.35

5.35

4.19

3.79

3.58

2.95

1.60
7

Holland
Malaysia

61
852

TOTAL
61,224
Source: Bureau of Plant Industry, Quarantine Division, Department of Agriculture.
Table 6. Suppliers of Cut Flowers to the Philippines (1996)
Country
Cut Flower
%Share
Holland
Tulip, Roses, Protea, Pompom, Peacock, Misty blue, Limonium, Lilium,
50.83
Iris, Holland, Gypsophila, Gladiolus, Gerbera, Freesia, Banksia,
Alstroemeria, Aster, Anthurium, Amaranthus
Malaysia Roses, Pompom, Phoenix, Peacock, Misty Blue, Limonium, Lilium,
39.75
Gerbera, Freesia, Chrysanthemum, Carnation, Babys Breath, Aster,
Anthurium
Australia Amaranthus, Anthurium, Alstroemeria, Babys Breath, Banksia, Carnation,
6.84
Chrysanthemum, Freesia, Gerbera, Iris, Lilium, Misty Blue, Protea, Roses,
Tulip
New
Amaranthus, Anthurium, Alstroemeria, Banksia, Carnation, Freesia,
.98
Zealand
Gerbera, Lilium, Roses, Tulip
Singapore Chrysanthemum
.89
USA
Roses, Tulip
.58
Thailand Anthurium, Roses
.10
Source: Bureau of Plant Industry, Quarantine Division, Department of Agriculture.
5. Potential for Cut Flower Production Development
The country has its strengths for cut flower production. It has an ideal climate for year round
production with the capability to grow both tropical and subtropical varieties.
Considering the wide availability of land waiting for tillage and production of agricultural crops,
it would not be difficult to produce cut flowers since suitable production techniques are already
available. The richness and diversity of Philippine flora allows the development of varieties of
cut flowers with endemic species as parents. A very important factor that contributes to the cut
flower production in the Philippines is the existence of a very active horticulture association, of
which commercial growing of cut flowers is one of the main objectives.
The Federation of Cut flower and Ornamental Plant Growers, a non-stock, non-profit private
organization was formed in 1990 with the support of the Department of Agriculture to assist the
government develop the cut flower industry. Its main thrust is service in the different fields
where technical manpower support is lacking. The services are on consultation, skills and
training, involvement in the marketing of the products of the growers, establish linkages with
non-government organizations like USAID, JICA and Dutch-Flamingo International (FMD). The
Federation is involved in advocating new policies for the improvement of the industry and its
members.

There is still a substantial shortage of supply of cut flowers in the Philippines. Importation of cut
flowers from other countries is quite substantial (Tables 5 and 6). Hence, by stepping up the cut
flower production within the country, a substantial amount of foreign exchange can be saved.
6. Constraints in Cut Flower Production Development
The high cost of structures like greenhouse, irrigation and postharvest facilities are some of the
major constraints to the producers of cut flowers. The availability of quality planting materials
most of which come from abroad is sporadic. For new varieties/types of cut flowers like lilium,
gerbera and calla, production technology is still insufficient. With new production technology
comes the introduction of new agricultural chemicals which are not readily available locally and
work out very expensive when imported. This is coupled with high import duties on other inputs
too.
Access to credit sources is also another major problem confronting the growers. The interest
rates on loans offered by institutions are high. Growers of roses, chrysanthemums, gladiolus,
orchids and anthuriums are in need of financial support during the initial stages of production.
Collateral requirements demanded by lending agencies are rarely met and the grower faces the
dilemma of whether to continue cut flower growing or not.
On the part of the exporters, there is a shortage of cut flowers volume wise and quality wise. The
small growers can not compete with big growers. It will be easier to meet the quality, but the
volume needs more attention.
The cut flower industry is still in its juvenile stage and not much information on the feasibility
and prospect of the business is available. Hence, investors are slow in getting into the business
since lending agencies or banks always demand feasibility studies. Big growers are quite hesitant
to provide information because of inherent competition.

[7] Department of Horticulture, University of the Philippines at Los Banos, College, Laguna,
Philippines.