“Because of many changing aspects, people are now finally appreciating the ranunculus,” says French breeder Bernard Bideau of Comptoir Paulinois. Bideau explains that recently, the demand for this flower has been high, which has not always been the case. The demand for some of the other flowers that the company is breeding has been developing differently, however, with stable or even decreasing demands. In this article, Bideau explains the recent developments in demand and how growers are reacting to them.
The recent popularity of the ranunculus
“Our ranunculus varieties are sold all over the world. What is interesting, is that the demand has recently become very high everywhere, which is not the case for all of our flowers,” says Bideau. He explains that the ranunculus is an old flower that was mainly grown locally in south Europe. “Because people’s taste in flowers is changing, they are finally appreciating the flower. Consumers now understand that this flower has a great vase life and comes in many different colors.” In addition, the available varieties have seen some big improvements in the last years. “Over the last twenty years, there has become a better selection with bigger flowers and more colors, making it more interesting for consumers.”
More growers starting ranunculus production
According to Bideau, the current attraction for the ranunculus is worldwide, and growers want to join in on the popular flower. “Because of the high demand, growers are now making a profit from it as the flower prices are good for these varieties. As a result, more growers are starting to ask about starting a ranunculus production. In the USA, for example, there is now an increased amount of local production, even though they would normally mainly be imported from South America and even Europe. In north and central Europe, more and more small growers are ordering because they need ranunculus in their assortment to offer to their customers."
Stable and decreasing markets
Yet some of Comptoir Paulinois’ other flowers are developing differently. “The anemone market has remained quite stable over the years in most markets, with some increasing demand in Asian and American countries. The antirrhinum/snapdragon has actually experienced a decreasing demand in south Europe, as it is a long flower which is not what the European market prefers. Therefore, some growers are now growing it at only 50 cm long instead of the usual 100 cm, as this is perceived as more attractive for the European market.”
For more information:
Comptoir Paulinois
www.comptoir-paulinois.com