April showers bring May flowers and for USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), this means the release of 2021 floriculture data. Look for more flora in this data bouquet; NASS expanded the floriculture program to cover all 50 states and more than 30 new crops.
For those who find delight in aromatic plants, additions to the crop dataset include lavender and eucalyptus—in the Potted Herbaceous Perennials and Cut Cultivated Greens categories, respectively. And protea, a lush and colorful flower added to bouquets and other arrangements, can now be found in the Cut Flowers category.
May is a popular month for giving and gardening with flowers and plants. The 9,558 American growers rose to the occasion in 2021, whether it was for Mother’s Day, graduation, giving your home more curb appeal, or birthdays. The total value of sales across all floriculture crops in 2021 totaled $6.43 billion. For the combined 17 states included in the program in 2020, the crop value increased 6%.
To take “stalk” of current and past floriculture data, visit NASS’s Quick Stats page or download the latest highlights (PDF, 1.5 MB).