FLORICULTURE AND LANDSCAPE DESINING

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 Chapter1. Introduction about the Basic Concepts of Floriculture and
Landscaping
1.1.Horticultural Sciences
Agriculture is refers broadly to the technology of raising plants and animals. The term Horticulture
is derived from two Latin words i.e. Hortus meaning garden or enclosure and Cultra meaning
cultivation. So, horticulture literally means garden culture or culture of garden crops. On the other
hand Horticulture is a part of agriculture is concerned with the raising of so called garden crops. It
also described as the practice of growing plants in a relatively intensive manner.
Ornamental horticulture: is a branch of horticulture which deals with the science & practice of
growing plants for aesthetic uses & improvement of quality of life and our environment. This branch
of horticulture deals with plants and their layout for beautification of the environment. A tremendous
number of plants are classed as ornamentals based on their decorative value and personal choices.
There are seasonal flowering plants, foliage plants, lawn grasses, evergreens, and deciduous shrubs
and trees. Fruit trees grown in home gardens can also be selected for ornamental purposes.
Branches of ornamental horticulture:
Depending on the specialization, ornamental horticulture may be sub divided into various sub-
specializations, among which floriculture, florist, nursery production, arboriculture and landscape
horticulture are the most popular once.
Floriculture: Is the branch of ornamental horticulture, which deals with the science and practice of
growing, harvesting, processing and marketing of cut flowers, flowering and foliage potted plants
and bedding plants. It is concerned with the propagation, production, distribution and marketing of
cut flowers, greenery, potted foliage and flowering plants, bedding plants, and herbaceous
perennials.
Nursery production: Deals with trees, shrubs and vines (climbers) culture and production mainly
for landscape beautification.
Landscape horticulture: Is an aesthetic branch of horticulture which deals with artistic arrangement
of plants in order to create picturesque and naturalistic effect in a limited space of land.
Landscape designing: is the selection of plants according to the physical situation of a house, public
or private building, road, public facility like an airport, or recreational place like a park
Arboriculture: It is the study and selection, planting, care, and removal of individual trees, shrubs,
vines, and other perennial woody plants.
Turf culture: Which includes decorative lawns and sports surfaces for football, cricket, golf, e.t c?

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 1.2.World ornamental plants trade

Floriculture crops include cut flowers, foliage plants and pot plants that are either annual or
perennial species, grown in the field and greenhouses for cut-flower production. The crop choice
may depend on adaptability to the environmental conditions and market potential of specific species
or cultivars.

It is known that cut flowers are grown in more than 50 countries. As of 2007, total area of
production is about 533,000 ha and the major production areas in terms of size are located in Asia,
Europe, Central & South America, North America, Africa and the Middle East. The Asian countries
possess 75% of the total cut flower production areas among them China and India are the major
producers. China possesses 4% of the total cut flower production areas and makes 11% of the World
production.

The European Union countries (EU) possess 10% of the cut flowers production areas in the World.
Major EU producers are the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom and Spain. The EU is the
region with the highest productivity per hectare. These countries have a share of 46% in World
production of cut flowers though they possess only 10% of the production areas (Anonymous, 2009).
Seven percent of the world production of cut flowers is made by Central & South American
countries. Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador in the Central America and Brazil in the South America
are important producers (Anonymous, 2009). The main advantages of this region (Latin American
countries) with respect to production of cut flowers are favorable climatic conditions, low-cost land
& labor and proximity to the North American market. Thanks to favorable climate, foreign
investments and accumulation of knowledge, Latin American countries have become important
exporters to both American and European markets.

The main importers of cut flowers are Germany, the USA, France, UK, Switzerland, Sweden,
Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Italy, Australia and Japan. Germany is the largest
importer now, followed by the US, France and Britain .In the same period (in 2007), World exports

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 of cut flowers are about 6.3 billion Euros, 50% of which is made by the European countries. With its
exports of about 1 billion Euros, Latin America is the second biggest region exporting cut flowers.
Among the exporters of cut flowers, the Netherlands dominates the world trade (65%), followed by
Columbia (12%) and Israel (6%).in recent years, cut flowers production and exports has emerged
and growing at an alarming rate in Africa (Anonymous, 2009; Uffelen and Groot, 2012). Kenya,
Ethiopia and Zimbabwe are important exporters among African countries .the low rate of annual
operating cost particularly in Ethiopia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda and Kenya had played
a great motive in encouraging European investment in Africa (Gebreyeesus and Lizuka, 2010).

Ethiopia entered to a commercial cut flower production state in the late 1990s. Nevertheless, the rate
at which Ethiopia grew to a known flower export industry is quite immense. To date; the floriculture
industry is the most rapidly expanding segment of agriculture ever in the country. Global annual
consumption of flowers was estimated in the range of USD 40 - 60 billion in 2011.

The annual consumption of cut flowers in the world is worth US$ 13,000 million. On the demand
side, major flower consuming countries in the world are concentrated in Western Europe, Germany,
the USA, the UK, France, the Netherlands and Switzerland. They consumed around 80 percent of
the total flower production. at present western Europe alone consumes half of the flowers produced
in the world and a large expansion in flower consumption is taking place in Eastern Europe, Japan,
China, South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia (Gauchan et al., 2009).Of the world's ten largest
domestic markets for cut flowers, six are in the EU, namely Germany, the UK, France, Italy, the
Netherlands and Spain. Other important markets are the US and Japan, accounting for around 20
percent each. Recently, Russia and the Middle East have also become important markets
demonstrating rapid market growth. Over the last few years, the market for the flower industry has
advanced and the demand for newer products has expanded. For instance, currently, the Russian
market preference is for very large flower buds.

1.3. Floriculture and landscaping in Ethiopia

Floriculture is the newest of Ethiopia’s export industries; the rapidly growing flower sector in
Ethiopia has now become the fourth foreign-currency generator of the country next to the top three:

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 coffee, oilseeds and cereals. It is now more than twenty years since Ethiopia’s horticultural potential,
for export of fresh produce and cut flowers to European market,

The Ethiopian floriculture industry began in the 1980s when state-owned farms started exporting cut
flowers to Europe. Up to 1991, there were only two active enterprises, Horticultural Development
Enterprise and Upper Awash Agro-Industry Enterprise, both state-owned.

In 1992, Meskel Flowers was the first private floriculture company to specialize in the production of
roses in Ethiopia and exported its first batch to Europe in 1998 (UNCTAD/ICC, 2004). Then another
private floriculture company, Ethio–flora was started activities around 1997 on a few hectares of
land. Recently, however, the country has made ornamental horticulture an important activity as a
means of diversifying export, and very recently few commercial floriculture units have been
established mainly with foreign collaboration and direct local and foreign investment.
The modern Ethiopian flower industry took off in 2005 when a number of foreign firms (mostly
flower producers from Kenya) and local businesses began production, encouraged by the
government’s aggressive promotion of the industry.

In no more than 7 years Ethiopia became the second largest flower exporter to the EU market from
Africa next to Kenya. The number of exporting farms reached about 67 at least until January 2008.
The Ethiopian Investment Agency has given permit to 251 investors in the floriculture sector until
2008.Out of these, 61 are operational, 21 are at implementation stage, 134 are at pre-implementation
stage and 36 permits have been cancelled. This number does not include companies solely run by
Ethiopians, as they do not apply to the Ethiopian Investment Agency but rather to regional
investment bureau for a permit.

According to the report of the Oromia Investment Bureau, Oromia accounts for 94% of the
investment in the floriculture sector and the number of companies registered in the region reached
134 (62 local, 54 foreign and 18 joint-ventures) in 2006. Recent data show that the region has
allotted more than 3,491.04 hectares of land to the sector.

The Ethiopian Investment Agency has given permit to 251 investors in the floriculture sector until
2008.Out of these, 61 are operational, 21 are at implementation stage, 134 are at pre-implementation

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 stage and 36 permits have been cancelled. This number does not include companies solely run by
Ethiopians, as they do not apply to the Ethiopian Investment Agency but rather to regional
investment bureau for a permit. Ethiopia's number one market for floriculture is The Netherlands,
followed by Germany, Italy, the Scandinavian countries, and the Middle East. Ethiopia with a
population base of over 80 million is also a potential domestic market for flowers, though it is not
yet thriving.

1.3.1. Ethiopia’s potential for floriculture and landscaping

floriculture
There are enormous opportunities for the expansion and diversification of floriculture sector in
Ethiopia. Ethiopia offers great opportunity to the floriculture industry.
Mainly this has to do with the geographic and natural setting of the country.
Suitable agro-ecology: Climate and Soil
Easy availability of land
Abundant and Cheap labor force
Government support: In recent years, the country has made a significant economic policy change
towards improving the overall export sector and a number of bottlenecks were removed. The
privilege differs slightly from industry to industry, but the horticulture industry (including
floriculture industry) has privileges such as: tax exemption (tax free) for inputs, tax holiday for 5
years, and lease of land with basic infrastructure, e.g. electricity, water supply, and telephone, for a
low price. The business environment around the floriculture industry has radically improved with
these efforts by the government:
Proximity to the global market
Exemption from import and export duties security

Potentials of Landscaping in Ethiopia

 Suitable agro-ecology for growing of ornamental plants
 Easy availability of diversified land forms and water bodies(lakes ,rivers, ponds)
 Abundant and Cheap labor force for establishment and management
 The need and support of government to beautification of landscapes
 More number of indigenous plants and grass specious which used as pleasing purpose

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  Availability of excess amount of water for irrigation and abundant construction raw
materials.

1.3.2. Challenges to floriculture and landscaping industry

Challenges to floriculture
Lack of skilled human power and practically oriented training centers.
Lack of infrastructures: unpaved road, cold track, communication and cargo forwarders.
Massive use of hazardous pesticides and absence of integrated pest management.
Social issue: Workers health and working conditions
Absence of protection cloths for workers, unsafe handling of chemicals and re-entering time is not
respected.
Unfavorable working conditions in the greenhouse, low salary…

Advantage of floriculture industry

Floriculture is a labor-intensive industry. Therefore, it creates many job opportunities in Ethiopia,
especially for the non-educated/skilled workers. Several different figures are available, but one
shows that permanent employment for 38,000 people and temporary employment for 46,000 people
were created in 2007.
Several occasions in our society such as birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, weddings, etc.
need flowers to celebrate. Valentine’s Day is the biggest occasion for gifting bunches of red roses.
If someone is sorry for his act and wants to apologize, then he can send his friend a bunch of
yellow roses.
Bunch of white roses and sunflower is ideal for thanks giving to anyone. Wedding ceremony is the
biggest occasion in anyone’s life.
Bunch of well-designed bouquet, consisting of various colored roses is the best gift for wedding.
These flower bouquets make their wedding ceremony memorable. Marriage anniversary is a very big
occasion.
A big bouquet of colorful rose mixture can be a good way to greet the couple. Bunch of white
roses is best suited for friendship day.
If anyone is missing his friend, relative or any other beloved person, then he can express his love
towards him by sending a flower bunch.

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 Suppose someone’s friend or relative is seriously ill, then he can present some designer flowers to
refresh him from his illness.
Dis advantage of floriculture industry
Health problems observed in Ethiopian floriculture industry
Continuous headache
Fainting (collapse) at work place, this is the sign of heat stress created in very hot greenhouses and
organophosphate chemical which affect nervous system (Johnson, et al., 1999)
Vomiting
Environmental issues
Massive use of chemicals in flower industry; Why?
Worldwide commercial cut flower trade is characterized by high pesticide usage; Why?
•Cut flowers are not inspected for pesticide residue (not inspected like food)
•Blemish free and very high quality flowers are needed by the market/expected by Importers
These two reasons encourage the massive use of chemicals
Consequence related with chemicals:
Health problems such as cancer, birth defects, and neurological diseases
Ecological damage
Cost
Sustainability
We are exporting water? In one year a hectare of rose needs approximately 10,000 m 3 (10 million
liters) of water. In Ethiopian case where there are about 273 ha of greenhouse roses, they will take
2,570 million liters of water per year and is expected with fresh flowers. Eg .Bore holes, Lake
Ziway, are commonly use, this worsen the problem.
Chemical residue – Excess chemicals and fertilizers are released to the nearby rivers or fields
without any control ,Pollution eg .red fox farm apply re circulate

Challenges of Landscaping in Ethiopia

 Lack of skilled human power and practically oriented training centers.
 Shortage high cost of planting materials both (seeds and cuttings) of ornamental plants.
 Limited awareness and interest about landscaping
 Law income of the community…

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 Chapter 2: Classification of floricultural and landscape plants
2.1. Classification of ornamental plants

“If you do not know the names of things the knowledge is lost”. Carolus Linnaeus (1707–1778) -
Swedish botanist
The branch of biology that deals with identifying and naming organisms is Taxonomy. Plants are
classified based on the similarities of their characteristics. Plant taxonomists compare flowering
patterns, stem and leaf structures, life cycles, genetic similarities, and many other characteristics in
deciding which plants are the most closely related. The study of the form or shape of organisms or
parts of an organism is Morphology. All plants are in the Kingdom Plantae. There are many classes,
orders, and families of plants. Different scientists have different ideas about how plants should be
classified. As a result, more than one classification system has been proposed. Sorting out the
classification systems can become confusing. Therefore, here we will use some of the most
commonly used classification.

2.1.1. Scientific & Botanical systems of classification

Classification is a term used to describe the process of group in related plants together and naming
the groups. These groups have been historically based on morphological and anatomical features
and, more recently, on genetics. Members of a species have characteristics that set them apart from
all other populations of plants, and they naturally breed with each other. Closely related species with
similar characteristics are grouped into a genus. The genera are grouped into families and the
families are grouped into classes.
2.1.1.1 Operation classification
A number of operational classification systems are employed simultaneously in the field of
horticulture. The following are some of the major systems:

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 A) Classification based on growth cycle
Plants may be classified into three general groups based on growth cycle. Growth cycle refers to the
period from first establishment (e.g. by seed) to when the plant dies. The three categories are as
follows:

I. Annuals
Flowers in this classification lives only in one growing season, completing its life cycle (seed,
flowering, fruiting, and death) in that period. The duration of a cycle is varied; it may be a few
weeks to several months, depending on the species. These flowers are produced for use in the
landscape. Some popular flowers includes, Geranium (Geranium spp.), Zinnia (Zinnia elegans),
Marigold (Tagetes spp), and pansy (Viola tricolor).
II. Biennials

Biennial means that something (in our case, flowering) happens once every two years. This plant
completes its life cycle in two growing seasons. The first season, it produces only the basal
leaves, grows its stem, produces flowers and fruits, and dies in the second season. The plant
usually requires some special environmental condition or treatment such as exposure to a cold
temperature (Vernalization) to be induced to reproductive phase. Although annuals and biennials
rarely become woody in temperate regions, these plants may sometimes produce secondary
growth in their stems and roots. Eg. Foxgloves (Digitalis), Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus),
Primrose or polyanthus (Primula), Forget-me-not (Myosotis).

III. Perennials

They are herbaceous or woody and grows year-round through the adverse weather condition of
their non-growing periods (winter, summer, winter, and fall) and then flower and fruit a variable
number of years of vegetative growth beyond the second year. Perennials survive the
unfavorable season as dormant underground structures (e.g. roots, rhizomes, bulbs, and tubers).

Examples are daylilies (Lilium spp.), Irises (Iris spp.), and callistemon laceolatus (bottle brush),
Spathodea campanulata, (Tulip tree). Perennials may be herbaceous or woody. They persist year-

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 round through the adverse weather of the non-growing season (winter or drought) and then
flower and fruit after the condition become more conducive.

B) Classification based on growth habit

Herbaceous ornamental plants
Herbaceous plants are non-woody. They survive the unfavorable season as dormant underground
structures (e.g. roots, rhizomes, bulbs, corms and tuber). Most of commercially important
ornamental plants belong to this group. They have a wide variety of uses in landscapes as well.

They may be classified in various ways:

1. Flowering herbaceous perennials may be planted in flower beds to provide early blooms, after
which annuals may be planted. Examples of flowering herbaceous perennials include daylilies
(Lilium spp.), irises (Iris spp.), bird of paradise (Strelitziareginae), baby’s breath (Gypsophila
paniculata), geranium (Pelargonium spp.), lily of Nile (Agapanthus orientalis), carnation (Dianthus
caryophyllus), gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii), flamingo flower (Anthurium spp.), mum
(Chrysanthemum spp.), arum lilt, sword lily, Indian short, tulip (Tulipa hybrid), freesia (Freesia
refracta). Daylily, peace lily, African violet, alstroemeria, daffodil, hyacinth, statice, crocus.
2. Foliage or non-flowering herbaceous perennials are popular for indoor use in house and offices
as potted plants. These plants can also be displayed in the front side, steps or terrace of the house.
Examples are coleus, freckle, snake plant, dumb cane, angel’s wing, ribbon plant, spiderworts,
plantain lily, and zebra plant, blood leaf, taros, prayer plant, silver net-leaf and ferns.
III. Woody ornamental plants
Woody perennials may be vines, shrubs or trees. Woody ornamentals differ in size and growth
pattern. Some shed their leaves and are called deciduous. Whereas others maintain fresh leaves year
round and are called evergreen. When choosing these plants, attention should be paid to: growth
habit, color, texture, shape and adaptation. Eg. Date palm, Dwarf conifers, silver king. In addition
many deciduous trees such as maples, birch, willow, oak, and hickory are big, there are a number of
smaller or ornamental deciduous trees that make an excellent addition to the home landscape.

C. Other Operational Plant Classifications

Flowering plants may be used in a variety of other ways, both indoors and outdoors. They are
classified according to the following uses:
1. Bedding plants

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 These are annual plants raised for planting outdoors in flower beds. Started from seed indoors in the
off-season and transplanted later in the growing season. Examples includes Petunia (Petunia spp.),
Zinnia (Zinnia elegans), Pansy (Viola tricolor), and Marigold (Tagetes spp.).
2. House or Pot plants
These plants are adapted to indoor conditions. They are grown in containers, usually slow growing,
and may be flowering or foliage plants. Examples are snake plant (Sansevieria spp.) Indian Rubber
plant (Ficuselastica), Philodendron (Philodendron spp.), Medicine plant (Aloe vera), and Pothos
(Scindapusaureus).

3. Cut Flowers
Cut flowers refer to flowers starting to blossom or flower buds that are cut with branches, stems, and
leaves to be used for bouquets or decorations. Cut flowers are grouped into two categories of “fresh
cut flowers” and “non-fresh cut flowers” such as preserved flowers. Typical fresh cut flowers
include roses, carnations, orchids, chrysanthemums, and lilies. Plant leaves, branches, and bulbs etc.
are not included. Drying and preserving with flowers and crafting with flora has a long history, both
symbolic and practical. As we move indoors, let’s fill the big floral void and learn about four ways
to dry and preserve flowers, plus what the heck to do with dried flowers. Some of favorite flowers
for drying include Globe Thistle, Celosia, Hydrangea, Statics, Strawflower, and Rose.
4. Ornamental trees and shrubs
Ornamental plants may be vines, shrubs or trees. These plants do not die back in adverse seasons but
usually suspected active growth. Although some perennials may flower in the first year of planting,
woody perennials flower only when they become adult plants. This stage may be attained within a
few years or even after 100 years. Woody ornamentals differ in size and growth pattern. Some shed
their leaves and are called deciduous. Whereas others maintain fresh leaves year round and are called
evergreen. Some are shrubs and others are trees. Woody ornamentals may be grown in a perennial
garden along with herbaceous perennials. When choosing these plants, attention should be paid to
growth habit, color, texture, shape and adaptation. Bay (Laurus nobilis) ,Box (Buxus sempervirens),
Callistemon, Maples, Palm tree, Maples, and Araucaria columnaris (Monkey puzzle), and Bay.

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