Woody floral plants include any woody plant species that has a colorful or unusually shaped stem, bud, flower, fruit or leaf. Common examples include pussy, fan and curly willow, red- and yellow-stemmed dogwoods, forsythia, apple, cherry, plum and witchhazel. These plants, and many others, are regularly used in the floral industry. Homeowners can plant them too, using the stems in and around the home for decorations in the winter.
A group of plants commonly grown for the interesting color of their stems are varieties of Redosier dogwood, Cornus sericea. These plants are woody shrubs that prefer full sun, are adaptable to many soil types and hardy to Zone 2. They reach 7 to 9 feet in height with a spread of 10 feet or more, so they must be allotted enough space to grow well and develop a nice shape. Varieties of redosier dogwood with very colorful stems include:
- 'Bailey's Red' or 'Cheyenne'- bright red stems
- 'Cardinal'- bright cherry red stems
- 'Colorado'- orange-red stems
- 'Yellowtwig' (Flaviramea)- chartreuse- yellow stems
Another plant with interesting stem color and shape is Corkscrew willow, Salix matsudana. Reaching 25 to 30 feet in height with a spread of 15 feet, these plants are really small trees. They also prefer full sun and develop into an oval-rounded canopy with fine-textured twisted and curled branches. Hardy to Zone 5
- 'Scarlet Curls' Willow- scarlet red young stems in winter, the older stems are golden brown.
- Golden Curls' Willow- golden yellow stems with a semi-drooping nature. Tends to develop a more shrubby form than Scarlet curls.
- Curly Willow 'Tortuosa'- gnarled and contorted gray-brown branches make a wonderful conversation piece and a great accept in the winter landscape.
Growing these and other species of woody floral plants will be the subject of an upcoming program entitled “Growing Woody Florals for Profit”, to be held on Saturday November 12, from 9-11 a.m. at University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in Dodge County, 1206 W. 23rd Street, Fremont, NE. One or two acres set aside for production of woody floral plants can be a profitable enterprise for the landowner. This program will focus on the basics including plant species, planting and growing requirements, and harvesting techniques. Sources of plant material and marketing will also be discussed. The program fee is $10.00 per person before November 10th and $15.00 per person at the door. Everyone interested in learning more about growing woody floral plants for profit is welcome to attend.
Sarah Browning is a Horticulture Extension Educator with the University of Nebraska- Lincoln Extension in Dodge and Saunders Counties. She can be contacted by phone at 727-2775: by mail at 1206 W. 23rd Street, Fremont, NE 68025: or by e-mail at sbrowning2@unl.edu
