Reduced imports and preserved cultural heritage are important driving forces in new projects on cut flowers and Garden Angelica

Since the 70s, Nordic production of cut flowers has decreased drastically due to increased imports. And in the Middle Ages, cultivation of garden angelica was so common that it was mentioned in Norwegian legal texts. But perhaps a greater interest in Nordic plant species can contribute to an increased cultivation of China aster and garden angelica? One of NordGen's working groups wants to contribute to such a development.

Most of the plants conserved in the Nordic seed collection consist of species that are important in various ways for Nordic agriculture, and thus for producing the food on our plates. But NordGen's mandate also includes conserving certain ornamental and medicinal plants – plant categories that are also significant for the Nordic cultural heritage.

Increased interest in Nordic cut flowers

NordGen's working group for medicinal, ornamental and aromatic plants met this week. The working group consists of representatives from all the Nordic countries. The meeting's agenda included discussing a working group project relating to cut flowers.

“There is an increased interest in the Nordic countries in using regionally cultivated cut flowers and preferably cultural heritage material. This is, among other things, to reduce imports, a trade that often contributes to long transports and a lot of pesticides,” says Ulrika Carlson-Nilsson, NordGen's Senior Scientist on legumes, medicinal and ornamental plants and responsible for the working group.

She continues:

“The idea is to look at the species in the genebank that can be suitable for cut flower production. Historically, both plant breeding and the production of various cut flowers existed in the Nordic countries.”

The group has chosen to study 20 different China aster (Callistephus chinensis), common snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) and French marigold (Tagetes patula). The selection includes, among other things, several varieties of China aster that were previously in the assortment of the Swedish plant breeding company Svalöf Weibull, but also seed samples that were originally donated by private individuals.  

An example in the latter category is "Skrubbs", a common snapdragon that was found on an empty lot when the ground was being prepared for a new Swedish supermarket. On the site there used to be a house from the 19th century which for many years was inhabited by a lady interested in gardening. This summer, the cut flowers will be test cultivated in four different locations in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland (see fact box below).

“Among other things, we will study the height and width of the plants as well as the color and shape of the flowers. But above all, we will look at characteristics that are important for cut flowers, for example how long the flowers stay nice at room temperature or in a cold room,” says Anna Palmé, NordGen's Senior Scientist on Nordic crop wild relatives and representative in the working group.

Garden Angelica in the Arctic

During the meeting, a project about garden angelica (Angelica archangelica) which has not yet been funded was also discussed. There is a long tradition of using the plant in the Nordic countries, both in cooking and as a medicinal plant. Along with onions, garden angelica is said to be one of the first plants to be cultivated in the Nordic region. Cultivation in so-called “kvannegårdar” (minor garden angelica farms) is mentioned in the “Gulatingslagen”, a Norwegian law which was valid until the year 1274.  

Even with garden angelica, there is an increased interest in the use of Nordic raw material rather than imported garden angelica, for example in the production of confectionery and spirits. Earlier this year, the working group submitted an application to the Nordic Institute in Greenland for funding of a larger Nordic garden angelica project with an Arctic focus. One of the project's aims is to document old cultivation knowledge from Sápmi, Greenland and the Faroe Islands.

“If the project is approved, we will collect wild garden angelica seeds for conservation in the genebank, and we will also conduct field trials in Greenland and Norwegian Tromsø. The project will also create a platform to distribute the knowledge that emerges in the project and facilitate contact between farmers and producers,” says Ulrika Carlson-Nilsson.

FACTS: The Project on Cut Flowers

The test cultivation will be conducted by the following actors:

  • Jordbrugets UddannelsesCenter Århus (Beder Gartnerskole) – Denmark

  • Hvilan Utbildning, Kabbarp – Sweden

  • Reykjavík Botanic Garden – Iceland

  • NIBIO, Apelsvoll – Norway