April Nursery Paper
In this month's Nursery Paper...
Many of the plants on the market are new, improved varieties. But does the industry, let alone the consumer, recognise the time, effort, expertise and cost involved in developing these plants? We pay a premium for a superior vintage wine or to eat in a first class restaurant, but are we prepared to pay more for better quality plants?
The industry and gardeners should support our plant breeders and celebrate the fact that Australians are now developing and exporting our own flora rather than letting other countries reap the benefits. Australia has a greater gene pool of flowering plants than any other country in the world, but in the past we have been slow to recognise the value and commerical potential of our native plants. In this Nursery Paper, freelance horticultural writer Helen Moody discusses and applauds ornamental plant breeding in Australia.
