Commercial flower bulb production in the PNW began over 100 years ago, and in the 1920’s, growers also supplied bulbs to greenhouse forcers in other regions of the U.S., Canada and Europe. Today, the production of both ornamental bulbs and cut flowers represents an important high-value specialty crop in the United States with 90% of the domestic production of tulips, daffodils, bulbous iris and Asiatic/oriental lilies occurring in the coastal areas of Washington, Oregon and northwestern California. In 2005, the wholesale value of flower bulb crops in the U.S. totaled over $235 million.
Currently, the majority of Washington’s specialty cut flower production occurs primarily on small farms in four counties: Clark, Lewis, Pierce, and Skagit. A WSU 2012 survey of Washington cut flower growers indicated that 98% of the growers farmed less than 10 acres and 51% of the growers farmed less than an acre.
Another WSU survey estimated there were 160 farmers markets in Washington in 2009 and 93% of these markets offered cut flowers for sale. Flowers from ornamental bulb crops are currently an important staple item at these local markets.