Cut flowers are a high-value crop and consumer interest in local, sustainably grown bouquets is increasing. In addition, cut flowers may also diversify habitat and provide forage resources for pollinators and beneficial insects. Although there is interest in integrating flowers into their production systems, urban and small-scale vegetable farmers are often space-limited, and many lack resources or land permanence to trial new crops or invest in perennials while simultaneously maintaining food production. Our project goals were to identify cut flowers that are suitable for small-scale and urban production systems and produce high-quality blooms for local markets; assess ecosystem services and/or disservices associated with cut flower production based on pollinator and beneficial insect visitation and insect pest pressure; and create educational activities and resources targeted to small-scale vegetable growers on how to integrate cut flowers into an annual production system. This presentation will highlight multiple functions provided by annual cut flowers when integrated within urban farm contexts.
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