News & Notes of the UCSC Farm & Garden
Issue 127, Fall 2010
Choosing, Growing & Harvesting Cut Flowers
– Orin Martin
Forr
est C
ook
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Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems
Reasons for Growing Cut Flowers Thefirst,lastanddecidingreasonforgrowingcutflowersisforthesheerbeautyofit.Theyareuplift-
ing—bothliterallyandfiguratively,high-energyplants.IoncereadapsychologyMaster’sthesisdocumentingthatabouquetinthevicinityisamoodenhancer.Twentysomethingpageslater,myresponse:“Really,nowwhataretheoddsofthat?”Inadditiontothevisuals,scentedflowersseemtoactivatenostalgiaandmemoryandbyandlarge,goodonesatthat.Itisnotuncommonforsomeonetoremarkuponsmellingasweetpea,sweetwil-liam,stockormignonette,“OhmyUncleBartorAuntDorothyusedtogardenandgrewtheseflowers…”.
Gardeningisbothanartandascience.Scienceistobeunderstood,mastered,respectedandapplied(soilsci-ence,plantnutrientneeds,entomology,pathology,etc).Butartoraesthetics(thephilosophyofthebeautiful)informsandenhancesourexistence.Justasvegetablesarefoodforthebody,flowerscanbethoughtofasfoodforthesoul.
Inamoreperfunctoryvein,cutflowersoffergardenerstheabilitytohaveflowersinthegardenandinthevasethroughouttheyear(thinkendlessgreydaysinFebruaryandanantidote)ataffordableprices.Eveninthebestoftimesthecostofcutflowersliessomewherebetweenaluxuryandprohibitive.Youcangrowyourownforpenniesperplantwithannuals.Forthesmall,diversifiedgrower,cutflowersofferendlessnichemarketingpos-sibilities,limitedonlybytheboundsofimaginationandself-promotion:aCSAflowershare,farmers’marketorroadsidestand,specialevents,directmarketingtooffices,restaurants,etc.
Cutflowersinthegardenalsomakebiologicalsense.Avegetablegardenisasystemsomewhatoutofbal-ance.Mostofthevegetableswegrowdon’tfeatureflowersprominently,ifatall.Showyflowersattractcroppol-linators(oftenwingedinsects).
Additionally,theconceptofusingflowerstoattractandmaintainpopulationsofbeneficialinsectsthatinturnaidincontrollingdetrimentalinsects(aphids,mites,thrips,mothlarvae,scale,mealybugs,etc.)isnowawell-documentedsectorofentomology.Termslikefarmscaping,provisionofresourcestonaturalenemies,habitatmanagementtoenhancebiologicalcontrolofarthopodpestsandthelikespeaktotheconfluenceofage-oldfolkwisdomaswellastheresearch-basedstudiesshowingthatfewercroppestsarefoundasthediversityofanagro-ecologicalsystemincreases(seepage10forinformationonplantsthatattractbeneficialinsects).
Criteria for Selection: What are you looking for in a cut flower?Longevity (vase life):Simplyput,somespeciesofflowerslastlongerthanothers.Muchofthishastodowith
theplant’sphysiologyandanatomy.Ingeneral,flowerswithwaxyparts(leafcuticle,stemsandpetals)havelon-gerkeepingpower.Thewaxysurfacesreducemoisturelossviatranspirationandthuswiltingisdelayed.Speciessuchasalstromeria,liliesandorchidslastaslongorlongerthanthreeweeks.
Someflowersfeaturelowmoisturecontentandminimalleafsurfacestolosethatmoisture.Oftenreferredtoasdriedflowersoreverlastings,theyincludestatice,helichrysum,xeranthemum,yarrow,andacroclinium.Otherspeciesthatarelonglastingascutflowers:astersandchrysanthemums(10–21days).Vaselifecanbeextendedwithsomesimplepractices,outlinedonpages9–11.
Long, strong stems:Sometimesthisissimplyageneticcharacteristic(sunflowers,stock,ornamentalgrasses,statice).Adequatepotassiumfertilizerspromotestrongstems.
Fragrance:Again,scentactivatesmemory.Justafewsweetpeas,carnationsorafruityscentedroseortwocanenhancetheeffectofabouquet,makingitmoreappealing.
Beauty:Wellofcourse.Butit’sohsosubjective.I’mdrawntothesilverandgreyfoliageofstachys(lamb’sear);thesoftpastelsofsweetpeas,nigella,larkspursanddelphiniums;carnations,asalessoninshadesofpink;justaboutanyshadeofaster,butonlythepurewhiteandvelourshadesofsnapdragons;softpinkandthema-
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roonArabianKnightdecorativedahlias;andofcourseanythingblue.Butdon’tletothersdefineyouraesthet-ics—growwhatappealstoyou.
Factors that Influence Plant Quality and Vase Life Longbeforeflowersarecut,theirlastingpoweris
influencedbyselectionandgrowingconditionsinthegarden.Whileitseemsa“no-brainer,”growingtherightspeciesattherighttimeofyearinfluencesboththequan-tityandqualityofcuttingstems,butmorespecificallytheappearance,vibrancyandlastingtimeinthevase.Forinstance,cynoglossum(Chineseforget-me-nots),sweetpeas,larkspur,nigellaandagrostemmaprosperfallthroughspringbutburnout,crashanddiewithwarm(>80º)summertemperatures.Similarly,warmseasonannualssuchassunflowers,tithonia,asters,andzinniasstrugglewithsoiltemperaturesbelow60º(seepage8).
Longevityofcutflowersisalsoinfluencedbybothanatomyandphysiology.Inanutshell,someflowersjustlastlongerthanothers.Poppiesexudealatexliquidthatclogsconductivestemporesandcausesalmostimmedi-atewilt.Lupinesandsomehideouslylargedinner-platedahliasdon’thavethe“hydraulics”toholdstemwaterandthuscanbedifficult.Verbascum(mullein)petalsdropwithinminutesofcutting.
Ontheothersideoftheledger,flowerswithbigger,longer,thickerstemsarestrongerandbendorsnaplessreadily.Thesespeciesalsocontainlargerconductiveves-sels(xylemcells)thatcontributetogreaterwateruptakeandstayingpower.Stocks,sunflowers,well-behaveddecorativedahlias,ornamentalgrassesandalstrome-riacometomind.Slightlylessideal,butstillgoodinthevase:tithonia,carnations,andsnapdragons.Theseamped-upstemsalsocontainmorestarchesandsugars,whichhelpprolongpost-harvestmetabolism.
Aplant-positive,healthyplantapproachalsoyieldsgoodcutflowerresults.Anythingthatinducesstress—heat,cold,nutrient,water,pest,disease,poorsoildrain-age—affectsplantperformanceandadverselyaffectsthenumberandqualityofblooms.
Thegeneralgoalistoestablishalargevegetativeplantearlyinthegrowthcycle.Thisisdoneprimarilywithwaterandnitrogen(sunshineisassumed).Abiggervegetativeplantgivesrisetomoreandbiggerflow-ers.However,thisdoesn’tmeanthatthelushestplants,grownunderthewarmestconditions,yieldthehighest-qualitycuttingstems.Sometimesit’sgoodtorememberthedifferencebetweenmaximumandoptimum,orasrockidolJohnMeyerintonesinhishitsongGravity,“Twiceasmuchain’ttwiceasgoodandcan’tsustainwhatonehalfcould.”Althoughhewasintoningaboutmattersoftheheart,itisstillagoodguidewhenitcomestosustainability.
Thus,afterinitialplantestablishment,growingflow-ersundera“leaner,meaner”regimeyieldsthebestcut
flowers.Toomuchnitrogenandwater,coupledwithtoowarmtemperaturestoolongintothegrowthcycleyieldsplantthataretoosucculentandpronetopestanddiseasedamage,aswellaseasilybruisedleavesandstems.Theseflowersalsowiltmorequicklyaftercutting.
Manyannualcutflowersareprecocious,thatistheytendtobloombeforefullvegetativeestablishment,giv-ingrisetoafewsmall,short-stemmedflowers.Atech-niquecalled“pinchingandpumping”thatweuseintheChadwickGardenworkstodeterthistrait.Theplantsarepinchedback2–3nodesataboutthe6–8leafstageandthen“pumpedup”withashotofquicklysolublenitro-gen(e.g.,fishemulsion,manuretea,etc.).Thepinchedstemwillthrowanumberofbasalorlateralshoots,eachofwhichwillgiverisetooneormorecuttablestems/flowers,thenetresultbeingasnapdragon,zinnia,etc.thatgivesriseto6–8ormoremoderatelylong-stemmedflowers.The“pumping”partpromotesfurthervegetativegrowthanddelaysprematureblooming.Note:severalspeciesdonotrespondto“pinchingandpumping,”namelyasters,larkspurs,andsunflowers.
Thenutrientpotassiumalsocontributestolong,strongstemsandthusvaselife.Beyondcompost,twoorganicproductsthataidincutflowerproduction(usedpre-planting)areSustane(4-6-4)andDr.EarthFlowerFertilizer(5-7-3).Phosphoruscontributestoflowerpro-ductioninplantsaswellastoearlyrootgrowth.
A Thumbnail Sketch of Annual FlowersFormanygardeners,annualsequalsflowers,and
lotsofthemineveryconceivableshape,colorandsize.Annualsareplantsthatcompletetheirlifecycleinoneseason,orportionsoftwo.Theyare,asaclassofplants,extremelywillingtogrow,quicktomature(10–16weeks)andeasytocultivate.Seedisrelativelycheapandger-minatesbothatahighpercentage(>80%)andquickly(14–21days,andmanyin7–14days).
Annualsgenerallyofferaprofusionofblossoms.Someareephemeralinlengthofbloom—agrostemma,asters,stock,Ammi majus (falseQueenAnne’slace),cyno-glossum;whilemostareyeoman-likeregardingboththenumberofblossomsandlongevityofthebloomperiod—dahlias,zinnias,mignonetteandvenidium.
Asaclass,annualsproducemoreflowersoveralongerperiodthaneitherbiannualsorperennials.Oneoftheprincipalreasonsfortheirdemiseatseason’sendhastodowiththeirexuberanceandfreedomofblooming,asproducingflowersisacaloricallyexhaustiveexpenditureforplantsandthus“expensive”intermsofenergyuse.Theshowynatureofflowersisprimarilyanadvertisementtopollinators,whicharerewardedforavisitwithfood:protein(intheformofpollen)andcarbohydrates(intheformofnectar),thetwobasicbuildingblocksofanydiet.Inreturn,theflowergetspollinatedandsetsseedtoscatteronthegroundandperpetuatethespecies.
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Byharvestingtheflowers,thegardeneristhwartingaplant’sefforttosetseed;theplant’sresponseistoproducemoreflowersandtryagain.Yourdividendisanextendedharvestperiod.Conversely,ifflowersarenotcut,theplanttendstoslowitsflowerproduction(missionaccom-plished)andpumpenergyintoseedproduction.
What Grows When?TheBritish,anationofgardeners,haveformulatedan
annualflowerclassificationsystembasedoncoldtoler-ance.Itconsistsofthreeclasses:hardy,halfhardy,andtender.
Hardy(H)annalsarespeciesthatcantolerateareasonabledegreeofcold(10–20ºF)whenyoung.Eventheseedsofsomespeciescansurvivemoderatewintersoutsideandgerminateearlyinthespring,ascattergardenapproach.
Halfhardy(HH)annualsareusuallydamagedorkilledbycontinuedexposuretocoldtemperatures(<40ºF)andlightfrosts.However,likehardyannualstheytoler-ateandgrowwellvegetativelyduringthoseinterminable,endless(orsoithasseemedduringthelasttwoyears)cool,wet,graydaysofspring.Andalongwithhardyan-nualstheycatapultforwardinsizeandthenbloombestlatespringthroughearlysummer,withdaytimetempera-turesinthe60–80ºrangeandnights50–60º.
Tender(T)annualsusuallyhailfromtropicalandsemi/subtropicalorigins.Thus,thementionofthewordfrostwillcauseseedstorotandfoliagetoblackenandshrivel.Theyaretotheflowergardenascornandbeansaretofieldproductionandshouldnotbeseededortransplantedbeforedailysoiltemperaturesaverage>60ºduringagoodportionoftheday.ThisusuallyoccursMay1–June1inSantaCruz.
IntheSantaCruzarea,anyhardyannualsandsomehalfhardyannualflowerscanbesowninlatesum-merintoearlyfall,transplantedandoverwintered,andwillrewardthegardenerwithearlyspring–earlysum-merbloom,fromMarch–earlyJune.Thesesamespeciescanalsobesown(undercover)inlateJanuary–March,transplantedinlateMarch–AprilandofferasuccessionofbloomJune–July.
TenderannualsarebestseededinthegreenhouseinMarchandearlyAprilandtransplantedinMay,giverisetobloomsJune–August.SuccessivesowinginJulyoften-derannualsandsomehardyandhalfhardyannualscancarrybloomintothefall,evenuntilThanksgiving.
Herbaceousperennialflowersareanynon-woodyplantlivingfor3ormoreyears.Tothedegreeperennialimpliespermanencewithouteffortitisamisnomer.Pe-rennialsarenotmagicplantsthatcomeupunbiddenyeartoyear.However,thisclassofplants,oftennomorethan
Useful Hardy (H) and Half Hardy (HH) Annual Cut Flowers
HardyCalendulaCentaurea(Cornflower)ClarkiaCynoglossum(ChineseForgetMeNot)Dianthis barbatus*(SweetWilliam)GodetiaLarkspurNigellaScabiosa(PincushionFlower)SnapdragonStaticeSweetpeasSweetmignonetteHalf HardyCanterburyBells*DidiscusGypsophila elegans(AnnualBaby’sBreath)Iberis(Candytuft)LinariaSaponaria(abiggerGypsophila)Stocks*biannualspecies
Tender Annual Cut Flowers
AgeratumAmaranthusAstersCalliopsisCarthamus(Safflower)CelosiaCosmosDahliasGomphrenaMarigoldPhloxRudbeckia(perennial treatedasannual)SalpiglosisSalvia coccineaSalvia farinacea(tender perennialoftentreatedas annual)Salvia horminum/viridis (annualClarysage)SunflowersTithoniaVenidiumZinnias
Easy to Grow, Florific Perennial Cut FlowersAlstromeriaAsters(MichaelmasDaisies,Aster novi-belgii)Aster alpinusAquilegiaspp.(Columbines)Campanula persicifoliaCaryopteris clandonensisCatanache caerulea(Cupid’sDart)Centaurea montana, C.dealbata, C. macrocephalaChrysanthemumspp.CoreposisDelphiniumsDianthusspp.(Carnations)EchinaceaEchinops ritro(GlobeThistle)Erigeron(Fleabane)Eryngium planum(SeaHolly)HeleniumHeliopsisHeuchera rubescens(CoralBells)Liliumspp.Limonium caspiaandL. tatarica(Staticespecies)Nicotiana sylvestrisPhysostegia virginiana(basicallyaperennialsnapdragon)Stachys lanata(Lamb’sEar)Perennialcornflowers
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theselectedandreselectedwildflowersofthemeadows,mountains,marshesandwoodlandsofthetemperateandMediterraneanclimatesoftheworld,offereaseofcareonceestablished.Withafewwell-timedinputs,aspringweedingortwo,atopdressingofcompost,andaver-agegardenwatering,theseplantswillrewardyouwithintriguingarchitecturalformandfoliageaswellasmoresophisticatedflowershapesandmoresubtlehuesofcolorthantheirannualcounterparts.Comparethedelphiniumtothemarigold,thetigerlilyorcolumbinetothepetunia.Irestmycase…
Perennialsexpendpartoftheirresourcesdevelop-ingacrown(afleshystorageorgan),bulb,corm,tuberorrhizome.Theseareorgansthatallowthemtogodormant,overwinterandissueforthnewrootsandshootseachspring.Inmostcases,theseorganscanbedivided/sepa-ratedeveryfewyears,offeringthebonusofnewandfreeplants.Becauseofthispartitioningofresources,perennialsusuallyofferfewerflowersoverashorterbloomperiod.
Ideal Time to CutThetimeofdayflowersarecutiscritical.Basi-
cally,heat,sunandwindareanathema(Greekfor:thingdevotedtoevil)andensurequickwilting.Cuttingearlyinthemorningorlateafternoon(dusk)contributestoalongvaselife.Thecutflowerindustryhasinvestedmegamillionsofdollarsandresearchintowhichtimeperiodisoptimal.Essentially,theybothworkastheyaretimesofminimumtranspiration,whenplantsarenotlosingmois-tureatahighrate.
Advantages of Morning CuttingTheplantsaremostturgid,orsuppliedwithwater,
havinghadallnighttorecoverfromthemoisturelossesofthepreviousday.Theyalsohavecoolercoretemperatureinthemorning.Allotherfactorsbeingequal,vegetables,fruitandflowerswithacool(<50º)coretemperaturehavegreaterpost-harvestkeepingpower.Planttissuesareapproximately90%water(thinkofplantsasmerelysupportedcolumnsofwater).Takingflowerswhentheyarewellsuppliedwithwaterkeepingthemsuppliedwithwaterandhelpingthemtocontinuetoabsorbmorewaterisimperativetokeepingthemfreshandextendingvaselife.
Theonlydisadvantageofearlymorningcuttingisthepresenceofdeworfogonflowerpetals.Thiscanleadtobothinjuryandlossoftruecolor.Thatassumesthatyou,asagardener,areservantsoftheseasonsandthemorn-ing’searlylightandearlyrisingisnotanissue.Ifnot,perhapsacareerchange…
Advantages of Late Afternoon/Evening CuttingCuttingatduskorearlyeveningtakesadvantage
ofhighsugarlevelsintheplant,abyproductofaday’sworthofphotosynthesis.Thesesugarskeeptheflower’smetabolismgoingandcontributetovaselife.Themaindisadvantageofafternoonoreveningcuttingisahighcoretemperaturesandlowturgidity.Thesecanbeover-comebyrefrigeratingtheflowers(34º–50ºF)and/or“pulsing”them.Pulsinginvolvesplacingthestemsindeep,warm,tepid(90–100ºF)waterforonehourandthenplungingthemintocoldwater(40ºF).Inphaseone(warmwater)thestemsrapidlyabsorbwaterandachievemaximumturgidity.Thisisbasedontheage-oldprecept:biologicalandchemicalreactionshappenmorequicklyathighertemperatures(uptoacertainthreshold).Dur-ingphasetwo(coldwaterplunge)coretemperatureisreducedandthustranspiration(waterloss)slows.Therearethosewhosayhavingacutfloweroperationwithoutarefrigerationunitislikehavingarestaurantwithoutakitchen.AndyetwehereattheFarm&Gardenpersistandpushonward.Directmarketinghasitsperks,gardentokitchentableinlessthan8hours.
How to CutCuttingisbestdonewithhighquality,bypass(not
anvil)handshears.OrasMr.Chadwickusedtointone,secateurs(heyit’sjustFrenchforscissors,butitdoeshaveacertaincachetandthussome“oldtimers”stillpersistwithit).ThebestofthelotaretheFelcobrand.Theycomeinassortedshapes,sizesandconfigurations.I’mpartialtotheold#2ortheslimmer,longernosed#11.
It’simporanttouseasharpbladetominimizethecrushingofstemcells.Thelastingpowerofflowersinthevaseispredicatedoncontinueduptakeofwaterfromthevaseupthroughthestem,tothebloom,andoutintotheatmosphereviatranspirationfromleavesandpetal—a
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pressuregradientthatkeepstheflowersturgid.Itisthexylemcellsinthestemthatcreatethesieve-tubestofacili-tatethisflow.Don’tcrushthem!
What to cutVaselifeisaidedbycuttingflowersbeforepollination
occurs.Usuallyat,asthefloraltechnicianssay,“fullpetalcolordifferentiation”andatsomedegreeofopening,shyoffull.Ifcuttooearly,flowerstendtowiltquicklyorfadebeforetheycanopenfullyinwater.Apetpeeveinthisregardisdutchirisassoldinflowershops.Theyarecutintightbudrevealingonlyahintofcolorandtheywiltinthevase5–7dayslaterbeforefullopening,nevergiventheopportunitytolettheirfullfleur-de-lisflagfly.Butgenerally,thelessfullyopenaflowerisatcutting,thelongerthevaselife.Note:usingthesamespeciesoffloweratvaryingdegreesofopennessinthesamebouquetwillgiveyouasubstantiallyvariedsilhouette/look:today,tomorrowand4–5daysdowntheline.Thatis,someoftheflowersareperfecttoday,somewillopenfullyin1–2andthenin3–5days.
Itisalsocriticaltodistinguishbetweenflowersthatareatpre-andpost-pollinationstages.Plantsareallaboutresourceallocation,thatis,puttingresourceswhereitisprofitableuntilitisn’tandthenputtingthemsomewhereelsethatisnowprofitable.Profitableequalstowardper-petuationofthespecies.Becausefloweringisacaloricallyexhaustiveevent,withinhoursofpollination,resourceallocationshiftsfromalluring,shinypetalstoplumpinguptheseedembryo.It’sallaboutthenextgeneration.Thuspollinatedflowersquicklylosetheirsheenandpet-alsdropwithinafewdays.Thisisanimportantsearchpatternforcutflowergardenerstomaster.
Whileitisincrediblyspeciesspecific,hereisagen-eralguideregardingstagesofdevelopmentordegreeofopeningatwhichtocutflowers.Whenindoubt,earlierisbetterthanlater(pilesofpetalsonthatgoodtablecloth)andwheninseriousdoubt,abouthalfopenwinstheday.
Development stage/degree of opening• Spikeorracemeflowers(larkspurs,snapdragon,
delphinium,stock,mignonette,etc)—Cutwithap-proximately1/3–1/2florets*open.Theyopenbasetotip.
• Composite/daisyflowers(calendula,cornflow-ers,sunflowers)—Cutjustasthepetalsare“liftingofftheface”orhalftofullyopen.Petalsshouldbeabovehorizonal.
• Sweetpeas—1/2floretsopen• Alstromeria—4–5floretsopen• Carnations,cornflowers—Atpaintbrushstage(a
coolimage–check‘emout!)• Scabiosa—Tightbud(it’scalledthepincushion
flower)tohalfpetalopen• Yarrow—Anexceptiontothedaisyrule.Cutonly
whenallfloretsarefullyopenandpollenisvisibleortheytendtowiltbadly.
• Anemonesandranunculus—Showinggoodcolorbutintightbud
• Roses—Fullcolor,tightbud,sepalsatleasthorizon-tal.
*Floret=anindividualfloweronaspikeorstem.
Floral PreservativesFloralpreservativescanaidinprolongingvaselife.
Unfortunatelymostcommercialpreservativesarelacedwithheavymetals(aluminum,copper,silver,etc)andnastybuteffectivegermicides.Theyalsocontainasugarsource.Assuchtheyareseriousenvironmentalpollutants.Thetheorybehindtheirtradesecretformulaeissimple:
•Asugarsourcetofeedandprolongflowermetabo-lisminthevase.
•ThemetalsandgermicidesalterpHandkillyeasts,molds,bacteriaandfungithatclogthestem’sconductivetissuesandcausewilting.
Asafe,simpleorganic,homefloralpreservative:•1/4tablespoonsugarperquartofwater•1/4tablespoonbleach(eco-bleachworksaswell)
pergallonofwaterProbablythehighestandbestuseofcitricacid-based
“sodapop”(7-Up,Sprite,Fresca,etc.)isasafloralpreser-vative.Itcontainsplentyofsugarandsomecitricacid(tomodifypH).Putitinyourvases,notyourkids. Factors/conditions that promote & prolong vase life
• Acleancutonthestembottomata45ºangle.Thiskeepsthebottomofthestemupoffthebot-tomofthevaseandtheconductiveporesopen andclean.
• Startwithcleancontainers;every2–3days changethewater,cleanthecontainer,andre-cut thestems
• Keepbouquetinmoderatelightwithcooltem-peraturesandhighrelativehumidity
• Stripoffanyleavesbelowthewaterline• Conditionflowersincoolanddarkfor1-2hours
beforearranging• Cutflowersincooltimeofdayandplaceimmedi-
atelyincoolwaterandshade.Thedeeperthe water(6-8”)thecoolerthecoretemperature.
• Donotjamahighnumberofflowersintothecut-tingbucketinthegarden
• Useanorganicfloralpreservative(seeabove)• Cutflowerspartiallyopen(seelistatleft)
Flowers That Attract Beneficial InsectsAsmentionedintheintroduction,flowerscanattract
avarietyofbeneficialinsectstothegarden.Floweringplantsprovideshelter,habitat,moistureandnutritiontovariouspredatorsandparasitoids.Predatorstendtochewpestswiththeirmandibles(jaws)orpiercewithtube-likemouthpartsandsucktheirinnards.Commongardenpredatorsthatcanbe“farmed”withfloweringplantsincludeminutepiratebugs,bigeyedbugs,assassinbugs,
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soldierbeetles,ladybugs,lacewings,andsomesyrphidflies.Parasitoidsincludesomespeciesofflies,suchastachnids,andtiny,non-stingingwasps,includingTrichogammaspp.Parasitoidstendtolaytheireggsinoronotherinsects.Whentheeggshatch,theresultinglarvaebecomepredatorsoftheiregghosts.
Membersofcertainplantfamilies(someofwhichareexcellentcutflowers)provideeasilyaccessedfoodforbenefi-cialsviapollenandnectar:
Apiaceaefamily(carrot,dillfamily) Ammi majus–whitelaceflower Angelica Dill/Anise/Coriander Didiscus–bluelaceflowerAsteraceaefamily(sunflowerfamily) Calliopsis Coreopsis Cornflowers Cosmos Mexicansunflower(Tithonia) Sunflowers(Helianthus) Yarrow(Achillea)
Brassicaceaefamily(cabbagefamily) Alyssum Iberis(candytuft) StockDipsaceaefamily(scabiosafamily) Dipsacus(Teasel) Scabiosa
AlsotheflowersofSambucusspp.(Elderberry),whichareattractiveontheplant,inthevase,andattractwingedbeneficials.ThesameistrueofspeciesofEriogonum(Buckwheat)ofwhichtherearemanyCalifornianatives,aswellastheannualcovercropspecies.
