Flowers are the most beautiful gift for every occasion. They convey pure emotions and can be used to express anything from happiness or love to sorrow. These Canadian flower industry statistics tell the story of the country’s flower shops. You’ll get more familiar with the floral industry and gain a deeper understanding of this business.
Top 10 Flower Industry Statistics
- The total worth of cut flowers sold in Canada in 2019 equalled $133.55 million.
- In Canada, $852.97 million worth of potted plants were sold in 2019.
- 98% of Canada’s export sales of flowers are made to the US annually.
- 13.89 million outdoor potted geraniums were produced in Canada in 2019.
- Floral industry statistics reveal that 42% of major florist brands’ Instagram followers are under 34.
- The highest number of indoor potted poinsettias was produced in 2011—8.64 million.
- 6.33 million indoor potted chrysanthema were produced in 2019.
- 66.6% of florists in 2019 employed fewer than five people.
- As of late 2019, there are 630 florists in Ontario.
- Boomers are 19% more likely to share florist brands’ social media content.
General Flower Industry Statistics
Before we dive into the deep end, we should focus on the flower industry’s general statistics. Let’s see what’s happening in Canada and how it ranks against other global industries.
1. In 2019, the number of produced cut flowers was the highest in Ontario— 211.15 million.
(Statista)
Industry trends and growth for cut flower production have been the most apparent in Ontario for years. In 2015, its number of produced cut flowers was even higher, reaching 227.15 million. British Columbia is the province with the second-highest numbers: 68.66 million in 2019 and 82.24 million in 2015.
2. The total worth of cut flowers sold in Canada in 2019 equalled $133.55 million, according to cut flower industry statistics.
(Statista)
The highest recorded worth of sold cut flowers in the last decade was in 2014, and it equalled $150.1 million. The sales remained fairly steady later on, with only 2017 making a slightly lower dip in sales, reaching $127.81 million.
3. Statistics on flower sales in Canada show that $852.97 million worth of potted plants were sold in 2019.
(Statista)
This is the highest worth of sales potted plants reached between 2010 and 2019. The number has been steadily increasing since 2012 ($653.42 million), with 2017 being a mild exception.
4. Ontario produced 107.86 million potted plants in 2019, the most out of all the provinces.
(Statista)
British Columbia was in second place with 49.77 million potted plants produced, while Quebec came in third with 32.26 million. Alberta was next with 8.73 million, followed by New Brunswick with 3.48 million. Nova Scotia had 1.39 million potted plants, while Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador produced less than a million (0.92 and 0.49 million).
5. Flower sales statistics indicate Canada sold a whopping $150.1 million worth of cut flowers in 2015.
(Statista)
This was the highest recorded worth in the 2010–2019 period. The lowest one was in 2017, with $127.81 million. The rest of the years range between $130 and $140 million, with 2019 fitting right in with a worth of $133.55 million in cut flower sales.
6. 98% of Canada’s export sales of flowers are made to the US annually.
(Canadian Florist) (Statista) (IbisWorld)
In 2019, Canada exported no less than $210.08 million worth of plants and flowers. However, IbisWorld’s data forecasts a slower export rate growth between 2020 and 2025.
Stats on Flowers and Plants Produced
Now that we’ve covered some general info on Canada’s floral industry, we move on to the flowers themselves. What are the statistics related to flower production? Stick around to find out.
7. There were 11.52 million cut lily stems produced in 2019.
(Statista)
Over the last decade, the number of cut lily stems produced in Canada hasn’t been particularly consistent. In 2010, there were 19.78 million stems produced. However, within just four years, that number dropped to 9.22 million.
8. 13.89 million outdoor potted geraniums were produced in Canada in 2019.
(Statista)
As florist trends move on to other things, 2019 marks the year of the lowest number of outdoor potted geraniums produced in the last decade. The highest number produced over the same period was in 2010, equalling 19.49 million.
9. There were 3.89 million outdoor potted impatiens produced in Canada in 2016.
(Statista)
The highest number of outdoor potted impatiens was again recorded in 2010 (8.87 million). The lowest was in 2014, with only 3.6 million of them produced.
10. Florist statistics reveal the highest number of indoor potted poinsettias was produced in 2011—8.64 million.
(Statista)
Though the number of produced poinsettias has been relatively whimsical over the last decade, 2019 witnessed a significant drop. The number reached no higher than 4.74 million.
11. 2012 was the year with the highest number of outdoor potted petunias, reaching 9.78 million.
(Statista)
The trend of potted petunias is similar to that of poinsettias, since the number was also significantly lower in 2019 (5.18 million). In fact, petunias don’t seem to be a part of floral industry trends. That’s reflected in the fact that 2019 was marked by the lowest number of produced petunias since 2011.
12. Between 2010 and 2019, the year of 2019 was marked by lowest production of outdoor potted begonias, reaching about 5.36 million.
(Statista)
On the other hand, the highest number of outdoor potted begonias was recorded in 2013, and it equalled 6.91 million. Floriculture industry statistics also show that before 2019, the numbers had remained in the span of 6 million for seven years straight.
13. The number of indoor potted gerberas produced reached its peak in 2015—5.04 million.
(Statista)
The lowest recorded number of potted gerberas produced, recorded in 2012, was 2.68 million. Still, 2019 didn’t achieve a strikingly bigger number, not surpassing 3.42 million gerberas.
14. More interesting floriculture statistics: 6.33 million indoor potted chrysanthema were produced in 2019.
(Statista)
Only 2017 and 2012 were marked by a lower number of chrysanthema compared to 2019 (6.04 million and 5.76 million, respectively). The highest number was 9.95 million, recorded ten years ago. 2010 wasn’t too far behind, with 9.78 million potted chrysanthema.
15. 2016 had the most indoor potted primula produced—3.08 million.
(Statista)
The year with the lowest number of primula produced—1.22 million-—was 2010. 2019 is in the happy middle ground of these two sides of the spectrum, with 2.03 million indoor potted primula produced.
Florist and Flower Shop Statistics
We also have to mention the florists and flower shops in Canada. They’re an essential part of an industry that works. Let’s see why you should support your local flower shops, what the job situation is like, and what you can expect if you decide to go into the business.
Number of Florists in Canada As of December 2019, by Region
16. Floral industry statistics show that there are 630 florists in Ontario as of late 2019.
(Statista)
Quebec is in second place with 379. British Columbia is a distant third with 209, and Alberta isn’t too far behind with 200 floral shops. Manitoba and Saskatchewan are next with 65 and 51 florists, respectively.
17. 66.6% of florists in 2019 employed fewer than five people.
(Canada.ca)
33.3% of establishments were considered small, and only 0.1% were treated as medium-sized. Floral industry statistics for Canada mark the nonexistence of large employers (0%), meaning that no florist employed over five hundred people.
18. Retail florists sold around $173.16 million worth of flowers and plants in 2019.
(Statista)
According to the same flower shop sales statistics, mass-market chain stores sold the most flowers and plants in 2019, when they reached $429.18 million. Roadside stands and owner-operated retail outlets also did pretty well, since the accumulated worth of their sales equalled $219.86 million.
Statistics on the Flower Industry and Its Online Presence
Who buys flowers? How do people interact with florists and famous brands? Are there differences between how generations interact with brands? Let’s find out.
19. 75% of florist brands’ Facebook followers are female.
(Canadian Florist)
Florists’ Review, Canadian Florist, and Super Floral are three famous florists with a strong media presence. The analysis of their social media presence confirmed that 80% of their Instagram followers are female, while only 25% of their Twitter followers are male.
20. Social media market trends for florist brands show that 42% of their Instagram followers are under 34.
(Canadian Florist)
Different social media platforms attract different generations. For instance, 65% of the abovementioned brands’ Facebook followers are over 35. YouTube and Pinterest attract older and younger users alike, with the first having a 50% audience of over 45 and the latter a 50% audience of under 35.
21. 83% of millennials consider online content when making their purchase decisions.
(Canadian Florist)
The flower delivery industry might be happy to hear millennials prefer making their flower purchases online since only 11% of them choose to buy flowers in stores. Gen-Xers’ preferences are similar—72% will research the business online before buying anything from it.
(Canadian Florist)
According to data on florist demographics, boomers are 19% more likely to share social media content, including that of flower shops’. Still, that doesn’t mean other generations are unwilling to share. In fact, 44% of millennials will gladly do so if a reward is offered in exchange.
Conclusion
Whether you want to be a more informed customer or are thinking of opening your own floral shop, these Canadian flower industry statistics, as well as the stats elaborating on the global market, will tell you everything you need to know. We’re confident they’ll help your potential business endeavours, but also your general understanding of this business.
While at it, make sure to check out our thoroughly compiled Canadian gift industry statistics. These are bound to give you an idea or two for a gift.
FAQ
How much money do florists make a year?
In Canada, the least experienced florists typically make an annual average of $25,506, while more experienced professionals can make up to $35,100. The annual median salary is $29,250.
(Talent)
What do florists do with unsold flowers?
A florist will usually sell the flowers that are about to expire at a discounted price. If that doesn’t work either, they’ll probably use the unsold flowers as compost. Some florists donate their unsold flowers to nursing homes and hospitals.
(Global Cool)
How big is the floral industry?
The size of the floral industry is usually measured in revenue. In 2020, the Canadian floral industry was worth US$602 million.
(IBISWorld)
Is the floral industry growing?
Judging by the fact that the Canadian floral market size increased to US$703.6 million in 2021, we can conclude that the industry is indeed growing, at least for now.
(IBISWorld)
Sources:
- Canada.ca
- Canada.ca
- Canadian Florist
- Global Cool
- IBIS World
- IBIS World
- OMAFRA
- Statista
- Statista
- Statista
- Statista
- Statista
- Statista
- Statista
- Statista
- Statista
- Statista
- Statista
- Statista
- Statista
- Statista
- Statista
- Statista
- Statista
- Talent
Nikolina Jeric
As a student of English literature, Nikolina has always been passionate about reading and writing. Whether it’s for work or pleasure, she finds she best organizes her thoughts on paper. This is evident in her poetry and short stories, but also in the articles she writes professionally. As someone with a lot to say and a strong opinion on almost any topic, you could say this was her dream job.
