September/October 2020
Playing Favorites By Teresa McPherson

Breck’s Bulbs set out to identify the most popular flowers by state in America, based on Google Trends search volume data and the USDA’s Census of Horticultural Specialties.

No parent will admit to having a favorite child — and it turns out that very few plant people will own up to a favorite flower, either! But no one can argue that there are certain types of plants that just plain sell better than others.

Breck’s Bulbs set out to identify the most popular flowers by state in America, based on Google Trends search volume data and the USDA’s Census of Horticultural Specialties. With this information, they determined the best-selling flowers in the U.S., as well as which states sold the most of each best-selling flower.

Drum Roll, Please

The most-searched flowers throughout the U.S. during March through May 2020 were: hyacinth, calla lilies and cyclamen, each representing four states; gardenias (in three states), and gladiolus (also in three states).

The most searched flowers throughout the U.S. over the past year were sunflowers (nine states), hyacinth (seven states), camellias (four states), tiger lilies (three states), and cyclamen (three states). Tulips, daffodils, irises, begonias, and orchids were runners-up in terms of the highest search volume across the U.S.

For bedding plants, the USDA’s census found that petunias were the best-selling bedding annual flower in the U.S., with annual retail and wholesale sales revenue of over $262 million. Ohio sells more petunias than any other state, with reported sales revenue of $16.6 million. Geraniums, pansies and begonias hold the next three spots for best-selling bedding annual flowers in the U.S. North Carolina, Texas and Virginia are the three states that sell the most of each.

Based on the data, Breck’s was able to identify five states where the data really jibed — that is, the most-searched flower was also the best seller in that specific state. In California, the potted orchid; Florida, potted hibiscus; New York, cut stems tea rose; North Carolina, cut stems lily; and Washington, cut stems dahlia.

Find more results at www.brecks.com/blog/most-popular-flowers.

What flowers are your top sellers? Do they line up with the most-searched types for your state? Shoot me an email to [email protected] and let me know! And while you’re at it, dish on what your favorite flower is — I won’t tell!

Teresa McPherson

Teresa McPherson is the managing editor of Lawn & Garden Retailer. Contact her at [email protected].