Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation

The New Rural Industries
A handbook for Farmers and Investors

Welcome to the IXODIA DAISY chapter of RIRDC's major new publication (contents page here) on nearly 100 new rural industries.

Ixodia daisy

Introduction

Ixodia daisy (Ixodia achillaeoides ssp. alata) is an Australian native flower which is known by the common names of Hills daisy, Mountain daisy, and South Australian daisy. Ixodia has been harvested from native stands for over 40 years in SA and an industry has developed in the past 10 years in cultivated Ixodia grown in South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia.

The value of the world fresh flower trade has been estimated at US$26 billion. The total value of Australian dried flower exports in 1996 was $11.6 million, with the estimated value of ixodia production being $330–520,000 in the same year. Ixodia is well placed to become a major dried flower commodity because of its appearance, durability and suitability to dying. There is interest from many overseas markets in the supply of ixodia and at this date Australia still has a marketing advantage in product availability and access to improved varieties.

A major constraint to the industry has been the export of poor quality product which has had an adverse affect on price and demand on some overseas markets. Poor quality results from the use of unselected or unsuitable varieties or from incorrect harvest and handling procedures. Several soil-borne diseases are also currently limiting production and in some cases causing severe losses to cultivated stands.

Ixodia could also be marketed as a fresh product. Flowering stems are tolerant of packing and transport conditions and vase-life is good on all major forms. Drawbacks to fresh marketing include: the temporary closure of the flower heads on contact with moisture or in conditions of high humidity, and sticky resins in the leaves and stems which leave a residue when handled.

Production requirements

Ixodia is native to high rainfall and coastal districts of South Australia and Victoria. Its natural distribution is in cool Mediterranean-type climatic conditions with cool wet winters and warm dry summers. Under cultivation, ixodia requires well-drained sites, preferring sandy to loam soils, being short-lived on heavy soils. It tolerates a wide range of soil pH but chlorosis problems increase in alkaline soils and may require soil amendment. The performance of ixodia in interior, high-temperature horticultural districts has not been adequately assessed. During periods of extremely high temperatures, foliage burn and damage can be observed.

Flowers are initiated by cool temperatures in winter and spring, which limits production of ixodia in subtropical areas. High summer humidities also encourage a range of leaf diseases and impact on the productivity of plants.

Wind damage can be severe on exposed sites, with young plants distorted or broken at the crown. Wind protection should be established before planting, to assure high yield and long stem length. Heavy frost can damage soft shoots and flower buds in the spring, causing severe crop losses. Some varieties are more tolerant of frost and should be selected for frost-prone sites.

Varieties

Varieties are based on the origin of natural stands which range from the northern Mt Lofty Ranges near Adelaide in South Australia, to coastal districts and into the Grampians National Park, Victoria. A comprehensive study is now in progress to categorise and assess commercial varieties in use, improved varieties and new collections.

Agronomy

Ixodia is generally grown as a row crop under drip irrigation with spacings of 0.5– 0.8 m between plants. New plants are pinched, or lightly pruned up to five times in the first year to develop a low, branching, dense shrub which can support many flowering stems and resist wind damage. Under cultivation most forms are productive over a three year period with subsequent decline in vigour or harvestable stem length after this time.

Annual nitrogen applications in the range of 75–110 kg/ha are recommended for good productivity, these applications being spilt over 3–4 applications. If soil potassium levels are less than 150 ppm, it would be advisable to also apply 50 kg/ha total K. Phosphorus would best be applied as superphosphate incorporated in the soil when a new crop is planted. Applications of 50 kg/ha would be adequate in most soils but soil testing is recommended before planting.

At harvest, only green stems should be cut, as darkened, lignified stems will not re-shoot new buds. Pruning follows harvest and is used to remove damaged material, lower the height of the bush and increase lateral branching and subsequent yield.

It is recommended that weeds be controlled with preemergent herbicide applications in spring and autumn. Glyphosate is commonly used as a knock-down spray and is best applied with a hooded or a controlled droplet applicator.

Propagation of ixodia is by herbaceous cuttings, which root easily under mist over most of the year. Cuttings are prepared from non-flowering shoots taken from vigorous plants which are not under moisture stress. Cuttings taken from plants in native stands or unirrigated plantings are best taken after a flush of growth has just hardened. IBA formulations of 1000 ppm can enhance rooting, high concentrations >3,000 ppm can damage cuttings. Ixodia can be grown from seed if variability is desirable. Seed requires smoke treatment for germination.

Pest and diseases

The most serious losses of ixodia in commercial plantings have been from the disease Verticillium dahliae, which can survive in infected soil from vegetable or other host crops and infect ixodia when it is planted. This fungal disease is more serious where levels of plant pathogenic nematodes are shown to be high. There are no known controls other than fumigation.

Phytophthora cinnamomi and P. cryptogea are also pathogens of ixodia and cause characteristic decline and yellowing of plants before death. Phytophthora root rot is the most serious disease of Australian native flower crops and should be carefully guarded against by the use of clean plant material, strict hygiene practices and attention to the previous history of the planting area. Treatment for phytophthora involves isolating infections by removing plants and drenching the site and neighbouring plants with a fungicide such as Fongarid. The remaining crop should then be treated with a spray of Foli-R-Fos, as a preventative treatment to contain its spread, and the planting area rotated with a non-susceptible crop in the next planting cycle.

Leaf diseases include powdery mildew and botrytis which are increasingly a problem in crowded plantings where overhead irrigation is used or where weeds are profuse. Sulphur sprays have been found to be particularly effective in controlling powdery mildew. Botrytis often damages the centres of open flowers, darkening them prematurely and making them unsaleable. Other diseases isolated from ixodia include alternaria leaf spot, mycoplasmas, and fusarium.

The primary insects pests of ixodia are aphids and leafrollers which both distort the growing tips and affect flower quality. Regular monitoring for the presence of these insects and swift control will prevent any significant crop damage. Native beetles are often attracted to blooming plants in large numbers and are a nuisance to harvesters but do not damage plants.

Harvest, handling and postharvest treatments

Ixodia blooms are usually harvested by hand, by snapping the stems between the thumb and forefingers. Harvesters should wear gloves as ixodia is high in sticky gums which blacken and build up on hands and tools. Harvest involves either bunching in the field (most common) or machine-assisted cutting with sorting and bunching taking place in the shed. Stem length should be a minimum of 30–40 cm for dried bunches and 40–50 cm for fresh. All bunches should be retrimmed in the shed to an even base, this being particularly important with flowers prepared for fresh marketing.

Flower maturity at harvest is an important quality consideration which is often overlooked in a product destined for dried flower markets. Flowers need to be fully open, with the centre disc flowers visible and in an early to middle stage of bloom. Flowers harvested past maturity have a raised centre and the disc flowers have changed from their bloom colour of yellow or purple to grey or brown, which affects the overall appearance of the flower head and product.

Flower bunch size for dried product is usually determined by weight, or diameter of the top of the bunches, where flat topped varieties are used (20 cm). Fresh flowers are sold by stem number, 10 or 12 stems per bunch, depending on size of the flower heads. While demand has exceeded supply, growers have been able to market bunches for dried markets in their ‘green’ state before drying. Flower bunches can be packed easily while they are still flexible and they travel with little damage. Shed drying is accomplished by hanging bunches on racks (photo), good ventilation being essential to prevent botrytis damage if the air temperature is cool. Rapid drying, away from strong light assists in maintaining the green colour of the foliage and stems. If flowers are to be stored for marketing later in the year, bunches should be thoroughly dried, boxed and treated for storage pests.

Flowers to be marketed as a fresh product should be rehydrated after harvest in clean water for several hours or overnight in a cool shed or cool room. Flowers of some varieties can be stored for up to two weeks in a cool room and still have a vase-life of two weeks. Storage in water can induce premature stem blackening in some varieties, and high humidity increases botrytis. It is essential that any variety destined for fresh markets be assessed for postharvest life and tolerance of transport. Ixodia flowers close in high humidity, so buyers in export markets need to be aware that the appearance of boxed or sleeved bunches is inferior to the open flowers. Flowers reopen as soon as they dry.

Economics of production

Plantings of 1–5 ha are a viable size for a family flower farm, with outside labour employed for harvest. Early large-scale attempts at production of ixodia did not succeed because of difficulties in harvesting large amounts of flowers over a short blooming period, poor quality control and poor varietal selection.

The following figures from an enterprise analysis are provided as a guide only and assume high yielding, uniform varieties and good market access. These figures are for a three year production cycle, assuming no yield in the first cropping year. Preparation, planting, irrigation and windbreaks for a 1 ha planting based on 12,000 plants is $15,600. Annual production costs/consumables at $1,500, overheads at $8,600 and harvest and marketing costs at $5,600 for low yielding plants up to $15,000 for high yielding in the first year ($14,500–24,300 in the second year). Returns based on $2.00 per bunch (assuming low plant losses) range from $18,000 to $54,000 (low to high yielding plants ) in the second year to $36,000 to $63,000 in the third year. Net returns therefore range from –$27,000 in the first year, $2,100 to $25,800 in the second year and $14,500 to $32,200 in the third year. Such wide variation in returns shows the importance of variety performance to the viability of this enterprise. The sensitivity of net returns in relation to yield and price is summarised in the graph on the following page.

Key contacts

Gail Barth
S.A. Research and Development Institute
GPO Box 397
Adelaide, SA 5001
Phone: (08) 8303 9580
Fax: (08) 8303 9424
Email: barth.gail@pi.sa.gov.au

Australian Flora and Protea Growers Association
Beverly Karpinski
Spring Valley
Frogmore, NSW 2586
Phone/fax: (02) 6385 6222

Chris Salter
Primary Industries, SA
Lenswood Horticultural Centre
Swamp Road
Lenswood, SA 5240
Phone: (08) 8389 8806
Fax: (08) 8389 8899
Email: salter.chris@pi.sa.gov.au

Mark Bartetzko
Primary Industries, SA
PO Box 162
Mt Gambier, SA 5290
Phone: (08) 8724 2914
Email: bartetzko.mark@pi.sa.gov.au

Mark Webb
Agriculture Western Australia
Albany, WA 6330
Phone: (08) 9892 8444
Fax: (08) 9841 2707
Email: mwebb@agric.wa.gov.au

Philip Dowling
Benara Road Native Plant Nursery
c/o Mt Gambier West PO
Moorak, SA 5291
Phone: (08) 8726 6210

Key references

Barth, Gail E. 1996. ‘Development of Ixodia achillaeoides as a cut flower crop’ Proc. 3rd Int. Symp. on Dev. of New Floriculture Crops, Perth WA Acta Horticulturae (in press).

Bennell, M. and G. Barth 1990. Ixodia as a new cut flower crop Fact sheet FS/90, Agdex 282/11, South Australian Department of Agriculture, Adelaide.

Hall, B. H. et al. 1996. ‘First report of the diseases of Ixodia achillaeoides in South Australia’ Australasian Plant Pathology 25:215.

Maier, N. A. et al 1994. ‘Effect of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus on the yield, growth and nutrient status of Ixodia daisy (Ixodia achillaeoides ssp. alata)’ Australian J. of Experimental Agriculture 34:681–9.

Weiss, D. and O. Ohana 1996 ‘Flowering control of Ixodia achillaeoides’ Scientia Horticulturae 65 (1) 59–64.

*About the authors