8 pages, via online journal, Rose (Rosa ×hybrida) breeders historically have bred plants based on what they personally have deemed attractive and traits required by growers to produce the crop successfully. End-user preferences were not formally considered in breeding decisions. The purpose of this study was to investigate growers’ and consumers’ opinions of roses available on the market and preferences for future roses coming into the market. A web-based survey tool was developed to measure the attributes consumers were considering in purchasing and growing rose plants, their knowledge of diseases and pests, and their hopes for new plants coming to market. A link was sent to horticultural group mailing lists as well as distributed through personal e-mail lists, Facebook, and a news release from Texas A&M University. The survey was posted for 4 months. It included ≈66 questions and took 30 minutes or more to complete. More than 2000 responses were received from rose growers and nursery consumers worldwide. The respondents preferred roses that were disease resistant, with fragrant, abundant, red, and everblooming flowers. The ideal height of the preferred rose shrubs was waist to shoulder-height. Differences were found in preferences between experienced rose growers and those who were not affiliated with rose associations on variables such as the need to use chemicals to manage diseases, the importance of foliage glossiness and large vs. small blooms, the value of roses in the garden setting, the level of difficulty roses pose in growing situations, and the willingness to pay more for a rose shrub in comparison with other garden plants. Differences also were found among age groups and preferences for flower color, fragrance, foliage color, and foliage glossiness. This information could be helpful in targeting marketing of roses.
Melichar, Emanuel (author / Senior Economist, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C.) and Senior Economist, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C.
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1977-02
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 49 Document Number: C00077
Boafo, S. T. Kwame (author) and Aryeetey, Ellen (author / University of Ghana)
Format:
Book chapter
Publication Date:
1992
Published:
International: African Council for Communication Education, Nairobi, Kenya.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 117 Document Number: C12777
Notes:
Chapter 9 in S.T. Kwame Boafo and Nancy A. George (eds.), Communication research in Africa: issues and perspectives. African Council for Communication Education, Nairobi, Kenya. 1992. 161 p.
