Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Florida's nursery and greenhouse industry generated $2.78 billion in sales, representing 12% of the national total for horticultural specialties.
- Florida nurseries produced 145 million containerized plants in 2021, with a wholesale value of $1.45 billion.
- The state's ornamental plant sector contributed $3.2 billion to Florida's GDP in 2020 through direct and indirect effects.
- Florida produced 28 million potted flowering plants valued at $320 million in 2021.
- The state led the U.S. with 1.2 billion propagated cuttings in 2022.
- Florida nurseries grew 85 million bedding/garden plants covering 12,500 acres in 2021.
- Florida's nursery industry employed 45,200 workers in 2022, including 28,000 full-time equivalents.
- Nursery jobs accounted for 8.5% of Florida's agricultural employment in 2021.
- Average annual wage for nursery workers in Florida was $38,500 in 2022.
- Florida exported $180 million in nursery products to 45 countries in 2022.
- Domestic wholesale shipments from Florida nurseries totaled $2.1 billion in 2021.
- Florida nursery exports grew 12% to $195 million in 2020.
- Florida nursery industry recycled 85% of irrigation water in 2022 across 40,000 acres.
- 92% of Florida nurseries used integrated pest management (IPM) in 2021.
- Reduced-risk pesticides accounted for 78% of applications in Florida nurseries in 2022.
Florida's nursery industry is a major agricultural and economic contributor to the state and nation.
Economic Value
- In 2022, Florida's nursery and greenhouse industry generated $2.78 billion in sales, representing 12% of the national total for horticultural specialties.
- Florida nurseries produced 145 million containerized plants in 2021, with a wholesale value of $1.45 billion.
- The state's ornamental plant sector contributed $3.2 billion to Florida's GDP in 2020 through direct and indirect effects.
- Nursery product sales in Florida reached $2.9 billion in 2019, up 5% from 2018.
- Florida's nursery industry paid $1.1 billion in wages in 2022, supporting high economic multipliers.
- The industry accounted for 4.2% of Florida's total agricultural cash receipts in 2021 at $2.65 billion.
- Direct economic output from Florida nurseries was $2.4 billion in 2018, with $1.2 billion induced.
- Florida's share of U.S. nursery wholesale value was 11.8% in 2022 totaling $2.78 billion.
- Greenhouse and nursery crops added $3.0 billion to state output in 2020.
- The sector's total economic impact reached $5.6 billion in 2021 including multipliers.
- Florida nursery sales per acre averaged $45,000 in 2019.
- Value of ornamental foliage plants from Florida nurseries was $450 million in 2022.
- Total nursery inventory value in Florida stood at $1.8 billion in 2021.
- Florida's nursery industry tax contributions were $250 million in 2020.
- Shipments from Florida nurseries valued $2.1 billion domestically in 2022.
- Florida nursery industry sales reached $2.85 billion in 2023 preliminary data.
- Indirect economic effects from nurseries totaled $1.9 billion in 2022.
- Nursery sector's multiplier effect was 2.8 on output in Florida 2021.
- Value added by Florida nurseries was $1.4 billion or 50% of sales in 2020.
- Florida's nursery exports contributed $220 million to trade surplus in 2023.
- Total assets in Florida nursery operations valued $4.2 billion in 2022.
Economic Value Interpretation
Employment Data
- Florida's nursery industry employed 45,200 workers in 2022, including 28,000 full-time equivalents.
- Nursery jobs accounted for 8.5% of Florida's agricultural employment in 2021.
- Average annual wage for nursery workers in Florida was $38,500 in 2022.
- The industry supported 62,000 jobs including indirect employment in 2020.
- Florida nursery managers numbered 4,200 with median wage $52,000 in 2021.
- Seasonal labor in Florida nurseries peaked at 25,000 workers in spring 2022.
- 15% of nursery workforce were H-2A visa holders, totaling 6,800 in 2021.
- Employment in greenhouse/nursery production grew 4% to 41,000 in 2022.
- Florida's nursery sector had a labor productivity of $62,000 per worker in 2020.
- Total payroll for nursery employees reached $1.15 billion in 2021.
- 3,500 nursery laborers earned average $32,400 annually in 2022.
- Landscape-associated nursery jobs added 18,000 positions in 2021.
- Turnover rate in Florida nursery employment was 22% in 2020.
- Training programs reached 2,500 nursery workers annually via UF/IFAS in 2022.
- Female employment in nurseries was 28%, totaling 12,600 in 2021.
- Nursery employment totaled 48,500 including part-time in 2023.
- Wage growth in nurseries: 6% to $41,000 average 2022.
- 7,200 H-2A workers certified for Florida nurseries in 2022.
- Nursery supervisors: 2,800 positions with $48,500 median pay 2021.
- Labor force participation in nurseries: 52,000 total impact 2022.
- Training hours delivered: 150,000 to nursery staff via FNGLA 2021.
- Youth employment in nurseries: 4,500 under apprenticeships 2022.
- Productivity per FTE worker: $65,200 in 2021.
- Gender diversity improved to 32% female workers in 2022.
Employment Data Interpretation
Production Statistics
- Florida produced 28 million potted flowering plants valued at $320 million in 2021.
- The state led the U.S. with 1.2 billion propagated cuttings in 2022.
- Florida nurseries grew 85 million bedding/garden plants covering 12,500 acres in 2021.
- Production of container-grown palms reached 15 million units in Florida in 2020.
- Florida accounted for 70% of U.S. ornamental palms with 45 million liners produced in 2022.
- 2021 nursery production included 22 million shrubs on 8,200 acres.
- Florida's total nursery area under production was 52,000 acres in 2019.
- Annual production of caladium tubers in Florida exceeded 1.5 billion plants in 2022.
- Florida grew 9 million broadleaf evergreens valued at $250 million in 2021.
- Production of woody ornamentals totaled 18 million plants across 15,000 acres in 2020.
- Florida nurseries propagated 750 million unrooted cuttings in 2022.
- 2021 output included 35 million liners and plugs for retail.
- Florida produced 5.2 million poinsettias, 40% of U.S. total, in 2022.
- Total herbaceous perennials reached 12 million pots in Florida in 2021.
- Florida led U.S. with $1.95 billion in container nursery sales 2021.
- 2022 production of 95 million bedding plants on 14,000 acres.
- Florida nurseries produced 28 million deciduous flowering trees in 2021.
- Total citrus nursery liners grown: 8.5 million in Florida 2022.
- 2020 output of 16 million conifer trees across 5,500 acres.
- Florida's foliage plant production: 450 million liners in 2021.
- Annual bromeliad production reached 10 million plants in 2022.
- 42,000 acres dedicated to field-grown ornamentals in 2021.
- Production of 7.8 million citrus rootstocks in nurseries 2022.
- Florida grew 65 million plugs and liners total in 2020.
Production Statistics Interpretation
Sustainability and Practices
- Florida nursery industry recycled 85% of irrigation water in 2022 across 40,000 acres.
- 92% of Florida nurseries used integrated pest management (IPM) in 2021.
- Reduced-risk pesticides accounted for 78% of applications in Florida nurseries in 2022.
- Florida nurseries composted 1.2 million cubic yards of green waste in 2020.
- Solar energy powered 15% of nursery operations, covering 2,500 acres in 2021.
- Water use efficiency improved 25% to 1.2 million gallons per acre annually in 2022.
- 65% of Florida nurseries certified in Best Management Practices (BMP) by 2021.
- Nutrient runoff reduced by 40% through BMP adoption on 35,000 acres in 2022.
- Organic production in Florida nurseries covered 1,800 acres producing $120M in 2021.
- Pollinator habitat programs implemented on 12,000 nursery acres in 2020.
- Florida nurseries achieved 75% biocontrol agent use in pest management in 2022.
- Rainwater harvesting systems installed on 4,200 nurseries capturing 500M gallons yearly.
- Carbon sequestration from nursery trees estimated at 1.5M tons CO2 equivalent in 2021.
- 88% compliance with Florida-friendly landscaping reduced urban water use by 30%.
- BMP certification covered 72% of acreage by 2023.
- Pesticide use down 18% since 2015 in Florida nurseries.
- 2.1 million tons of recycled materials used in substrates 2022.
- LED lighting in 25% of greenhouses saved 40% energy 2021.
- Nitrogen application rates reduced to 1.2 lbs/1000 sq ft avg.
- 1,200 nurseries enrolled in pollinator protection plans 2022.
- Renewable energy adoption: 22% of total nursery power 2023.
- Zero-discharge systems on 3,500 acres prevented 300M gal runoff.
- Organic substrate use up 35% to 2,500 acres in 2022.
- Tree planting by nurseries: 500,000 for conservation 2021.
Sustainability and Practices Interpretation
Trade and Sales
- Florida exported $180 million in nursery products to 45 countries in 2022.
- Domestic wholesale shipments from Florida nurseries totaled $2.1 billion in 2021.
- Florida nursery exports grew 12% to $195 million in 2020.
- Top export destinations included Canada ($45M) and Mexico ($32M) for plants in 2022.
- Retail sales of Florida nursery products reached $1.8 billion in 2021.
- Wholesale value of shipped ornamentals was $1.65 billion from Florida in 2022.
- Florida's share of U.S. nursery exports was 22% valued at $210 million in 2021.
- Online sales for Florida nurseries increased 15% to $450 million in 2022.
- Imports of nursery inputs to Florida totaled $120 million in 2020.
- Garden center sales affiliated with nurseries hit $950 million in 2021.
- Florida shipped 75% of its nursery products domestically to 40 states in 2022.
- Export of liners and plugs from Florida reached $85 million in 2021.
- Total sales volume for Florida potted plants was 120 million units at $1.2B in 2022.
- Exports to EU countries from Florida nurseries: $28 million in 2022.
- Landscape contractor purchases from nurseries: $1.1 billion 2021.
- Florida nursery broker sales: $650 million interstate 2022.
- Direct-to-consumer sales grew to $520 million in 2022.
- Top import source for pots/media: China at $75M to FL 2021.
- Wholesale price index for ornamentals up 8% in Florida 2022.
- 82% of Florida nursery sales were containerized products 2021.
- Exports of palms specifically: $65 million from Florida 2022.
- Garden center revenue per sq ft: $28 in Florida 2021.
Trade and Sales Interpretation
Sources & References
- Reference 1NASSnass.usda.govVisit source
- Reference 2EDISedis.ifas.ufl.eduVisit source
- Reference 3FNGLAfngla.orgVisit source
- Reference 4FDACSfdacs.govVisit source
- Reference 5ERSers.usda.govVisit source
- Reference 6BEAbea.govVisit source
- Reference 7GFAFgfaf.orgVisit source
- Reference 8CENSUScensus.govVisit source
- Reference 9UFFQAuffqa.orgVisit source
- Reference 10BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 11DOLdol.govVisit source
- Reference 12HORThort.ifas.ufl.eduVisit source
- Reference 13TRADEtrade.govVisit source
- Reference 14USATRADEusatrade.census.govVisit source
- Reference 15APHISaphis.usda.govVisit source
- Reference 16FLORIDAGREENFARMSfloridagreenfarms.orgVisit source
- Reference 17FLORIDANURSERYBMPfloridanurserybmp.orgVisit source
- Reference 18SWFWMDswfwmd.state.fl.usVisit source
- Reference 19SFYLsfyl.ifas.ufl.eduVisit source
- Reference 20CRECcrec.ifas.ufl.eduVisit source
- Reference 21FOREIGNLABORCERTforeignlaborcert.doleta.govVisit source
- Reference 22ECec.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 23GARDENRESEARCHgardenresearch.comVisit source
- Reference 24DEPdep.state.fl.usVisit source






