From a billion-dollar global industry worth over $180 billion to the 12 billion seedlings nurturing greener cities in China and the vibrant 800 million ornamental plants blooming out of Brazil each year, these statistics reveal the surprisingly massive scale and passionate innovation of today's nursery industry.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. nursery and greenhouse industry had total wholesale sales of $15.6 billion in 2022
- Global nursery market size reached $182.3 billion in 2023, projected to grow to $250 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 4.5%
- U.S. nursery production value was $13.4 billion in 2021, down 5% from previous year
- U.S. nursery industry produced 1.2 billion containerized plants in 2022
- Florida produced 450 million nursery plants in 2021
- California nursery output 650 million plants annually
- U.S. wholesale nursery sales channel 65% of total production in 2022
- Garden centers accounted for 42% of U.S. nursery retail sales in 2023
- Online nursery sales grew 25% to $2.1 billion in U.S. 2022
- U.S. nursery industry employed 650,000 workers in 2022
- Florida nursery sector jobs 45,000 full-time equivalents in 2021
- California nurseries employed 120,000 workers in 2022
- 65% of consumers prefer sustainable nursery products in 2023 U.S. survey
- Indoor plant sales up 30% globally post-2020 pandemic
- Native plants sales grew 22% in U.S. nurseries 2022
The global nursery industry is a major and growing market, worth hundreds of billions of dollars worldwide.
Employment and Labor
- U.S. nursery industry employed 650,000 workers in 2022
- Florida nursery sector jobs 45,000 full-time equivalents in 2021
- California nurseries employed 120,000 workers in 2022
- Global nursery workforce estimated at 5 million in 2023
- U.S. nursery production labor costs averaged $25/hour in 2022
- Australian nursery industry 35,000 direct jobs in 2023
- UK horticulture nursery employment 25,000 in 2022
- Canada nursery jobs 18,000 full-time in 2022
- China nursery labor force 2 million in 2023
- Brazil nursery employment 150,000 workers in 2022
- Dutch nursery sector 40,000 jobs in 2022
- India nursery industry employs 1.2 million seasonally in 2023
- Spain nursery workforce 60,000 in 2023
- Germany horticultural nursery jobs 80,000 in 2022
- France nursery employment 35,000 full-time in 2023
- Italy nursery labor 50,000 workers in 2022
- Mexico nursery jobs 90,000 in 2022
- Oregon nursery industry 22,000 jobs in 2022
- U.S. seasonal nursery workers 300,000 in peak season 2022
- Labor shortage affected 45% of U.S. nurseries in 2023 survey
- Average nursery worker wage $18.50/hour U.S. 2022
- South Africa nursery employment 25,000 in 2023
- New Zealand nursery jobs 8,000 in 2023
- Japan nursery workforce 150,000 in 2023
- Poland nursery employment 30,000 in 2023
- Turkey horticulture nursery jobs 70,000 in 2023
- U.S. women comprise 35% of nursery workforce in 2022
- Training programs reached 10,000 nursery workers U.S. 2023
- Turnover rate in nurseries 28% annually U.S. 2022
- 55% of U.S. nurseries reported labor shortages in 2023
Employment and Labor Interpretation
While a global army of roughly five million people dutifully tends our planet's greenery—from Florida's palms to India's seasonal blooms—the industry's roots are being strained by a persistent and costly labor drought that sees nearly half of U.S. nurseries struggling to find enough hands to keep the whole operation flourishing.
Market Size and Growth
- The U.S. nursery and greenhouse industry had total wholesale sales of $15.6 billion in 2022
- Global nursery market size reached $182.3 billion in 2023, projected to grow to $250 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 4.5%
- U.S. nursery production value was $13.4 billion in 2021, down 5% from previous year
- European nursery stock market valued at €25 billion in 2022
- Australian nursery industry wholesale turnover hit AUD 2.1 billion in 2022-23
- China's ornamental plant nursery market grew 8.2% to CNY 150 billion in 2023
- UK nursery sector sales reached £2.3 billion in 2022, up 4% YoY
- Canadian nursery industry valued at CAD 1.8 billion in 2022
- Indian nursery market size estimated at INR 50 billion in 2023, growing at 6.5% CAGR
- Brazilian ornamental nursery sector generated BRL 5.2 billion in 2022
- U.S. nursery exports totaled $450 million in 2022
- Global greenhouse nursery market projected to reach $45 billion by 2028 at 7% CAGR
- Florida nursery industry contributed $2.8 billion to GDP in 2021
- California nursery sales were $3.2 billion in 2022
- Nursery market in Japan valued at JPY 1.2 trillion in 2023
- South African nursery industry turnover R15 billion in 2022
- New Zealand nursery exports NZD 250 million in 2023
- Mexico nursery production value MXN 40 billion in 2022
- Dutch nursery exports €1.5 billion in 2022
- Spanish nursery market €4.2 billion in 2023
- U.S. organic nursery segment grew 12% to $1.2 billion in 2022
- Asia-Pacific nursery market share 35% of global in 2023
- Germany nursery sales €2.8 billion in 2022
- France nursery production €3.1 billion in 2023
- Italy ornamental nursery €1.9 billion in 2022
- Turkey nursery exports $300 million in 2023
- U.S. nursery industry CAGR 3.2% from 2018-2023
- Global indoor plant nursery market $10.5 billion in 2023
- Oregon nursery sales $1.1 billion in 2022
- Nursery industry in Poland valued PLN 4.5 billion in 2023
Market Size and Growth Interpretation
While the global nursery industry is flourishing into a quarter-trillion-dollar behemoth, individual nations are experiencing the predictable, and often pruned, cycles of growth that come with cultivating beauty on an industrial scale.
Production and Output
- U.S. nursery industry produced 1.2 billion containerized plants in 2022
- Florida produced 450 million nursery plants in 2021
- California nursery output 650 million plants annually
- Global annual production of ornamental shrubs 5.5 billion units in 2023
- U.S. greenhouse flower production 4.2 billion pots in 2022
- Dutch nursery production 1.8 billion plants in 2022
- Australian nursery produced 200 million pots in 2022-23
- China nursery output 12 billion seedlings in 2023
- UK produced 150 million ornamental plants in 2022
- Canadian nursery production 180 million units in 2022
- India nursery production 2.5 billion plants in 2023
- Brazil produced 800 million ornamental plants in 2022
- U.S. tree nursery production 250 million trees in 2022
- Spain nursery output 500 million plants in 2023
- Germany produced 300 million perennials in 2022
- France nursery production 220 million shrubs in 2023
- Italy output 400 million container plants in 2022
- Mexico produced 1.1 billion plants in 2022
- South Africa nursery production 90 million plants in 2023
- New Zealand output 45 million liners in 2023
- Japan nursery production 800 million pots in 2023
- Poland produced 120 million ornamental trees in 2023
- Turkey nursery output 350 million plants in 2023
- Oregon produced 120 million plants in 2022
- U.S. bedding plants production 2.8 billion in 2022
- Global rose production in nurseries 1.5 billion stems annually
- U.S. propagated liners 450 million in 2022
- California bare-root production 50 million trees in 2023
Production and Output Interpretation
While humanity is busy digitizing everything, the nursery industry, with a staggering global output of tens of billions of plants, is quietly ensuring the planet remains physically rooted and at least somewhat green.
Sales and Distribution
- U.S. wholesale nursery sales channel 65% of total production in 2022
- Garden centers accounted for 42% of U.S. nursery retail sales in 2023
- Online nursery sales grew 25% to $2.1 billion in U.S. 2022
- Florida nursery wholesale value $1.9 billion, retail $900 million in 2021
- Export sales represent 3% of U.S. nursery total sales in 2022
- Australian garden center sales AUD 1.5 billion in 2022-23
- UK online plant sales up 18% to £450 million in 2022
- Canadian retail nursery sales CAD 1.2 billion in 2022
- China e-commerce nursery sales CNY 30 billion in 2023
- Brazil supermarket nursery sales BRL 1.8 billion in 2022
- Dutch export sales to EU 70% of total nursery exports 2022
- India landscape contracting sales INR 20 billion in 2023
- Spain garden center sales €1.2 billion in 2023
- Germany wholesale nursery sales €1.9 billion in 2022
- France direct-to-consumer sales 15% of nursery total in 2023
- Italy export nursery sales €800 million in 2022
- Mexico retail nursery sales MXN 15 billion in 2022
- U.S. mass merchant sales of plants $4.5 billion in 2022
- Online sales penetration in nursery industry 12% globally in 2023
- California wholesale flower sales $1.1 billion in 2022
- Landscape services using nursery products $10 billion U.S. in 2022
- UK supermarket plant sales £300 million in 2022
- Global wholesale nursery trade $120 billion in 2023
- U.S. farmgate nursery sales $12.5 billion in 2022
- Australia export nursery sales AUD 150 million in 2023
- China domestic nursery retail CNY 80 billion in 2023
Sales and Distribution Interpretation
While garden centers remain the bedrock of plant retail, a global digital greening is quietly unfolding as online sales sprout from Florida to France, proving that even the most rooted industries must adapt or risk being pot-bound.
Trends and Sustainability
- 65% of consumers prefer sustainable nursery products in 2023 U.S. survey
- Indoor plant sales up 30% globally post-2020 pandemic
- Native plants sales grew 22% in U.S. nurseries 2022
- Water usage in U.S. nurseries reduced 25% via efficient irrigation 2015-2022
- Organic nursery production up 15% to 10% market share U.S. 2023
- Biocontrol use in nurseries increased to 40% of pest management U.S. 2022
- Edible landscaping plants sales rose 18% in Australia 2023
- UK pollinator-friendly plants 35% of sales in 2022
- Canada drought-tolerant plants demand up 28% in 2022
- China vertical farming nurseries grew 50% in urban areas 2023
- Brazil sustainable certification held by 20% of nurseries in 2022
- EU Green Deal compliance 60% of Dutch nurseries by 2023
- India rainwater harvesting adopted by 45% of nurseries 2023
- Spain recycled potting media use 55% in nurseries 2023
- Germany carbon-neutral nurseries 12% in 2022
- France biodiversity planting up 25% in nursery offerings 2023
- Italy smart irrigation tech in 30% of nurseries 2022
- U.S. Gen Z plant purchases 40% higher than average 2023
- Global vertical nursery market CAGR 12% to 2030
- Pesticide use down 35% in California nurseries 2018-2022
- 70% of U.S. consumers willing to pay premium for eco-friendly plants 2023
- Renewable energy use in U.S. nurseries 22% of total in 2022
- Australia compost use in potting mixes 60% in 2023
- UK plastic-free pots adopted by 25% of retailers 2022
- Mexico solar-powered nurseries 15% in 2022
- 50% growth in hydroponic nursery systems globally 2020-2023
- U.S. nursery recycling rate 75% for green waste in 2022
- Pet-friendly plant sales up 20% in U.S. 2023
Trends and Sustainability Interpretation
The statistics reveal a global nursery industry that is earnestly and cleverly pivoting from simply selling plants to selling a sustainable ethos, where the new status symbol is a drought-tolerant, pollinator-friendly, organically-grown houseplant bought by a Gen Zer in a recycled pot, proving that the future of gardening is not just green in color, but in practice.
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