Statistical Overview of the Canadian Ornamental Industry, 2024

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Overview

The ornamental horticulture sector includes the floriculture (primarily producing flowering and non-flowering potted plants, cut flowers and bedding plants), nursery (outdoor plants, trees and bedding plants), Christmas tree and turf sod industries.

The Canadian ornamental sector saw total annual sales rise by 6.6% (to $3.24 billion) in 2024 compared to the previous year, 15% higher than the average of the previous 4 years.

Floriculture (flowering and non-flowering live potted plants, greenhouse and field-cut flowers and bedding plants) remained the largest ornamental sub-sector by revenue ($2.24 billion), accounting for 69.4% of total ornamental sales in 2024. The total value of floriculture sales has been increasing over the last 5 years, with the value of production in 2024 now 18.0% higher than the average of the previous 4 years. About half of total floriculture production in 2022 was in Ontario (50.7%), with 25.8% in British Columbia, 12.4% in Quebec and the remaining provinces accounting for 11.1%.

Nursery product sales and resales rose 3.9% to $796.1 million in 2024 (year over year), accounting for 24.6% of total ornamental sales. By province, Ontario accounted for the largest share of total nursery sales (41.7%), followed by British Columbia (31.8%) and Quebec (15.0%).

The total turf sod area rebounded in 2024 to 21,702 hectares, up 2.7% over the previous year and 3.2% higher than the average of the previous 4 years. The total value of turf sod sales rose by 1.2% year-over-year to $164.5 million, accounting for 5.1% of total ornamental sales. Ontario led the country in turf sod sales ($72.3 million) at 44.0% of the national total.

Canada exports a diverse range of live plants with soil to the United States (U.S.) including turf sod, potted plants and bedding plants. Most other countries cannot sell plants with soil to the U.S. for phytosanitary reasons. The U.S. accounts for 99.6% of exports and 45.3% of imports, by value, for the sector. The annual total value of Canadian ornamental exports worldwide (including Christmas trees) continues to rise, by 6.2% from 2023 to $1,134 million in 2024. The 2024 total value of ornamental exports was 29.2% higher than the average of the previous 4 years.

The total annual value of Canadian Christmas tree exports decreased in value to $83.8 million in 2024, 6.7% lower than 2023 and 6.2% lower than the average of the previous 4 years. 96% of exported Christmas trees are from 3 provinces: 63.0% from Quebec, 19.9% from Nova Scotia and 14.1% from New Brunswick. Most Christmas tree exports are to the United States (95.4%).

Note that all comparisons are in annual nominal dollar figures, not adjusted for inflation.

1. Production

1.1. Number of Canadian ornamental farms^{Table 1.1 note}^[1] by sub-sector

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
Nursery	1,993	1,840	1,778	1,788	1,794	47.2%
Greenhouse, specialized flower producers	1,615	1,557	1,545	1,547	1,544	40.6%
Sod	228	223	234	246	248	6.5%
Field-grown cut flowers	185	199	194	203	214	5.6%
Total	4,021	3,819	3,751	3,784	3,800	100.0%
Note: Table 1.1 note [1] Number of farms of greenhouse indoor and outdoor potted plants, greenhouse bedding plants, greenhouse cuttings and tree seedlings, greenhouse stems and Christmas trees are not reported in this table. Return to table 1.1 note [1] referrer Source: Statistics Canada. Tables 32-10-0029-01, 32-10-0019-01, 32-10-0034-01 and 32-10-0452-01

1.2. Area of Canadian ornamental farms^{Table 1.2 note}^[1] by sub-sector (hectares)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
Nursery	16,041	15,740	15,630	15,333	15,209	39.9%
Greenhouse, specialized flower producers	709	670	682	741	756	2.0%
Sod	20,417	21,451	21,093	21,126	21,702	56.9%
Field-grown cut flowers	410	449	458	454	460	1.2%
Total	37,577	38,310	37,863	37,654	38,127	100.0%
Note: Table 1.2 note [1] Number of farms of greenhouse indoor and outdoor potted plants, greenhouse bedding plants, greenhouse cuttings and tree seedlings, greenhouse stems and Christmas trees are not reported in this table. Return to table 1.2 note [1] referrer Source: Statistics Canada. Tables 32-10-0029-01, 32-10-0019-01, 32-10-0034-01 and 32-10-0452-01

1.3. Production of greenhouse flowers and plants by category (number of flowers and plants in millions)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
Cut flowers	271.84	304.15	313.37	345.09	417.99	38.1%
Bedding plants, ornamental	412.41	407.14	368.75	348.03	334.98	30.6%
Potted plants^{Table 1.3 note}^[1]	219.66	241.42	250.54	251.09	250.61	22.9%
Cuttings	91.57	96.86	97.67	92.75	92.37	8.4%
Total	995.48	1,049.57	1,030.32	1,036.96	1,095.95	100.0%
Note: Table 1.3 note [1] Includes indoor potted plants and outdoor potted plants. Return to table 1.3 note [1] referrer Source: Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0246-01 Production and sale of greenhouse flowers and plants

1.4. Total area for production of specialized greenhouse flowers and plants by province (square metres)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
Atlantic provinces	252,718	256,350	260,708	279,396	308,461	4.1%
Quebec	1,189,905	1,045,923	994,801	1,167,889	1,110,426	14.7%
Ontario	3,379,181	3,211,391	3,330,828	3,603,103	3,800,613	50.3%
Prairie provinces	811,452	788,159	798,467	824,407	804,479	10.6%
British Columbia	1,453,804	1,398,996	1,434,326	1,531,792	1,535,342	20.3%
Canada	7,087,059	6,700,819	6,819,130	7,406,586	7,559,320	100.0%
Source: Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0019-01 Estimates of specialized greenhouse operations, greenhouse area, and months of operation

1.5. Total field-grown flowers area by province (hectares)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
Newfoundland and Labrador	x	x	0	0	x	N/A
Prince Edward Island	0	0	0	0	x	N/A
Nova Scotia	0	3	2	x	6	N/A
New Brunswick	0	x	x	x	x	N/A
Quebec	43	48	49	x	45	N/A
Ontario	125	142	159	161	166	36.1%
Saskatchewan	0	0	0	0	x	N/A
Alberta	x	x	x	x	F	N/A
British Columbia	229	245	238	229	226	49.1%
Canada^{Table 1.5 note}^[1]	410	449	458	454	460	100.0%
Notes: Table 1.5 note [1] Totals may not add up as some data was suppressed to meet confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act. Return to table 1.5 note [1] referrer N/A: Not applicable. x: Suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act. F: Too unreliable to be published. Source: Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0452-01 Estimates of field-grown cut flowers area, production and sales

1.6. Production of potted plants by variety (number in thousands)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
Tropical foliage and green plants, indoor	19,131	23,176	25,411	24,609	22,345	8.9%
Fine herb plants, outdoor	10,016	14,654	15,269	15,272	14,424	5.8%
Geraniums, outdoor	12,910	14,472	13,658	13,517	12,752	5.1%
Vegetable plants, outdoor	11,639	13,878	12,987	12,898	11,852	4.7%
Outdoor hanging pots	10,812	12,297	12,968	13,296	11,233	4.5%
Herbaceous flowering perennials, outdoor	12,804	13,282	14,170	13,614	11,176	4.5%
Miniature roses, indoor	8,531	9,438	10,209	10,896	11,075	4.4%
Kalanchoes, indoor	8,367	11,639	12,848	12,331	8,657	3.5%
Petunias, outdoor	5,151	6,881	7,294	7,017	7,168	2.9%
Orchids, indoor	5,314	5,919	6,541	7,256	6,594	2.6%
Chrysanthemums, indoor	4,984	5,680	6,570	6,349	6,286	2.5%
Poinsettias, indoor	4,740	5,154	5,654	5,794	5,678	2.3%
Begonias, outdoor	5,181	5,254	4,647	4,626	5,426	2.2%
Lilies, indoor	2,678	3,079	3,693	3,406	4,443	1.8%
Hawker's balsams, outdoor	3,616	3,767	3,609	3,694	4,222	1.7%
African violets, indoor	4,007	4,189	4,078	4,175	4,150	1.7%
Gerberas, indoor	3,377	3,597	3,876	3,958	3,935	1.6%
Tulips, indoor	1,616	2,154	2,588	3,110	3,182	1.3%
Chrysanthemums, outdoor	2,716	3,105	3,217	3,287	3,150	1.3%
Calibrachoas, outdoor	2,498	3,056	2,919	2,897	2,919	1.2%
Pansies, outdoor	1,402	1,804	1,726	1,879	1,950	0.8%
Primulas, indoor	1,745	1,935	2,125	1,877	1,911	0.8%
Cyclamens, indoor	2,087	1,833	2,107	2,047	1,890	0.8%
Indoor hanging pots	1,888	1,788	1,484	1,373	1,385	0.6%
Dahlia, outdoor	887	1,062	1,154	1,142	1,250	0.5%
Verbenas, outdoor	865	868	858	875	730	0.3%
Azaleas, indoor	461	435	412	450	416	0.2%
Rudbeckias, outdoor	346	277	263	261	370	0.1%
Zinnias, outdoor	310	325	338	298	335	0.1%
Argyranthemum, outdoor	238	224	200	182	166	0.1%
Other outdoor pots	53,681	49,570	50,213	51,125	52,146	20.8%
Other indoor pots	15,575	16,526	17,345	17,479	27,297	10.9%
Total potted plants	219,658	241,424	250,538	251,091	250,610	100.0%
Source: Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0021-01 Production of plants, flowers and tree seedlings

1.7. Production of cuttings by variety (number in thousands)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
Geraniums, cuttings	11,812	12,053	11,912	11,903	11,703	12.7%
Poinsettias, cuttings	5,404	5,386	5,260	5,367	5,339	5.8%
Chrysanthemums, cuttings	4,104	4,771	4,989	4,873	4,556	4.9%
Impatiens, cuttings	3,831	4,162	4,273	4,201	4,049	4.4%
Other cuttings	66,422	70,485	71,234	66,405	66,725	72.2%
Total cuttings	91,573	96,856	97,668	92,750	92,372	100.0%
Source: Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0021-01 Production of plants, flowers and tree seedlings

1.8. Production of cut flowers^{Table 1.8 note}^[1] by variety (number in thousands)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
Tulips, stems	102,997	125,854	131,586	158,479	212,344	50.8%
Gerberas, stems	73,195	74,698	74,074	76,329	84,976	20.3%
Snapdragons, stems	21,816	25,298	26,625	27,914	31,609	7.6%
Chrysanthemums, stems	23,278	21,879	21,883	24,366	25,514	6.1%
Lisianthus, stems	8,071	11,043	14,340	13,725	13,909	3.3%
Lilies, stems	12,080	13,454	14,018	13,004	12,928	3.1%
Alstroemerias, stems	3,711	3,683	3,437	3,331	4,960	1.2%
Roses, stems	3,071	3,078	2,835	2,860	3,553	0.9%
Freesias, stems	2,857	2,511	2,256	2,090	F	N/A
Daffodils, stems	1,231	1,456	1,571	1,464	1,473	0.4%
Irises, stems	214	280	198	248	94	0.0%
Other cut flowers	19,321	20,914	20,545	21,281	25,003	6.0%
Total cut flowers	271,842	304,147	313,369	345,092	417,991	100.0%
Note: Table 1.8 note [1] Includes flowers grown, or given some cultural treatment, and sold. Return to table 1.8 note [1] referrer F: Too unreliable to be published N/A: Not Applicable Source: Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0021-01 Production of plants, flowers and tree seedlings

1.9. Field-grown nursery tree and plant production (number in thousands)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
Small fruit bushes	30,885	31,339	30,855	33,681	34,820	66.5%
Perennials and annuals	4,792	6,524	5,425	5,135	4,455	8.5%
Tree seedlings	3,399	3,508	3,378	3,398	3,457	6.6%
Conifer trees	2,525	2,586	2,929	2,398	2,572	4.9%
Shade and ornamental trees	1,815	1,502	1,799	1,503	1,516	2.9%
Fruit trees	1,301	2,433	1,994	1,729	1,505	2.9%
Deciduous shrubs	1,374	1,488	1,458	1,307	1,189	2.3%
Vines	2,280	1,137	1,039	930	F	N/A
Evergreen and conifer shrubs	529	395	401	404	434	0.8%
Evergreen and broadleaf shrubs	558	266	345	207	272	0.5%
Other trees and plants	474	3,161	2,828	1,069	463	0.9%
Total	49,930	54,339	52,449	51,109	52,369	100.0%
Notes: F: Too unreliable to be published. N/A: Not applicable. Source: Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0031-01 Nursery tree and plant production

1.10. Container-grown nursery tree and plant production by variety (number in thousands)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
Perennials and annuals	14,889	15,149	11,609	13,396	13,964	24.2%
Small fruit bushes	3,325	2,848	2,696	12,211	12,762	22.1%
Deciduous shrubs	9,198	10,143	12,165	10,753	11,300	19.6%
Evergreen and conifer shrubs	5,754	4,773	4,673	6,812	7,093	12.3%
Evergreen and broadleaf shrubs	3,371	3,069	3,309	4,516	4,506	7.8%
Conifer trees	2,581	3,445	4,787	3,974	3,697	6.4%
Shade and ornamental trees	987	931	1,424	2,302	2,245	3.9%
Tree seedlings	1,758	949	1,344	1,245	1,222	2.1%
Vines	423	544	418	589	641	1.1%
Fruit trees	305	204	264	259	268	0.5%
Other trees and plants	3,089	3,185	2,017	2,606	F	N/A
Total	45,680	45,242	44,708	58,662	57,698	100.0%
Notes: F: Too unreliable to be published. N/A: Not applicable. Source: Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0031-01 Nursery tree and plant production

1.11. Total sod area by province (hectares)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
Newfoundland and Labrador	251	250	248	248	243	1.1%
Prince Edward Island	68	72	x	x	73	0.3
Nova Scotia	1,070	1,162	1,166	1,200	1,323	6.1%
New Brunswick	238	204	x	x	217	1.0
Quebec	4,455	5,042	4,631	4,968	4,933	22.7%
Ontario	8,758	9,345	9,164	8,791	9,324	43.0%
Manitoba	1,133	1,167	1,123	1,081	1,006	4.6%
Saskatchewan	497	460	556	514	471	2.2%
Alberta	3,214	3,086	3,206	3,339	3,418	15.7%
British Columbia	732	664	699	691	693	3.2%
Canada	20,417	21,451	21,093	21,126	21,702	100.0%
Notes: x: Suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act. Source: Statistics Canada. Table 32−10−0034−01 Estimates of sod area, sales and resales

1.12. Sod operations^{Table 1.12 note}^[1] by province (number)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
Newfoundland and Labrador	19	17	16	16	15	6.0%
Prince Edward Island	2	x	4	4	4	1.6%
Nova Scotia	8	8	11	13	13	5.2%
New Brunswick	6	x	6	6	6	2.4%
Quebec	50	48	48	55	55	22.2%
Ontario	70	72	80	79	84	33.9%
Manitoba	11	11	11	11	9	3.6%
Saskatchewan	8	7	8	10	8	3.2%
Alberta	26	27	26	28	27	10.9%
British Columbia	28	26	24	24	27	10.9%
Canada	228	223	234	246	248	100.0%
Notes: Table 1.12 note [1] Firms that only distribute sod or nursery stock, or just landscape and lay sod are excluded. Return to table 1.12 note [1] referrer x: Suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act. Source: Statistics Canada. Table 32−10−0034−01 Estimates of sod area, sales and resales

1.13. Christmas tree production by province (number of farms and area)

	Number of farms 2021	Number of farms 2021 % share	Area (hectares) 2021	Area (hectares) 2021 % share
Newfoundland and Labrador	1	0.1%	F	N/A
Prince Edward Island	13	1.0%	112	0.5%
Nova Scotia	213	15.6%	5,315	25.9%
New Brunswick	65	4.8%	2,344	11.4%
Quebec	257	18.8%	7,757	37.7%
Ontario	418	30.6%	3,258	15.8%
Manitoba	35	2.6%	148	0.7%
Saskatchewan	26	1.9%	172	0.8%
Alberta	60	4.4%	177	0.9%
British Columbia	276	20.2%	1,272	6.2%
Canada	1,364	100.0%	20,559	100.0%
Notes: F: Too unreliable to be published. N/A: Not applicable. Source: Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0249-01 Land use, Census of Agriculture, 2021

2. Sales and resales

2.1. Ornamental sales and resales by sub-sector (millions of Canadian dollars)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
Greenhouse flower and plants	1,694.2	1,856.4	1,996.9	2,075.9	2,248.1	69.4%
Nursery	716.9	747.5	734.8	766.5	796.1	24.6%
Sod	146.9	150.9	152.2	162.6	164.5	5.1%
Field-grown cut flowers	23.9	28.2	32.0	34.3	32.4	1.0%
Total	2,582.0	2,783.0	2,915.8	3,039.3	3,241.1	100.0%
Source: Statistics Canada. Tables 32-10-0023-01, 32-10-0032-01, 32-10-0034-01 and 32-10-0452-01

2.2. Greenhouse flower and plant sales^{Table 2.2 note}^[1] by category (millions of Canadian dollars)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
Potted plants^{Table 2.2 note}^[2], ^{Table 2.2 note}^[3]	903.8	1,030.3	1,144.8	1,171.9	1,240.2	70.6%
Bedding plants, ornamental	137.7	160.6	177.6	192.3	230.5	13.1%
Cut flowers	230.1	226.6	213.0	216.9	221.2	12.6%
Cuttings^{Table 2.2 note}^[3]	51.6	57.3	61.9	63.5	65.2	3.7%
Total	1,323.2	1,474.8	1,597.3	1,644.6	1,757.1	100.0%
Notes: Table 2.2 note [1] Farm gate value (before sales tax). Return to table 2.2 note [1] referrer Table 2.2 note [2] Includes indoor potted plants and outdoor potted plants. Return to table 2.2 note [2] referrer Table 2.2 note [3] Includes mixed operations (vegetables, flowers and plants), excluding cannabis operations. Return to table first 2.2 note [3] referrer Source: Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0246-01 Production and sale of greenhouse flowers and plants

2.3. Greenhouse flower and plant sales and resales by province (millions of Canadian dollars)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
Newfoundland and Labrador	8.2	x	8.7	9.5	9.1	0.4%
Prince Edward Island	8.2	x	12.5	15.1	13.4	0.6%
Nova Scotia	15.0	14.6	13.8	13.7	15.1	0.7%
New Brunswick	48.9	53.2	55.3	58.2	60.2	2.7%
Quebec	240.7	267.3	271.7	270.4	277.8	12.4%
Ontario	839.5	913.7	1,007.3	1,050.4	1,139.4	50.7%
Manitoba	37.2	39.2	40.0	41.2	41.8	1.9%
Saskatchewan	15.4	18.5	18.5	19.4	21.2	0.9%
Alberta	80.7	78.8	81.2	83.4	90.0	4.0%
British Columbia	400.6	452.5	487.8	514.4	580.1	25.8%
Canada	1,694.2	1,856.4	1,996.9	2,075.9	2,248.1	100.0%
Note: x: Suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act. Source: Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0023-01 Total value of greenhouse products

2.4. Field-grown cut flower sales by province (thousands of Canadian dollars)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
Newfoundland and Labrador	x	x	0.0	0.0	6.8	0.0%
Prince Edward Island	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	x	N/A
Nova Scotia	79.1	113.0	101.2	x	418.7	1.3%
New Brunswick	x	x	x	x	33.5	0.1
Quebec	429.0	339.7	368.5	386.9	372.9	1.2%
Ontario	8,837.9	14,629.0	17,933.6	19,577.1	18,877.4	58.2%
Manitoba	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	x	N/A
Saskatchewan	38.2	44.2	x	x	x	N/A
Alberta	66.7	62.3	x	x	x	N/A
British Columbia	14,437.9	13,009.6	13,441.8	14,020.0	12,550.7	38.7%
Canada^{Table 2.4 note}^[1]	23,924.1	28,239.2	32,000.0	34,331.3	32,416.0	100.0%
Notes: Table 2.4 note [1] Totals may not add up as some data was suppressed to meet confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act. Return to table 2.4 note [1] referrer x: Suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act. N/A: Not applicable. Source: Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0452-01 Estimates of field-grown cut flowers area, production and sales

2.5. Nursery stock^{Table 2.5 note}^[1] sales and resales by province (millions of Canadian dollars)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
Newfoundland and Labrador	0.6	0.5	0.6	0.5	0.6	0.1%
Prince Edward Island	1.4	1.6	1.5	1.6	1.7	0.2%
Nova Scotia	10.0	10.3	10.5	14.5	16.5	2.1%
New Brunswick	2.6	2.3	2.0	1.9	1.9	0.2%
Quebec	102.8	108.1	118.1	114.7	119.7	15.0%
Ontario	303.6	334.5	308.9	323.1	331.7	41.7%
Manitoba	15.7	14.4	14.8	15.7	16.0	2.0%
Saskatchewan	5.0	5.2	5.1	5.2	5.4	0.7%
Alberta	45.3	43.2	44.3	46.2	49.7	6.2%
British Columbia	229.9	227.3	229.0	242.9	253.1	31.8%
Canada	716.9	747.5	734.8	766.5	796.1	100.0%
Note: Table 2.5 note [1] The term “nursery stock” covers a diverse range of non-edible, living plant material grown in field or in containers and sold with its root system intact. Nursery stock includes annual and perennial plants ranging from woody plants (for example, trees, shrubs and rose bushes) to bedding plants and potted outdoor flowers. “Nursery stock” excludes Christmas trees and various inputs such as growing medium (for example, peat moss and top soil), fertilizer and pesticides. Return to table 2.5 note [1] referrer Source: Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0032-01 Nursery stock sales and resales

2.6. Sod sales and resales by province (millions of Canadian dollars)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
Newfoundland and Labrador	2.4	2.3	2.3	2.4	2.2	1.3%
Prince Edward Island	0.7	0.8	1.0	x	1.0	0.6%
Nova Scotia	5.6	6.4	6.7	6.9	7.2	4.4%
New Brunswick	1.9	1.7	1.9	x	1.9	1.2%
Quebec	32.6	35.4	35.8	37.6	37.7	22.9%
Ontario	61.2	65.5	64.3	70.1	72.3	44.0%
Manitoba	5.0	5.2	5.3	5.8	5.4	3.3%
Saskatchewan	4.1	3.5	3.5	4.0	3.9	2.3%
Alberta	22.5	20.2	21.2	21.7	22.1	13.4%
British Columbia	10.9	9.9	10.1	11.1	10.8	6.6%
Canada^{Table 2.6 note}^[1]	146.9	150.9	152.2	162.6	164.5	100.0%
Note: Table 2.6 note [1] Totals may not add up as some data was suppressed to meet confidentiality requirements. Return to table 2.6 note [1] referrer x: Suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act. Source: Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0034-01 Estimates of sod area, sales and resales

3. Trade

3.1. Canadian ornamental trade balance by category (thousands of Canadian dollars)

		2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Bulbs, tubers, tuberous roots, etc.	Exports	19,144	31,599	34,291	42,969	44,976
	Imports	53,329	70,363	77,108	83,563	88,879
	Trade balance	-34,186	-38,764	-42,817	-40,594	-43,903
Other live plants, including their roots, cuttings and slips, etc.	Exports	464,930	584,056	667,099	756,062	807,974
	Imports	310,963	367,779	379,399	371,530	387,439
	Trade balance	153,967	216,277	287,699	384,532	420,535
Cut flowers and flower buds for bouquets or ornamental purposes, etc.	Exports	78,333	102,730	116,794	147,440	155,876
	Imports	137,842	184,947	207,056	209,273	222,410
	Trade balance	-59,510	-82,217	-90,263	-61,833	-66,534
Foliage, branches and other parts of plants, etc.^{Table 3.1 note}^[1]	Exports	98,370	123,692	129,813	126,077	129,631
	Imports	445,429	59,510	71,813	64,111	67,433
	Trade balance	52,941	64,182	58,000	61,896	62,198
Total	Exports	660,776	842,077	947,996	1,072,478	1,138,456
	Imports	547,563	682,599	735,377	728,477	766,161
	Overall trade balance	113,213	159,477	212,619	344,001	372,295
Note: Table 3.1 note [1] Includes Christmas trees. Return to table 3.1 note [1] referrer Source: Statistics Canada (CATSNet, June 2025)

3.2. Exports

3.2.1. Canadian floriculture and nursery exports^{Table 3.2.1 note}^[1] by province (thousands of Canadian dollars)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
Newfoundland and Labrador	6	5	0	10	0	0.0%
Prince Edward Island	5,374	5,475	7,058	8,919	8,113	0.7%
Nova Scotia	21,694	31,527	40,065	38,056	28,898	2.5%
New Brunswick	37,243	50,889	53,071	56,777	60,338	5.3%
Quebec	77,597	91,181	98,856	102,663	106,787	9.4%
Ontario	360,885	474,438	550,159	649,546	686,438	60.3%
Manitoba	293	458	460	434	631	0.1%
Saskatchewan	146	184	199	361	449	0.0%
Alberta	88	711	1,031	2,469	5,556	0.5%
British Columbia	157,450	187,211	197,096	213,243	241,245	21.2%
Canada^{Table 3.2.1 note}^[2]	660,776	842,077	947,996	1,072,478	1,138,456	100.0%
Notes: Table 3.2.1 note [1] Includes Christmas trees. Return to table 3.2.1 note [1] referrer Table 3.2.1 note [2] Canada total derived from the sum of available provincial data. Return to table 3.2.1 note [2] referrer Source: Statistics Canada (CATSNet, June 2025)

3.2.2. Canada's top ten floriculture and nursery^{Table 3.2.2 note}^[1] export destinations (thousands of Canadian dollars)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
United States	657,717	837,514	943,142	1,068,139	1,134,168	99.6%
Panama	1,295	1,804	2,243	1,886	1,828	0.2%
Curaçao	338	481	473	424	468	0.0%
Aruba	173	316	296	376	378	0.0%
Bermuda	313	356	184	204	270	0.0%
Venezuela	129	120	259	143	223	0.0%
United Arab Emirates	59	105	173	219	139	0.0%
Cayman Islands	100	88	131	107	119	0.0%
Sint Maarten (Dutch part)	30	120	107	88	118	0.0%
Barbados	92	111	158	117	114	0.0%
Others	528	1,061	832	776	630	0.1%
Total	660,776	842,077	947,996	1,072,478	1,138,456	100.0%
Note: Table 3.2.2 note [1] Includes Christmas trees. Return to table 3.2.2 note [1] referrer Source: Statistics Canada (CATSNet, June 2025)

3.2.3. Christmas tree exports by province^{Table 3.2.3 note}^[1] (thousands of Canadian dollars)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
Prince Edward Island	0	102	16	0	121	0.1%
Nova Scotia	9,455	11,603	14,772	14,046	12,594	15.0%
New Brunswick	10,696	12,607	13,319	12,448	11,568	13.8%
Quebec	56,298	63,100	66,083	59,833	58,431	69.7%
Ontario	513	611	971	648	894	1.1%
Saskatchewan	39	35	77	108	134	0.2%
British Columbia	1,796	2,399	2,911	2,785	69	0.1%
Canada	78,797	90,455	98,149	89,868	83,810	100.0%
Note: Table 3.2.3 note [1] Newfoundland and Labrador and Alberta did not export Christmas trees during the five-year range presented in this table. Return to table 3.2.3 note [1] referrer Source: Statistics Canada (CATSNet, June 2025)

3.2.4. Christmas tree exports by province^{Table 3.2.4 note}^[1] (number of Christmas trees)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
Prince Edward Island	0	1,450	674	0	5,179	0.3%
Nova Scotia	419,485	443,667	415,850	336,251	319,211	19.9%
New Brunswick	335,772	440,174	337,000	262,536	226,222	14.1%
Quebec	1,766,330	1,443,830	1,505,436	1,117,518	1,012,947	63.0%
Ontario	20,887	25,288	38,333	16,430	37,122	2.3%
Saskatchewan	2,262	1,964	3,717	4,812	5,001	0.3%
British Columbia	53,562	75,598	79,014	275,767	1,507	0.1%
Canada	2,598,298	2,431,971	2,380,024	2,013,314	1,607,189	100.0%
Note: Table 3.2.4 note [1] Newfoundland and Labrador and Alberta did not export Christmas trees during the five-year range presented in this table. Return to table 3.2.4 note [1] referrer Source: Statistics Canada (CATSNet, June 2025)

3.2.5. Canada's top ten Christmas tree destinations (thousands of Canadian dollars)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
United States	76,069	86,612	93,926	85,932	79,988	95.4%
Panama	1,295	1,804	2,243	1,886	1,828	2.2%
Curaçao	328	472	460	422	468	0.6%
Aruba	173	316	296	376	378	0.5%
Bermuda	313	356	184	204	270	0.3%
Venezuela	129	120	259	143	223	0.3%
United Arab Emirates	59	105	173	219	139	0.2%
Cayman Islands	100	88	131	107	119	0.1%
Sint Maarten (Dutch part)	30	118	104	88	118	0.1%
Barbados	90	106	150	116	114	0.1%
Others	210	358	223	375	165	0.2%
Total	78,797	90,455	98,149	89,868	83,810	100.0%
Source: Statistics Canada (CATSNet, June 2025)

3.2.6. Canada's top ten Christmas tree destinations (number of Christmas trees)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
United States	2,547,302	2,357,256	2,299,820	1,943,657	1,537,479	95.7%
Panama	20,912	35,130	44,948	35,228	34,002	2.1%
Curaçao	6,287	8,966	8,139	7,155	9,740	0.6%
Aruba	3,416	6,493	6,227	7,733	7,485	0.5%
Bermuda	6,982	5,713	2,414	2,521	3,781	0.2%
Venezuela	2,674	2,435	4,801	2,086	3,186	0.2%
Barbados	2,046	2,163	2,875	2,367	2,581	0.2%
Sint Maarten (Dutch part)	719	2,194	2,187	1,617	2,286	0.1%
United Arab Emirates	1,297	2,081	2,494	2,947	1,873	0.1%
Cayman Islands	2,383	1,409	1,641	1,385	1,345	0.1%
Others	4,280	8,131	4,478	6,618	3,431	0.2%
Total	2,598,298	2,431,971	2,380,024	2,013,314	1,607,189	100.0%
Source: Statistics Canada (CATSNet, June 2025)

3.2.7. Canada's floriculture and nursery^{Table 3.2.7 note}^[1] export destinations by U.S. state (thousands of Canadian dollars)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
Washington, state	52,118	62,685	70,997	81,555	95,602	8.4%
Florida	51,721	75,319	99,390	107,870	94,959	8.4%
New York	74,865	80,829	85,821	93,248	89,209	7.9%
Massachusetts	35,944	52,355	72,440	80,014	87,095	7.7%
California	32,110	41,968	48,688	65,474	79,280	7.0%
Illinois	42,479	48,162	50,254	59,448	64,680	5.7%
Michigan	39,683	47,744	47,132	52,855	57,751	5.1%
New Jersey	29,274	37,949	41,719	49,115	51,483	4.5%
North Carolina	24,191	28,206	35,140	39,400	43,561	3.8%
Ohio	28,886	36,205	38,170	43,043	43,291	3.8%
Other U.S. states	246,447	326,092	353,390	396,117	427,258	37.7%
Total, United States	657,717	837,514	943,142	1,068,139	1,134,168	100.0%
Note: Table 3.2.7 note [1] Includes Christmas trees. Return to table 3.2.7 note [1] referrer Source: Statistics Canada (CATSNet, June 2025)

3.3. Imports

3.3.1. Floriculture and nursery^{Table 3.3.1 note}^[1] imports by province (thousands of Canadian dollars)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
Newfoundland and Labrador	32	79	87	186	100	0.0%
Prince Edward Island	0	0	0	2	6	0.0%
Nova Scotia	3,651	2,407	3,043	2,239	2,288	0.3%
New Brunswick	10,202	11,343	11,931	12,335	13,077	1.7%
Quebec	60,215	82,728	89,186	84,320	80,062	10.4%
Ontario	306,117	384,458	414,606	419,380	449,903	58.7%
Manitoba	25,022	30,399	33,247	31,117	32,401	4.2%
Saskatchewan	12,711	14,416	11,152	10,786	11,423	1.5%
Alberta	7,180	9,335	11,849	11,561	14,556	1.9%
British Columbia	122,433	147,434	160,277	156,552	162,345	21.2%
Canada	547,563	682,599	735,377	728,477	766,161	100.0%
Note: Table 3.3.1 note [1] Includes Christmas trees. Return to table 3.3.1 note [1] referrer Source: Statistics Canada (CATSNet, June 2025)

3.3.2. Top ten sources of Canada's floriculture and nursery^{Table 3.3.2 note}^[1] imports (thousands of Canadian dollars)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
United States	283,348	329,334	344,577	330,097	337,415	44.0%
Colombia	87,919	110,403	121,577	123,418	132,010	17.2%
Netherlands	61,168	78,915	88,037	92,077	97,818	12.8%
Ecuador	30,937	45,414	51,915	54,297	58,921	7.7%
Mexico	14,806	19,519	21,914	24,707	26,005	3.4%
Taiwan	8,789	13,458	16,518	15,865	16,038	2.1%
Guatemala	8,077	10,206	9,835	10,866	12,007	1.6%
China	6,799	10,134	13,398	9,352	11,928	1.6%
Costa Rica	5,389	7,793	7,612	7,324	7,103	0.9%
India	3,496	5,390	6,278	5,530	6,180	0.8%
Others	36,835	52,034	53,714	54,943	60,736	7.9%
Total	547,563	682,599	735,377	728,477	766,161	100.0%
Note: Table 3.3.2 note [1] Includes Christmas trees. Return to table 3.3.2 note [1] referrer Source: Statistics Canada (CATSNet, June 2025)

3.4. World trade data

3.4.1. Top ten exporting countries for floriculture, nursery and Christmas trees (thousands of Canadian dollars)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
Netherlands	14,879,970	17,834,885	16,457,049	17,437,318	18,567,806	49.1%
Colombia	1,923,731	2,198,782	2,700,028	2,852,853	3,267,849	8.6%
Italy	1,427,946	1,706,225	1,666,402	1,724,016	1,863,263	4.9%
Ecuador	1,135,638	1,209,205	1,270,715	1,360,651	1,425,296	3.8%
Germany	1,449,941	1,518,078	1,443,951	1,397,886	1,409,662	3.7%
Canada	660,776	842,077	947,996	1,072,478	1,138,456	3.0%
Kenya	852,914	1,009,803	904,572	990,260	1,074,532	2.8%
Spain	675,942	832,469	827,727	894,107	1,035,055	2.7%
Belgium	871,706	1,030,745	808,292	859,146	949,130	2.5%
China	631,730	711,248	732,812	710,225	831,186	2.2%
Others	5,787,139	6,087,225	6,021,236	6,119,400	6,274,153	16.6%
Total	30,297,433	34,980,742	33,780,780	35,418,340	37,836,388	100.0%
Source: Global Trade Tracker (June 2025)

3.4.2. Top ten importing countries for floriculture, nursery and Christmas trees (thousands of Canadian dollars)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
United States	3,424,526	4,460,301	5,122,675	5,400,425	5,689,302	17.1%
Germany	4,423,246	5,041,635	4,563,269	4,461,325	4,554,874	13.7%
Netherlands	3,657,678	4,055,397	3,722,679	3,894,474	4,187,335	12.6%
United Kingdom	2,111,512	2,170,430	2,484,176	2,440,660	2,543,500	7.6%
France	1,630,171	2,015,288	1,872,657	1,875,064	1,783,793	5.4%
Italy	825,355	864,849	903,407	1,041,699	1,294,808	3.9%
Switzerland	788,808	913,215	852,804	894,031	928,117	2.8%
Poland	580,328	696,924	750,600	790,760	897,393	2.7%
Canada	547,563	682,599	735,377	728,477	766,161	2.3%
Belgium	733,555	813,318	639,900	675,229	721,510	2.2%
Others	8,598,082	9,505,449	9,564,734	10,012,483	9,908,264	29.8%
Total	27,330,824	31,219,405	31,212,278	32,214,627	33,275,057	100.0%
Source: Global Trade Tracker (June 2025)

4. Channels of distribution

4.1. Channels of distribution for flowers and plant sales and resales (millions of Canadian dollars)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
Mass market chain stores	507.0	580.6	615.1	632.1	786.2	35.0%
Domestic wholesalers	308.1	343.7	440.0	453.4	466.7	20.8%
Exported	203.9	206.0	213.7	226.5	306.5	13.6%
Other greenhouses	189.8	199.7	209.6	240.0	248.5	11.1%
Retail florists	205.0	211.0	212.7	222.3	205.8	9.2%
Direct sales to the public^{Table 4.1 note}^[1]	237.3	266.3	256.6	251.7	190.9	8.5%
Government and public agencies	11.1	14.3	14.5	15.3	14.7	0.7%
Other channels	32.2	34.8	34.6	34.6	28.9	1.3%
Total sales	1,694.2	1,856.4	1,996.9	2,075.9	2,248.1	100.0%
Note: Table 4.1 note [1] Includes roadside stands and owner-operated retail outlets. Return to table 4.1 note [1] referrer Source: Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0022-01 Channels of distribution for horticulture product sales and resales

4.2. Channels of distribution for nursery product sales and resales (millions of Canadian dollars)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
Landscape contractors	176.8	188.0	197.1	205.5	207.3	26.0%
Garden centres	127.5	130.8	142.2	138.8	134.0	16.8%
Mass market chain stores	118.3	119.7	110.0	114.0	112.0	14.1%
Direct sales to the public^{Table 4.2 note}^[1]	102.4	104.0	79.1	81.2	84.8	10.7%
Other growers	65.3	67.4	69.3	69.4	69.5	8.7%
Exported	36.9	40.8	36.8	46.0	53.7	6.7%
Fruit growers	29.1	32.8	33.6	32.0	40.1	5.0%
Government and public agencies	25.3	27.2	26.8	27.3	29.2	3.7%
Other channels	35.3	36.9	39.8	52.2	65.5	8.2%
Total sales	716.9	747.5	734.8	766.5	796.1	100.0%
Note: Table 4.2 note [1] Includes roadside stands and owner-operated retail outlets. Return to table 4.2 note [1] referrer Source: Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0033-01 Channels of distribution for nursery product sales and resales

5. Operating expenses

5.1. Greenhouse flower and plant^{Table 5.1 note}^[1] producers' operating expenses by category (millions of Canadian dollars)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
Gross yearly payroll^{Table 5.1 note}^[2]	306.2	316.1	323.3	361.1	357.6	24.9%
Plant material purchases for growing on^{Table 5.1 note}^[3]	223.7	231.4	243.9	249.5	339.7	23.7%
Other operating expenses^{Table 5.1 note}^[4]	203.0	215.9	224.2	257.9	285.5	19.9%
Other crop expenses^{Table 5.1 note}^[5]	169.2	179.9	213.5	232.8	251.5	17.5%
Plant material purchases for resale^{Table 5.1 note}^[3]	108.2	95.0	97.0	103.0	110.6	7.7%
Fuel	47.3	49.0	52.1	60.4	56.9	4.0%
Electricity^{Table 5.1 note}^[6]	26.2	22.2	25.0	29.6	32.4	2.3%
Total operating expenses	1,083.9	1,109.4	1,179.1	1,294.3	1,434.3	100.0%
Notes: Table 5.1 note [1] This category excludes mixed operations (vegetables, flowers and plants). Return to table 5.1 note [1] referrer Table 5.1 note [2] Includes seasonal and permanent labour. Return to table 5.1 note [2] referrer Table 5.1 note [3] Includes value of flowers, plants, cuttings, seedlings, seeds and bulbs purchased (before sales tax). Return to first table 5.1 note [3] referrer Table 5.1 note [4] Includes interest, land taxes, insurance, advertising, repairs to farm buildings, machinery, agricultural equipment and vehicles, contract work, and telephone and telecommunications services. Return to table 5.1 note [4] referrer Table 5.1 note [5] Includes fertilizer, pesticides, pollination, irrigation, containers, packaging, bioprograms, and growing mediums such as soil, peat moss, vermiculite, perlite, sand, Styrofoam and sawdust. Return to table 5.1 note [5] referrer Table 5.1 note [6] Includes electricity for lighting, airflow fans and heating. Return to table 5.1 note [6] referrer Source: Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0025-01 Specialized greenhouse producers' operating expenses

5.2. Nursery operating expenses by category (millions of Canadian dollars)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
Gross yearly payroll^{Table 5.2 note}^[1]	202.5	204.8	219.8	230.3	233.5	33.6%
Plant material purchases for growing on^{Table 5.2 note}^[2]	108.0	113.0	114.0	124.3	132.3	19.0%
Other operating expenses^{Table 5.2 note}^[3]	122.2	123.4	120.1	123.2	129.1	18.6%
Plant material purchases for resale^{Table 5.2 note}^[2]	96.3	98.1	102.4	106.1	108.4	15.6%
Other crop expenses^{Table 5.2 note}^[4]	65.5	71.2	75.7	77.4	84.9	12.2%
Electricity expenses	6.4	5.9	5.9	6.6	6.9	1.0%
Total Operating Expenses	600.9	616.2	637.8	667.8	695.0	100.0%
Notes: Table 5.2 note [1] Includes seasonal and permanent labour. Return to table 5.2 note [1] referrer Table 5.2 note [2] Includes value of trees, nursery stock, bedding plants, seedlings, cuttings or bulbs purchased before sales tax. Return to first table 5.2 note [2] referrer Table 5.2 note [3] Includes interest, land taxes, insurance, advertising, repairs to farm buildings, machinery, agricultural equipment and vehicles, contract work, and telephone and telecommunications services. Return to table 5.2 note [3] referrer Table 5.2 note [4] Includes fertilizer, pesticides, pollination, irrigation, containers, packaging, bioprograms and growing mediums such as soil, peat moss, vermiculite, perlite, sand, Styrofoam and sawdust. Return to table 5.2 note [4] referrer Source: Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0454-01 Nursery and sod producers' operating expenses

5.3. Sod operating expenses by category (millions of Canadian dollars)

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2024 % Share
Other operating expenses^{Table 5.3 note}^[1]	69.9	73.6	81.4	89.2	94.4	67.4%
Gross yearly payroll^{Table 5.3 note}^[2]	37.9	39.5	40.4	41.8	44.0	31.4%
Sod purchases for resale	2.4	1.9	1.8	1.9	1.7	1.2%
Total operating expenses	110.2	115.0	123.5	132.9	140.1	100.0%
Notes: Table 5.3 note [1] Includes fertilizer, pesticides, land taxes, interest, insurance, advertising, repairs, fuel, electricity, irrigation expenses, and telephone and other telecommunication services. Return to table 5.3 note [1] referrer Table 5.3 note [2] Includes seasonal and permanent labour. Return to table 5.3 note [2] referrer Source: Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0454-01 Nursery and sod producers' operating expenses

6. Key Resources

Global Trade Tracker
Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0421-01 Christmas trees
Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0019-01 Estimates of specialized greenhouse operations, greenhouse area, and months of operation
Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0246-01 Production and sale of greenhouse flowers and plants
Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0021-01 Production of plants, flowers and tree seedlings
Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0034-01 Estimates of sod area, sales and resales
Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0023-01 Total value of greenhouse products
Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0032-01 Nursery stock sales and resales
Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0022-01 Channels of distribution for horticulture product sales and resales
Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0033-01 Channels of distribution for nursery product sales and resales
Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0025-01 Specialized greenhouse producers’ operating expenses
Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0454-01 Nursery and sod producers' operating expenses
Statistics Canada. CATSNet

HS Codes: All import and export HS codes fall under Chapter 06 of the Custom Tariff.