THREE new varieties of waxflower developed by the Western Australian Agricultural Authority have been released.
The initial release is restricted to cut flowers growers in WA, with WAFEX to co-ordinate the commercial supply of propagation material and plants and be the exclusive marketing agent for distribution in both the export and domestic cut flower markets.
WAFEX managing director Craig Musson said it was exciting to have access to the new varieties which have yet to be given formal names.
Known as WX74 and WX87, the two white pearl flower varieties had been selected for their mid-to-late flowering season which would extend supplies of white pearl waxflower beyond the latest variety, ivory pearl.
Mr Musson said WX56 was a two-tone pink variety with an attractive green centre.
"In recent years there has been a noticeable shortage of export quality pink waxflower varieties," he said.
"The two-tone colour attributes of WX56 also allow for a longer harvest and marketing window."
The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation last month announced a research project aimed at helping Australian wildflower growers maintain their competitive edge in the global flower industry.
RIRDC Wildflower and Native Plants Program senior research manager Alison Saunders said the project would use the technique of somatic fusion to try to speed the development of new waxflower varieties with red flowers, coloured bracts and extended flowering periods.
Waxflowers are Australia's major native flower crop and the largest export flower crop with key overseas markets in Japan, the US, the Netherlands, Canada and south east Asia.
Australia dominated southern hemisphere waxflower production in the June to December supply window until the late 1990s when growers in Peru and South Africa began to take market share.
