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Since Israel's independence, the production of garden plants and cut flowers has grown significantly. Today, with exports of more than,
200 million dollars, Israel is one of the larger suppliers to the world market. The flowers chosen for
this series are among Israel's important ornamentals.
Florists Calla (Zantedeschia aethiopica)
Six species of Calla are native to eastern and southern Africa. The large, white flower spate, long shelf life and exquisite form contribute in making this one of the more popular ornamentals. While in its native home the Calla is limited to seasonal swamps, in Israel it is cultivated in different soils.
Prairie Gentian (Eustoma grandiflorum)
Also known as Lisianthus, this is one of the relatively new cut flowers which, in the last fifty years, has become popular in gardens and in world commerce. Breeders in Israel and abroad transformed a not particularly impressive herbaceous desert plant into one of the most well known cut flowers, with shades of white, blue, lilac, pink or red.
Barberton Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)
Barberton Daisies are well known to florists due to their variety of different colors – both delicate pastels and bright shades. The flower heads with a cloth-like texture are carried on a long, strong stem, above the leaf rosette. The Barberton Daisy is a perennial native to northern South Africa.
Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum dubium)
There are 120 species of the bulbous garden perennials, known as "Star of Bethlehem", which mostly flower in the spring and are found in the area from Europe to South Africa. Nine species are native to Israel. Whilst most of the species have white, star-like flowers in dense heads above a rosette of strap-shaped leaves, this South African species has orange, yellow or white flowers. The-relatively large white bulb has -substances that are used in folk medicine but the sap can cause skin allergies.
Dr. Michael Avishai
