Cut foliage refers to decorative leaves, fronds, and shoots used in floral arrangements to enhance texture, structure, and longevity. With increasing demand from event management, interior decoration, and export markets, cut foliage has become an important segment of the floriculture industry. Globally, the floriculture market exceeds USD 70 billion, with foliage contributing significantly and showing steady growth. India, with its diverse agro-climatic conditions, offers excellent scope for cut foliage production, especially during cooler months. Major producing states include Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and others. Popular foliage plants include ferns, eucalyptus, palms, ruscus, and ornamental grasses. Cut foliage is valued for its year-round availability, longer shelf life, lower transport losses, and cost-effectiveness compared to cut flowers. It plays a key role in floral design by providing background, depth, and aesthetic appeal. Propagation methods include seeds, stem cuttings, spores, air layering, and tissue culture. Successful production depends on proper management of temperature, light, water, nutrition, and cultural practices like pruning, irrigation, and weed control. Overall, cut foliage is a growing, economically viable, and export-oriented sector with strong market potential in India and globally.
Floriculture, Ornamental Horticulture, Cut Foliage Plants, Scope, Production Technologies
