Analysis of Users Recognition on Wildflowers as Gardening Plants

Abstract

This study is conducted to investigate users recognition on wild flowers as garden plants, and to suggest methods of improving the competitiveness of wild flowers compared to ornamental flowers. 1,000 people with purchasing power were selected as a population from all across Korea and an online questionnaire survey was conducted on them. The survey questionnaire was divided into four parts, such as information about plants that they have, perception level of wild flower, purchasing behavior and spending habit of wild flower and circumstances for the industrialization of wild flowers. First, Korean people have 3.22 plants per family but wild flower accounts for a very low percentage. Second, regarding the perception of wild flower, the purchase frequency of wild flower is lower than that of other plants. Third, regarding purchasing behavior of wild flower, wild flower had lower competitiveness than introduced plants in flower market but some wild flowers including a lily of the valley, a dicentra, a pasqueflower and aceriphyllum rossi were competitive in the market. Forth, the purchase frequency of processed products made of wild flowers is higher. Fifth, 80% of the people surveyed have visited festivals associated with industrialization of wild flowers. Based on the results, increasing frequency of exposure of wild flowers focused on botanical garden and arboretum, offering management information and technologies of wild flowers to public and promoting wild flowers through festivals can be solutions to enhance competitiveness of wild flowers. To enhance garden culture, a wide range of researches need to be conducted on what kind of plants people use for the construction of garden and the relation between gardener and plants, and different approaches and attempts are needed.